Advanced Search

Do it, we are here to help as much as humanly possible.

I am new to LinuxCNC, but I play a software engineer in life.  I have identified a few areas where new or updated (and refactored) components could be beneficial.  What is the current best practice to build HAL components?  I would assume halcompile, but more specifically, .comp files or just long-hand .c?  The components that I am currently thinking about are in the user-space.   The first one I want to tackle is an updated/new hy_gt vfd component.  I am running 2.9, so backward compatibility is not a personal concern for me, but maybe people don't update?

Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks
 

Saw this old iron while entertaining the machinery buying itch today on Kijiji -- www.kijiji.ca/v-other-business-industria...i-hit-18s/1716314528

That link will go dead with time, so for the record it looks like a Hyundai HIT 18S for $2k Canadian, not working. Seller says it has some repaired drives. I probably need to ask more questions, just not sure what all the right ones are.

Seller might be asking too much, but says he's open to offers. Any thoughts from more experienced heads here, whether or not something like this is worth a look and a retrofit? Or should I be running the other way fast as I can? I don't have any impressions, good or bad, about Hyundai quality, and I'm not sure what dead machines should generally go for.

On the scale of difficulty for retrofits, where does a machine like this fall? I'm no expert with HAL but have dabbled a little. Built my own plasma table with 7i76e and a couple THCAD's by riding on the shoulders of giants on this forum.

Thanks in advance for any time you spend looking at this.

The latest QtDragon version at github.com/persei802/QtDragon_hd has a button for using a manual tool gauge. You use it by selecting Manual Tool Gauge in the Settings page, then lowering the tool until your gauge reads 0 and then press the Manual Touchoff button. 
Jim
 

the repo in the github configured like this:

you get:
4 step-generator
1 encoder-counter
gpio input pins (10, 11, 22, 26, 27, 28)
gpio output pins (12, 13, 15)
1 pwm channell (gp14)

so you can use it with a cheap printerpot breakout board. i currently working on a breakout board mixed with the io-samurai project to add +8 digital output and 16 digital inputs to this ().

but you can configure other ways if you want, more encoders for less inputs or no ecoder for extra 2 input or output. the hal driver uses the same configuration file so only 1 place change is need to change the configuration.

The configuration file is in the repo (firmware/w5100s-evb-pico/inc/config.h)

or if you want much more inputs and outputs use my io-samurai project, open source with the PCB production files. (only works with the W5100S-EVB-PICO or equivalent pico + w5100s breakout board)

if you want faster response please use the discord link in the repo.

 

 

Yes, that could definitely be the case. It's a very old machine—27 years old—but I decided I want to give her a new life. The structure is really solid, plus it has vacuum and lubrication for aluminum, which is great.
So, I want to do this retrofit, and I think the setup I posted here should get the job done. The only thing I have to do is adapt the old motor frames (they have a small gearbox), because the old motor is 89x89mm and the Leadshine is 80x80mm. I hope it won’t be too difficult.
Once the machine is up and running and I’ve done some work with it, I can swap the spindle and install an automatic tool changer. That would be so cool!

Do you have any general advice? Does the setup look good to you guys?
By the way, I’ve installed the LinuxCNC ISO on an old PC with an Intel i5. Now I’m just waiting to buy the Mesa board and start configuring everything.

Thanks for the replies, but some misunderstanding here.
The system is fine, up and running LinuxCNC 2.9.3, configured for the X-axis with joint0 and joint1 as it should be (cutting a big slab of 5 mm Alu while I am typing this). The only thing I am adding is a racking detector (for which I use encoder_ratio looking for a mismatch on encoder disks on both X axis).

While browsing through the HAL functions I ran into Matrixkins, and I wondered if this is not an easier way than changing some HAL values to square the axes. Since it does not apply to a tandem axis, I'll drop the issue.
But thanks for the replies anyway.

Robert

I was thinking 2 motors that move opposite to one another and increase the effective distance (one moves left 5CM, the other moves 10cm right; total displacement is 15cm)

Yes.
When mounted inside, the encoder wires have to go inside, and those are the ones most susceptible to interference.

No need, since 2.8 the joint/axis is implemented in LinuxCNC, so just choose "tandem joint/axis" in the wizard.

?? It is a usual setup, each X-ballscrew having its own stepper and home. For small corrections I could of course use HAL and change the HOME location a bit. The whole X bridge is very solid though (has 20 mm linear rail and two linear bearings on each side, and a profile of 160 x 95 mm aluminium), and pushing manually I cannot rack it more than about 2 mm. I have not measured yet if it is out of line more than that, so I'll do that first, might work. I found the matrixkins source, no mention of dual axis there. Looks modifiable though.
Robert

What about just connecting the 2 X-axes together, possibly with one of the DIR inputs inverted?

Hello,
i have a b - axis and i want to home the axis at the same time as the rotorhoming seqence is running (bldc component) 

I run a etel ddm with a 8i20 and a siko encoder with index

Any ideas?

Thanks

That ECP5/i5 board is VERY cool.

On your Git page you mention the network interfaces are not supported, do you mean we can't use a Wiznet module or are you referring to the 30pin ethernet connector on the dev board ?

Having over 100 IO pins available is definitely the dream, is programming as easy as the tang nano? Will it program via the USB-C connector within Riocore like the Tang?

Would there be any advantage in getting the i9 module over the i5 for our purposes ? It works out more expensive but not too much.

Cheers.
Russell.
 

Is it still recommended to mount the THCAD on the outside of the plasma power unit when the power unit has a voltage divider? I was thinking it wouldn't make much difference since the start and ok to move are coming directly into the electronics box.