www.baldormotion.com
Operation 6-9
MN1928
6.4 Configuring an axis
The NextMove ES is capable of controlling 4 stepper and 2 servo axes. This section describes
how to configure both types of axis.
6.4.1 Selecting the axis type
An axis can be configured as either a servo axis or a stepper axis. The factory preset
configuration sets all axes as unassigned (off), so it is necessary to configure an axis as either
stepper or servo before it can be used. The number of servo and stepper hardware channels
defines how many axes of each type may be configured. In the following example, the Mint
WorkBench Axis Config Wizard will be used to assign axes:
1. In the Toolbox, click the Axis Config
icon.
2. For each required axis, click in the
Configuration column and select Servo
or Stepper from the drop down box.
The Axis Config Wizard automatically
assigns a Hardware Channel to the
axis. For example, Servo Channel 0
indicates the servo axis will use the
controller’s Demand0 output; Stepper
Channel 1 indicates the stepper axis will
use the controller’s STEP1 and DIR1 outputs. Optionally, the default hardware channel
assignment can be altered by clicking in the Hardware Channel column and choosing an
alternative channel. This means the axis will no longer use the correspondingly numbered
physical outputs (Demand
x
or STEP
x
& DIR
x
), so extra care must be taken when connecting
the NextMove ES to drive amplifiers.
3. Click
Finish
to complete the Axis Config Wizard.
The axis configuration will be downloaded to the
NextMove ES.
Note:
If a “Hardware channel required is in use” or “Hardware not available” error message
is displayed, the configuration is not downloaded. It is likely that the number of
selected servo or stepper axes exceeds the number of physical axes of that type
available on the NextMove ES. An error is also caused if the same hardware channel
has been selected for more than one servo axis, or for more than one stepper axis.
It is recommended that unused axes are always set to OFF, as this provides more processing
time for the axes that are in use. Setting an axis to Virtual means that it can be used to
simulate motion within the controller, but uses no physical outputs (hardware channel).
See the Mint help file for details of the
CONFIG
and
AXISCHANNEL
keywords.
Servo Systems Co. • 115 Main Road • P.O. Box 97 • Montville, NJ,
07045-0097 • (973) 335-1007 • Toll Free: (800) 922-1103
Fax: (973) 335-1661 • www.servosystems.com
