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It’s been a little over 10 years since I last used LinuxCNC; back then it was for a one‑off prototyping project at work. Now that I’m retired, I’m thinking about getting back into it for some hobby projects.While going through some old boxes, I found some MESA cards I had kept as spares: 5I22, 7I33TA, and 3 × 7I42TA. They were stored properly and should be in good condition. I’m not sure how current this generation of hardware is anymore, and I’m reluctant to start a new build around something that is obsolete. Before I decide what to do with them, I wanted to ask: do these boards still have practical value for anyone running older systems? If so, I’d likely sell them rather than let them sit unused.As for new projects, I’m considering a few possibilities:

• 3‑axis router, for wood and softer materials. Likely steppers, though I may look at servos depending on what I decide for requirements.
• I have a CO₂ Iradion laser + PSU, new in the box. Could be a candidate for a laser cutter/engraver build, or I may just try to sell it if there’s still a market, as my primary interest is the router.
• Guitar pickup winder, something I’ve always wanted to build, and a simple way to get back into LinuxCNC.

Before I dive into researching current LinuxCNC‑based routers, laser systems, or pickup winders (does anyone know of one), I figured I’d ask here first. Any pointers on modern hardware choices, project examples, or insight into whether the MESA boards I have are still useful would be appreciated.

I am.

However, my lathe is not completely finished and I'm finding that I will need to heavily modify PB or switch to another GUI (likely Flex) as my configuration and GUI preferences are pretty specific.

Hello all, I was hoping to get an idea of who all out there is using probe basic lathe currently?  please drop a line and let me know if you are using it!  

thanks all!!

Chris
 

Hello Tommy:

   thank you for the fast reply.
I am not sure which config your referencing to?
There is this PortTest demo.
Do you have the path to the config script. Because under the 
/usr/realtime-5.4.258-rtai-amd64

bin  calibration  modules  share  testsuite


This is all i see and thing to do with config

thanks
Mike
 

works on aliexpress and the Temu normally now, Aliexpress has customs duties..otherwise nothing has changed here for 3 decades, it's just getting worse and worse, I have the option of purchasing from EU countries that don't have customs duties but have taxes so it comes the same

Gcode parameters live inside the interpreter and are not directly accessible from outside the gcode program. However there are ways to expose the values from within the Gcode program.
In your case you could use 'M68 E0 Q#1000' to send the parameter value to the hal pin 'motion.analog-out-00' which you can then connect to your gladevcp display.
The M68 code would need to be called every time after the #1000 parameter is changed in the gcode.


linuxcnc.org/docs/html/gcode/m-code.html#mcode:m68
linuxcnc.org/docs/html/man/man9/motion.9.html

For passive BOBs like the SainSmart ones, the configuration with or without  BOB is Identical

You still need to pay customs if you buy from the EU? Didn't that change two decades ago or so?

Anyway - there are cheap clones of the 7i92 on Aliexpress which work the same way like the original, with original Mesa bitfiles. May be worth trying, but they are going more and more expensive very fast. Or does Aliexpress stuff still disappear in Serbian post?

Hi;

I have a gladevcp panel that I would like to display a counter from a gcode routine. In my gcode I have something like lcnt = lcnt + 1 to track the iteration number of a loop. IF I understand the documentation correctly I could assign this value to a global number parameter, say #1000 by using the syntax #1000 = lcnt.  That all seems simple enough.

Now I would like to:
1. Read the contents of #1000 in a python handler associated with the gladevcp panel and display the value on the panel. (I understand the display part, just not the read part)
2. Know when the value of #1000 changes to update the display

Is this possible? How would I code python to read the value? How could I know if the value has been changed by the gcode? Is there an on_changed signal for variable updates?

Kind regards,
 

In that case, if I do a mesaflash for two Bobs, will the configuration work using only one Bob as the base, for example the p1 port, and the other port directly from the card?How would you configure it for my case?

Unless you can get a MPG with open collector outputs ( that match the SainsSmart BOB inputs ),
you are probably better off connecting the MPG  directly to the 7I92.

 

better solution is always 7i96s, The price of the card is not expensive at all, but the problem is that with customs and transportation, even from Portugal, the price is almost double here in Serbia.

This classic bob is available in our market, so in that case, would it be possible to somehow make mpg wheels work with 100ppr/5v?

Yes, you can use the 5ABOBx2 firmware for the common Sainsmart BOB
and choosing the discover option in pnccconf will allow you to make a
working configuration for that firmware.

On issue with the SainSmart type BOBS is that they have no TTL encoder inputs
Those BOBs have 10v ? sourcing inputs (ground to actuate) which may work with
low resolution encoders with open collector outputs. ( low resolution because those inputs
are fed through slow opto isolators )

thanks, in that case I like the option to flash the card for 2xbob, both bob via a fmale to fmale 26pin cable?...in that case I need for my lathe machine one spindle analog output, one spindle encoder input and xzA config for servos and two independent simulative mpg wheels for x and z. In that case, will the pnccfg and gecko initial configuration give me the ability to meet the above needs, possibly by modifying hal for mpg and spindle encoder?