Complete HOW-TO Linux Mint 18.1 32/64 RTAI or PREEMPT with RIP install or deb

I think you are confusing kernel version patches with RT patches. A kernel version patch is different from RT patches.

You will need to download a kernel that you want to use ;
4.14.6 and older

Also you have to download a RT Patch that matches the kernel version number.
4.14.6-rt7 and older (the rt7 means real time ; revision 7) you match the base version of the kernel. Meaning you can use

4.14.6-rt6
4.14.6-rt5
4.14.6-rt4

ect...

I hope i'm not confusing you.

The RT-7 patch
www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/projects...-4.14.6-rt7.patch.gz

The matching Kernel version
www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/linux-4.14.6.tar.xz

I went with Linux Mint 18.3... Things seem to we working, but I missed that you started with 18.1. There is no need for me to be on the latest greatest. If 18.3 wont work, I can go back and do an 18.1 instal with the 4.9.68 kernel and rt patch.

Whaddia think?

All distro's are about the same and you should be just fine on 18.3

I am getting through most of the process a successfully, then the operation fails when the disk is full.

ld: final link failed: sound/pci/vx222/snd-vx222.ko: final close failed: No space left on device
No space left on device

Is it possible to run all these commands in a different location than the home folder?

I don't think that the problem is where you are running the commands.

How big is the disc?

You might need to (possibly temporarily) remove some stuff to make space.

I am running on a Minix NEO-ZZ83-4 Pro. It is a fanless all in one machine with a 30g hard drive. I am using a fresh install on linux mint. There is nothing else on the machine. I guess I could delete all the pre installed apps I don't need and try again. I have a 64 gig expansion disk, but I am not sure if using that space for the build process is a good idea.