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The cheap spindle on my router has failed (frozen water cooling damage???). I have a nicer spindle and a Commander SK VFD on the shelf that I planned on using as an upgrade. I use the gs2-vfd component for my router and mill and I use PWM with a Minarik inverter to control my lathe. I prefer the serial communications for controlling and monitoring the VFD. The new spindle and Commander work up to 1000hz, the GS-2 only goes to 400hz or I would have stuck with that. I do have the "Advanced User Guide for the Commander SK" that lists all the parameter to register mappings, but I need to decide on components to replace gs2-vfd.

It appears the choices are:
1) mb2hal (standard linuxcnc component)
2) vfdmod (unsupported???)
3) classic ladder (probably overkill for what I need)
4) mesa modbus (7i92)

Question #1 Can anyone can share a working Commander SK mb2hal setup.

Question #2 Is there any advantage to using a mesa serial port over the computer rs232 port for communication with VFDs? I currently use RS232 to RJ12 cables between computer and VFDs. 



 

Looks like you are using Qtaxis?
Looks like you are modifying the screen rather then embedding a custom panel?

You would need to follow Qtvcp docs for Qtaxis modifications. I can help once you confirm what you are doing.

The instructions in the manual are what you should follow for building or modifying a configuration.

Stepconfig, is a wizard application for creating basic machine configurations. It asks you questions and you fill in the answers about your machine config, then it builds the configurations files (*.hal, *.ini ...) for you. The end result being a set of machine config files that might work for you, or be a stepping off point giving you a framework to create a more complex configuration from.

PS once you've created a config using one of the wizards, if you make manual hand modifications to the config files, do not try to make changes using the wizards. Because the wizards do not look at the existing config files for info, any previous changes to them will be lost and overwritten. (They work from other files that are not used for running Linuxcnc.)

As others have mentioned, you definitely do not want DHCP and you do
need to set a static address.

You might try this:

       auto eth0
       iface eth0 inet static
           address 10.10.10.100
           netmask 255.255.255.0

DO NOT set a gateway or nameservers

 

They do seem to work. I've spent about 3 hrs tuning these so far. I'll have a hopefully final go next week. I've got 4 1kw servos (gantry). There are enough details in the manual to do the tuning. The velocity feed forward from Linux Cnc really helps with following error to a ramp, which is what I'm testing. I wish there was a way to restart communication without restarting the drives. It is tedious using the buttons on the drives. If I get a satisfactory procedure I'll write it up.

We can not give you exact settings as you did not reply to our questions, so go back, read and reply.

I don't know where you saw the info about the setup wizard, but this is absolutely wrong.
As the image is essentially Debian Bookworm you can use the below link to get an idea. Also there is a large sticky thread related to the RPi images, in the Installing Linuxcnc heading.
What other image are you referring to ?

wiki.debian.org/NetworkConfiguration

I'm still waiting to see these in proper functional use on a machine too.
These are very appealing to spec on my machine, but I want someone else to make sure it works first, hahaha.

ok, i've finished your instructions. now what? haha.

I've only ever set up linuxcnc with the mesa wizard. what guide should i follow now for the rest?

Thanks!

Thanks for your reply! If possible can you share exact settings so that noobs like us can know and get this 7i95t up and running. Any help will be highly appreciated.

Hi. I am a little bit confuse about working with your own Panels.
I modified the AXIS.ui with this panel ROBOT.ui

Se image 1. ROBOTui

Basically, I only added 6 tab windows

Then, as in the documentary PyVCP says it must be included in the INI I did it.
See image 2 PyVCP

But when I run again the Linux Stepconf to include the changes I find a place where I should add custom panels.
See image 3      Stepconf


In conclusion I don´t know where I have to place my custom ROBOT.ui that is an AXIS.ui modified.

Sorry for my English, is not my mother tongue,
By the way I am working in the translation into Spanish of the Developers Manual - 25 January 2025.

Thanks a lot.

I have seen plenty of dead drives due to those mosfet drivers, some IR.8.1.2.. i can not recall, but i did not bother to check why or how, just left it to using cheap IRF540 or IRF740 output stages that have max 100V VGS and slapping 80V working voltage on the drives, so any coasting or hard brake would release the magic smoke.
I am sure you can figure out what company made those.
Fortunately i still have some in use as with 30-48V they are fine.

Most will work for step/dir but the spindle PWM output may be on different pins
What is the pinout of a breakout available to you?
 

Here is the 7I96/7I96S input circuit

Notes:

1. The quad optos are AC input type

2. The solid GND symbol is input common

 
 

I installed Linuxcnc on an 8GB Pi5 using this file since I want to use a MESA board, it looked like the right choice.

www.linuxcnc.org/iso/rpi-5-debian-bookwo...25-01-27-0140.img.xz

Everything booted up well(but there was no initial setup wizard like I have seen some people mention), and the install looks good, but I don't see wifi anywhere or network options of any kind. I tried a USB wifi dongle, and that didn't change anything and unfortunately, ethernet is not an option for me. Does anyone have any tips for getting wifi working? Should I have used the other .iso? Thanks!