DeltaTau supplies a complete library of routines that can be embedded into your customized application for controlling the behavior of the machine interfaced to the controller board.
How Does it Work?
Writing a customized application may mean one or more of the following:
- It could become a big and an expensive project
- If the project was not developed in-house, it might be difficult to manage, control, and enhance the features of the application.
- Continuous development is necessary to add features, functions, and bug fixes.
- Competitive pressures and technology advancements require continuous efforts and funds for the software development.
- Could become a drain on company's profitability.
- Software support has always been a cost center, never a profit center.
So, why write a customized application? Do what you do the best - build machines. Wouldn't it be great to use proven motion control boards and let your customers use powerful, off-the-shelf applications to control your machines.
Solustan's LinkMotion eliminates the need for customized application development for many of the motion control applications. LinkMotion looks and feels like a printer driver within the PC/Windows architecture. Actually, it is a machine driver. It allows the user to design the job
How does a driver help you?
For a simple example think about how your printer works. It doesn't matter what application you are using on your computer, you can always print to your printer. Whether its from your text editor, your web browser, your email program, or virtually any other application, you can always send documents out to your printer. This is because you have installed a 'driver' for your printer that all programs can utilize. Shouldn't everything be this easy? Now, with Solustan's LinkMotion technology, it is.
You no longer have to worry about learning to use yet another piece of software. Are you comfortable with Corel DRAW, or perhaps a well-known CAD program? Wherever you are comfortable creating your designs, your work ends there. LinkMotion works with virtually any design program, so you can output your job straight from there!
LinkMotion/PMAC combination is already compatible with the following applications:
- Corel Draw version 9 and higher
- AutoCAD version 14 and higher
- Adobe Illustrator
- DolphinCAD
- Rhino version 4.0
- Gerber's ArtPath
- FlexiExpert and other Flexi programs
- SignLab, EngraveLab version 6.0 and higher
- IntelliCAD (AcceliCAD)
- BarTender (raster only)
- PhotoShop (raster only)
- Microsoft Word (raster only)
What's the bottom line? LinkMotion works seamlessly in the background; you have no learning curve. Install the software and an off-the-shelf hardware, and you're ready for production! Here's a list of just a few of the benefits you'll enjoy with LinkMotion.
Benefits
LinkMotion driver software eliminates the need for proprietary controller hardware. Repairing failed controller hardware could cost you a bundle.
Upgrading features of the driver is as easy as installing the latest version of LinkMotion driver software on your PC.
Older machines can be upgraded with Microsoft Windows' graphical interface and plethora of advantages can be had for your business. All of this is yours for a fraction of the cost of acquiring a new machine.
LinkMotion/DeltaTau PMAC board combination can be employed right away in the following system configurations:
- LinkMotion/PMAC for CNC milling machines and/or lathes
- LinkMotion/PMAC for Wood routing systems
- LinkMotion/PMAC for CO2 Laser systems
- LinkMotion/PMAC for Engraving systems
- LinkMotion/PMAC for Plasma cutting systems
- LinkMotion/PMAC for Foam cutting systems
The only unique hardware required is motor drivers. They are available from many sources and are typically off-the-shelf items.
Preset but expandable materials menu, positioning of a job, keyboard controls for axis moves, Z axis or tool positioning, limit switch handling, acceleration/deceleration setup and control, spindle motor on/off control, and easy controls for speed, depth and dwell are provided.
