Baldor has released a bundled Developer's Kit version of its PCIbus-based motion controller, NextMove PCI. Provided complete with Mint programming software, manuals, cables, and motion control and I/O interfacing hardware - the kit provides everything required to evaluate and prototype machine control solutions for Windows platforms. The kit also includes an I/O adapter that allows users of the ISA-based NextMove PC controller, to easily evaluate the upgraded performance of the new controller, and develop migration solutions to PCI-based PC platforms.
NextMove PCI is a 'Short PCI'-sized motion controller offering eight axes of motor control, expandable to 12 via an addon module.
Four axes may be used in closed-loop servo mode, with a 125us update capability.
The rest may be used for open-loop stepper control with a maximum step pulse frequency of over 3MHz.
The board includes enough on-board I/O to satisfy many common machine or automation tasks.
There are 20 user-configurable digital inputs - four of which can capture positions within 200ns for ultrafast product registration - and four 14bit DAC outputs with incremental encoder feedback of up to 7.5MHz - providing the performance to support linear as well as rotary motors.
There are also 12 digital outputs which may be configured as PNP or NPN, and four 12bit analogue inputs.
Further I/O may be added via CAN fieldbus expansion ports which support the CANopen protocol.
NextMove PCI is programmed using the latest version of Baldor's powerful motion programming language, Mint v4.
This provides a structured high-level development environment to speed application development, and runs directly on the controller via a built-in interpreter.
Mint v4 also provides a common API for both Mint and C, making it easy to convert applications to embedded C to realise the advantages of faster throughput.
Mint and C-compatible Mint function libraries are available for most popular rapid application development packages such as Visual Basic, Visual C and Delphi.
The NextMove PCI Developer's Kit includes the NextMove PCI card, an interface cable, a Breakout Unit with 5mm terminal strips and D type connectors - for easy real-world interfacing - modules to configure the board's integral digital I/O for either PNP or NPN FET outputs, a Mint Programmer's Toolkit and manual, and an adapter to convert the output connector to the NextMove PC pinout.