Howdy LinuxCNC-ites, possible new user....
- racedirector
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09 Jun 2015 17:31 #59648
by racedirector
Howdy LinuxCNC-ites, possible new user.... was created by racedirector
Hi all
I am seriously considering moving from Mach3 to LinuxCNC having tried EMC a long while ago. However I want to be sure I can do pretty much everything I do in Mach, in LinuxCNC.
My machine is a 2400x1200 Mechmate. I currently run 640Oz-in Nema 34 steppers with AM882 Leadshine drivers. A PMDX-126 serves as the BOB along with an ethernet SmoothStepper. I know the Smoothstepper won't work but, as far as I know, everything else will. Along with that side of things I also have a Hitachi X200 VFD controlled by Modbus that controls a 2.2Kw water cooled spindle.
On the Mechmate I have 3 control boxes - each box contains a Start, Pause and Stop button that interacts with Mach3 to do just that. There is also an emergency stop button. The Z control box has an additional 2 way switch and an additional pushbutton for Z touch offs. The 2 way switch lets me choose between a single touch off with a movable plate and an multi touch off routine that first starts with a moveable touch off plate however the machine then moves to a fixed plate to get the length info. Any subsequent tools requests only needs me to change the tool then press start and the machine with again go off to the fixed plate to find the Z difference before continuing. This functionality is via the 2010 Screenset I am using plus utilising different inputs on the 126 to drive the correct macros to do the job.
One more thing... I am using a Mach3 brain to control the indication side of my safety features. The brain uses one input on the 126 to flash a 24V LED in certain sequences depending on the condition, those conditions being waiting for machine start, machine pause, machine, stop, AM882 stall and E-stop status.
There are a number of Mach3 macros in use as well.
So, if you got through all that, does anyone have any thoughts as to what of the above *can't* be done in LinuxCNC? Where would be the best place for me to start researching these things? Lately I have been getting information overload as I search for the answers so something structured would be very very helpful.
I will probably have a lot of questions as I transition so please bear with me.
Cheers
Bruce
I am seriously considering moving from Mach3 to LinuxCNC having tried EMC a long while ago. However I want to be sure I can do pretty much everything I do in Mach, in LinuxCNC.
My machine is a 2400x1200 Mechmate. I currently run 640Oz-in Nema 34 steppers with AM882 Leadshine drivers. A PMDX-126 serves as the BOB along with an ethernet SmoothStepper. I know the Smoothstepper won't work but, as far as I know, everything else will. Along with that side of things I also have a Hitachi X200 VFD controlled by Modbus that controls a 2.2Kw water cooled spindle.
On the Mechmate I have 3 control boxes - each box contains a Start, Pause and Stop button that interacts with Mach3 to do just that. There is also an emergency stop button. The Z control box has an additional 2 way switch and an additional pushbutton for Z touch offs. The 2 way switch lets me choose between a single touch off with a movable plate and an multi touch off routine that first starts with a moveable touch off plate however the machine then moves to a fixed plate to get the length info. Any subsequent tools requests only needs me to change the tool then press start and the machine with again go off to the fixed plate to find the Z difference before continuing. This functionality is via the 2010 Screenset I am using plus utilising different inputs on the 126 to drive the correct macros to do the job.
One more thing... I am using a Mach3 brain to control the indication side of my safety features. The brain uses one input on the 126 to flash a 24V LED in certain sequences depending on the condition, those conditions being waiting for machine start, machine pause, machine, stop, AM882 stall and E-stop status.
There are a number of Mach3 macros in use as well.
So, if you got through all that, does anyone have any thoughts as to what of the above *can't* be done in LinuxCNC? Where would be the best place for me to start researching these things? Lately I have been getting information overload as I search for the answers so something structured would be very very helpful.
I will probably have a lot of questions as I transition so please bear with me.
Cheers
Bruce
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09 Jun 2015 20:24 - 09 Jun 2015 20:26 #59653
by BigJohnT
Replied by BigJohnT on topic Howdy LinuxCNC-ites, possible new user....
There is not much that LinuxCNC can't do. Being open source you can add almost endless things to LinuxCNC.
As you have figured out USB magic boxes are not used by LinuxCNC.
Why do you need a smoothstepper with the PMDX-126? It looks like the PMDX-126 should be able to drive the leadshines... but I didn't look real close.
