Hi Craig,

thank you for publishing the information. I understand that it took lot of work to make your BOB and everybody has different needs hence you aren't likely to change the design; however let me tell you my opinion and wishes.

You say that it provides easy connection to motor drives, relay boards or opto-isolator boards etc. While I agree the motor drives are something that need to be external (everybody has his own choice of motors/drives), I personally find it an undesirable complication the need for additional boards for the opto input/ouputs and relays. It implies additional web search, additional wiring, additional headache, additional potential errors, additional money, additional brackets (or whatever) in the case, additional room consumed, additional compatibility problems, additional shipments, etc. etc.

I see there's lot of free room on your board, couldn't be all the I/Os already opto-isolated, and a number of relays already present on it?
That would make the board much more practical, hence more appealing, to myself and to a number of other people too.

You plug the BOB over the KFLOP and you're done.
You can wire your switches, pumps, solenoids, etc., directly to the screw terminals on the BOB. Much easier.

My two cents,
EC

--- In DynoMotion@yahoogroups.com, "Craig" <cs6061@...> wrote:
>
>
> Hi all,
>
> I am Craig, Ray's friend that designed the BOB for Kflops. I will try
> and get some more data posted her in the next week or so. Ray fairly
> well covered the design points. He will be the first to try it out on
> his machine.
>
>
>
> The design had several goals, first was to provide screw terminal access
> to all the Kflops signals for easy connection to other devices like
> Gecko drives, relay boards or optio-isolator boards etc. Second was to
> buffer all signals to provide protection for the Kflops signals. The
> third goal was, to increase the IO drive capability above the 10ma
> provided by the Xilinx FPGA on the Kflops and fourth, to make all inputs
> +5v tolerant.
>
>
>
> All this comes at a cost of some flexibility. Since externally there is
> no way to tell if a particular Kflops IO has been set to an output or
> input I had make some judgments as how to allocate Kflops 46 IO signals
> as input or outputs. Some are output only, mainly the IO's that
> can be used for step and direction ( IO 8-15 and 32-43) and some are
> input only (IO 0-7). Then there are 16 IO's that can be set via a
> dipswitch to be either an input or output (IO 16-31)
>
>
>
> All inputs have 4.7K pull-up resistors so as not to float when not
> connected. The IO drivers/receivers are either a 74ABT541,74ABT125 or
> 74LVT126 depending on the pin. IO-46 and IO-47 have LED's and
> intended for SIO com, TXD is only buffered to 3.3v Voh.
>
>
>
> https://picasaweb.google.com/115378886522213655693/KFBOB?authuser=0&feat\
> =directlink
> <https://picasaweb.google.com/115378886522213655693/KFBOB?authuser=0&fea\
> t=directlink>
>
>
>
> I started this project back to first part of December, was way more work
> that ever envisioned. To date I have built up 3 boards but none have
> actually been connected to a working machine yet. I would like to make
> the board available but I am still working on that aspect of the
> project. Stay tuned.
>
> Craig

All the step and direction lines come out the double row connector, there is a step direction and common for each channel. Each common pin can be set to be ground or +5V.

