Off-the-shelf CNC control box with LinuxCNC?
- aeth
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11 May 2025 15:24 #328201
by aeth
Off-the-shelf CNC control box with LinuxCNC? was created by aeth
I was recently wondering if there's a company or someone who builds 3 or 4 axis mill control boxes pre-configured with LinuxCNC. Most hobby and semi-professional machines rely on a very similar configuration with one, maybe 2 steppers per axis and it would be awesome if a properly built control box with Linux CNC was available pre-configured and off the shelf. Is anyone aware of a product like this? I know that CNC drive sells their control boxes with UCCNC and stuff like VFD, fuses, relays and stepper drivers preinstalled.
Ever since Ethercat was integrated into LinuxCNC, I want to make a truly badass solution with Raspberry Pi, hardware control panel (there's a Shenzen company producign Ethercat panels with feed/speed knobs and macro buttons!) and Leadshine CS3E closed loop stepper drivers and Delta MS300 VFD. A complete Linux CNC solution like this will cost around 2500 USD which is the price for just the Centroid Hicory mainboard + software that offers similar capabilities.
If there's nothing like this on the market and enough people are interested, I could partner with my friend in China who could help me get this stuff assembled there.
Ever since Ethercat was integrated into LinuxCNC, I want to make a truly badass solution with Raspberry Pi, hardware control panel (there's a Shenzen company producign Ethercat panels with feed/speed knobs and macro buttons!) and Leadshine CS3E closed loop stepper drivers and Delta MS300 VFD. A complete Linux CNC solution like this will cost around 2500 USD which is the price for just the Centroid Hicory mainboard + software that offers similar capabilities.
If there's nothing like this on the market and enough people are interested, I could partner with my friend in China who could help me get this stuff assembled there.
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- tommylight
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11 May 2025 17:31 #328204
by tommylight

Use a NUC or any small PC, not a RPI.
You should check the export regulations before jumping in, the biggest market for DIY is USA, then India, Europe is pretty far down that list. I checked for the same thing, it was not pretty. BTW, my country has the lowest tarifs for USA at 10% only!
Does not fix much when sending anything there costs over 300$ for a small box.
This is not to discourage you, absolutely do try, just make sure you get informed beforehand.
Replied by tommylight on topic Off-the-shelf CNC control box with LinuxCNC?
That statement ... has issues!... I want to make a truly badass solution with Raspberry Pi...

Use a NUC or any small PC, not a RPI.
You should check the export regulations before jumping in, the biggest market for DIY is USA, then India, Europe is pretty far down that list. I checked for the same thing, it was not pretty. BTW, my country has the lowest tarifs for USA at 10% only!

This is not to discourage you, absolutely do try, just make sure you get informed beforehand.
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- aeth
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11 May 2025 20:04 #328225
by aeth
Replied by aeth on topic Off-the-shelf CNC control box with LinuxCNC?
Thank you for your answer! I like to dream big sometimes
Of course having this for sale as a bundle would be epic, but even if I just managed to make a github repo with the whole config + BOM + CAD model of the control cabinet, I think that'd still be really helpful, right? Also, is Raspberry Pi really so bad for this goal? What are the disadvantages? I thought it's a pretty nice option given that it's quite compact and rugged.

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11 May 2025 21:07 #328231
by unknown
Replied by unknown on topic Off-the-shelf CNC control box with LinuxCNC?
There is a thread with a guy integrating a cm carrier board with a 7c81.
The RPi5 works but it's a very expensive option compared to an ex corporate PC. The only real advantage is size and that's about it. The RPi5 images work out of the box, but do require the zram fix mentioned in the big thread, it's not a game killer but can raise its head.
Having a RPi5 and 3rd Gen I5 running for testbeds the i5 is definitely the one I'd choose for a build.
For my mill I running a odroid H3 and can not fault it, this has been replaced by the H4.
As for pre-built control boxes, any that rely on the parallel port can be used with a 7i92 for an ethernet option or a 7c81 for SPI with a Raspberry Pi. Some of the issues I have with them is use of DB9 connectors for the Stepper motor connectors. Most of them are quite compact which raises issues of heat and airflow.
I prefer to build my own, lots of room for air flow, the ability to keep the mains and signal wiring well seperated, on side has all the mains, the other side has the low voltage signalling.
I guess if that isn't part of your skill set then an off the shelf control box might be the option if you have the funds.
The RPi5 works but it's a very expensive option compared to an ex corporate PC. The only real advantage is size and that's about it. The RPi5 images work out of the box, but do require the zram fix mentioned in the big thread, it's not a game killer but can raise its head.
Having a RPi5 and 3rd Gen I5 running for testbeds the i5 is definitely the one I'd choose for a build.
For my mill I running a odroid H3 and can not fault it, this has been replaced by the H4.
As for pre-built control boxes, any that rely on the parallel port can be used with a 7i92 for an ethernet option or a 7c81 for SPI with a Raspberry Pi. Some of the issues I have with them is use of DB9 connectors for the Stepper motor connectors. Most of them are quite compact which raises issues of heat and airflow.
I prefer to build my own, lots of room for air flow, the ability to keep the mains and signal wiring well seperated, on side has all the mains, the other side has the low voltage signalling.
I guess if that isn't part of your skill set then an off the shelf control box might be the option if you have the funds.
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11 May 2025 23:16 #328235
by tommylight
Replied by tommylight on topic Off-the-shelf CNC control box with LinuxCNC?
Oh good, someone else replied about the RPI, i was going to go postal! 
For 35$ it is magnificent, even 50$ is OK mostly, not a single cent more.
For 100-120$ i can get old Lenovo X1 Yoga, full PC with touchscreen, battery, and much more powerful than RPI.
Also:
PC: download ISO, install ISO, reboot, copy config, run machine!
RPI: download IMG, no not that one the other one for V5 with 4GB not with 8GB or 2GB, write image, boot.... for a while, nothing works, fix wifi, fix power options, fix servo period, use raspiconfig, edit config.txt, fix whatever Unknown mentioned, reboot 20 times, find another power supply, find a cooler to glue to it, find a faster SD card, it crashed ... boot loop, start over. Oh hell no, never again.

