USB 2.0 is used on a lot of direct stepping desktop and bench top mills. So
speed of the USB interface isn't an issue. What is an issue is the need for
true real-time support on Windows platforms. The Windows Kernel is the
bottle neck of such control systems. Not the USB interface.
On Tue, Jun 26, 2012 at 8:38 PM, James <jamesrsweet@...> wrote:
> ∗∗
>
>
>
> >
> > I don't believe the USB interface is capable of fast enough throughput
> > to handle direct stepper phase control, but step-direction commands
> > might work. (flow control would still be an issue).
> >
>
> I bet it is. The widely available FTDI USB to serial chips will do
> 250kbps, just how fast does it need to be? That said, I'm not sure why
> you'd want to do direct phase control, there are some nice stepper driver
> IC's out there. I played with some TI driver ICs that have built in
> switchmode current limiting, and some fancy microstepping modes.
>
>
>
--
If you ask me if it can be done. The answer is YES, it can always be done.
The correct questions however are... What will it cost, and how long will
it take?
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