Category: Installing LinuxCNC
I have been reading a lot about options with the RPi and LinuxCNC, and am just getting more confused so I thought I would just ask a couple of hopefully simple questions.
I have a 3-axis (sometimes 4 axis) mill currently running LinuxCNC on an OrangePi. It has been run with GRBL on an arduino, and an old PC with LinuxCNC. The current setup works okay with the OrangePi but the interface lags and I have some mods I want to eventually do to my mill. I have the newest official RPi image running on a RPi 4b. I need to eventually marry this to an external motion board but I decided to start off with software stepping using a Pi hat, but I know that won't last long. Basically I'm done screwing around and want to setup a system that is capable and expandable EASILY.
I've been looking at the Mesa 7C81 but that is probably overkill for my purposes, but if it is truly as easy as it seems it may be my final choice. So first question is if setup of the 7C81 is as easy as it seems with the PNC config wizard?
Second question I have is whether I have missed another option that is less overkill. Here is what I eventually "complete" my mill
- LinuxCNC running with touchscreen interface without lag or problems. Would eventually like on-screen keyboard with a wireless keyboard/mouse usable if needed.
- 4 closed loop steppers (XYZ and a rotary table)
- 7 home/limit switches (2 each on XYZ, 1 on rotary table)
- Spindle control (VFD)
- Spindle encoder for tapping.
- 3 encoder wheels (for using the machine as a pseudo manual machine)
- Maybe a dozen or so switches/buttons for input to LinuxCNC
- Only need about 40 kHz stepping rate max.
Should I just stop thinking about it and buy the 7C81 when it comes back into stock? Or is there an almost as easy solution that will fit the above needs.
BTW, I am also planning to CNC my lathe and would want to duplicate the setup the mill has on the lathe so I don't have to relearn anything.
Thanks in advance.
