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Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: MoegZebra on October 05, 2011, 03:06:26 AM

Title: Axon and the servo drive
Post by: MoegZebra on October 05, 2011, 03:06:26 AM

I have a couple of digital servo drives and industrial servos with which I would like to build a hobby robot (wannabe IronMan workshop robot).
Will it be possible to control the servo drives from an Axon controller through a CANopen network?

The servo drives are from AMC (http://www.a-m-c.com/download/datasheet/dpcante-015b200.pdf (http://www.a-m-c.com/download/datasheet/dpcante-015b200.pdf))

http://www.a-m-c.com/images/productpics/dpcante-015b200.jpg (http://www.a-m-c.com/images/productpics/dpcante-015b200.jpg)

Any suggestions would be appreciated! ???

Title: Re: Axon and the servo drive
Post by: waltr on October 05, 2011, 07:51:10 PM

Read the data sheet you posted the link to.

On the first page is:

Quote

This DP Series drive features a CANopen interface for networking and a RS-232 interface for drive configuration and setup.

Google those terms to learn what they are. These can not be directly connected to a micro-controller IC (processor on the Axon). These need a level translation circuit or IC.

The Block Diagram also show the control signals. Notice the +5V pull-ups on the first signals on the top left. This is a hint that these are 5V TTL compatible signals. These can be driven from a 5V micro-controller.

The DS indicates that the real control is over the CANopen (google this) interface (google this) but there is no information about what the command structure is. My guess is that the is another document on the command interface for that controller. It may be called 'Programming Reference Manual' or something like that name.

Title: Re: Axon and the servo drive
Post by: Admin on October 07, 2011, 02:56:23 AM

Although there are microcontrollers out there that offer a CAN interface, the Axon series does not have this (CAN is a very rare feature to have).

That said, when companies claim RS-232, what they usually mean is serial TTL (a very different thing). The Axon series offers serial TTL through the UART, so you just got to read through the datasheets to learn commands and figure out compatibility.

Title: Re: Axon and the servo drive
Post by: joe61 on October 07, 2011, 04:56:49 AM

I've seen CAN interface ICs from a few manufacturers (Maxim has one or more). I suspect most of them have some kind of serial interface for the MCU, but I've no idea what the protocol is like between the MCU and CAN IC. Googling "controller area network ic" shows quite a few hits though.

Joe

Title: Re: Axon and the servo drive
Post by: Soeren on October 07, 2011, 05:04:50 AM

Hi,

http://www.canfestival.org/ (http://www.canfestival.org/)
and perhaps http://www.reprap.org/wiki/CANopen (http://www.reprap.org/wiki/CANopen)


Or if your pockets are loading you down and you don't wanna work too hard:
http://www.canopenstore.com/pip/canopen-compliant-bootloader-for-atmel-avr.html (http://www.canopenstore.com/pip/canopen-compliant-bootloader-for-atmel-avr.html)

Title: Re: Axon and the servo drive
Post by: knossos on October 07, 2011, 10:08:36 AM

Also you might want to check out this:

OBD-II to UART (http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9555)

or

CAN-BUS Shield (http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10039)