XMP Hardware

Because computer-based motion control systems vary widely, the XMP has been designed to accommodate most common industry hardware. This means providing a variety of platform, porting, form factor, and voltage options.

Platform Options

XMP-series motion controllers are ported to accommodate common industry software platforms, including:

Windows95/98
Windows2000
WindowsNT
LynxOS
VxWorks
VenturCom
RTSS
QNX
PharLap

Form Factor Options

"Form factor" refers to the physical shape and size of an XMP controller and the component(s) it is designed to function with. XMP controllers are available in the following form factors:

PCI
CPCI-3U
CPCI-6U
PMC

If your application requires a different form factor, please contact MEI.

Various form factors are shown in the figures below. Four types of I/O connectors are utilized: VHDCI; SERCOS; and, CPCI (rear I/O).

Figure 1-1 Controller form factors: PCI, PMC, and CPCI (-3U and -6U).

XMP Interface Options: Networked and XMP-analog

XMP control systems accommodate two interface categories: networked and XMP-Analog. The types of hardware associated with each category are show here:

Network

SERCOS

XMP-analog

Analog ± 10 VDC
Pulse (Step / Dir)
Quadrature encoder
Absolute encoder

XMP-SERCOS Systems
SERCOS (SErial Real-time COmmunication System) is the most common type of networked motion control. All data is transmitted over a fiber-optic ring, with each SERCOS device having both a dedicated input and output. At regular intervals, the XMP controller receives a coded data packet from each device in the ring, reporting its current status. The controller then processes the information, and transmits an updated command data packet to each SERCOS device. Typical SERCOS cycle rates vary between 500-1000 samples per second.

XMP-analog Systems
XMP-analog controllers represent a traditional form of motion control, with command and feedback data transmitted via numerous discrete electrical connections.