New to LinuxCNC; have a couple of questions.
20 Feb 2011 16:41 #7328
by GARoss
New to LinuxCNC; have a couple of questions. was created by GARoss
Hi everyone. I'm George.
I've got a very short time to get some answers so forgive me for my lack of knowledge of LinuxCNC.
I am a contract employee who is working with a Fadal VCM16. The Fadal's on board computer, Windows NT4, occasionally crashes so it stops feeding data & the machine quits cutting.
The company uses Unigraphics NX5 for all their graphic & CNC cutter path so I wouldn't be using LinuxCNC for graphic work. The Fadal's NT 4 desktop has NC FADAL which is used to feed CNC data into the Fadal. So, CNC programs are written, then loaded into the NC FADAL software & then sent to the machine. Can LinuxCNC do the same as NC FADAL?
I've got a very short time to get some answers so forgive me for my lack of knowledge of LinuxCNC.
I am a contract employee who is working with a Fadal VCM16. The Fadal's on board computer, Windows NT4, occasionally crashes so it stops feeding data & the machine quits cutting.
The company uses Unigraphics NX5 for all their graphic & CNC cutter path so I wouldn't be using LinuxCNC for graphic work. The Fadal's NT 4 desktop has NC FADAL which is used to feed CNC data into the Fadal. So, CNC programs are written, then loaded into the NC FADAL software & then sent to the machine. Can LinuxCNC do the same as NC FADAL?
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20 Feb 2011 18:58 #7330
by BigJohnT
Replied by BigJohnT on topic Re:New to LinuxCNC; have a couple of questions.
Not that I know of. What your describing is a drip feed thingy...
John
John
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20 Feb 2011 20:36 #7334
by GARoss
Replied by GARoss on topic Re:New to LinuxCNC; have a couple of questions.
Unigraphics NX5 uses .pui files to postprocess. The created data file has a .ptp extention. NC FADAL software opens the .ptp file then feeds xxx amount of data, continuously into the machine until finished. I guess drip feed would describe it. Of course, Fadals can receive .dnc, .nc & many other CNC programs, too. I was hoping LinuxCNC might work.
Thanks
Thanks
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27 Feb 2011 16:16 #7488
by andypugh
Replied by andypugh on topic Re:New to LinuxCNC; have a couple of questions.
EMC2 doesn't sound like a natural fit into that chain. EMC2 takes G-code and converts it into motor movement commands, (either step/direction for steppers, or speed/direction for servos). It can do this in a bewildering variety of ways, but basically it works best as the bridge between G-code and hardware.
However, EMC2 is fairly modular, so it might be possible to use it to drip-feed your existing controller, but it would take a lot of work. You would also need to reconfigure to ensure that the Unigraphics G-code suited EMC2.
All in all, I think it would be better to either work out why the NT4 machine crashes, or to replace the whole system with something more up-to-date. (A complete EMC2-based refit would be an option, but not an easy one compared to spending money with Fadal.
However, EMC2 is fairly modular, so it might be possible to use it to drip-feed your existing controller, but it would take a lot of work. You would also need to reconfigure to ensure that the Unigraphics G-code suited EMC2.
All in all, I think it would be better to either work out why the NT4 machine crashes, or to replace the whole system with something more up-to-date. (A complete EMC2-based refit would be an option, but not an easy one compared to spending money with Fadal.
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27 Feb 2011 20:08 #7498
by GARoss
Replied by GARoss on topic Re:New to LinuxCNC; have a couple of questions.
I've learned a lot in the last week about these things. There are several programs that drip-feed DNC type files. Some are selling NC FADAL software even thought Fadal is out of business. We tried a Windows & Linux version of EasyDNC which has a trial period. The Linux version is free & works but crashes on occasion. The Windows version has more adjustments making it very flexible & doesn't crash but it's not free. As the saying goes; you get what you pay for.
Thanks to everyone for their help!
Thanks to everyone for their help!
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01 Mar 2011 12:27 #7520
by dab77
Replied by dab77 on topic Re:New to LinuxCNC; have a couple of questions.
ehmm... not always.
for example with EMC2 you get much more than what you pay for. nothing.
for example with EMC2 you get much more than what you pay for. nothing.
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01 Mar 2011 12:43 #7521
by BigJohnT
Replied by BigJohnT on topic Re:New to LinuxCNC; have a couple of questions.
I've always thought you get what you work for...
John
John
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02 Mar 2011 11:31 #7535
by GARoss
Replied by GARoss on topic Re:New to LinuxCNC; have a couple of questions.
dab77 wrote:
BigJohnT wrote:
Appearently you didn't read my entire post but selected only a commit in my last post. It was determined that EMC2 will not work for my company's needs. We program all cutter path with our companies CAD/CAM software & only need a drip-feed DNC program. I was told by BigJohnT, that EMC2 doesn't do drip-feed. So, even if it's free, why install it if it's not usable for us? This isn't a knock on EMC2.
EasyDNC, another Linux open source program, is offers pay versions on Windows & Mac platforms that are full featured & perform very well compared to the free Linux version that constantly crashed. Hence my commit, you get what you pay for.
ehmm... not always.
for example with EMC2 you get much more than what you pay for. nothing.
BigJohnT wrote:
I've always thought you get what you work for...
John
Appearently you didn't read my entire post but selected only a commit in my last post. It was determined that EMC2 will not work for my company's needs. We program all cutter path with our companies CAD/CAM software & only need a drip-feed DNC program. I was told by BigJohnT, that EMC2 doesn't do drip-feed. So, even if it's free, why install it if it's not usable for us? This isn't a knock on EMC2.
EasyDNC, another Linux open source program, is offers pay versions on Windows & Mac platforms that are full featured & perform very well compared to the free Linux version that constantly crashed. Hence my commit, you get what you pay for.
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