I'll start with what I think is a general question and depending on the answers may refine the questions as I learn more.
My limited research suggests that most external servo drives have some form of PID parameters and algorithms embedded within them. This suggests that:
- An encoder will be attached to the drive
- The KFlop treats the drive as an open loop Step\Direction system
- The KFlop is not involved in the PID process
Assuming this is correct then some of the questions that come to mind are:
Is this a reasonable system? It seems like it would be wasting much of the KFlop's potential.
If "position" information were made available to the KFlop either via incremental encoder information or the output from linear scales, would the KFlop be able to use this information and enhance its control of the drive? Would one source of information be preferred over the other?
If the drive accepted +10\-10 volt analog speed control could that be leveraged in any way, replacing the Step/Direction connection?
Thanks,
Arvid