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The indexer, or
controller, provides step and direction outputs to the
driver. Most applications require that the indexer manage
other control functions as well, including acceleration,
deceleration, steps per second and distance. The indexer can
also interface to and control, many other external signals.
Microprocessor
based indexers offer a great deal of flexibility in that
they can operate in either stand-alone mode or interfaced to
a host computer. The following illustration highlights the
elements of a typical AMS indexer:
Communication to the indexer
is either Bus-based or through an RS-232/ RS-422 serial
port. In either case, the indexer is capable of receiving
high level commands from a host computer and generating the
necessary step and direction pulses to the driver.
The indexer includes an
auxiliary I/O for monitoring inputs from external sources
such as a Go, Jog, Home or Limit switch. It can also
initiate other machine functions through the I/O output
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