Gilderfluke&Co DMX-512 Input Servo Motor Controller - Manual (Page 5)

Overview, continued:
The SER-DMX is used for analog control of remote control-style
ServoMotors from a PC•MACs animation control system or any
other device which outputs a DMX-512 signal.
Remote control-style ServoMotors have built-in amplifiers and
position feedback sensors so that all they need is a power sup-
ply and the pulse width modulated control signal that the SER-
DMX provides. The pulse width for the control signal is ideally be-
tween 1.0 milliseconds and 2.0 milliseconds. They are a low cost
method of producing analog movements in light weight or short
life span animated shows. Typical of these are special effects in
film and television. Most ServoMotors have life span ratings in the
hundreds of hours. A few have ratings that go into the hundreds
of thousands of hours. Even the ServoMotors with long life span
ratings will require occasional replacement. Mount them so that
they can be accessed and easily replaced.
If using eight bit resolutions, the first sixteen channels of DMX-
512 data addressed by the SER-DMX are converted to sixteen
individual pulse width modulated outputs. If twelve bit resolution
has been selected for the outputs, then the first twenty-four
channels of data are converted. With eight bit resolution data,
up to two hundred fifty-six individual ServoMotors can be con-
trolled from a PC•MACs Animation Control System at one time. At
twelve bits of resolution, the number of servos that can be con-
trolled at one time is reduced to one hundred ninety-two.
PC•MACs will allow you to freely mix hydraulic, pneumatic,
ServoMotor and lighting control outputs of eight, twelve, or any
other resolution at the same time.
The SER-DMX is adjusted by talking to it through the serial port
of any PC or laptop computer. No special software is needed on
the computer, just a standard ‘modem’ program.
The output ‘swing’ of the ServoMotors can be adjusted to
allow a full 180 degrees of movement on most ServoMotors #, or
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