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Gemini GT6 Hardware Installation Guide
RS-485 Multi-Drop
Up to 99 Gemini drives may be multi-dropped. Refer to the diagrams in this
section for daisy-chain connections.
The ADDR command allows you to establish up to 99 unique addresses. To use
the ADDR command, you must address each unit individually before it is con-
nected on the multi drop. For example, given that each product is shipped config-
ured with address zero, you could set up a 4-unit multi-drop with the commands
below, and then connect them in a multi drop:
1.
Connect the unit that is to be unit #1 and transmit the Ø_ADDR1 command to it.
2.
Connect the unit that is to be unit #2 and transmit the Ø_ADDR2 command to it.
3.
Connect the unit that is to be unit #3 and transmit the Ø_ADDR3 command to it.
4.
Connect the unit that is to be unit #4 and transmit the Ø_ADDR4 command to it.
If you need to replace a unit in the multi drop, send the Ø_ADDRi command to it,
where “i” is the address you wish the new unit to have. For RS-485 multi-drop to
work properly, each drive must have echo mode turned off (ECHOØ). The ADDR
command will automatically do this when the drive is in RS-485 mode.
In order to prevent the collision of prompts being transmitted simultaneously from
several drives in response to a global command, you must configure the drives for
either error level 2 or error level 0 in multi-drop mode. This can be done as
follows:
Commands:
1_ERRLVL2
; Set error level to 2 for unit #1
2_ERRLVL2
; Set error level to 2 for unit #2
3_ERRLVL2
; Set error level to 2 for unit #3
In general, to send a Gemini command from the master unit to a specific unit in
the multi-drop, prefix the command with the unit address and an underscore (e.g.,
3_DRES25000 sets the drive resolution to 25000 steps on unit #3). The master
unit may receive data from a multi-drop unit. You should now verify that you can
access each unit on the multi-drop.
Now that you have verified that the multi-drop is set up properly, you can use the
various Pocket Motion Planner and Motion Planner tools to configure and monitor
all units on the multi-drop.
Updating the Drive’s Operating System
The Gemini drive runs under an internal software operating system (firmware).
The operating system was loaded into your drive during the manufacturing
process, and under ordinary circumstances you will not need to update your
drive’s operating system. However, because Compumotor continues to add
enhancements, you may want to upgrade the operating system. You may obtain a
new operating system file from the Compumotor web site, or from Technical
Support (see phone numbers on the inside cover of this manual).
For more information about web site downloads and update procedures, see the
Gemini Programmer's Reference.