The problem with the boards are that they are a little too general purpose. So much more is needed above and beyond isolated outputs or inputs.
For example, say you want RS485 for the spindle controller. Or maybe CANopen CAN bus for pick and place tools to bring in raw material and remove finished goods. Even just a tool changer. The Beagle has CAN bus and Serial ports along with I2C and SPI. These should be configured so it's possible add an LCD display with touch screen. If they make one of the CAN pins a switch input then the CAN port is lost. That's what happened with the 4D Systems LCD cape I bought (now discontinued). Useless if I also want a CAN cape. A cape meant for CNC should know that LIMIT and ESTOP switches should be NC type for safety. So no disabling outputs with the ESTOP signal. A hardware PWM module on the Beagle should be an output. And ideally, with a jumper, a PWM to 0-10V output or else STEP with the corresponding DIRECTION signal. Inputs tied to the AB and Index input of one of the quadrature encoder modules. Ultimately what's more cost effective and saleable? A general purpose board that still needs another BoB or a dedicated interface that would work with _most_ mills or lathes. IMHO the latter. John > -----Original Message----- > From: Chris Albertson [mailto:albertson.ch...@gmail.com] > Sent: December-12-20 10:37 PM > To: Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC) > Subject: Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone and MachineKit > > I just looked. That is a really nice way to design this. At first I > thought "Three boards? Why?" but this gives you some flexibility to change > out one board and also you have some packaging options too. > > One thing I want to point out is that anyone here could have this PCB made > for 40 cents each and have a stack of them in hand before the start of > 2021. However it might be worth a re-design using surface mount parts > because JLCPCB now offers to assemble SMT parts at no cost. They would > solder everything but the connectors and it would cost maybe $1 per PCB > total. > > On Sat, Dec 12, 2020 at 9:44 PM Robert Murphy <robert.mur...@gmx.com> wrote: > > > I used a 3 board solution on my BBB before switching from MK to Linuxcnc. > > > > https://github.com/ozzyrob/pp_cape > > > > https://github.com/ozzyrob/pp_bob_input > > > > https://github.com/ozzyrob/pp_bob_output > > > > > > The cape attaches as normal and the 2 other boards sit either side > > connected by a short ribbon cable. > > > > Still have a few sets of boards left over, and one set of 3 fully built > > that I used but no longer have a use for. > > > > There are pretty basic but I found them to work without any issues. > > > > On 13/12/20 7:18 am, Alan Condit wrote: > > > Marcus, > > > > > > Jon Elson (Pico-systems) sells the Cramps board designed by Charles > > > Steinkuehler that can run six Pololu stepper drives (like 35v 1 to 2 > > amps). > > > I designed a little PCB that can plug into three of the stepper driver > > > sockets to allow it to control 3 external drives. They are or were > > > available on OSHPark as CRAMPS-BOB3-a3. > > > > > > Alan > > > > > > > > >> From: marcus.bow...@visible.eclipse.co.uk > > >> To: EnhancedController <emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net> > > >> Cc: > > >> Bcc: > > >> Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2020 19:38:12 +0000 > > >> Subject: [Emc-users] Beaglebone and MachineKit > > >> John (or anyone else), > > >> > > >> Is there a 'cape' currently available to suit the Beaglebone Black > > >> running MachineKit or LinuxCNC? > > >> I know there used to be a cape specifically for that purpose, but it has > > >> been out of production for some time. > > >> I have a Beaglebone I would like to press into service running either > > >> LinuxCNC or MachineKit. > > >> Are images available for both? > > >> > > >> Marcus > > >> > > >> > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Emc-users mailing list > > > Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net > > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Emc-users mailing list > > Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users > > > > > -- > > Chris Albertson > Redondo Beach, California > > _______________________________________________ > Emc-users mailing list > Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
