> >> An "interpreter" that takes in this file format or similar would be a >> much >> better match for this kind of machine. The HAL layer would need to have >> all the stepgens and hardware drivers loaded as a single realtime >> system, >> but the stepgens would be fed by a custom interpreter and simplified >> state >> machine (for the pickup/place macros). There is no need for a >> coordinated >> motion controller, since all movements are like G0 - it's irrelevant >> what >> path is taken to get to the endpoint, what matters is that you get there >> (without hitting anything). >> >> RS274NGC is overkill and inefficient for this kind of machine. >> > > I will certainly start studying HAL closer to see what I can do. However, > there > are two reasons I would like to retain G-code for programming the motions > of > each station in the assembly machine. One is so the engineer setting up > the > machine only needs to know plain G-code programming, rather than somewhat > esoteric HAL configuration, and the other is so that somewhat more complex > operations like dispensing adhesive or screwing parts together can be > easily > accommodated with the same programming as simple motions. Just add G02's > and G03's to the G01's and G00's already in use. Some special M codes > would > provide synchronization between stations.
The engineer wouldn't need to know anything about HAL. That's up to the system integrator (you :) ). The HAL configuration only changes if you need to add or subtract axes or actuators, change the way the actuators are grouped, or make other hardware changes. Remember, it's the Hardware Abstraction Layer. It hides the specifics of the hardware from the upper level software, and coincidentally from the user of that software. If (when) you find that steppers don't give you good enough performance, you will be able to change to servos (maybe only on the XY axes, leaving vertical and rotation as steppers), and there is no change to the motion controller - that would be handled by the system integrator swapping out some stepgens for some PWM+PID. If you're planning to do PCB production, then I would suggest you make up a simple language, and then make a set of filters that convert from various PCB program P&P files to your format. At that point, the engineer/operator would set up the specifics of part/reel placement and pickup, import the file into whichever interpreter instance they want to use, and hit "start". - Steve ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Create and publish websites with WebMatrix Use the most popular FREE web apps or write code yourself; WebMatrix provides all the features you need to develop and publish your website. http://p.sf.net/sfu/ms-webmatrix-sf _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
