7i96s firmware and modification

Currently converting a Clark 7" lathe. I chose a 7i96s because they were in stock and less than a million bucks. After a few Linux problems (Linux and mine) I have a connection to the mesa. So the big question... can I modify the 7i96s_d to add a Quadrature device. It seems all firmwares only have one turned on. I want to have spindle encoder and handwheel. With configuring only two stepgen outputs I have plenty of usable inputs. Also is there any "real" documentation on all the firmwares or are there any "outlaw" firmwares? I'm mostly there but a little lost.

Thank you
Todd

The standard firmware includes a spindle encoder (on TB2)
and up to 4 MPG encoders on TB3:

IO Connections for TB3 -> 7I96_0
Pin#                  I/O   Pri. func    Sec. func        Chan     Sec. Pin func   Sec. Pin Dir

TB3-1                   0   IOPort       InM              0        Input0_EncA0    (In)
TB3-2                   1   IOPort       InM              0        Input1_EncB0    (In)
TB3-3                   2   IOPort       InM              0        Input2_EncA1    (In)
TB3-4                   3   IOPort       InM              0        Input3_EncB1    (In)
TB3-5                   4   IOPort       InM              0        Input4_EncA2    (In)
TB3-6                   5   IOPort       InM              0        Input5_EncB2    (In)
TB3-7                   6   IOPort       InM              0        Input6_EncA3    (In)
TB3-8                   7   IOPort       InM              0        Input7_EncB3    (In)
TB3-9                   8   IOPort       InM              0        Input8          (In)
TB3-10                  9   IOPort       InM              0        Input9          (In)
TB3-11                 10   IOPort       InM              0        Input10         (In)
TB3-13,14              11   IOPort       SSR              0        Out-00          (Out)
TB3-15,16              12   IOPort       SSR              0        Out-01          (Out)
TB3-17,18              13   IOPort       SSR              0        Out-02          (Out)
TB3-19,20              14   IOPort       SSR              0        Out-03          (Out)
TB3-21,22              15   IOPort       OutM             0        Output4         (Out)
TB3-23,24              16   IOPort       OutM             0        Output5         (Out)


 

I'm sorry, Which firmware version is "standard"? Is it the 7i96s_d.pin (bin)? The mesaCT said I only had 1 Q-function. So I am missing something.

The standard firmware (which is pre-installed on all 7I96S's) is 7i96s_d 
and that firmware includes up to 4 MPG encoders. I am not sure if mesact
supports MPG jogging or not but the hardware is there and may require
some hal editing to setup.


 

OK, mostly on the right track. Back and look deeper into the Mesact pages. Saw handwheels but with 1 stepgen per output I thought the same for the quad. Excellent, Thank you.

Nope, not on the right track, mesact insists that there is only 1 Qcount as does 7i96s_d.pin. And if mesact won't support it how can i use them? Is there a different configuration software that does? Again the question; is there any real documentation on these firmware schemes?
Now the 7i96s_dpl plasma has 3 Qcounters assigned but can find no access to them in the I/O config tabs.
.... Wandering lost again. I know I've missed something somewhere....

As I mentioned, you would likely have to edit the hal file
to add the jogging connections if they are not currently supported.
by the GUI configurators mesact or pncconf.


 

Thank you Finally coming to understand. Have had success and (of course) found new adventures in hal.