Mesa 7i95 with Step/Dir and encoder feedback

Hello

I want to order 7i95 but i have some question for some functions of this board. First I think that the board cannot use encoder feedback if it dose not work in PWM/DIR mode?? or i am wrong. And Can i use board parallel expansion port like normal parallel port so i can extend inputs and outputs?? The board have Two RS-422/RS485 serial expansion ports, can i use this ports to communicate with my spindle inverter or i need to buy separate RS485 converter??

Thanks in advanced..

Moved to "driver boards".

Yes it can use encoder feedback and step/dir control.
Yes you can use the header as a parallel port, but much, much faster.
Most probably you will need an adapter as the Mesa uses differential out.in comms, while most VFD's use single ended, so Mesa 4 wires, RS485 2 wires. Some VFD do have 4 wire comms and they most probably could be used.

You can use encoder feedback with step/dir or PWM/dir

The expansion port can be used like a parallel port but does require a breakout board
(Mesa or generic parallel port type) to protect the FPGA pins

You can not currently use the RS-422/485 expansion ports for MODBUS/VFD applications
so you would require a PC connected RS-485 adapter

Thanks PCW and tommylight for great answer. Do i need separate bit file for 7i95 mesa board to use like generic parallel port or there is standard pins with default bit file.

Thanks

All bitfiles support GPIO on the parallel expansion port.
If you need specific hardware like additional stepgens
or hardware PWMgens, this would require a bitfile
that matches a specific breakout and has the stepgens,
PWMgens etc on the appropriate pins.

How can we add BOB (generic Parallel Port card) Encoder Feedback for 7i95T/7i95? Can't see a generic 'QcountTag' in its pin setup? 

Are you saying you need more encoders than the 6 high speed
and 4 MPG encoders that the 7I95/7I95T provides?

If so you can add some to P1 with the right firmware, but normally
parallel port type BOBs do not make good encoder interfaces
(they are typically slow, don't support differential signals and only have 5 inputs)

Thanks for your response! However, was a bit curious as how we could add encoders with the expansion port on the 7i95t.
If possible, please share a bit file with a stepgen and dir and it's encoder on the BOB expansion port for the 7i95t. Thanks!

The supplied bin file: 7i95t_5abobd.bin has an
encoder and stepgens for a generic parallel port BOB

A more practical example of added encoders is this:

 

A 7I95T configuration with a 7I85S that adds 4 stepgens
a sserial port and 4 high speed encoders for a total of 10
stepgens and 10 encoders