Press Brake CNC Control & G-Code

Thanks Rod...

Need to have a think overnight, but tempted now to use a 7i76E for the CNC router too...

The added advantage, is that I have a small engraver that needs upgrading - using a 7i76E for both means I can use one PC for now for the router and engraver, and just switch between configs as needed.

How would an Atom D525 with gigE handle it??

Never used them so i have no clue.
Used the 7i76E and 7i92 on a core2quad that does around 16000 latency, hell used them both with a Dell E6510 i5 with latency over 300.000 without any issue. I still use 7i92 for exerimenting a lot.
Still have to find use for a 6i25 and 7i92, thinking of using the latter on a biger plasma cutter i am building, for now it has some slow BOB's and some quite nice wantai drives.

I think a D525 Atom would really struggle with trying to run a prempt-RT kernel. (as in i doubt it would be very usable.) But I could be wrong, never tried it. They do run the RTAI kernel reasonably well, but that isn't what you need for the 7i76e.

Newer more powerful cpus usually work better for Prempt-RT.

FWIW the test=board in my living room is an old D510MO board and that is currently running preempt RT while I play with a 7i80DB and the STMBL servo drivers. That's working fine, but I am not trying to do anything with the GUI. I generally use it through ssh, though it is plugged into the TV, so isn't actually running headless.

Okay, that's good to know. Only reason I ask, is that I've got an embedded touchscreen unit for HMI control, that I was considering fitting for interfacing with the PLC, but if it's running Linux, I could just as well have it run the CNC part too. It would however need to run at least one UI (LinuxCNC) and a web browser (for a Java embedded PLC HMI). Long term I can create functionality in the LinuxCNC UI for monitoring/controlling the PLC via modbus, so then just one UI. But sounds like a moderate PC with a touchscreen will do the job.

So I'm very close to ordering the boards (need to today/tomorrow to get them midweek), so my shopping list now looks like:
- 7i76E (for press brake)
- 7i85S (encoder board)
- 7i76E (for router)

I'm also thinking that if the 7i76E work out, I'll eventually swap the 5i25/7i76 on the VMC, and then use that 7i76 for the extra IO on the press brake's 7i76E...

Okay, electronics all in hand, new electrical drawings complete, time to start wiring it up!

I'm trying to figure out the best way to build the HMI. Without getting devisive, what's the best UI and panel architecture for LinuxCNC, on the basis that my needs are:
- DRO
- soft buttons/HMI to interface with PLC (via ModBus TCP)
- some basic controls for jogging/positioning axis
- home offset buttons (for setting home based on a measured offset)
- setting top dead centre and mute points along Y0 axis

Once I've got the basics running, I'll be adding lots more functionality progressively:
- tool library (with axis offsets)
- MDI (maybe G-code)
- program sequences
- 2D and/or 3D bend preview
- program library with lookup (via a web API, allowing use of bar code scanner to select the program)
- "teach" or other manual functionality for on the fly programming and saving
- photo/video previews of parts
- control/programming of positioning lights (LED multi-colour strip that'll show the area to insert part for next bend, and/or where tooling should be fitted etc)
- and probably more.

Wanting a UI that'll work for touch operation, but will have a keyboard mounted under display, so don't need onscreen keyboard (but option is handy). Most of the UI layout will be bespoke too.

Where's the best combo to start with that won't limit me later on? I've worked with lots of weird and wonderful UIs before, but don't have the time to go down that rabbit hole again of committing to one and the having to port to another (then another) as limitations are reached!

Thanks!