Hi So Hagen apparently has been going full speed OCD into the selection of components for our stepper, of which the findings we will discuss tomorrow in our weekly Mumble session (murmur.libresilicon.com, 1800Z, -> UTC <-). I've been looking through the data sheet of the controller for the 4k DMD chip[1] and it turns out, that it's already the most suitable micro controller possible. I think we should just try to use the features available in KiCAD, for routing impendance controlled differential line pairs[2]. If those features are good enough for CERN, they should be good enough for us. I already once did successfully DDR3 RAM for an embedded device with KiCAD, so it's possible. I think it's the easiest to just use the controller from Texas Instruments, because the DLPC6540 comes with a USB interface, so we'd basically be done and just have to plug it into the computer used to control the stepping. About the x-y-System, Hagen has been talking about, I'm already working on that end for a while. I ended up with a gear shift design (I guess the Swiss genetics is coming forward again here. Yikes. LOL) and a laser distance measuring system to compensate for missed steps.
Cheers -lev
[1] https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/dlpc6540.pdf?ts=1620316149365 [2] https://forum.kicad.info/t/differencial-pair-impedance-calculator/4178