Originally Posted by
m_c
The best advice I think, is to start with making a list of what inputs and outputs you'll need (I usually use a spreadsheet for this), then once you have a complete list, decide what kind of In/Out it'll need, then map it to what is available.
By having a list of IO, you can rationalise it, decide if you really need to feed it back to the controller, find out more about you actually need that I/O for/to do, and it helps clarify what you're trying to acheive. As you'll be using servo drives, you also need to consider how you're going to control the enable/fault/reset terminals, how they'll interact with the E-stop system. Plus there will be lots of other areas you';ll need to consider, but by having a list, you'll be able to break it down into smaller items, which will be easier to research.