ETEL DSCDL Dual Axis Controller Hardware Integration Guide

Complete guide for on-site hardware deployment and integration of ETEL DSCDL dual axis digital position controller

In the field of precision motion control, the demand for dual axis synchronous drive is increasing, such as gantry platforms, dual drive laser processing, synchronous scanning systems, etc. The ETEL DSCDL series dual axis digital position controller is designed specifically for such applications, integrating two independent servo control channels on a 6U rack board, supporting the simultaneous driving of two single-phase or two-phase linear/rotary motors, with a peak current of up to 3.6 Arms (per axis), and coupled with analog sine and cosine (including EnDat 2.1 absolute value) or TTL encoders, it can achieve sub micron positioning accuracy. However, the hardware integration complexity of dual axis systems is much higher than that of single axis systems - from rack heat dissipation planning, dual encoder wiring isolation, axis DIP switch setting to EMC shielding treatment, any negligence in any link can lead to mutual interference between the two axes or system failure to start. This article is based on the core content of the DSCDL hardware manual (version D), and systematically outlines the key points of on-site deployment of dual axis controllers, providing engineers with a practical hardware integration guide.

Model selection and physical form

The DSCDL series offers two rack sizes, depending on power requirements and chassis slot selection:

1.1 DSCDL331 (10F wide, approximately 50.8mm)

Continuous current of 1.2 Arms per axis, overload current of 2.8 Arms (1 second)

Suitable for medium power dual axis applications, such as small linear platforms or light load rotating tables

Adopting a flat heat sink

1.2 DSCDL332 (14F wide, approximately 71.1mm)

Continuous current per axis 2.4 Arms, overload current 3.6 Arms (1 second)

Suitable for higher power requirements, such as dual drive gantry or heavy-duty linear motors

Adopting extruded heat dissipation fins, with a larger heat dissipation area

Both models support ± 36VDC DC power supply (provided by an external power source), and the auxiliary power supply requires+15~+36VDC (for control circuits). When placing an order, it is necessary to confirm whether UL certification is included (with 2 being standard and 1 being non UL certification).

Selection points: If there is a significant difference in load between the two axes, priority should be given to leaving sufficient margin for DSCDL332; If the rack slots are tight and the power demand is low, DSCDL331 is more space saving.

Mechanical installation and heat dissipation requirements

2.1 Rack Installation

DSCDL adopts a 6U standard rack format (approximately 262mm in height) and a depth of 240mm (excluding handles). The rack backplane needs to provide openings and guide rails corresponding to the J1~J5 connectors of the board.

Key safety requirements:

The chassis must meet pollution level 2 (refer to UL 508C and EN 50178 standards) and have a protection level of at least IP20 (EN 60529).

False panels must be installed in empty slots, otherwise IP20 protection will fail and affect the air duct.

The chassis must be installed inside a closed cabinet to prevent liquid splashing and dust intrusion.

2.2 Heat dissipation air volume and fan selection

DSCDL itself does not have a built-in fan and relies entirely on forced air cooling from the cabinet. The manual clearly requires:

Minimum air flow rate: 2m/s (400 LFM), which is a necessary condition to ensure the normal operation of the controller at an ambient temperature of+30 ℃.

ETEL recommends using cabinet fans with an air volume of no less than 94.2 CFM (such as DSO-RAC2 chassis matching fans).

Maintain a minimum distance of 100mm (A=100mm) between the fan and the cabinet to ensure smooth airflow.

Special attention: Some models of fans may generate electromagnetic interference, affecting the current measurement accuracy of DSCDL. If there is an abnormal current sampling, the fan model should be replaced or the distance between the fan and the chassis should be increased (while ensuring air volume).

Dual axis encoder interface wiring (JC5/JC6)

DSCDL provides independent encoder interfaces for each axis (JC5 corresponds to motor 1, JC6 corresponds to motor 2), both using 15 pin high-density D-Sub female sockets and supporting three types of encoders.

3.1 Incremental Analog Encoder (1Vpp)

Pin definition:

6: COS - (cosine signal negative terminal)

7: SIN - (Negative Terminal of Sinusoidal Signal)

8: IDX - (Zero Position Signal Negative Terminal)

13: COS+(cosine signal positive terminal)

14: SIN+(sine signal positive terminal)

15: IDX+(positive terminal of zero position signal)

4: +5V (protected by F2 1A fuse)

5/12：GND

10: EHO (Encoder Zeroing Switch Input), TTL）

11: ELS (Encoder Limit Switch Input), TTL）

EHO/ELS application: These two TTL signals come from the encoder reading head and can be used for zeroing and limit protection without the need for external sensors. The manual states that the usage of EHO and ELS can be found in the operation and software manual. To connect the hardware, simply connect the corresponding signal line of the encoder.