National Instruments 778558-01 Universal Motion Interface

The 778558-01, also known as the UMI-7774, is a stand-alone connectivity add-on made specifically for use with motion controllers from the National Instruments 73xx series. This interface is perfect for industrial and laboratory applications since it allows for up to four axes of independent or simultaneous control. The 778558-01 enables digital I/O, feedback, and stepper and servo drives from outside sources to be connected to National Instruments motion controllers.

Because of its adaptability, the 778558-01 can be used with a broad variety of drives that are designed for different motor kinds, actuators, and power ranges. The drives must use industry-standard interfaces in order to be compatible. These standards include step and direction, or clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CCW) pulse inputs, for stepper systems. An analog input of ±10 V is the industry-standard command signal for servo systems.

The motion input and output are connected to the motion controller via a single interface connection, which makes field wiring simpler. Each axis has its own individual feedback and control D-SUB connectors. The 778558-01 also provides access to up to eight digital inputs and eight digital outputs by connecting digital inputs and outputs to the controller via a separate wire. Host bus monitor power interlock is a noteworthy feature that immediately turns off the drive in the event that the host computer goes down or the motion input/output interface cable is removed.

Several features of the 778558-01 are geared toward dependability and ease of use. For reliable and simple connections to other devices, D-SUB connectivity is required. Global Stop inputs allow for a thorough shutdown of all axes, and it supports 5 to 30 V limits and home switch/sensor compatibility. 24 VDC signalling is made possible via optical isolation on inhibit signals, Global Stop inputs, triggers, limits, home, and digital I/O. Noise and voltage transients are lessened by this isolation, which also aids in breaking ground loops in the system. Along with the panel, DIN rail, or rack mountable interface, further features include global and per-axis status LEDs.