I am actually very new to the robotics field. I am trying to build an equipment. I was hoping if someone would be able to give me a few advices on the project.
The current way in which we are planning to connect the hardwares together is as follows
Is this the best way to connect the hardware components together? Or is there a better way? As of now I am thinking of doing the programming in C#? I havent used C# in robotics. How good or bad is it? Is USB the best and the fastest way to connect the components to the PC? Any other valuable advices on the same is also welcome!
There is no “best” programming language, only the one you are familiar with or you are good at. Important is that it get’s the job done.
The applications in your list are all good to be realized in an simple Arduino environment, Phyton or C#.
Putting all the devices together and connect them with only one USB to the PC might be ok. Besides USB you could use Bluetooth or WiFi if that fits your project.
I am quite confortable in C#, but if Phyton or Arduino environment can offer me substantain benifits I can as well hire a person to code for me. What are the benefits of going for Phyton or Arduino instead of C#.
Also I was planning to connect the devices to the PC using seperate USBs, except the devices connected to the arduino (stepper motor, RVIT and foot switch will be connected to one single arduino and it will be connected to the PC through one USB). Is this better or putting all devices together and connecting them with only one USB will be better?
" I heard that pulse are not sent properly in a windows enviroment and that is why most CNC programs are writen in DOS or linux to prevent this but I need to run my applications in a windows enviroment so my question is how can the pulse or signal can be send properly or rechecked to the parallel port (in windows enviroment) so stepper motors can run smoothly without loosing steps? “
” The problem is in the windows environment that it is a multi-tasking environment and it is difficult to Sieze control away from windows to focus on a time critical task (like sending pulses to a stepper controller). Unfortunately windows will interrupt this task with what it deams to be more important (like a looking at a mouse click or opening an explorer page). I know that there are real time kernals used by SCADA companies like Wonderware and Intellution, but they are expensive and kind of defeat your purpose."
" i have some experience to do this kind of project and i never use a PC/Win do control the solution. I sugest you to use the PC only as HMI and for control use special board on PC or stand-alone or a small PLC. "
To what extent is these comments right? Is it true that programming in DOS or Linus has a clear advantage as these guys suggest.??
There are arduino based (?) boards that allow you to program the board in C#. I believe one version is called a netduino.