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Dear All,

Figured it out with extended reading - thanks for this great forum! - and a bit of creative try-and-error.
All 3 axes are set up and calibrated, homing works like a charm
Next and last open issue is the spindle - but I don't expect much difficulty with that. Otherwise there'll be another post here ...

ORIGINAL POST:
I've started a project to convert a 30-year-old engraving machine (Gravograph UNICA) to LinuxCNC running on a Raspberry PI 4 with a MESA 7C80. I have several Gravograph machines of various sizes available and am looking to roll out my conversion to most of them, if it works out as planned. These machines may be old, but as such they're solid and reliable. Also they are simple as there's just one stepper and one limit switch per axis and the spindle motor to control. The main reason for conversion is that the UNICA machine only runs on it's own Gravograph-unique operating system with a tiny monochrome CRT screen and propietary keyboard, with no communication port. The other, larger machines can communicate via serial port, but they also require Gravograph-only software ...

So far, I got the Raspberry PI, 7C80 and LinuxCNC up and running to the point that the x-axis stepper is operational by using linuxcnc.hal and linuxcnc.ini from this thread:
forum.linuxcnc.org/42-deutsch/52725-3-ac...esa-7c80-und-raspi-4

As far as I can tell, there's no wizard available (stepconf etc.) for configuring the MESA 7C80, so I need to work with the config files directly(?)

I modified linuxcnc.ini so that the stepper runs smoothly, and added three lines for the limit switch and homing. The stepper now starts running when I home the machine in LinuxCNC, and the program is apparently waiting for the limit switch to be triggered.
This is where I'm currently insecure and would like to ask for assistance:

• What terminals to connect the limit switch to at the 7C80?
• How to set it up as a NC contact (Switch opens when x-axis home position is reached)?
• How to set up homing to move the spindle towards home at first if the home switch is not triggered, and then move a short distance away and back to the final home position? 
  
  This is my current linuxcnc.ini:
   

  File Attachment:

  File Name: linuxcnc.ini
  File Size:4 KB
  
   
  Thank you for reading and thanks in advance for any answers!
  
  Best regards,
  Erik 
  captain-panda

meister wrote:

[code][code]EDIT: the config i build is only for testing, serial port will not work for LinuxCNC,
if you want to run LinuxCNC you need SPI (raspberry) or UDP (W5500 / UDP2SPI-Bridge)

[/code][/code]

Everything set-up & synthetizing-wise is working flawlessly. Said it before and I'll say it again; pretty EPIC work you've done for us   

I took onto your advice and stopped by my local gizmo shop to pick a W5500 Lite. Inserting a visual of my benchtop hardware set-up for inspiration and good luck! 

Thanks for reminding me of this. This is probably the issue I have with installing ethercat.

I'm not quite sure that everything works in the IDE, I haven't tested that for a long time.
but you can set the path there in the console like this:

then you can build the bitfile with:

EDIT: the config i build is only for testing, serial port will not work for LinuxCNC,
if you want to run LinuxCNC you need SPI (raspberry) or UDP (W5500 / UDP2SPI-Bridge)

you check id uefi or not as rodw explain here: forum.linuxcnc.org/ethercat/45336-etherc...-how-to-step-by-step ??

In my case need (not uefi but have that error because not all libs needed was installed) to install libethercat 2 time second one using synaptic. After it goes ....

A comment from a hobby non-trades user that finds 'stacking' or 'queuing' of MDI commands useful.

The hobby aspect often is a one-off with testing of individual cutting paths.
A few sequential paths might then give the result.
Then, copy/pastes within the MDI history allow the job to continue, and complete.

Sort of half-way between manual and cnc.

I am currently assessing what I should do on discovery that my new upgrade to LC2.9.2 on a Raspberry Pi 4B with AXIS does not allow MDI command stacking.
Gmoccapy is on the review list.

John.

At the point of "Test ethercat with linuxcnc " i am facing issues like "lFound file(REL): ./ethercat.hal
lcec: dlopen: libethercat.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory"
But path my directory (path=$PATH:/usr/local/lib)

Yes I'm pretty sure they are analog input driven.

I'm planning on using the 7i97T with another card for more I/O. Was planning on using a 7i84, but I can't find them anywhere in stock. I need 20 sourcing outputs and 25 sinking inputs in total.

I could use some relais to convert the sinking outputs of the 7i84D to sourcing ones, but that seems unnecesary complicated. Other option would be the 7IA0 or the 7i77 but they are both 150€ more expensive.

For the controller I'll probably use a Raspberry PI 5.

My LC2.9.2 is running nicely on a Raspberry Pi 4B with AXIS.
But, it will not accept multiple MDI commands.
I used to be able to do this on the earlier LC2.8.4.

Spent some time checking ini and HAL configurations, and Forum searching, but no joy.

Suggestions ?

John

elovalvo wrote:

If your problem is to only view LinuxCNC on Windows and you are not interested in the desktop of the Linux machine I recommend using an X-Terminal like MobaXterm
mobaxterm.mobatek.net/

Alternatively you can see how this new feature works

www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/services/connect.html

 

One drawback for a terminal is that probably you are not be able to connect to a running process (in this case linuxcnc) but you have to start it inside the terminal. For us that have configuration to start linuxcnc automatically on boot this won't work.

Raspi connect is something I would not use because of the need for cloud connection.
I advice using only services using local network for machine control.

If your problem is to only view LinuxCNC on Windows and you are not interested in the desktop of the Linux machine I recommend using an X-Terminal like MobaXterm
mobaxterm.mobatek.net/

Alternatively you can see how this new feature works

www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/services/connect.html

 

Thank you so much ,that's very helpful.

I use tightvnc, never had any issues. Windows 10, so that may be the reason for black screen.
Just follow some guide to setup vnc on debian. And never operate the machine remotely.
Vnc is only useful to sometimes check gcode without going to the garage...

if you are using the image from this link

forum.linuxcnc.org/9-installing-linuxcnc...pi-5?start=40#303752

maybe they should already be installed.

I've never used Ethercat so I've never had this problem.

However you can see at this link
linuxconfig.org/how-to-install-linux-ker...ders-on-raspberry-pi

Hello everyone, after the resignation of my very esteemed colleague, I need to set up the software on a functional system using a LinuxCNC mesa7i76e card with a Raspberry Pi 4. When the SD card got corrupted, I had to reinstall the software, but I have no knowledge about this subject. I downloaded the LinuxCNC 2.8.0-pi4 image file from the internet and wrote it to the SD card. The system runs, but I can't establish communication with the Mesa card during the setup. If anyone can provide support on this matter, I would appreciate it. Thank you in advance and have a good day.