Author Archives: Tero

The name is IONI Pro HC

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Thousands thanks for contributing premium name suggestions! After a lot of consideration we chose to go with IONI Pro HC ending after drive model because:

  • HC extension indicates about something additional to original model. We didn’t want to remove “Pro” from the name to avoid confusion.
  • Short and simple
  • Works also with non-pro version (IONI HC)
  • Logical and extensible, maybe we add IONI Pro HV (high voltage) someday

Oddly, Pro HC ending never crossed my mind, I was just thinking HC Pro which I didn’t like that much. Pro HC was suggested by Thomas in Facebook comments. Congratulations for your very first serial numbered IONI Pro HC drive!

We’ll keep the other names in reserve for possible future use. If your contribution is picked later, you will be rewarded for sure.

High current IONIs arrived!

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We’ve got our hands on the pilot run high current IONIs yesterday! Everything is working as expected which makes development straightforward.

Today I spent full day adapting the drive firmware, bootloader firmware and testing application to support the new hardware. It took some time to create a system where the one and only firmware runs on both hardware models. Firmware detects the underlying hardware model and automatically adjusts it’s operation accordingly.

Thank you for all the great name proposals! We are having difficult time choosing one among so many good options. The winner will be announced soon :)

Last chance to utilize the web shop launch discounts

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Tomorrow (Friday 9 Oct) is the last day the new web shop launch campaign is running. So act now to avoid missing it! Also, SimpleMotion V2 USB adapter (SMV2USB) is now back in stock in large quantities.

GD at ELKOM exhibition

GD at ELKOM exhibition

On the other news, we have got a very positive visit to ELKOM exhibition at Helsinki during 6-8 Oct. To celebrate the fair, we are giving extra 5% off from Argon drives before 9 Oct with coupon code “ELKOM”.

High current IONI model in production

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We will be soon receiving a pilot batch of the new enhanced IONI model with the best-in-class power MOSFET transistors to increase the current capacity. Other change is an increase of voltage sense range, which will allow few volts more usable voltage range.

We’re thinking the naming of it. I thinki IONI HC Pro would sound clumsy. Perhaps something like IONI XPro would suit better. What do you think? Or perhaps give an idea in comments. If your suggestion is chosen, you will win a free high current IONI with the very first serial number!

Update: we will arrange a poll within our staff to pick the winner! All entries before Monday 12 October will make it to the voting. Keep the ideas coming!

New web shop opened!

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All new web shop has been opened a moment ago! Be sure not to miss the opening celebration discounts of the most popular items.

Improvements over the old shop: cheaper shipping, automatic discounts, automatic shipping (read: faster) and more.

The new web shop. The site is also mobile friendly.

The new web shop. The site is also mobile friendly.

Experimenting with high current IONI

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We have started tweaking the IONI drive in order to push it beyond it’s present output current limits. This includes testing of lower loss power MOSFETs and current sensing resistors to achieve reduced heat dissipation. So far we have achieved 35-40% reduction of heat dissipation at high currents.

MOSFET replacement under way. The new ones are installed on right side. These particular transistors have exposed top side thermal pad for heat sinking.

MOSFET replacement work in progress. The new ones are already installed on right side. These particular transistors have exposed top side thermal pad for external heat sinking.

Starting a force feedback system build

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Now it’s official – as hobby project I’m going to build a servo motor based force feedback wheel to be used with racing simulation! As side project I’ll be thinking of how to make drives even better suited for this task.

This is all I got now. Haven't decided yet whether I'll be using IONI or ARGON with the motor.

This is all I’ve got now. Haven’t decided yet whether I’ll be using IONI or ARGON with the motor.

As I’m not throughly familiar with all the details, the first thing in is to gather information to get me started. If you wish to help, please share some useful FFB related links in the comments!

Argon firmware 1.4.2 released

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While we’re finalizing the Argon firmware 2.0 for official release, we have brought several of the 2.0’s fixes and improvements to the current official firmware version 1.4.2. Get it from the wiki!

Standard firmware version

  • Fixes & adjustments:
    • Added additional protection interlocks for drive’s internal in-rush limiter (reliability improvement)
    • Reduce sensitivity of resolver feedback device no-signal failure (fault location code 890101)
    • Increased upper limit of HV DC bus supply (parameter FOV increased)
    • Effectiveness of regenerative resistor improved
    • Speed of Phasing a.k.a. phase search increased
    • Current setpoint during Phasing a.k.a. phase search reduced to reduce unnecessary motor heating during power-on

Racing simulator special version

  • Additional changes to simulator wheel special version:
    • Eliminate Phasing a.k.a. phase search error in 110-120 VAC power networks
    • Duty cycle limit parameter (6110) now has 200% scale in 110-120 VAC power networks to have equal effect compared to 220-240 VAC networks

For those who don’t know yet, Argon is being used in many professional racing simulator systems. For introduction, see the comparison below:

 

Argon stock status announcement

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Dear Granite Devices customers, we have temporarily ran out of Argon servo drives recently due to increased popularity (great!) and unfavorable variations in the production time (not so cool) occurring at the same time. A longer than usual production lead time is caused by limited stock availability of certain third party electric components. We have to wait until beginning of August to receive new 300 pcs delivery of Argon drives.

However, we have kept back a small number of Argons for emergency needs. If you need one very urgently and absolutely can’t wait for the delayed delivery, contact us by email at sales (at) granitedevices.fi. Those who have ordered the drive before the outage and are waiting over the unexpected delay will receive a 100 euro discount/refund per drive as compensation. Discounted orders are the ones made between the dates 13.6 and 25.6.

To reduce greatly the chance of outages in the future, we are starting to stock the most critical components in order reduce lead time variations.

Meanwhile all IONI series products are in stock and shipping normally. If you wish to change your order from ARGON to IONI, or make other changes to your order, please drop us email.