"Add an Axis" Motion Control Request

[anewenergy]

Just as CAM drives CNC gear to fabricate products and parts, a new module for down the road might be.... A module that lets you program a micro processor such as Intel Edison, or Arduino embedded and see it controled at the animation level.  

As we bring new electrical modules into the Fusion360, such as 123D Circuits https://123d.circuits.io/  , we might consider adding a solution that allows the user to write embedded code to micro processors, using a simplified interface.

Under this tools set we might have the following options.

1. Add a MicroProcessor:  Intel, Arduino
2. Add an Axis:  Servo Motor and Drive
3. Add a Sensor:  Proximity Sensor or Distance
4. Add an Encoder:  Axial & Linear
5. Add a Pneumatic Valve:  2-way,3-way-4-way
6. Add a Power Meter:  Measures Voltage & Current
7. Add a LED light:  
8. Add a Relay:
9. Add a Horn or Siron:
10. Add Communications Module:  Blue Tooth, Wireless Zigbee, 802.11N
11. Add a button
12. Add a display
13. Add a VFD (Varibale Freequency Drive) or reostat

Just as the CAM side of 360 is posting code formatted for a CNC mills and lates, Add An Axis, pushes code onto the microprocessor. Spark fun out of Boulder has many of these low powered system cotrols here. www.sparkfun.com

We might advise the user how many I/O are avaiable for a particular micro processor.  We would also help by advising how the breakout boards are used to bring all the motion controls together.  Give them a link to the users manual at the same time that helps with the Pinouts , Nodes, NET Lists, etc.   Start helping to shape advise on how to program, events.

• Add a global variable
• Add an interupt
• Add a timer
• Add a loop

Would be a tool that could extend into robotics as these solutions get shaped and defined.  I am sure the HMS gang would have some great thoughts on this idea.

OK, thats my good idea of the day

Pat

[anewenergy]

We might rename this module idea to "Add Motion"  

[anewenergy]

Add An Axis & Sensing for IOT Programming: Rig up Fusion 360/CAM/Animate to Autdesk SeeControls:  

OK, So it looks like I am starting a project that is IOT in nature.  My customer is already building this technology in low volumes using an industrial computer and PLC for data aquisition, etc.  My mission on the project is to reduce costs, add functionality by using  a $55 Intel Edison, then mass produce the item.   They seem to be cool with us using Autodesk SeeControl to manage data arriving from many Edisons.  It appears that one of the things that SeeControl lacks, is to get down to programming the microprocessor at the embedded level in an easy to use format.  Again, it would bridge the IOT gap by adding easy way to add nodes, interrups, IF,THEN statements to the programming of the Edison microprocessor.  " Lets design Fusion360 to make it easy to go IOT motion and sensing."  Carl, didn't you talk about this vision at AU?

Why can't we hook CAM in to SeeControl at the Fusion360 level and start programming at the embedded levels while programming at the G-Code level in CAM.   Obviously the HSM guys are wizards at CAM and a hot Fusion integration and the SeeControl guys have the database communications running.   It would be so cool to build a design in Fusion, then "Add Motion/Sensing" as noted earlier in this blog request.   Just as we configure our G-Code to a Post Processor, we could tell Fusion what type of motor, RPM's, speeds, accellerations, power requirements, etc.  we are adding to our design.  We tell it we are running an Edison or an Arduino. Same goes with sensors; distance, pressures, tolerances, forces, temps,speeds etc.  

New Workflow:

We add these variables to our Fusion design file. Animate is enabled with these variables indluded while we design our IOT machine.  Just as we Simulate our post process in CAM, we can see the enture system running, then post it all to the Edison.  Once on the microprocessor, let the Fusion know that See Control is the web based tool that can manage your IOT device.

Fusion CAM now controls Embedded C programming:

So what we can do is program at the IOT level in Fusion360?  Bring IOT stuff together with CNC gear and Robots programming in G-Code.   This would most likely need the talents of C++ programming along with G-Code guys to build a "super post processor" that could be rigged up in a way to move us into an embedded environment. Also, Animate could lend itself to a full understanding of the workflow in the system.  Think about the endless manufacturing scenerios that could arrive in the manufacturing world to integrate automation...   

[anewenergy]

Here is a way that Kahn Academy helps simplify this envrironment. https://www.khanacademy.org/talks-and-interviews/conversations-with-sal/v/khan-academy-computer-scie...

[JamieGilchrist]

archiving due to lack of votes.