Ditching Linux CNC & why

My intake on LinuxCNC

After a swift configuration and getting the motors to move, I was happy. I needed to configure my VFD to get LinuxCNC to start it automatically. That took somewhat few articles & few hours of test & trials to get it up and running with a successful implementation and a production cut sample.

But then the Axis interface was too dull, I wanted to gmoccapy to work. Ended up days on end reading article on how to, youtubing and wiki and forums but the thing will not get my motors working. And so I went back to Axis cuz I wanted to do some work & not waist time on trouble shooting.

Axis, though it was basic, I wanted some buttons like (Go to home, 1/2 distance, laser zero), after another days of searching the testing & trying, I got the buttons working. I was happy.

Comes the day I wanted to cut a sample design for a client, the VFD would not want to work. Scratched my head as to why it was working & now it will not. What broke it? The buttons I installed? Ended up 4 hour behind schedule trouble shooting the frikn thing & VFD would not want to start. From new configuration, it will not want to get the VFD working.

It dawned on me that:
1. I cant waist my time on such unstable application like LinuxCNC.
2. More than 40+ hours of wasted time to get LinuxCNC to work without any success.
3. Unstable as any changes to the interface the VFD would not work.

LinuxCNC is for a type of guy that has plenty of time on hand, Ph.D in programming skills, hacking skills, extra perceptive trouble shooting skills, deciphering error skills, superior analytics.

I cant say I had fun with LinuxCNC but honestly I cant be a programmer, hacker, trouble shooter while clients are waiting for their parts and each hour passes by is a loss of machine shop production & $$. LinuxCNC is not really for me.

sorry on that
i did now over 10 mashines 5Axis
and it worked wit a Glimp of the Eye

it is so easy to work with
and no cost
full suport with the forum
live support on irc
i which i had found it within years earlyer

look here my channel
www.youtube.com/channel/UCGuJsIoXW-exBAwdn38dXow/videos

Sorry to hear about your troubles.

Linuxcnc your correct in saying it is difficult, but I think wrong is saying it is buggy. It takes a bit to understand it but once you get the hang of it, it is really a godsend. I have a 8000lbs milling center I retrofitted with linuxcnc and mesa boards and I literally havent had one issue with it in 5 years. I left it the way it is and have been using it ever since. I never even opened up config files on that machine in 5 years. It just works. I have many other machines I have retrofitted also.

It takes a bit but you have live help on irc, free support , and the forums and if you want the mailing lists.

Sometimes attitudes are a bit off center, I dont know why but everyone is volunteering their help. Its free support, they are not getting paid. So you learn to deal with the intricacies.

I would hate to see you leave with a bad taste of Linuxcnc. IT's not that bad.

knowone gets 40+ hr for a basic config

its a matter of 5min

and with all the help yopu shoudt have come here earlyer
as i see multible names at your probvlem i guess you are locking in as manay nicknames for every question

NO need

we will answer questions as long as you ask

on the same user over and over

meh

KalKat wrote: My intake on LinuxCNC

It dawned on me that:
1. I cant waist my time on such unstable application like LinuxCNC.
2. More than 40+ hours of wasted time to get LinuxCNC to work without any success.
3. Unstable as any changes to the interface the VFD would not work.

I feel your frustration - linuxcnc has a steep learning curve.
The fact that it is so powerful makes it hard to set up.
But you are being a bit unfair IMHO.

1) unstable because you constantly changed things - things that take a while to understand how they are a system.
2) you said you had success relatively quickly - then changed things.
3) changing from AXIS to Gmoccapy, as you found out, is not as simple as changing the DISPLAY name. I agree that it's unfortunate - but I'm not sure of anywhere it's been stated that that is all you must do.

It seems that if you had left your original basic running config alone, and built a second one with more bells and whistles,
you would have had your production covered, while you learned how to adjust linuxcnc to suit you.

I'm not sure what you did, but getting help from users and developers takes a fairly specific routine:
Give as much info as possible. -especially the specific error messages.
post all your config files if appropriate.
ask specific questions.

Other wise you tend to get low quality generic answers or little response at all.

And yes in general one trades money for time - if you have no time, you buy a turnkey solution. If you can spare the time then you can use MACH or Linuxcnc etc and save a lot of money or get a solution tailored to you more.

From you post I can't think of anything we could immediately improve for the next person trying as you did.
Other then mention it takes longer to set up a tailored machine then anyone thinks.
But complaining that linuxcnc is buggy because (seemingly) you didn't configure it properly is not fair.
Complaining that it is difficult to set up could be fair.

Whether you give linuxcnc another try in the future or go some other route.
Thank you for the feedback and I wish you luck in your business!

Chris M