The MAXk is a full length PCI bus motion controller that conforms to the PCI Local Bus specification, rev 2.2. The MAXk is capable of up to 10 axes of control of which each axis can be configured as an open loop stepper, a closed loop stepper or a servo axis. The MAXk supports up to 16 general purpose digital I/O signals. In addition, it has four general purpose analog inputs that can be used to sense Pressure Transducers, Dial Switches, etc. Analog inputs can also be used to control velocity override. These analog inputs have 16-bit resolution with +/- 10 VDC input. Each axis has servo output signal capability; configured as a +/- 10V or 0-10V signal and is driven by a 16-bit DAC. The servo control loop is a PID filter with feed forward coefficients and an update rate of 122 µs. The step pulse is a TTl level, 50% duty cycle square wave that supports velocities of 0 through 4,176,000 pulses per second.

 

Encoder feedback functionality supports quadrature encoders up to 16 MHz and is used as the servo feedback, as feedback for the stepper axes or as independent position feedback. Encoder feedback is also used to provide slip and or stall detection. Every axis includes dedicated +/- over travel inputs, a home input and an auxiliary output. 

 

The MAXk is available in several different models that supports a different number of axes.