Carig

--- In DynoMotion@yahoogroups.com, "tmday7" <brotroy7@...> wrote:
>
> Hello Craig,
> Board looks really nice, ive been working on a similar board, but its only a interface not a B.O.B.
>
> What is the double row of screw terminals beside the RJ45?
>
> Thanks,
> Troy
>
> --- In DynoMotion@yahoogroups.com, "Craig" <cs6061@> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I am Craig, Ray's friend that designed the BOB for Kflops. I will try
> > and get some more data posted her in the next week or so. Ray fairly
> > well covered the design points. He will be the first to try it out on
> > his machine.
> >
> >
> >
> > The design had several goals, first was to provide screw terminal access
> > to all the Kflops signals for easy connection to other devices like
> > Gecko drives, relay boards or optio-isolator boards etc. Second was to
> > buffer all signals to provide protection for the Kflops signals. The
> > third goal was, to increase the IO drive capability above the 10ma
> > provided by the Xilinx FPGA on the Kflops and fourth, to make all inputs
> > +5v tolerant.
> >
> >
> >
> > All this comes at a cost of some flexibility. Since externally there is
> > no way to tell if a particular Kflops IO has been set to an output or
> > input I had make some judgments as how to allocate Kflops 46 IO signals
> > as input or outputs. Some are output only, mainly the IO's that
> > can be used for step and direction ( IO 8-15 and 32-43) and some are
> > input only (IO 0-7). Then there are 16 IO's that can be set via a
> > dipswitch to be either an input or output (IO 16-31)
> >
> >
> >
> > All inputs have 4.7K pull-up resistors so as not to float when not
> > connected. The IO drivers/receivers are either a 74ABT541,74ABT125 or
> > 74LVT126 depending on the pin. IO-46 and IO-47 have LED's and
> > intended for SIO com, TXD is only buffered to 3.3v Voh.
> >
> >
> >
> > https://picasaweb.google.com/115378886522213655693/KFBOB?authuser=0&feat\
> > =directlink
> > <https://picasaweb.google.com/115378886522213655693/KFBOB?authuser=0&fea\
> > t=directlink>
> >
> >
> >
> > I started this project back to first part of December, was way more work
> > that ever envisioned. To date I have built up 3 boards but none have
> > actually been connected to a working machine yet. I would like to make
> > the board available but I am still working on that aspect of the
> > project. Stay tuned.
> >
> > Craig
> >
>

EC,
Well that is sort of what I initially had in mind but things are not that simple. The first problem is how many realys, what contact rating, what isolaiton voltage, form A, B or C contacts etc. and the same for opto isolators. Then which do you asign to which of the 46 IO's and how does one decide. You could put a full matrix of opto and relays on all IO's with selection jumpers but the board is going to be huge and the cost would go through the roof. Those screw terminals are like $.50 per pin for the good rising cage type.

So I chose the other end of the scale and kepted one step above a passive breakout board. The thing that really convinced me not to add relays and opto isolators is the numerous low cost opto and relay boards already on the market.

That's my story and I am sticking to it.

Craig

--- In DynoMotion@yahoogroups.com, "ericncn" <ericnc@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Craig,
>
> thank you for publishing the information. I understand that it took lot of work to make your BOB and everybody has different needs hence you aren't likely to change the design; however let me tell you my opinion and wishes.
>
> You say that it provides easy connection to motor drives, relay boards or opto-isolator boards etc. While I agree the motor drives are something that need to be external (everybody has his own choice of motors/drives), I personally find it an undesirable complication the need for additional boards for the opto input/ouputs and relays. It implies additional web search, additional wiring, additional headache, additional potential errors, additional money, additional brackets (or whatever) in the case, additional room consumed, additional compatibility problems, additional shipments, etc. etc.
>
> I see there's lot of free room on your board, couldn't be all the I/Os already opto-isolated, and a number of relays already present on it?
> That would make the board much more practical, hence more appealing, to myself and to a number of other people too.
>
> You plug the BOB over the KFLOP and you're done.
> You can wire your switches, pumps, solenoids, etc., directly to the screw terminals on the BOB. Much easier.
>
> My two cents,
> EC
>
> --- In DynoMotion@yahoogroups.com, "Craig" <cs6061@> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I am Craig, Ray's friend that designed the BOB for Kflops. I will try
> > and get some more data posted her in the next week or so. Ray fairly
> > well covered the design points. He will be the first to try it out on
> > his machine.
> >
> >
> >
> > The design had several goals, first was to provide screw terminal access
> > to all the Kflops signals for easy connection to other devices like
> > Gecko drives, relay boards or optio-isolator boards etc. Second was to
> > buffer all signals to provide protection for the Kflops signals. The
> > third goal was, to increase the IO drive capability above the 10ma
> > provided by the Xilinx FPGA on the Kflops and fourth, to make all inputs
> > +5v tolerant.
> >
> >
> >
> > All this comes at a cost of some flexibility. Since externally there is
> > no way to tell if a particular Kflops IO has been set to an output or
> > input I had make some judgments as how to allocate Kflops 46 IO signals
> > as input or outputs. Some are output only, mainly the IO's that
> > can be used for step and direction ( IO 8-15 and 32-43) and some are
> > input only (IO 0-7). Then there are 16 IO's that can be set via a
> > dipswitch to be either an input or output (IO 16-31)
> >
> >
> >
> > All inputs have 4.7K pull-up resistors so as not to float when not
> > connected. The IO drivers/receivers are either a 74ABT541,74ABT125 or
> > 74LVT126 depending on the pin. IO-46 and IO-47 have LED's and
> > intended for SIO com, TXD is only buffered to 3.3v Voh.
> >
> >
> >
> > https://picasaweb.google.com/115378886522213655693/KFBOB?authuser=0&feat\
> > =directlink
> > <https://picasaweb.google.com/115378886522213655693/KFBOB?authuser=0&fea\
> > t=directlink>
> >
> >
> >
> > I started this project back to first part of December, was way more work
> > that ever envisioned. To date I have built up 3 boards but none have
> > actually been connected to a working machine yet. I would like to make
> > the board available but I am still working on that aspect of the
> > project. Stay tuned.
> >
> > Craig
>

