LinuxCNC on Raspberry Pi 5

Stop overthinking.
With mesa hardware you don't need a base thread, only a servo thread is required. With that, latency isn't such a huge issue either. Trying to get an extra bit here and there does nothing.
The pre made image Rodw recently linked to is perfectly fine to run a machine, the only exception would be if you are using the RPi 5 spi interface to talk to a 7c81 or 7c80 as this requires a driver that isn't included in Rods image , this is not required for ethernet.
Invest more into learning the ins and outs of hal . This is more important that fussing over software as the images provide what is required, remember the only task these images are meant for is running a CNC machine.
If one reads the online docs one will fine some simple exercises that do not require a CNC machine.

I've had good luck getting everything to run well enough to get deep into learning and configuring LinuxCNC, Mesa 7i95T and the needed .ini and HAL files.  However, I just ran into my first problem when LinuxCNC errors on start when I configure QtDragon as the interfaces. 

I've already worked my way through several prior fail-on-start situations chasing down reported errors from the usual sources but this one is stumping me because I can't seem to find the actual error in the outputs I'm aware of.I will attach everything I can think of if someone could take a peak and spot what I'm missing.

Thanks

try
DISPLAY = qtvcp qtdragon

WooHoo - It started right up!

Thanks a bunch.

After six weeks of doing everything wrong a few times and being graciously corrected by everyone in the community my franken-build Pi 5 debian is working very well.

I'm about to start clean and do everything as has been documented in this thread without my own improvisations which I think got me little except the motivation to learn everything necessary to fix all the things I broke.

I wanted to make sure I'm starting with the latest of Rod's builds and I think it is this from the Google-Driver:

   rpi-5-debian-bookworm-6.6.54-rt39-arm64-ext4-2024-11-06-2037_qtpyvcp_stable_networkmanager.img.xz

The one on the Downloads page is still:

   rpi-5-debian-bookworm-6.1.61-rt15-arm64-ext4-2023-11-17-1520.img.xz

I'm pretty sure I want the one from Nov 2024 instead of Nov 2023.

Is there an even newer one?


 

Use the one Rod linked to on his google drive as it handles screen resolutions much much better.

With Linuxcnc is somethings works generally users stick with it. There is still many machines running earlier versions of Linuxcnc on Ubuntu 10 series.

Think of a machine running Linuxcnc the same as an ECU on a pre 2000's car or bike, if it works don't mess with it..........unless you're racing

Hello,

I have run into a need for LinuxCNC. I'm wondering if some kernel / device driver work is needed for supporting LinuxCNC on Pi 5. I would look for a user to be able to download, install and use the software without high-level technical support.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks,
Tom Alborough
----
Some of my related work:

"Thomas Alborough Unix" - (Use citations that contain "Unix" and "Alborough")
"Thomas Alborough Guide to Writing a Unix Device Driver" - (Search for "Alborough")
LinkedIn... Search for "Thomas Alborough"

Have you read the entire thread ?
Have you downloaded and written the Linuxcnc image to an SD card ?

What hardware are you wanting to use ?

What is your end goal ?

Hello cornholio,

Thank you for your response!

Have you read the entire thread ? I have browsed the beginning and the end of the thread. I noticed the need for both new and experienced users to ask for and get high-level support from this thread. My observation is that over time, it would be good for the need for high-level support to go down rather than stay the same or go up.

I have seen situations like this and I have seen a group of people improve the situation. I would be happy to talk more about it.


Have you downloaded and written the LinuxCNC image to an SD card ? I have done the exact same thing with a variety of mass storage devices and operating system images.


What hardware are you wanting to use ? I haven't gotten to with that yet. My observation is that (ChatGPT) is warning people away because the Pi 5 / LinuxCNC combination has issues.


What is your end goal ? I would like to buy (a Pi 5) and some popular controller and stepper motor hardware and load LinuxCNC with as much as much of a chance of success as loading and running an application on my cell phone.

(-- Out for the evening...)

Thanks,
Tom Alborough

Economically the RPi5 or RPi4 is not a great choice when compared to an ex corporate PC. The only advantage is a very small foot print and the ability to use a SPI interface board.