Emcoturn 120 lathe retrofit

LutzTD wrote: Hi Jon, yeah I dont write the code. CAM solutions are so cheap now there is no reason to write code. I use a program called CAMBAM which is working extremely well for me. I have been remiss in looking to see if it is available in Linux form. The CAMBAM code has the tool compensation in it already, so editing the code simply would not work. What I can do right now is leave the CAMBAM window open and tweak the tool diameter to size holes. I was looking for a CAM software that could run concurrent with the Linuxcnc to be apples to apples. I dont want to be editing raw code.

Probably CAMBAM can be set to generate toolpaths without the radius offset built into the G-code. A gross way to do this would be to tell it the tool has zero diameter, but that is pretty awful. I know how to do this in Bobcad/CAM, but that might be a much more "hands on" g-code generator than CAMBAM. In the old days, before I was confident in what I was doing, I'd mount a ballpoint pen in the spindle and run the program with tool diameter set to zero, and it would draw the part outline on paper. Then, I would use one program to rough and finish. I'd set the tool table to show a larger diameter than it actually was, and it would do a roughing cut. Then, I could set the actual tool diameter and the same program would make the finishing cut.

Jon

I generally do one off parts, so I don't like to spend a lot of time with the programming. Certainly if it was a production type environment I would be more hands on to make the run robust, but for the type of thing I do the programming is a cost adder that doesn't get amortized. What been really nice about the CAMBAM, is now that its set up I dont even do dry runs, it just works (unless I mess up the 0, but that's a different story) I hope to get my memory module soon and I can try it out. Its holding me back from moving to a i/o card until I can commit one way or the other. I dont really think I want to centerline program as then I would need to manually add all of the offset directions and to be honest its been flawless up to now with the autogenerated cambam output

I got my memory module and installed linux. updated and installed preempt rt kernel.

whats next? Looks like I need to get the mesa card now to start linuxcnc from the "by interface mesa" menu?

You could try configuring to run from the parallel port if you are still waiting for an interface card.

I have forgotten if you have previously tried to configure using the PNCConf wizard, but if not then that would be a sensible next step.

Actually, you don't mention if LinuxCNC is installed yet?

hi Andy,

I have the whole linux cnc package installed. But I dont have a parallel port in the dell. Im playing with installing the arduino now to try to communicate. I did the arduino package install but then found the nano pcba has a special usb cinnector so I dont have a cable for it.

today I loaded linuxcnc debian from this link www.linuxcnc.org/linuxcnc-2.7-wheezy.iso
updated the install and installed preempt-RT kernal from here