Simple Motion in HAL

Hello,
I've searched around but haven't found anything on this . Is there a way to get information from the servo in HAL, through the protocol Granite devices provide ?
That would be necessary, as in some cases current limiting and monitoring would be very useful .
And I've been thinking that digital speed command would work nicely .

Cheers
Nikolai

What is the protocol that GD provide?

It is almost definitely possible. But it might not be easy. If it is Modbus then it is likely to be both possible _and_ fairly easy.

It uses rs458 but it isn't Modbus .
They've provided the library but I've no idea where to start .
Library
wiki

The good thing is that the control strategies actually state the it can take position information in real time over their bus .

It might be worth talking to
www.generalmechatronics.com/en/linuxcnc
They have RS485 transcievers that work with linuxCNC

Speaking rs485 converters, are the rs232 better in real time ?
And how can I use the 7i74's rs485 channel ?
I'm assuming that would need a different firmware on the 5i25 .
I'd like to experiment with that mainly because I have them .

Hello,

i am also thinking of getting a Ionidrive kit, but before purchasing i wanted
to check is someone has been able to get it running with LinuxCNC.

As far i have only found this thread about SimpleMotion & LinuxCNC...

Have you made any Progress Nico?

Best Regards, Stanko

It should be possible to control the Ionidrives easily with step/dir or analogue voltage.
SimpleMotion is likely to the take more work, but at least the other control modes offer a fallback if the serial protocols are a problem.

I have been thinking for a while that a set of Ionidrives and a Raspberry Pi Compute Module would make a really neat system if combined with a suitable backplane.

Hello Stanko,
other machines have kept me busy and I've sent the drives to get matched to the motors at another place .
I should point out that my idea was to use analog signal to drive it and feedback from encoders .
I don't think I'll get enough data trough a simple rs485 dongle .
My goal is to set current limits and read the actual current form the drives as this would reduce wiring and cost considerably .

@Andy:

Thanks for the Hint! I am really a newbie to all this...
I am hoping to find a method a s simple as possible
to drive the existing Brushed DC Motors on my small
old Mill with the Ioni.

Does it make sense to feed the ioni with a signal meant
for a stepper and let it drive a Brushed DC?

What do you mean when saying that it is likely to take more
work to get SimpleMotion working?
Are you thinking of the HAL customization?

What would be running on the RasberryPi that you mentioned?


@Nico:
Thanks for the fast reply!

I've sent the drives to get matched to the motors at another place .

Sounds like it it not so easy with the granity software to do that?
Or have you got exotic motors? (I have got old Brushed DC Motors where
even the Manufacturer does not have any specs any more...)

I don't think I'll get enough data trough a simple rs485 dongle .

Is that a hunch or have you set up LinuxCNC to communicate to SimpleMotion?

Best Regards, Stanko

Sounds like it it not so easy with the granity software to do that?

Actually, I sent it there because it had a weird encoder .
Later I found out that it has a unique Z signal, which is different every couple of degrees to give it a sort of absolute encoder feel .
I still haven't started testing this, as I still haven't received them .
That and a retrofit out of necessity, as one machine decided not to cooperate .

Kind regards
Nikolai