3 Stepper Motor Control with Soft Motion

[geekodude]

Hi All:

I am trying to control 3 stepper axis with encoders using Soft Motion.  See link

https://www.banggood.com/100mm-Long-Stage-Actuator-1204-Ball-Screw-Linear-Slide-Stroke-With-42mm-Ste...

I want an inexpensive motion controller so I was thinking of using SMD-7615 controller.  Is this controller for one axis only or for multiple axis?

Thanks in advance

[protocoled]

The SMD-7615 is a drive, not a controller. The drive will accept step commands from an NI Controller or PLC. You can opt to use the Ethernet SMD to just accept commands directly from a PC over Ethernet, but in this configuration you cannot do multi-axis synchronization (coordinates, gearing, camming). You can, however, perform simple motion moves that don't require tight synchronization or timing. 

To do multi-axis motion with your motor that are in sync, you will need a drive that can interface with the motor (I have not looked into your to see if this is the case), and then a compactRIO, Ethernet RIO or EtherCAT RIO with a SISU-1004 or NI-9512 stepper interface module.

The 9512 will require NI SoftMotion full to do multi-axis moves that are coordinated (SoftMotion lite may be fine for you, however). The 9512 will also require a LabVIEW Real-Time license if you use it with a compactRIO and etherCAT RIO. If you go with the SISU-1004, you will need LabVIEW Real-Time and LabVIEW FPGA as well.

Basically, it looks like the cheapest/bet way for you to control 3 stepper axis is over Ethernet with SoftMotion lite (again, you won't be able to synchronize them).