Craig
your story sounds good to me!
I think you came up with a most reasonable solution ,
emphasis on solution
count me in, I could use 4 today!
Carl
info[at]cncbuilder.net

--- In DynoMotion@yahoogroups.com, "Craig" <cs6061@...> wrote:
>
> EC,
> Well that is sort of what I initially had in mind but things are not that simple. The first problem is how many realys, what contact rating, what isolaiton voltage, form A, B or C contacts etc. and the same for opto isolators. Then which do you asign to which of the 46 IO's and how does one decide. You could put a full matrix of opto and relays on all IO's with selection jumpers but the board is going to be huge and the cost would go through the roof. Those screw terminals are like $.50 per pin for the good rising cage type.
>
> So I chose the other end of the scale and kepted one step above a passive breakout board. The thing that really convinced me not to add relays and opto isolators is the numerous low cost opto and relay boards already on the market.
>
> That's my story and I am sticking to it.
>
> Craig
>
> --- In DynoMotion@yahoogroups.com, "ericncn" <ericnc@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Craig,
> >
> > thank you for publishing the information. I understand that it took lot of work to make your BOB and everybody has different needs hence you aren't likely to change the design; however let me tell you my opinion and wishes.
> >
> > You say that it provides easy connection to motor drives, relay boards or opto-isolator boards etc. While I agree the motor drives are something that need to be external (everybody has his own choice of motors/drives), I personally find it an undesirable complication the need for additional boards for the opto input/ouputs and relays. It implies additional web search, additional wiring, additional headache, additional potential errors, additional money, additional brackets (or whatever) in the case, additional room consumed, additional compatibility problems, additional shipments, etc. etc.
> >
> > I see there's lot of free room on your board, couldn't be all the I/Os already opto-isolated, and a number of relays already present on it?
> > That would make the board much more practical, hence more appealing, to myself and to a number of other people too.
> >
> > You plug the BOB over the KFLOP and you're done.
> > You can wire your switches, pumps, solenoids, etc., directly to the screw terminals on the BOB. Much easier.
> >
> > My two cents,
> > EC
> >
> > --- In DynoMotion@yahoogroups.com, "Craig" <cs6061@> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi all,
> > >
> > > I am Craig, Ray's friend that designed the BOB for Kflops. I will try
> > > and get some more data posted her in the next week or so. Ray fairly
> > > well covered the design points. He will be the first to try it out on
> > > his machine.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > The design had several goals, first was to provide screw terminal access
> > > to all the Kflops signals for easy connection to other devices like
> > > Gecko drives, relay boards or optio-isolator boards etc. Second was to
> > > buffer all signals to provide protection for the Kflops signals. The
> > > third goal was, to increase the IO drive capability above the 10ma
> > > provided by the Xilinx FPGA on the Kflops and fourth, to make all inputs
> > > +5v tolerant.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > All this comes at a cost of some flexibility. Since externally there is
> > > no way to tell if a particular Kflops IO has been set to an output or
> > > input I had make some judgments as how to allocate Kflops 46 IO signals
> > > as input or outputs. Some are output only, mainly the IO's that
> > > can be used for step and direction ( IO 8-15 and 32-43) and some are
> > > input only (IO 0-7). Then there are 16 IO's that can be set via a
> > > dipswitch to be either an input or output (IO 16-31)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > All inputs have 4.7K pull-up resistors so as not to float when not
> > > connected. The IO drivers/receivers are either a 74ABT541,74ABT125 or
> > > 74LVT126 depending on the pin. IO-46 and IO-47 have LED's and
> > > intended for SIO com, TXD is only buffered to 3.3v Voh.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > https://picasaweb.google.com/115378886522213655693/KFBOB?authuser=0&feat\
> > > =directlink
> > > <https://picasaweb.google.com/115378886522213655693/KFBOB?authuser=0&fea\
> > > t=directlink>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I started this project back to first part of December, was way more work
> > > that ever envisioned. To date I have built up 3 boards but none have
> > > actually been connected to a working machine yet. I would like to make
> > > the board available but I am still working on that aspect of the
> > > project. Stay tuned.
> > >
> > > Craig
> >
>

