Kanalog Hardware Info

Kanalog adds Analog and other I/O to KFLOP

Specification	Kanalog Hardware/Connectors
BlockDiagram	Board Layout
Kanalog Use and Settings

Relay Drivers / Grounding

The 8 Relay drivers are open collector type (switch to GND) capable of switching loads up to 1Amp at up 24V.  They share a common GND with Kanalog (are not isolated).  The outputs on Kanalog are not guaranteed to power up off until after KFLOP has booted.  The additional SWE relay driver should be used as a master enable to avoid momentary power up issues.  SWE is guaranteed to remain off until after all the Kanalog Outputs have been initialized off.

Kanalog has a single GND common to KFLOP, control logic, relay drivers, and Analog signals.  The GND should normally be isolated from Earth GND to avoid ground loops and injecting earth GND noise into Kanalog/KFLOP DC GND.  Standoff mounting holes are completely isolated with the exception of the GND lug holes marked "GND".

The Opto Inputs and Outputs are fully isolated.

Initial Setup/Testing for Analog Amplifiers

There is a starting configuration for KFLOP+Kanalog called KanalogInitialPID.mot in the \KMotion\Motors folder.  Load it into an axis channel from the KMotion Configuration Screen.

The basic first steps are to verify the hardware:

1. check the encoder counts correctly
2. check that the DACs can command the Amplifier to control motor speed.  Test Console commands like DAC0=200  (with the axis disabled)
3. Enable the Servo using the Step Response Screen.  Zero, Enable

Configuring DAC and Encoder Channels

I think our software/documents some what over use the word channel which can confusion. There are Motor Axis Channels, DAC Output Channels, and Encoder Input Channels which are all different things.   This diagram may help:

KFLOP Functional Diagram

Any KFLOP Motor Axis Channel can be configured to make use of any DAC or any Encoder by specifying the Input and Output channels. See:

Input Channels

The KanalogInitialPID.mot configuration file is an example of a Kanalog Axis using DAC #0 and Encoder #0.  If simply loaded into multiple Motor Axis Channels it will configure all the Motor Axis to all use DAC 0 and Encoder 0 as their I/O devices.

So for example for the Second Motor:

1. select Axis Channel #1
2. load the KanalogInitialPID.mot configuration
3. Change the Input Channel and Output Channel settings to the Encoder and DAC you want that motor to use (ie. #1 and #1)

Max Output For DACs

Note the Maximum Output range for the DACs is +/-2047 DAC Counts.  Attempting to output larger values will cause a wraparound effect and runaway or following error fault.  So set the Max Output to 2047 or less.

Testing Analog Amplifiers

One way to perform a basic test of an Analog Amplifier to see if it is working and likely capable of being driven by a Kanalog DAC Output is to apply a small voltage to the input to see if the motor drives.  A 1.5V battery in series with a 1K Ohm resistor is one possible voltage source.  The 1K Ohm resistor should limit the current in case a mistake is made.  When applied the motor should drive at a controlled 15% (Speed if the drive is in Velocity mode, or torque if in torque mode).  Reversing the battery should reverse the motor direction.

Drive Enables - Axis Drift with Servo Disabled - Power up Issues

Unlike digital values, analog values will always have some amount of noise and error on both inputs and outputs.  This means that commanding Zero Volts is unlikely to be ever be exactly Zero and some small torque or drift will occur with Zero Volts commanded.  The only way to guarantee no motor drive is to disable the Drive.

Kanalog is designed to be precise and linear but not highly accurate (+/- 1% components are used).  Absolute accuracy on the servo output is not normally a requirement for good servo control.    This is not a problem when the servo is enabled as the servo will command whatever output necessary to hold the desired position.   However whenever the servo is disabled the Drive should also be disabled to avoid any motor drive or drift.

The Drive enable signals can be interfaced to KFLOP.  Any I/O can be used as the Drive enables are handled in software as a User Program (see the watchenable.c example).

Often the Kanalog Relay Driver Outputs or Opto Isolated Outputs can be used for Drive Enables.

However please note that unfortunately the Kanalog Outputs Power up in an initially undetermined state for several seconds until KFLOP boots up.  If this is a problem for your system then another means of keeping the Drives disabled should be used during initial power up.  The Kanalog SWE Relay Output Driver is guaranteed to remain disabled until KFLOP fully boots and all Kanalog Outputs are initialized to the off state.

Forum Threads on Setup and Tuning

Anilam/ supermax Frankenstein project using Dynomotion Kflop and Kanalog boards