Stepper Controllers

National Instruments announced a new series of modules that deliver accurate motion control for stepper motor applications related to CompactPCI and PXI systems. The PXI-7314 open loop controller and PXI-7324 closed loop controller are fully compatible with the CompactPCI and PXI specifications. PXI offers instrumentation extensions to standard CompactPCI systems. PXI systems are compatible with National Instruments LabVIEW, BridgeVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, and C/C++.

The PXI stepper modules can control up to four stepper motors with fully programmable pulse and direction or clockwise/counter-clockwise output signals, amplifier inhibit/enable signals and forward, reverse or home limit inputs per axis. Stepper control includes velocity and acceleration profiling with S-Curve acceleration boost for enhanced motion trajectory performance. Step output pulse rates to 1 MHz easily handle all Full, Half and Micro-Step applications. The PXI-7324 closed loop version adds quadrature encoder feedback inputs per axis, allowing motion tracking, positioning breakpoints, following error control and in-position verification. The PXI stepper control modules feature an onboard Motorola real-time CPU that off loads the host PC, manages motion control tasks, integrates digital I/O and runs command sequences in motion applications.

National Instruments Corporation, 6504 Bridge Point Pkwy, Austin, Texas 78730. Phone: 512-794-0100, 800-433-3488; Fax: 512-794-8411.