The AHD-15 and AXY-2 are the two most differently positioned boards in Xinyun IoT’s vending control line-up: the AHD-15 targets spring and belt cabinets with many lanes and high-volume dispensing, while the AXY-2 targets lift mechanisms, stepper coordination and high-precision detection. Picking the wrong one rarely shows up immediately — it shows up in dispensing stability and after-sales cost after volume deployment.
Bottom line: choose the AHD-15 when your lanes are spring/belt motors and you need many channels; choose the AXY-2 when your cabinet has lift mechanisms, stepper coordination or high-precision optical detection.
Core positioning of the two boards
AHD-15: multi-lane motor control. 15 independent vending lane motor channels with both current sensing and optical detection for delivery verification. Combined with RS485 daisy-chaining it scales to dozens or hundreds of lanes — the fit for traditional large spring and belt cabinets.
AXY-2: precision motion with closed-loop detection. 2 independent stepper drives plus 8 reversible DC channels, with 17 optical sensor inputs — built for lift cabinets, X-Y coordinated retrieval and applications where positioning precision and delivery verification matter.
Specification comparison
| Item | AHD-15 | AXY-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Control capability | 15 independent vending lane motors | 2 stepper drives + 8 reversible DC channels |
| Detection | Current sensing / optical sensors | 17 optical sensor inputs |
| Communication | RS485 × 1, TTL × 1 | RS485 × 1, TTL × 1 |
| Input voltage | DC 12V–24V | DC 12V–24V |
| Operating temp | -20°C to +70°C | -20°C to +70°C |
| Board size | 130mm × 90mm × 18mm | 120mm × 85mm × 18mm |
| Typical use | Spring/belt vending, lift cabinets | Lift cabinets, stepper-controlled cabinets, automation |
Decide on three dimensions
Dimension 1: motor type. Spring or belt lane motors, needing a dozen-plus channels on one board → the AHD-15 is the direct answer. Stepper motors (lift mechanisms, robotic retrieval) → the AXY-2’s stepper drives are irreplaceable.
Dimension 2: detection needs. Both support optical detection, but the AXY-2 provides 17 optical inputs — higher channel density for per-compartment verification. The AHD-15’s current sensing verifies delivery even where optical wiring is impractical.
Dimension 3: cabinet structure and expansion. Large cabinets with many lanes → AHD-15 plus RS485 cascading. Cabinets with lift/translation mechanisms, or future automated retrieval → the AXY-2’s motion control is a prerequisite.
Common mistakes
Mistake 1: More detection channels is always better. Match channels to your actual compartment structure — surplus channels add cost without benefit.
Mistake 2: Both cascade, so either one works. Cascading solves channel expansion, not stepper coordination and precision positioning — with motion-control requirements, the AXY-2 is the only option.
FAQ
Q: Can the two boards be mixed in one cabinet? A: Yes. Both support RS485 daisy-chaining — zone the cabinet (lane area with AHD-15, lift mechanism area with AXY-2) and coordinate over the bus.
Q: Can the AXY-2 drive regular vending lane motors? A: Its 8 reversible DC channels can drive DC-type lane motors, but the stepper channels are for stepper motors. For spring-lane cabinets without lift mechanisms, the AHD-15 is the more economical choice.
Q: Do the size differences affect cabinet fit? A: AHD-15 is 130×90mm and AXY-2 is 120×85mm, both 18mm thick. Confirm the mounting holes and wiring space — most cabinets accept either.
Not sure which fits? Send us your cabinet structure, motor list and detection requirements — our engineers will recommend a model and confirm interface compatibility.
Related products and specifications
Use the published model pages below to verify channel counts, communication interfaces, detection capabilities and target applications.
