List of CNC devices I can use with LinuxCNC?

gerritv wrote: Rewire the stepper motors to the G540 or similar. Use the Grbl controller and stepper drivers for some other project
The cost diff between 5i25 (Pci board) and 7i9x boards is minimal, and removes t he need for pci slots. You will however need a second ethernet port. Use the builtin port for the 7i9x board, add a wifi or ethernet usb dongle for internet/network use.

If you don't mind, I want to rephrase this to be sure I understand it - along with my questions. (Remember, no hands on experience at all and I'm trying to assimilate everything I'm reading here and on other sites.)

I get a G540 and replace the Grbl controller (apparently Bob says that's a Raspberry Pi - which is reusable for a lot!). I'm not clear yet about stepper drivers. Does the G540 include stepper drivers that would be used to replace the drivers from the Grbl controller? And rewiring - pretty obvious, or something that takes testing and experimenting to complete?

The computer I'm looking at has 2 RJ45s, so I could easily connect to the 7i9x that way. I'm curious - can I put a 7i9x on my main LAN, allowing control from a 2nd computer on my LAN if I needed to?

I'm also seeing references (on other sites) about using UGS to take GCode and send it to one of Bob's devices. While that's an extra 2nd step, it sounds like that's an option - save the GCode, then send it to the CNC device with UGS.

But, on the other hand, if replacing their controller with a G540, then using a Mesa board is all I need to do to make their system work with LinuxCNC, then I guess that wouldn't be a problem.

BobCNC might use a Raspi to send data to Grbl but Grbl itself runs on an Arduino UNO according to his documentation. The UNO connects to stepper drivers, which then control the steppers. (This is all shown in the consturction manuals, worth reading). The Raspi might run Linux and UGS or similar gcode sender, I didn;t dig into that as it is irrelevant to what you say you want to do. None of this would be used if you switch the machine to LinuxCNC control.

The G540 (take a look at gecko.com for details) would connect to the stepppers directly. The control would be from (IMO) a Mesa 7i92 or similar. Those are ethernet boards that are meant to live alone on a connection (not on your LAN). If you want to control the machine from a second computer then install/enable Remote Desktop Sharing.

IMHO you should decide what machine you need, then decide if you want to also go up the learning curve of Linux/LinuxCNC as well at the same time.

Since you aren't using Windows I have no idea what you will use to generate gcode (I only use Linux for LinuxCNC). The sw that is for sale on BobCNC site seems geared to things such as sign making , i.e. typical router work.

If you don't own a Gecko G540, please do not buy it. There are much better options. Separate stepper drivers are the way to go...

rodw wrote: If you don't own a Gecko G540, please do not buy it. There are much better options. Separate stepper drivers are the way to go...

I agree.

rodw wrote: ISeparate stepper drivers are the way to go...

They are separate drives in a single case.
I am very happy with mine.

phillc54 wrote:

rodw wrote: ISeparate stepper drivers are the way to go...

They are separate drives in a single case.
I am very happy with mine.

Yes, I know. I had a Gecko once. They are under featured and over priced by comparison to what is out there today. The Longs Motor DM542A is streets ahead and are half the price for a set of 4 drives. I was unable to blow up the Longs but found it very easy to accidentally terminate a Gecko. I can't comment on what Tommy says about only stepping every 10th pulse but I do know the Longs are much nicer at 25x stepping (5000 pulses per rev). There are lots of DM42's out there but make sure you get the one with the elephant on it!

rodw wrote:
Yes, I know. I had a Gecko once.

Sorry, it just looks like you inferred they weren't seperate in the post above.

I was unable to blow up the Longs but found it very easy to accidentally terminate a Gecko.

I haven't been able to blow up my Gecko in the five odd years I have had it.

I can't comment on what Tommy says about only stepping every 10th pulse

I have tested mine with a DTI and I don't see that, it always ends up where it should.

Put a big pulley on the motor, set Linuxcnc to put 1 step per mm, set it to 60mm/m velocity, the pulley will move every 10mm on the dro.
That was true for version 2 and 3 of G540, never bought them again.
Although it does say on their website that is has a divider by 10, not microstepping, but was hard to find, that is why i missed it.
Inside there are 4 separate G251 drives and a board with inputs and outputs and spindle stuff and 2 relays. Also the electronics are very good, and for a full step drive they have the least amount of vibrations and have a pot for resonance frequency adjustment.

Put a big pulley on the motor, set Linuxcnc to put 1 step per mm, set it to 60mm/m velocity, the pulley will move

So set the scale to 1?

yup