Sample config w/tool length

Running 2.8.4 and was looking to integrate tool length probing.  I think its the last thing i want to add to my setup, so thats exciting!

Looking through the forums, it seems there should be available a sample ini thatll work for a cnc router that also includes the tool length measurement operation.  I could not find anything that is shown as such in the list of ini's at startup.  Does that mean I can only integrate the procedure by manually inserting some coding in my ini file?

Is there not a tab option in pncconf that sets parameters for tool length measurements?
 

I don't think there is a built-in probe method in axis or the other 2.8 docs.
I would consider upgrading to 2.9 and look at the probing in qtdragon
linuxcnc.org/docs/2.9/html/gui/qtdragon....uto_tool_measurement

I just published a 2.9 version of the Linuxcnc live installer that would let you run from a USB stick to see if it might work for you.
forum.linuxcnc.org/9-installing-linuxcnc...ler-iso-for-linuxcnc

I couldn't find it in the docs either, but I stumbled on a LCNC forum thread (in my search to be able to measure tool length) where it was recommended to another user to load a sample INI that already incorporated the tool length and then start configuring from there. Of course I can't find that thread now, but I'll keep digging. I'm pretty sure it was a couple years old so I wouldn't think it was referencing 2.9.

I suppose trying the 2.9 version would be my next step. Is it relatively seamless to transfer my current set up to 2.9? My only experience with LCNC is with the 2.8.4 Debian installer that I used on an older HP ThinClient. Has worked great so far with the Mesa 7i96s and my CNC router. I dont want to take any steps backward by attempting a new install (if it works via USB live).

rodw wrote:

I don't think there is a built-in probe method in axis or the other 2.8 docs.
 

Here is what I saw:
forum.linuxcnc.org/49-basic-configuratio...ol-measurement#78003


Does this apply to what I am wanting?

It's probably best to assume I dont know anything about writing code or programming, so if doing that is needed with my current version, I will attempt updating to 2.9.

Is there a way to update to 2.9 without reinstalling the OS and without having the pc connected the web?

There will be a way. What distribution are you using? Is it Buster that is used by the official linuxcnc .ISO?
If so I think it can be done by changing your apt sources and change it in Synaptic. I have not done it for years so I'm not the one to guide you here.

Yes, I believe so.

I downloaded the ISO labeled: LinuxCNC 2.8.4 Debian 10 Buster PREEMPT-RT ISO

Copied that to a bootable USB drive and did a clean install on the ThinClient PC.

I have the Mesa connected via ethernet, and I could never get Linux to recognize or enable the wifi on the PC. So any updates or software changes have to be done by some other means (not sure exactly how that works just yet).
I had originally intended to get everything implemented and stable, then leave it as-is. The last piece of this puzzle so far is the tool measuring.

So if it requires a full re-install of the OS as well as 2.9, I guess that's what I need to do, but I haven't found a bootable 2.9 installer, which ill need since i have no connectivity to the internet.

supermoto wrote:

 but I haven't found a bootable 2.9 installer, which ill need since i have no connectivity to the internet.

Funny you say that, I have just built one in the last couple of days. Grab today's version from my drive
drive.google.com/file/d/16nprK_5HeURoNGd.../view?usp=drive_link

I'm not the least bit surprised you are having troubles installing wifi. That was the bain of my life in Buster. That has largely been resolved in Bookworm. But in this installer, for some reason, it is not adding the non-free-firmware in /etc/apt/sources.list
That might need a hand edit after its installed. You are likely to need it.

PS: this is a fork of the Linuxcnc installer modified a long the lines of the Getting Linuxcnc docs in the V 2.9 docs
 

I will try and give this a try this weekend. Thanks.

My nervousness about installing a whole new setup is the risk of losing all my current parameters that are working. Is that just a matter of saving a couple of my current files and overwriting those on the new install?

Regarding the "hand edit", can you elaborate a little more on what that entails? (remember, i know nothing of coding and programming, etc...  )

i'm looking at the sources.list 
i see these 4 lines, plus some that are commented out.

Buster (which I assume you have) you should  add non-free to the first 2 lines then sudo apt update

Bookworm added a new setting non-free-firmware but it wont work for buster
Most likely drivers did not exist when buster was released. Sometimes if you can find it the chipset used by your wifi dongle, you can find the driver. Sometimes it will need compiling. Sometimes it requires a different compiler to what you might have.
Copying your ~/Linuxcnc/config folder contents should be all that's required. If required Linuxcnc should upgrade it when first opened.

Maybe by the weekend I will have updated my installer.