New LinuxCNC Multi-Channel System – Looking for Testers & Feedback

Download problem found and fixed

Thanks to everyone who reported that the Debian packages could not be downloaded from www.cnc.gmbh/download even when logged in. The cause is found and fixed, please try again.

What happened: the shop server read the whole package (about 30 MB) and pushed it to the browser in one piece. The web server behind the shop allows only two seconds per send operation, so on a normal internet connection the transfer was cut off before the first chunk was through. The browser then received an empty file, or nothing at all. The login itself was never the problem.


If it still does not work for you, please post the file name, your browser and roughly the time of the attempt so I can check the server log.

That seems to be working. I just finished successfully downloading the source code over my very slow internet. Soon I have a meeting with a client, so I will have to explore further later.

hi, this is very grate news,

i am in the UK,

i have a Citizen L16 laying around (did offer it on her for sale etc) its waiting for a new life as the old control boards are dead.
i'v done many linuxcnc retrofits over the years of milling & Turning for the sliding head iv been waiting for someone todo this much needed addition work. so thank you for taking this on.

i have other sliding head lathes too and multi axis spindle machines so i am willing to retrofit the old Citizen L16 and help you develop this along its road path as is needed from a lathe point of view and usage and test and help you add functions to it.

let me know how how i can help out etc

We discussed this idea at the LinuxCNC meet-up in Stuttgart (and this particular post in the video meeting just now).

One way to approach this was, we thought, to allow multiple LinuxCNC instances to share a HAL space to allow interprocess communication. At that point it feels like a HAL namespace problem. but fairly simple.

I am unclear (scanning this during the meeting) whether this is a fork, add-in or potential PR to the main LinuxCNC project.

Hi Rob,

Thanks for your message and your offer to help with testing and development! Your Citizen L16 sounds like a great candidate, and your experience with sliding head lathes would be very valuable.

I’m currently in California and will be back in Europe on 13 November. Given the complexity of the project, I’d suggest a video or phone call to discuss the machine, its existing hardware, and the requirements for the retrofit.

I’d be happy to support you with integrating the new system into your Citizen L16. Testing it on a real machine and getting your feedback would also help us develop and refine the functions needed in practice.

Let’s arrange a suitable time for a call.

Best regards,
Daniel

Hi Andy,

I actually discussed this idea with Michael Haberler about 15 years ago, and I left it alone for a long time because of the complexity involved.

When I finally took it on, it required a substantial amount of reworking across the existing code. It took several attempts and a few changes in direction before I found an architecture that worked for what I wanted to achieve.

The shared HAL approach is an interesting option. In my case, finding a workable overall concept was a major part of the effort.

It’s good to hear that this is being discussed at the meet-ups as well!