newbie needing a steer
22 Aug 2018 00:45 #116438
by merlin777
newbie needing a steer was created by merlin777
Hi guys. I'm new to CNC, new to LinucCNC and new to this forum.... Hat trick!
I'm thinking linuxcnc may be what I need but I would appreciate your opinions.
I'm building my first CNC machine. Its a custom lathe for turning small wooden helixes, like barley and rope twists. Its very similar to a lathe except the chuck doesnt turn at speed, its just a 3rd, rotational axis for positioning the work. The tool/work cutting speed is achieved by using a dremel-type mini-router, mounted where there would normally be a tool in a tool post.
The xy axes are to move the tool along the work and in and out respectively. Eventually there will be a 4th axis to raise and lower the tool but this is the prototype and i'll set that manually.
It will have 2 nema 17s for x and y axes and a 23 to rotate the lathe chuck.
Just to be clear, it won't be carving to a template like a 3d router. The tool will follow a mathematical path to cut a helix.
the nemas will be controlled by a Mega2560 Control Board attached to an arduino and controller sheild with LCD screen and SD card.
It's the next bit I need advice with. I don't need to get involved in CAD because I'm following a simple calculated path and not carving a 3d object from a model. I'm fairly sure I can learn to write the gcode for this. I can send code to the arduino via usb or put it on an SD card.
Is LinuxCNC the right thing for me to use to write the g code in and test-run it and to send it to the arduino? Bit out of my depth with the software end of things at the moment!
The attached will give you a rough ideal of the design. No steppers attached at this stage and I'll be adding a tailstock.
I'm thinking linuxcnc may be what I need but I would appreciate your opinions.
I'm building my first CNC machine. Its a custom lathe for turning small wooden helixes, like barley and rope twists. Its very similar to a lathe except the chuck doesnt turn at speed, its just a 3rd, rotational axis for positioning the work. The tool/work cutting speed is achieved by using a dremel-type mini-router, mounted where there would normally be a tool in a tool post.
The xy axes are to move the tool along the work and in and out respectively. Eventually there will be a 4th axis to raise and lower the tool but this is the prototype and i'll set that manually.
It will have 2 nema 17s for x and y axes and a 23 to rotate the lathe chuck.
Just to be clear, it won't be carving to a template like a 3d router. The tool will follow a mathematical path to cut a helix.
the nemas will be controlled by a Mega2560 Control Board attached to an arduino and controller sheild with LCD screen and SD card.
It's the next bit I need advice with. I don't need to get involved in CAD because I'm following a simple calculated path and not carving a 3d object from a model. I'm fairly sure I can learn to write the gcode for this. I can send code to the arduino via usb or put it on an SD card.
Is LinuxCNC the right thing for me to use to write the g code in and test-run it and to send it to the arduino? Bit out of my depth with the software end of things at the moment!
The attached will give you a rough ideal of the design. No steppers attached at this stage and I'll be adding a tailstock.
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22 Aug 2018 02:03 #116439
by curtisa
No, LinuxCNC does not generate G-code. It is the suite of software packages that can respond to the G-code and generate the necessary commands to drive a CNC system. It's more like the firmware programmed into your Arduino (something like GRBL I assume?).
Generating the G-code in the first place requires other applications - CAD/CAM for example. Or simply brute-force programming by hand.
That said, the LinuxCNC implementation of G-code does have some rather neat handling of loops and nested subroutines that may be useful in your particular application. Maybe you should consider switching from an Arduino-based control system to a LCNC-based one?
Replied by curtisa on topic newbie needing a steer
It's the next bit I need advice with. I don't need to get involved in CAD because I'm following a simple calculated path and not carving a 3d object from a model. I'm fairly sure I can learn to write the gcode for this. I can send code to the arduino via usb or put it on an SD card.
Is LinuxCNC the right thing for me to use to write the g code in and test-run it and to send it to the arduino? Bit out of my depth with the software end of things at the moment!
No, LinuxCNC does not generate G-code. It is the suite of software packages that can respond to the G-code and generate the necessary commands to drive a CNC system. It's more like the firmware programmed into your Arduino (something like GRBL I assume?).
Generating the G-code in the first place requires other applications - CAD/CAM for example. Or simply brute-force programming by hand.
That said, the LinuxCNC implementation of G-code does have some rather neat handling of loops and nested subroutines that may be useful in your particular application. Maybe you should consider switching from an Arduino-based control system to a LCNC-based one?
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23 Aug 2018 15:04 #116487
by andypugh
Replied by andypugh on topic newbie needing a steer
As an example of hand-coded G-code you might find this interesting:
bodgesoc.blogspot.com/2016/11/cams.html
As curtisa said, LinuxCNC is a controller, it would work in place of your Arduino, rather than alongside it.
I guess you are interested in woodwork? Both these chaps use LinuxCNC and make beautiful things:
www.deweygarrett.com/
cornlathe.billooms.com/index.html
(And Dewey is a LinuxCNC developer and active on this forum)
bodgesoc.blogspot.com/2016/11/cams.html
As curtisa said, LinuxCNC is a controller, it would work in place of your Arduino, rather than alongside it.
I guess you are interested in woodwork? Both these chaps use LinuxCNC and make beautiful things:
www.deweygarrett.com/
cornlathe.billooms.com/index.html
(And Dewey is a LinuxCNC developer and active on this forum)
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