The National Instruments 778417-01 Stepper Motion Controller, part of the PCI-7334 series, is engineered for precise point-to-point motion applications, capable of coordinating up to four axes of motion seamlessly. This controller features advanced capabilities that ensure smooth motion even at high speeds, with high-performance stepper generation, real-time system integration, and linear interpolation. Designed specifically for PCI and PXI bus computers, this fully programmable controller incorporates a dual-processor architecture consisting of a Motorola MC68331 real-time 32-bit CPU and an Analog Devices ADSP-2185 digital signal processor (DSP), along with custom field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). This configuration enhances command throughput and optimizes system performance by delegating complex motion tasks from the host PC and supporting high-speed communications through a FIFO bus interface.

Each axis of the 778417-01 features dedicated motion I/O, which includes end-of-travel limit and home switch inputs, breakpoint output, trigger input, and supports encoder feedback rates of up to 20 MHz. There are also four non-dedicated analog inputs for ±10 V signals, joystick inputs, or analog sensor monitoring, facilitating feedback for loop closure. The controller further includes 32 bits of digital I/O, enhancing its versatility. It supports the Real-Time System Integration (RTSI) bus, allowing for smooth synchronization between various National Instruments devices, such as image acquisition (IMAQ) and data acquisition (DAQ), to a single trigger or timing event. With a maximum update rate of 62.5 μs per axis and an overall update rate of 250 μs for four axes, the controller delivers exceptional performance with a trajectory update rate range of 62.5 to 500 μs per sample. Position accuracy is assured with encoder feedback achieving ±1 quadrature count or achieving 1 full, half, or microstep accuracy in open-loop stepper control scenarios. The 778417-01 is poised to meet the demanding needs of modern motion control applications, making it an essential solution for engineers and developers in industrial automation.