Great project! I'm very interested too. Will a schematic be available? Maybe this should become a standard option supplied with the kflop? I had a similar board made for my custom Mantis motion control software but I like the way you've done it much better!

I'd be interested in dozens of these once your manufacturing is sorted out. What cost per unit?

Thanks Gerald Thompson

--- In DynoMotion@yahoogroups.com, "Craig" <cs6061@...> wrote:
>
>
> Hi all,
>
> I am Craig, Ray's friend that designed the BOB for Kflops. I will try
> and get some more data posted her in the next week or so. Ray fairly
> well covered the design points. He will be the first to try it out on
> his machine.
>
>
>
> The design had several goals, first was to provide screw terminal access
> to all the Kflops signals for easy connection to other devices like
> Gecko drives, relay boards or optio-isolator boards etc. Second was to
> buffer all signals to provide protection for the Kflops signals. The
> third goal was, to increase the IO drive capability above the 10ma
> provided by the Xilinx FPGA on the Kflops and fourth, to make all inputs
> +5v tolerant.
>
>
>
> All this comes at a cost of some flexibility. Since externally there is
> no way to tell if a particular Kflops IO has been set to an output or
> input I had make some judgments as how to allocate Kflops 46 IO signals
> as input or outputs. Some are output only, mainly the IO's that
> can be used for step and direction ( IO 8-15 and 32-43) and some are
> input only (IO 0-7). Then there are 16 IO's that can be set via a
> dipswitch to be either an input or output (IO 16-31)
>
>
>
> All inputs have 4.7K pull-up resistors so as not to float when not
> connected. The IO drivers/receivers are either a 74ABT541,74ABT125 or
> 74LVT126 depending on the pin. IO-46 and IO-47 have LED's and
> intended for SIO com, TXD is only buffered to 3.3v Voh.
>
>
>
> https://picasaweb.google.com/115378886522213655693/KFBOB?authuser=0&feat\
> =directlink
> <https://picasaweb.google.com/115378886522213655693/KFBOB?authuser=0&fea\
> t=directlink>
>
>
>
> I started this project back to first part of December, was way more work
> that ever envisioned. To date I have built up 3 boards but none have
> actually been connected to a working machine yet. I would like to make
> the board available but I am still working on that aspect of the
> project. Stay tuned.
>
> Craig
>