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Galil Continues to Innovate with the New 1.3 Firmware Release

      Galil announces the latest advancements to it's current generation of multi axis motion controllers, the 1.3 release for the DMC-40x0 and DMC-41x3. This firmware release includes a number of speed enhancements and optimizations in addition to adding support for new hardware and software features that will allow system builders to greatly reduce development time and cost. Getting motors moving and your application to market using a Galil Controller and Amplifiers has never been faster or easier. 

      Chief among the enhancements included with the 1.3 release, users will immediately notice the dramatic increases to dmc command processing speed. The DMC-40x0 now executes dmc commands 2.5 times faster than on previous firmware revisions while the DMC-41x3 now executes dmc commands at 14 microseconds per command, an incredible 15 times faster than previous firmware revisions. The DMC 40x0 remains Galil's flagship motion controller with a blistering command processing time of 11 microseconds and a broad variety of standard options to meet the most demanding application requirements.

      Ethernet communication speeds have been vastly increased with the 1.3 release, particularly when downloading large dmc programs, arrays and firmware. Both the DMC-40x0 and DMC-41x3 have seen a 10-fold increase in Ethernet data transfer during these transactions, making changing and maintaining large dmc code bases much more responsive. Overall Ethernet communication speed (both TCP and UDP) have recieved a bump in speed as well. Table 1 shows a side by side comparison of the overall speed gains on the DMC-40x0 and DMC-41x3 with the 1.3 release.

DMC-41x3, Rev 1.3a

Function

DMC-40x0, Rev 1.2i

DMC-40x0, Rev 1.3a

DMC-41x3, Rev 1.2f

DMC-41x3, Rev 1.3a

DMC Command Processing 30 µsec 11 µsec 220 µsec 14 µsec
         
Full Program Download 30 Seconds 2 Seconds 30 Seconds 2 Seconds
         
Full Array Download 15 Seconds 1.5 Seconds 15 Seconds 1.5 Seconds
         
Firmware Download 30 Seconds 10 Seconds 30 Seconds 10 Seconds

Table 1: 1.3 Performance Increases

      All DMC-40x0's and DMC-41x3's will begin shipping with these improvements starting July 1st, 2018. Upgrading controllers currently in the field to 1.3 requires returning to the factory. Controllers purchased from Galil after April 1st, 2018 are eligible for a no cost upgrade while controllers still under warranty, purchased after January 1st, 2017 can be upgraded for a nominal $125 fee.