LinuxCNC has subroutines that can be invoked with an input, I guess that is kinda like a macro (macro sure sounds like something from a windows spreadsheet).
For a stepper driven machine you just can't beat the Mesa 5i25 7i76 combo. You get hardware step generation and a ton of I/O along with spindle control and and and... I run this on my plasma with LinuxCNC 2.7 to get the new trajectory planner and all I can say is wow the plasma just smokes now and never slows down.
If you have LinuxCNC on a PC grab a copy of the Axis sim and start changing it as you need. Use a PyVCP panel to simulate your external switches. You can't hurt a sim...
JT
As you have figured out USB magic boxes are not used by LinuxCNC.
Why do you need a smoothstepper with the PMDX-126? It looks like the PMDX-126 should be able to drive the leadshines... but I didn't look real close.
LinuxCNC has subroutines that can be invoked with an input, I guess that is kinda like a macro (macro sure sounds like something from a windows spreadsheet).
For a stepper driven machine you just can't beat the Mesa 5i25 7i76 combo. You get hardware step generation and a ton of I/O along with spindle control and and and... I run this on my plasma with LinuxCNC 2.7 to get the new trajectory planner and all I can say is wow the plasma just smokes now and never slows down.
If you have LinuxCNC on a PC grab a copy of the Axis sim and start changing it as you need. Use a PyVCP panel to simulate your external switches. You can't hurt a sim...
JT
Last edit: 09 Jun 2015 20:26 by BigJohnT.
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10 Jun 2015 15:12 #59665
by racedirector
Replied by racedirector on topic Howdy LinuxCNC-ites, possible new user....
Thanks JT
Your question re the SmoothStepper... I a) needed more inputs than 1 parallel port would supply and b) wanted to put the PC away from the machine and didn't have a long PP cable and c) alot of others were using it. The SmoothStepper is one of the reasons I want to switch, it is a pain in the butt at times and besides, me and windowz have a love hate relationship.![:) :)](/media/kunena/emoticons/smile.png)
I didn't know squat about the Mesa cards, I originally thought they were for servo's not steppers. That and the "american" scene seems to concentrate on the PMDX arena along with Gecko drives. I have since found alot more available in the EU market as well as different US manufacturers.
With that said I am now seriously considering the Mesa cards, $360AUD buys what I need and I should be able to recoop that from selling the 126 and SmoothStepper. Just one question, does the 5i25 only need one parallel port?
I am going to build a sim version of LinuxCNC and try out everything I want to do. If I am felling adventurous I might try my hand at a custom GUI to mimic the Mach3 screen set I am currently using, just something to make me more comfortable. This would mean learning a new language (Python) and how to use Glade and GladeVCP, but hell you only live once![:) :)](/media/kunena/emoticons/smile.png)
I am sure I'll be back with more Q's.
Off to find Glade tutorials!
Cheers
Your question re the SmoothStepper... I a) needed more inputs than 1 parallel port would supply and b) wanted to put the PC away from the machine and didn't have a long PP cable and c) alot of others were using it. The SmoothStepper is one of the reasons I want to switch, it is a pain in the butt at times and besides, me and windowz have a love hate relationship.
![:) :)](/media/kunena/emoticons/smile.png)
I didn't know squat about the Mesa cards, I originally thought they were for servo's not steppers. That and the "american" scene seems to concentrate on the PMDX arena along with Gecko drives. I have since found alot more available in the EU market as well as different US manufacturers.
With that said I am now seriously considering the Mesa cards, $360AUD buys what I need and I should be able to recoop that from selling the 126 and SmoothStepper. Just one question, does the 5i25 only need one parallel port?
I am going to build a sim version of LinuxCNC and try out everything I want to do. If I am felling adventurous I might try my hand at a custom GUI to mimic the Mach3 screen set I am currently using, just something to make me more comfortable. This would mean learning a new language (Python) and how to use Glade and GladeVCP, but hell you only live once
![:) :)](/media/kunena/emoticons/smile.png)
I am sure I'll be back with more Q's.
Off to find Glade tutorials!
Cheers
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10 Jun 2015 18:27 - 10 Jun 2015 18:28 #59668
by BigJohnT
Replied by BigJohnT on topic Howdy LinuxCNC-ites, possible new user....
The 5i25 plugs into a PCI slot, no parallel port needed.