For 35$ it is magnificent, even 50$ is OK mostly, not a single cent more.
For 100-120$ i can get old Lenovo X1 Yoga, full PC with touchscreen, battery, and much more powerful than RPI.
Also:
PC: download ISO, install ISO, reboot, copy config, run machine!
RPI: download IMG, no not that one the other one for V5 with 4GB not with 8GB or 2GB, write image, boot.... for a while, nothing works, fix wifi, fix power options, fix servo period, use raspiconfig, edit config.txt, fix whatever Unknown mentioned, reboot 20 times, find another power supply, find a cooler to glue to it, find a faster SD card, it crashed ... boot loop, start over. Oh hell no, never again.
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12 May 2025 01:49 #328242
by unknown
Replied by unknown on topic Off-the-shelf CNC control box with LinuxCNC?
Nah my images do work out the box, fark I can actually test them before releasing them in the wild, so far the zram issue has only affected one user. Which whilst I have wanted to put up a new image with the fix there has been push back.
The issue that seems to be with the RPi images is that users think that everything is the same as the images from Raspberry Pi, it's like they can't seperate the board from a particular OS.
The fact that I can run mine with either a 7c81 clone that I've put together myself or a Spartan 6 Dev board with an ethernet interface both running slightly modified hostmot2 firmware proves that it does work. Oh and the RPi platform is younger than the whole Linuxcnc project itself....
But an x86 platform is the best bang for buck, no 2 ways about it. You buy a PC and it's complete ready to go. An RPi5 will need a case, PSU a secondary board to run a NVMe drive or a SATA adaptor board if you want something more spritely than an SD card. The x86 platform is tried and true, it works, it's common, it's rugged and has been used it 54 billion installations by Tommy alone this month, as my estimates go.
The only advantage of the RPi platform is size, tho an Odroid H4 or the older H3 isn't much larger and maybe the SPI interface. The mini HDMI connectors are a pain. In saying that waveshare does do some nice boards that plugin to the existing HDMI, power and audio connectors to bring them out to the same side as the USB & ethernet, a nice NVMe adaptor and a aluminium case to suit.
The issue that seems to be with the RPi images is that users think that everything is the same as the images from Raspberry Pi, it's like they can't seperate the board from a particular OS.
The fact that I can run mine with either a 7c81 clone that I've put together myself or a Spartan 6 Dev board with an ethernet interface both running slightly modified hostmot2 firmware proves that it does work. Oh and the RPi platform is younger than the whole Linuxcnc project itself....
But an x86 platform is the best bang for buck, no 2 ways about it. You buy a PC and it's complete ready to go. An RPi5 will need a case, PSU a secondary board to run a NVMe drive or a SATA adaptor board if you want something more spritely than an SD card. The x86 platform is tried and true, it works, it's common, it's rugged and has been used it 54 billion installations by Tommy alone this month, as my estimates go.
The only advantage of the RPi platform is size, tho an Odroid H4 or the older H3 isn't much larger and maybe the SPI interface. The mini HDMI connectors are a pain. In saying that waveshare does do some nice boards that plugin to the existing HDMI, power and audio connectors to bring them out to the same side as the USB & ethernet, a nice NVMe adaptor and a aluminium case to suit.
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12 May 2025 09:40 #328260
by aeth
Replied by aeth on topic Off-the-shelf CNC control box with LinuxCNC?
Thank you for your answers. After consideration, I'm currently considering buying an industrial PC with resistive touch screen from a really good Chinese company. They even have a cute version with buttons for feed hold/start/stop/e-stop and even feed/speed knobs attached to the panel. They said people have build LinuxCNC systems with their hardware, as well as with Ethercat.
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12 May 2025 11:31 #328267
by unknown
Replied by unknown on topic Off-the-shelf CNC control box with LinuxCNC?
Regarding touchscreens, confirm that they are a USB HID one and don't require any specific\manufacturers drivers.
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12 May 2025 15:46 #328280
by Hakan
Replied by Hakan on topic Off-the-shelf CNC control box with LinuxCNC?
A link to that PC would be great. I'd love to see those buttons.
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14 May 2025 19:47 #328481
by aeth
Replied by aeth on topic Off-the-shelf CNC control box with LinuxCNC?
You can ask them for the catalogue - they have really impressive products, especially their physical CNC control panels that have Ethercat interface. panelmate.en.alibaba.com/ they were so kind they offered a video call with a tour over their showroom right after I messaged them.
Here's what the monitor with built-in PC looks likeĀ imgur.com/a/Jaz9kU5
Here's what the monitor with built-in PC looks likeĀ imgur.com/a/Jaz9kU5
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