The SSA-485 Smart Serial Adapter allows you to connect up to 32 of our NMC motion controllers to you host's (PC, etc.) RS232 or USB port - or - you can use it as a stand-alone host controller for up to 32 of our NMC modules. As a simple adapter, serial data from your host is translated directly to RS485. In this mode, you can use our Windows test utility programs or your own programs to send commands directly to the motion control boards.
By adding a microprocessor chip to the on-board 28-pin socket, the SSA-485 itself becomes the host controller. Our Motion Basic controller chip is a pre-programmed microcontroller which executes BASIC programs you create with our Windows based programming and debugging utility. Creating, downloading and debugging simple motion control programs require no formal programming knowledge.
You may also plug a PIC18Fxxxx series microprocessor into the on-board 28-pin socket. Using Microchip's inexpensive ICD2 development tools, you can create powerful C or assembly language programs to handle complex applications. Please see their software page for a variety of NMC controller example programs.
Four basic operating modes: - RS232 or USB to RS485 pass-thru adapter - Motion Basic programmable host controller - ASCII Command Interface (ACI) Mode - C programmable host controller using a PIC18xxxx processor
In pass-thru adapter mode: - RS232 (DB9-F) or USB (type B) connection to host - Host signals translate directly to full-duplex (4-wire) RS485 - For direct communications using our motion controllers' native NMC protocol - RS485 connector directly compatible with all of our controller boards
In Motion Basic host controller mode: - 28 pin socket for our Motion Basic controller chip (purchased separately) - Create and download BASIC motion control programs into EEPROM - Downloaded programs run automatically on power-up - Simple Windows programming utility used for creating and debugging programs
In ASCII Command Interface (ACI) mode (Motion Basic controller chip required): - Motion controller boards can be operated by sending simple ASCII command strings - Compatible with standard terminal programs like HyperTerminal
In C programmable host controller mode: - 28 pin socket for a Microchip PIC18Fxxxx microcontroller - Connects directly to Microchip's ICD2 development module - Use MPLAB, Microchip's free development software - Provides additional digital and analog I/O on-board
In stand-alone controller modes, the RS232 or USB port is available for communicating with external computers.
Complete documentation and example software available
Nominal size: 2" x 3"
Note: Version 2 of this board is functionally identical to Version 1, except v.2 will auto select between USB and RS232 - no jumper selection is necessary.