I have some tutorials here:
gnipsel.com/
JT
I have some tutorials here:
gnipsel.com/
JT
Last edit: 10 Jun 2015 18:28 by BigJohnT.
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10 Jun 2015 18:54 #59669
by racedirector
Didn't expect that - will have to read as much as I can about 5i25 and 7i76 methinks....
Thanks for links, I will definitely take part in those.
Cheers
Replied by racedirector on topic Howdy LinuxCNC-ites, possible new user....
![:ohmy: :ohmy:](/media/kunena/emoticons/shocked.png)
Thanks for links, I will definitely take part in those.
Cheers
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10 Jun 2015 20:57 #59673
by racedirector
Replied by racedirector on topic Howdy LinuxCNC-ites, possible new user....
Got it now and understand better. Currently installing Ubuntu 12.04 with LinuxCNC 2.7 as my test bed.
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14 Jun 2015 21:52 #59811
by racedirector
Replied by racedirector on topic Howdy LinuxCNC-ites, possible new user....
Got my machine connected to LinuxCNC tonight and had the Z and Y moving under the stepconf tests and moving smoothly at that. Better then Mach ever did in my opinion.
Having problems with my X (2 steppers) but hope to get that sorted tomorrow after work. Big loud crunching sounds is not what I want!
Having problems with my X (2 steppers) but hope to get that sorted tomorrow after work. Big loud crunching sounds is not what I want!
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15 Jun 2015 16:57 #59835
by racedirector
Replied by racedirector on topic Howdy LinuxCNC-ites, possible new user....
Alrighty, having issues.
In particular, my Y motor is not playing ball. I have setup stepconf with ports & pins the same as Mach3. With my Y motor it will only move in single steps but in the right direction. If I invert both Step and Dir it flies at 18000mm/pm but goes in the wrong direction to that pressed on the keyboard, meaning I press left and the Y goes right. Not sure what is happening here, especially with the single step per press when it goes in the *right* direction, press left, it goes left. LinuxCNC however thinks it is going @ 18000mm/min.
The X is basically doing the same. On the X I am sharing the X output on 2 drives Step pin 2 is the same as Step pin 4 and Dir pin 3 is the same as Dir Pin 5. To make one motor the reverse of the other I have to set both step and dir for that motor inverted. If I choose pins 4 & 5 both motors runs at the same speed but in the wrong direction (as above). If I set 4 & 5 "normal" and 2 & 3 inverted one motor spins normally and the other steps as the Y does.
The only one that works as advertised is the Z
Anyone have any ideas??
In particular, my Y motor is not playing ball. I have setup stepconf with ports & pins the same as Mach3. With my Y motor it will only move in single steps but in the right direction. If I invert both Step and Dir it flies at 18000mm/pm but goes in the wrong direction to that pressed on the keyboard, meaning I press left and the Y goes right. Not sure what is happening here, especially with the single step per press when it goes in the *right* direction, press left, it goes left. LinuxCNC however thinks it is going @ 18000mm/min.
The X is basically doing the same. On the X I am sharing the X output on 2 drives Step pin 2 is the same as Step pin 4 and Dir pin 3 is the same as Dir Pin 5. To make one motor the reverse of the other I have to set both step and dir for that motor inverted. If I choose pins 4 & 5 both motors runs at the same speed but in the wrong direction (as above). If I set 4 & 5 "normal" and 2 & 3 inverted one motor spins normally and the other steps as the Y does.
The only one that works as advertised is the Z
Anyone have any ideas??
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15 Jun 2015 17:13 #59836
by Rick G
If the SCALE = 800
change it to
SCALE = -800
Rick G
Replied by Rick G on topic Howdy LinuxCNC-ites, possible new user....
Go into your .ini file and reverse the sign of SCALE for the axis you are working on.it flies at 18000mm/pm but goes in the wrong direction
If the SCALE = 800
change it to
SCALE = -800
Rick G
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15 Jun 2015 17:21 - 15 Jun 2015 17:21 #59837
by racedirector
Replied by racedirector on topic Howdy LinuxCNC-ites, possible new user....
Thanks Rick, just had dinner so will go out and do that shortly.
Love this forum!!
Cheers
Love this forum!!
Cheers
Last edit: 15 Jun 2015 17:21 by racedirector.
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