How to implement an automated production sequence

Hi,
I am seeking some advice's about a project I have to build for a friend. In short it is a serial drill press drilling 10 aligned holes at a time (in wood only). I also have to make it a "push button" type of machine, operated with only minimal computer interface.

The mechanical parts design will be rather simple, based on 2 synchronous steppers moving each end of a gantry up and down ( i.e. 2 joints 1 axis setup) and adjustable limit switches to calibrate the drilling depth and safe position.

It is about the command that I have some concerns since I never yet built an automated production sequence. I imagine that's a job linuxcnc can do but I am not sure how to proceed exactly.

The automation requirements would be as follow:
- Auto-homing when powered on.
- Pressing button A starts a gcode drilling sequence (using the lower limit switch to inverse direction).
- Pressing button B force homing again.

Can this be done using linuxcnc, a bob and/or simple electronics components?
I am also wondering if I could then manage to install the controller on a raspberryPi or some other interface card instead of a desktop?

Many thanks in advance, help will be greatly appreciated!
Cheers,

Agreed with Tommy, for something so specific an arduino based controller might make more sense economically. The mpcnc/lowrider routers use Marlin and with that you could have your gcode on a file on an SD card, just click go and it will run your program. You can put homing commands in the gcode file.

What cutting area do you need? How fast does it need to work? What level of production are we talking about?

I'm automation engineer and I solve different automation tasks similar to yours.
It's better for you to implement PLC controller and to make program for it.
As for me, I prefer Siemens, I think siemens logo will be enought for your project.

Thanks for all your advice's.

I am a bit hesitant to go on another route than linuxcnc, mainly because delivery time is quite short. Since I have some recent experience with linuxcnc it's seems a safer option to avoid spending days in testings and research. Also, would it not be more difficult to manage the joint steppers setup? Anyway, if ever you have some links to a "beginners guide" for arduino/marlin/plc solutions I would be glad to take a deeper look at it.

What cutting area do you need? How fast does it need to work? What level of production are we talking about?

Cutting area is 2.5 by 0.4 meters, about 50mm drill depth running cycles around 1.5m/min feed rate. 10'000 cycles are expected at least, with continuous (day long) operation.

Just to clarify, is it still a viable option to use a linuxcnc setup for this or are you saying that it should be simply avoided?

Since this is what you're most comfortable with and you have time constraints then I guess linuxcnc is the way to go?

LinuxCNC v2.8 can easily manage dual axis motors and independent home switches.

As for minimum user interaction you can setup linuxcnc to load your gcode file automatically at startup and all they have to do is hit run. You can probably strip away a lot of controls to minimize the ui even further but I don't have experience with that.

You mentioned a pi, there are folks experimenting with linuxcnc on a pi 4 + mesa cards but I have no idea if it's production worthy. My guess is no.

Do you know if auto-homing when powering up the machine can be done?

Probably possible but is it a good idea?

forum.linuxcnc.org/49-basic-configuratio...hen-linux-cnc-starts

If you could invest more time:
Affordable payed: RPI plus Codesys or if you. Will run for sure.
or
Open source plus chepo embedded: www.openplcproject.com/
Have no personal experience with that but intent to try...

I agree with AgentWD40 about you be most comfortable route.
Here some options using Arduino:
www.youtube.com/results?search_query=arduini+mitter+box

Using PLC depend the brand its straight forward to do that, but more expensive. The Siemens have display build in but i prefer models with display apart (module) because you can just replace the display.
PLC i recomemnd Mitsubishi fx5u-32mt/ess, youll need arounfd US$700 in hardware (PLC + HMI from china + sensors + relays like omron MY2 series or from china).

With you go by PLC route i can help using Mitsubishi i never used Siemens