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Hello!

My experience with LinuxCNC goes back for 15-16 years and now I am taking my first steps in getting it to work with EtherCAT. I am doing a retrofit of Biesse CNC machine and customer wants to use VFD for spindle that is made by ABB (model ACS380). Since by default that VFD has 2 digital inputs and 0 analog inputs, I could only get "start/stop" function to work so they got EtherCAT module (FECA_01 with firmware 1.30) for that VFD that I am now trying to get to work.
I have (at least I think so) successfully installed ethercat libraries as per first post by RodW in this thread:
forum.linuxcnc.org/ethercat/45336-etherc...-how-to-step-by-step
I have got XML file from ABB for the VFD drive (they provide ZIP archive with large collection of them and I picked the one that had matching firmware number of the EtherCAT module in filename), I have attached it.
Attached is also a screenshot that shows that EtherCAT service is active, those few lines in HAL file that I used to start lcec module, the thunar window to show actual location of XML file (to show that it matches the line in HAL file) and the error message of LinuxCNC.
Is there anything obvious I am missing?
In many forum posts I see that people also use cia402 module. Is it required here? I have not found any explanation of what exactly it is used for.
Thanks in advance!

Here is a little test program that slowly toggles all step/dir outputs so both states of all outputs
can be checked with a voltmeter:

 

You will need to

chmod +x 5i25stepgens.txt

then

sudo ./5i25stepgens.txt

and all step/dir outputs should toggle at a ~ 1/3 hz rate
 

Should be OK, but not the only important thing for EtherCAT, so in short: you can not know without actually testing it.

I'm using Simens IPC127e. It's a Siemens's computer working on Intel E3940/4GB and Intel i210 network card. This computer was used for industry control, it should working well with linuxcnc. 

I turned off all the turbo mode, C-state,etc. But the latency test shows the jitter is 50-60us. Is it enough for Ethercat control? Is there anything else I need to do with.

Btw, I have no Idea on turn-off the OnBoard Audio, how should I do.

Können Sie bitte einmal ein normales Terminal öffnen — ohne Takshak — und dorteingeben? Startet Firefox dann sauber, liegt der Fehler bei uns und nicht bei Ihrem System: unsere AppImage-Umgebung reicht dann eine eigene Bibliothek an Firefox weiter. Das wäre für uns die wichtigste Information.

You might try measuring at the 7I76U with the plugs removed
though 4.12V sounds OK under load. (its really marginal with no load however)

I can post a program a bit later today that will toggle all the step/dir outputs
slowly for a more complete test.

Vielen Dank für die schnelle Antwort…
Ok da ist was mit Firefox nicht so wie es sein soll…
Ich hatte zwa ein full Upgrade gemacht…..
Aber der Fehler blieb….
Aber erstmal Danke.

King regarde
Juergen

Hallo Juergen,

vielen Dank, das Terminal-Protokoll erklärt alles.

Beide Meldungen stammen von appimaged, das in Ihrem Downloads-Ordner liegt — nicht von Takshak. Der Ablauf war:

1. Takshak bittet den Desktop, das Handbuch zu öffnen.
2. Ihr Firefox-ESR stürzt beim Start ab: libatspi.so.0: undefined symbol: g_once_init_leave_pointer, „Couldn't load XPCOM". Das betrifft jede HTML-Datei auf diesem System, nicht nur unsere. Zum Prüfen bitte im Terminal einmal firefox-esr eingeben — der Fehler kommt auch ohne Takshak.
3. Weil Firefox fehlschlägt, reicht der Desktop die Datei an den nächsten Eintrag für text/html weiter, und das ist bei Ihnen appimaged. Dieses meldet dann „Not running on one of the supported Live systems" und scheitert am systemd-Dienst.
Bis Firefox repariert ist: das Handbuch steht auch online auf takshakcam.com in allen sieben Sprachen zur Verfügung.

Zwei Punkte gehen aber auf unsere Kappe, und die beheben wir: Takshak hätte Ihnen melden müssen, dass das Öffnen fehlgeschlagen ist, statt stillzubleiben — und wir werden das Handbuch künftig an einen festen Ort kopieren, statt es aus dem AppImage heraus zu öffnen.

Regards,
Georg

I don't usually clutter up threads like this just to say it looks great, but... looks great! I still need to get the spindle motor cooling shroud finished and installed on my machine... really easy to leave things unfinished once you can make chips, so good on you.

Good morninig PCW;

Checked the voltages at the micro-stepper plugs this morning, all read either 0 v or 4.12 v, nothing in between. Although the high voltage is a bit low, I think it is within operational range. I'm not using an external 5 v supply for the board, though I have one to run my crosshair laser, so I could tap that supply if necessary. All of my dedicated power supplies 5, 12, 24 and 36 v are spot on their output voltages.

Not sure if it is the 7i76U or the 6i25 FPGA, which is configured as a 5i25, in the computer or something else that could be the issue. What is your suggestion at this point?

Debian 13 vom LinuxCNC-Image
Takshak gestartet, AppImage per DoppelklickMenü
Hilfe angeklickt: Benutzerhandbuch  

king regarde
Juergen
 

 

Hi,

Looking at your .xml file,
you have X, Z, Y, and SPDL, whereas in the .hal file you have X, Y, and Z, and the pins for SPDL are missing.

I believe that in the .hal file,
`loadrt cia402 count=3`

should be
`loadrt cia402 count=4`

Consequently, you need to add
`addf cia402.3.read-all servo-thread`
and
`addf cia402.3.write-all servo-thread`

Then, once LCNC opens, check that the pins in the .hal file match what you see under Machine > HAL Configuration
in the lcec and cia402 sections;
they must match it is easy to misspell pin names.

After the critiques and some changes I have almost completed my controller cabinet. It’s not nearly as Tidy as I would like but I think the airflow should be decent enough to keep it cool. Thank to all the comments and helping a first timer out.

Both linuxcnc and the preempt kernel come from a .iso file which is
linuxcnc_2.9.10-amd64.hybrid.iso
There a .zip file in forum.linuxcnc.org/38-general-linuxcnc-q...ing-program?start=10

which has polygonpocketf.ngc and makeholehere.ngc.

The parts are exceeding the limits set in the linuxcnc .ini file, when I correct this things work as they did on my other system. Sorry for the noise