Benezan Electronics Installation Guide for Beamicon2Basic
Hardware and software development and the MDLCNC-T4V6 driver
Nicolas Benezan, Stauffenbergstr. 26, 72108 Rottenburg
Phone: +49 (0) 7457/946365 0 benezan-
electronics.de
Page 10
Beamicon2Basic_Manual_Letmathe_Englisch
(Vereinigte Staaten).docx
02.10.2020
Other connections:
Network / PC
LPT1 (SUBD-25)
Functional description
The MicroPod is in a way an "intelligent external LPT interface card". Unlike PCI plug-in
cards with LPT port or LPT interfaces integrated on the PC motherboard, the MicroPod has a
built-in, powerful 8-core 32-bit processor that is optimized for generating step/direction
signals and also calculates S-shaped acceleration ramps. This is otherwise only known from
expensive industrial controls. The PC is not burdened with this task, but only has to send
coordinates to the MicroPod at regular intervals via a network interface (Ethernet IEEE802,
10MBit/s). All time-critical operations run in the MicroPod, so that the PC is relieved and is
only needed for the user interface.
Much higher step frequencies (1.6MHz) are possible than with LPT port-based solutions, and
the timing is precise and reliable. Compromises in the selection of the resolution in
connection with the maximum possible speed are therefore no longer necessary. Servo
drives can also be operated with high resolution and speed. Step losses due to short
"dropouts" of the PC or too "low performance" PC are excluded. Similarly, errors of the
operating system, such as Windows, do not affect the speed or precision.
Even for the user difficult to understand setting of the pulse duration and distance is
completely omitted. The MicroPod always generates the step signals with a perfect duty
cycle of 50%. Changes of direction always occur exactly in the middle of the pauses between
clock pulses. This ensures that the maximum pulse duration is always output in accordance
with the frequency. Violations of the setup and hold time by simultaneous change of step and
direction signal state are avoided.
PC / network connection
The data transfer from the PC software to the MicroPod takes place via an Ethernet network
connection (IEEE802.3 10BASE-T). The connection can be made with standard patch cables
to the RJ45 socket ST1.
In contrast to similar products from competitors (e.g. Smoothstepper or Eding-CNC) no
exclusive interface has to be reserved on the PC, but the infrastructure of an existing network
with switches can be used. There is also no need to change IP addresses or otherwise
interfere with the Windows Control Panel. The Beamicon2 software automatically detects the
MicroPod, even if it is connected "somewhere" in the network. To ensure reliable operation,
however, the following rules must be observed:
The MicroPod must be connected either directly to the PC or to the first switch after the PC.
A further switch may only be added if only devices of the machine are connected to the
second switch, e.g. within the control cabinet of the machine. All devices not involved in
machine control (Internet router, printer, NAS, etc.) must be connected to the first switch or to
additional switches behind the first.
