Configuring A rotary axis to substitute for the Y axis

Well, sure. But my problems are with the setup of the init. Wondering it I can use stepconfig or if I have to go manual to define a horizontal axis in place of the Y axis. Code and math I can handle.

One way to do this might be to have two separate configs. If using trivkins in the development version then the only change you need to make is from


to


(and also change about the [AXIS_Y] and [AXIS_A] sections to get the limits correct)

I have just done a very similar change with my vertical / horizontal milling machine so that one of the INI files swaps the Y and Z axes (while keeping the joint configs identical)

I work on specific diameters 8", 12" etc.

So I calculate the circumference for a specific diameter.

Then I create a profile in stepconfig and call it "8 diameter" where I divide my rotational resolution into the circumference.

Then I create my drawing in 2D and then just launch my machine with the correct diameter profile.

I think I have 3 diameter profiles and the "Flat" one. Takes a minute to set up but they are reusable and you will probably only need a few diameters for the majority of your work.

Good luck.

You don't need completely separate configs. You can share your HAL, tool table etc files between INI files. Just put as many INI files as you need in the same config folder.
Just make several slightly different INI files with different steps-per-mm to suit the different diameters.

If using trivkins in the development version then the only
change you need to make is from...

You also need to make sure the number of joints is specified
correctly, example:

(Using kinstype=both is helpful in seeing what goes on
prior to homing for the axis gui)

Recommendations for consistency:
Ref: linuxcnc.org/docs/master/html/getting-st..._axes_specifications


trivkins man page:
linuxcnc.org/docs/devel/html/man/man9/trivkins.9.html

May try that if I am not happy with the code Vcarve pro generates for the cylindrical projects. On my config problem I punted and used the XYZA in stepconfig and just defined A to be on my normal Y driver and Y using pins not really connected to anything. Runs manually now. Naturally with a phantom Y I need to run without my limit/home switches and its has been a long time since I have run without so need to figure out how to past that now. First attempt was manually adding home_search_vel=0 to axis section and still got the “cant run MDI commen...” message.