My Ethercat Journey

I want to start my saying that I have been using Linux for 34 years.  That sounds like a big number but Linux has been around for longer that that.  The first time I ran Linux I down loaded it from a friends server over a modem.  It was 52 3.5" floppy disks.  I was going to collage studying computer science at the time.  Now I have a degree in computer science.  You don't need a degree in computer science to get EtherCAT working.

I designed and build a CNC router 12 years ago.  My original system was LinuxCNC.  I struggled to get everything work for several month but I did get it running.  A friend had build a CNC router at the same time and changed his system to Mach3 so I switched my system to that.  Everything worked but I never really trusted the system.  I managed to get some jobs that paid enough to pay for what I had invested.  I made many things for my self as well.  I could never get past the trust issues so eventually the router went into hibernation.  It hasn't been running for 8 or 9 years.  Now to the meat of the story.

I started reading about LinuxCNC and came across this forum and learned about EtherCAT.  It sounded very interesting so I started reading about it and decided I wanted to resurrect my CNC router.  One of the problems I always had with my system was loosing steps.  I did some research and found that the prices of a closed loop stepper system had reduced dramatically.  So I started planing out an upgrade to my system.  I started buying components.  My first purchases where a Beckhoff EK1100, EL1008, EL2008, and an EL9184.  In addition I bought a Meanwell NDR-240-24 and a NDR-480-48.  The NDR-240-24 to power the Beckhoff components and the NDR-480-48 to power a LiChaun CL57E-4A with 4 NEMA 23 3Nm close looped steppers.  I have yet to receive the LiChaun components.

Knowing nothing about EtherCAT I started reading.  This is the most important part if getting EtherCAT running.  I installed Debian 13 and LinuxCNC per the instructions provided by rodw.  Thank you Rod!  I don't know what I even started with but I got the basic configuration files in place.  The system recognized all the Beckhoff components.  I had my proximity sensors from my original system so I tried to get them working.  This is where my software development skills kicked in.  I use VS Code daily along with AI.  I opened my configuration folder in VS Code and started asking AI to help.  VS Code is a free open source development environment that can be installed on Linux.  With in a few hours I had my proximity sensors working.

I am fully aware that not everyone has my background in programming and using VS Code or AI but it has proven to be an invaluable tool for configuring LinuxCNC.  I will be receiving my driver and stepper in the next few weeks and will report my progress.  This path may not be for everyone but if you have any experience using VS Code with AI I highly recommend giving it a try.  I have found it to be incredibly helpful in getting started.  With that said, the most importing thing to do is RTFM! Read the F*ing manuals.

I hope this help someone!