ATM [Fwd: BOUNCE atm@shore.net: stepper drive

[Mel Bartels <mbartels@efn.org>]

> From: Chris Albertson <chris@topdog.pas1.logicon.com>
> Organization: Logicon RDA
> Subject: Re: ATM Help : Stepper drive
>
> You _can_ do what you want in software.  These is no
> reason why a Pentium or even 486 can't control a half
> dozen steppers and a CCD camera with microsecond timming.
> You can do this and run Netscape all at the same time.
>
> You problem is likely the operating system.  You will
> need a good real-time OS.  Take a good look at this URL.
> http://luz.cs.nmt.edu/~rtlinux/  This is a "real-time"
> varient of Linux.  I have some working camera control
> software that runs under it.  Other people have used it for
> industrial robots which are much more complex then telescope
> mounts.  There is a little bit of a learning curve but after
> some study writing real-time control software under Real-Time
> Linux is very easy.  If you want both exact or "hard" real-time
> and a good suite of software development tool this is the
> OS to use.  Also it is free, zero cost.
>
> The software I wrote controls the clocks going to the CCD
> and stores data to disk in a driftscan CCD camera.  With
> drift scan the CCD is read continously, for hours and
> "microseconds count"  This software controls the CCD and
> at the same time accepts commands over an Ethernet connction
> from an operator setting at a (possibly) remote computer
> I can operate the CCD camera, process operator commands and run
> a text editor and compiler all at the same time on a low
> end 486.
>
> If you have questions write back to me at this adderss or at
> home (chrisja@jps.net)  I am however going away 'till Tuesday.
>
> Dawie Botes wrote:
> >
> > Hi All
> >
> > I'm am busy (trying) to write a program to run Stepper motors through
> > my PC to follow objects and slew to them. I've got it all figured out
> > in my head but the PC don't want to play with me. The main problem I
> > got is that the PC can't give you an accurate timing to the motor and
> > whenever you do something like press a button the motor slows down.
> >
> > To solve this problem I have decided to use the computer only to give
> > directions to the motors through relays. Now I just want to know what
> > chip I can use to give the motor an accurate step time.
> >
> > Something I really want to know is: Is it possible to use a
> > calculators LCD screen with a computer? If so . . . how?
>
> --
> --Chris Albertson
>
>   chris@topdog.logicon.com                Voice:  626-351-0089  X127
>   Logicon RDA, Pasadena California          Fax:  626-351-0699



--
Clear skies, Mel Bartels
http://www.efn.org/~mbartels