Why does each actuator need its own com port?

While reading the SCN5 manual, it appears you can connect many of these to the ADP interface and then connect it to a serial to usb. I think you can get something obnoxious like 16 of them on one com port.

Is there a reason why this isnt done? You would just address them 0, 1, 2, etc and then the software would reference them all via one com port. I am just plotting out a 6 DOF flight sim and I dont like the options available to hook up 6 actuators to a computer. Im going to use 6 or 3 usb ports, seems just silly.

http://www.automation4less.com/store/proddetail.asp?prod=TBVST-EN-SET <--piece of hardware I was referring to.

Thanks in advance!

Hi, don't use scn5s so cannot comment on the com port question (although I use a powered hub and therefore have only one USB cable to the computer), but I am aware of there specifications, they are fast but can only lift light weight. I don't think they would be suitable for a standard 6DOF.

Good point, lets say SCN6, or anything like that. Question really is, looks like you can hook up many of these to a single com port and communicate with them based on their address

I hook up my current five motor controllers to a powered hub, just one cable to the computer.

Yes I know USB Hub's exist, I'm asking why something is the way it is, not how to plug a lot of USB into a computer. But thanks for the response!

From the specifications that I have read, even a scn6 would be marginal for a 6DOF if you want any speed. One of the reasons that I am building my own.

ok, I though you were concerned about the wiring - over and out.

By design Simtools has 6 interfaces that can control up to two motors each is why.

If you don’t like the options available then you don’t have to use it!

I’m not familiar with SCN5 or 6 but USB to serial adaptors are around $5 each on ebay. You can buy a hub if need for $10 or less. So $5 x 6 = $30 + $10 = $40. The device you suggest and linked to is $275 dollars. My point of view is it’s just silly to spend $275 when you can do the job for $40! But if you want to burn an extra $235 to tidy things up a bit, go for it. But you will need to find yourself a different motion software while you’re at it!

I think everyone is misunderstanding the reason for my question. Its just a question of a computer engineer. I read the manual of the actuator and it appears you can hook up many on one com port.

Its not that I dont like something and I need a different option, lol I just want to know if theres a technical limitation when it comes to motion software that is causing this to be how things work.

Like I said, "By design Simtools has 6 interfaces that can control up to two motors each is why." No technical limitations.

To elaborate, to use multiple SCN’s on one interface would require you to set a unique ID on each SCN. Then the motion software would need to tell the control interface which ID to use with the corresponding motion data. Using single interfaces on each SCN allows each one to use the same ID with its corresponding motion data since the individual interfaces separate them from each other. That is technically why you need to use one interface on Simtools with each SCN used. Even though each interface can usually control two motors, you can’t put two SCN ID’s on one Simtools interface because there is currently not a way to set ID’s.

@nclabs , maybe you can help here?