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New Concept Multi-Output Motion Platform Controller Board

Discussion in 'SimTools compatible interfaces' started by McController, Sep 20, 2021.

  1. McController

    McController M-PULSAR

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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, 3DOF, DC motor, SimAxe, Motion platform, 4DOF, 6DOF
    Hi everyone,
    I'm a simulation enthusiast and I'm building a controller board for motion platforms on my own.
    Characteristics:
    Power supply +12/24V.
    High-performance 32bit MCU 120Mhz.
    Capability to handle up to 12 actuators (pulse/dir), up to 12 inputs, and up to 16 digital outputs (open collector).
    Two serials (one RS232 and one RS485) and one Ethernet port.
    Possibility to expand the functionality with exp. boards.
    Those who are interested can contact me in PVT even because the electronic shortage
    • Like Like x 2
  2. McController

    McController M-PULSAR

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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, 3DOF, DC motor, SimAxe, Motion platform, 4DOF, 6DOF
    These are some pictures of my controller. For those are interested

    MotionCard.png


    MotionCard_SERIAL.png

    MotionCard_INPUT.png

    Attached Files:

    • Like Like x 1
  3. PeterW

    PeterW alias Wickie

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    My Motion Simulator:
    6DOF
    Hi @McController
    Wellcome to the community!
    Your controller board looks interesting! Pls. can you give us some more information, especially how to wire things, what motors/motor driver can be connected, which functions does the controller have? Can it comminicate with Simtools or the "mover interface" from @pmvcda,....
    Thanks a lot!
    Wickie
    • Agree Agree x 2
  4. Gadget999

    Gadget999 Well-Known Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino, 6DOF
    It looks neat

    How do you program it ?
  5. pmvcda

    pmvcda aka FlyPT

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    My Motion Simulator:
    6DOF
    Cool, give us more info/specs.
    Some connection examples/videos and how to control it by serial or UDP (Ethernet port?)
  6. McController

    McController M-PULSAR

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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, 3DOF, DC motor, SimAxe, Motion platform, 4DOF, 6DOF
    Hi everyone,
    These are some specs of the board but, if you have some suggestions, they are welcome.

    Motion Card 1.0 Specifications:
    - Power supply +12/24 Vdc.
    - Up to 24 differential output.
    - Up to 12 optoisolated inputs 12/24V.
    - Emergency function capabilities.
    - Fast 100 Mb ethernet port.
    - 1 RS485 port
    - 1 RS232 port
    - OLED display
    - Support FlyPT mover
    - Support DIR/PULSE motor drive


    Motion Card 1.0 Features:
    - Serial or Ethernet interface
    - Very low latency <1 msec - 500 Khz max pulse rate
    - Software endstop
    - Spike filters
    - Parameter modification from PC software (coming soon)
    - auto home calibration (with endstop)
    • Informative Informative x 1
  7. McController

    McController M-PULSAR

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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, 3DOF, DC motor, SimAxe, Motion platform, 4DOF, 6DOF
    Depends of the election shortage, we are ready technically ready to commercialize it but there isn't CPU on the market right now
    • Informative Informative x 1
  8. McController

    McController M-PULSAR

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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, 3DOF, DC motor, SimAxe, Motion platform, 4DOF, 6DOF
    I will publish here the instructions when will be available
  9. PeterW

    PeterW alias Wickie

    Joined:
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    Dipl. Ing. Mb (FH)
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    My Motion Simulator:
    6DOF
    Hi again @McController
    I am still not sure, whether I understood your controller correctly. So here I made a sketch how I understand the function and use of your controller:
    20211013_182055.jpg
    If you make it possible to connect a PC with SimTools or mover-interface running to an industrial motor controller, then I think you will open a new chapter in DIY-simbuilding!
    My wishlist:
    - usable also for software-noobs like me. So no need to study programming
    - support for different optional interfaces/protocols for industrial motor-controllers
    - Good and easy user interface
    - good manual
    - not tooooo expensive:grin

    Wickie
    • Agree Agree x 1
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2021
  10. McController

    McController M-PULSAR

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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, 3DOF, DC motor, SimAxe, Motion platform, 4DOF, 6DOF


    I have thought that the board-to-driver ethernet connection is not an easy and flexible solution like DIR/PULSE or the analog (the board has also analog signals +-10V capabilities with an opportunity expansion board that will come soon).
    There is also a latency problem on protocols like the Modbus or similar (tested yet without good results).


    BlockSchematic.jpg





    Answering your welcome advice:

    - usable also for software-noobs like me. So no need to study programming

    No programming skill need, the parameters are not much and will be available a graphics interface soon for the setup



    - support for different optional interfaces/protocols for industrial motor-controllers

    Will be available the customization input protocol in order to accept industrial systems inputs even though is not easy, need time to collect and implement all protocol where possible but is projected to use the board for industrial purpose



    - Good and easy user interface

    This is on progress developing



    - good manual

    The goal is that the UI will be so intuitive that the manual should be a quick help in the software itself



    - not tooooo expensive

    This is the first target of our job, We would like to stay under the 150$ better closest to 100$
    • Like Like x 1
    • Informative Informative x 1
  11. yobuddy

    yobuddy Well-Known Member Staff Member Moderator SimAxe Beta Tester SimTools Developer Gold Contributor

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    Love seeing new hardware, good work @McController!
    Take care,
    yobuddy
  12. Dschadu

    Dschadu Active Member

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    Looks promising. Do you plan to make it open source?
  13. McController

    McController M-PULSAR

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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, 3DOF, DC motor, SimAxe, Motion platform, 4DOF, 6DOF
    Hi Dschadu, your idea looks interesting just first would like to return from some expenses then we could consider to make the project open source
  14. Dschadu

    Dschadu Active Member

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    Open source does not mean no money :) Take a look at i.e. oDrive. Soft+Hardware is open source, but they still sell the PCB to a lot of customers.
    And you would be surprised how generous this community is when there is a donate button and if your product works for them.
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
  15. McController

    McController M-PULSAR

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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, 3DOF, DC motor, SimAxe, Motion platform, 4DOF, 6DOF
    The last and definitive board's hardware. Now hard working on the firmware. The member
    "Marco Annunziata"
    are cooperating with us testing, giving feedbacks and suggestions. At the moment the basic firmware release seems working fine

    Attached Files:

    • Like Like x 3
  16. McController

    McController M-PULSAR

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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, 3DOF, DC motor, SimAxe, Motion platform, 4DOF, 6DOF
    Controller board working demonstration


    • Like Like x 4
  17. zhai1987

    zhai1987 Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, 3DOF, AC motor
    Has the project updated anything interesting?
  18. Marco Annunziata

    Marco Annunziata Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    DC motor, Motion platform, 6DOF
    Hello, the board works fine just we are working on the pc interface for the configuration
    • Like Like x 1
  19. JohnH

    JohnH New Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF
    Did this project die, or? It looked promising.
  20. McController

    McController M-PULSAR

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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, 3DOF, DC motor, SimAxe, Motion platform, 4DOF, 6DOF
    No it's not die, actually ready for the selling, now we are workingNo it's actually ready for the selling, now we are working on improving a the spike filter, will be much configurable, which for motion platform with high performance is very important for the safety on improving a the spike filter, will be much configurable, which for motion platform with high performance is very important for the safety and refine the pc interface