Thanks for your reply. This discussion has forced me to analyze the situation and express what I need more accurately. So thanks for all the replies.
Linux CNC seems to me as a complete NOVICE as an application that literally interacts directly with the controllers and causes tool movements, etc. I don't think I need all of this detailed control. GRBL is supposed to take care of all that for me.
I have a 3D printer and a CNC 3018 converted to a CNC 3040. All of these are GRBL driven. The software I use is mostly Inkscape to do the graphics then "Easel" to create the G-Code. Then the gcode is sent to the controller on the CNC 4040 and it drives the rotating tool to carve the work piece. My new Atomstack also uses GRBL to controll the laser movement from G Code. My cursory analysis of the "laser" process is that the movement of the tool and tool intensity (power on the laser and rotational speed on the mill spindle) have different sequences when movement interacts with power changes. So in reality, I need a simple program that will run on Linux to feed G-Code to the Atomstack. I need to run the Laser out side of my second floor office so I don't fill the house with smoke from the laser playing with the wood fibers. (Wives can be fussy about things like this!).
I know that I can take my CNC 3040 and mount a laser on the same carriage and it will "etch / cut" the workpiece just by powering off the spindle and powering on the laser. In retrospect, that is what I should have DONE!!! I bot the Atomstack because it has a LARGE area for the work piece. It came with a different GRBL controller. I do not know what the differences are. I will start that research today.
Anyway, the catharsis of this exchange has been beneficial, even tho we appear to be speaking different languages to each otherimage missing /media/kunena/emoticons/smile.png.
