Linux CNC http://www.linuxcnc.org/ LinuxCNC is a descendent of the original NIST Enhanced Machine Controller software, which is in the Public Domain. LinuxCNC has many exciting new features and brings a lot of new functionality (a flexible and powerful Hardware Abstraction Layer that allows you to adapt it to many kinds of machinery, a software PLC controller, easier-than-ever installation, a new trajectory planner, and more.) Discuss all Linux CNC related topics here
Have a idea thought I would put it here I will be trying to use LinuxCNC using Hal2Arduino with one of these Pololu - A-Star 32U4 Mini LV got the idea thinking about Jedicut and using a dongle and that the same thing could be done with Hal2Arduino. My cnc will be a muti-machine with XYZA axis and remove-able gantry which then converts to XYUV axis. Which can all run with LinuxCNC, but I really like the looks of Jedicut. Making a Hal2Arduino dongle will allow me to us a Windows machine with Linuxcnc running within Virtualbox program for cnc work and 3d printing then use Windows to run Jedicut for foam cutting with a different dongle made for Jedicut. I would also like to try and expand the use of Hal2Arduino to send stepper signals over Can-bus. Can-bus is a network protocol that sends messages over a twisted pair of wires and is faster than USB and there would be less lag time of signals sent to stepper drivers, one pair of Cat5 twisted pairs will work. Then attach Rj11 ends and use phone splinter connections for adding connections to different nodes on the network. Ends of network require a terminating resistor on each end. terminating resistors can be made as described on this web page. CAN Jaguars If your stepper drivers use 3.3 volts such as polou stepper drivers one could use a Teensy 3.1 or 3.2 which has Can-bus and one of these http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KM6XMXO?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00 and make a dongle to paraport connection. If you do not want to use paraport breakout board you could use a Arduino Due which also has Can-bus but only 3.3 volt to work with If your stepper drivers used 5 volts you would have to use a Arduino Mega without paraport breakout board with a Can Bus shield such as http://www.amazon.com/CAN-BUS-Shiel...qid=1446085891&sr=1-1&keywords=can+bus+shield and one of these for wire terminations, also the above mentioned method using Arduino Due would also use this too http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UT13YXA...UTF8&colid=3CSDXWB5WKQIH&coliid=I2HRIO93IVJXC Hal2Arduino is wrote in such a way that I think converting USB serial communication to Can-bus communication would be do-able. I have ordered Can-bus shields a USB2Can-bus adapter, I have a Arduino Mega and a couple of Arduino Unos for setting up additional nodes on network, for what I want hotend and heatbed. But other nodes could preform what ever your imagination could come up with at very fast communications. We use a form of Can-bus in the communication with devices on the robots that I work with in my job. The network protocol is called Devicenet which is a form of Can-bus. My dale-ma even though I know how to program a robot and can write a little bit of script and I know a little about Arduino IDE and programming a Arduino. I do not know Python which is what the programming language the main script file in Hal2arduino that LinuxCNC uses to interface with the Arduino. I am trying to teach myself Python in my little spare time but it is tough. If anyone would like to get involved I think what I would like to accomplish would benefit other builders. I am not looking for someone to do the programming for me just guided assistance. I first want to get Hal2Arduino working over USB dongle, (which I should be able to do on my own) then try afterwords to get the Can-bus done. I will be posting how-to to get Virtualbox installed on windows machine and setup running LinuxCNC very soon. Even if there are no takers I will post what I accomplish here in this space Tim March
Tim, I'm very interested to hear how this has worked. I really like LinuxCNC... It seems like the operations are smooth. I have seen people online that complain that the usb control boards that say it has more jerk. But I'm a nobody who doesn't really know anything about anything... just like to tinker. My current CNC router is XYZ and runs on an old Dell tower with Debian Wheezy LinuxCNC on it. I'm using a cheap TB6560 controller from ebay, which isn't great, but seems to work. My dad has an old drill mill that I'm thinking about converting to CNC. I would like to use a Raspberry Pi with LinuxCNC, but maybe a better option would be something more like what you are working on. Rick
Hello Rick Sorry about late reply, but on the subject I have been mulling about this for some time now. I am also thinking of a Rpi have a image made that you can download at Dropbox - login_pi_pw_lcnc_8GB_raspberryPi2_12c_spi_serial_canbus_enabled The name is descriptive for what you would need, you can use the following program to create Sdcard Win32 Disk Imager When choosing image inside program search for *.* because the name is so long and will not show up. The raspberry Pi 's Ethernet connection is not true 10/100 connection because it goes thru a USB bridge on board, so any MESA board connection over Ethernet will not work. Hal2arduion will work, but would have some lag time, was thinking of trying Can-bus which if you are familiar is like Device-net. Hal2arduino code which I am thinking of using some of it, will help allot I think. There has been some work done with Machinekit, ( a spin-off port of Linuxcnc) with Can-bus but I think they are over thinking this. At this time am unable to complete anything due to my daughter is getting married and I am starting new projects at work. You may want to look at my post in linuxcnc forum at LinuxCNC: latency 2.7.2 install on Raspberry Pi (2/2) So that is where I am at this moment Tim
I don't think the Pi is a good platform for LinuxCNC, it is too slow. (I have 2 Pi's) An RPi as a front end to GRBL on Arduino is pretty good though. I do think the BeagleBoneBlack is a good candidate as it has onboard microcontrollers for realtime bit banging. I have one on my wishlist (-:
Hello David Was thinking the realtime aspect of LCNC could be off-loaded using AccelStepper Arduino library as Hal2arduino uses to Arduino Mega for 5V stepper drivers or Due for 3v stepper drivers. H2Arduino is a good example to start with of that librarys' use. My image that I posted and mentioned about earlier uses Rt-Preempt kernel you can try it, check latency from terminal with latency-histogram --nobase You will get error about memory usage which I think can be ignored or with latency-plot base thread is still running though The reason for this is the base thread would not be used with Canbus application just as it is not used with Mesa 7i92 everything I/O Ethernet card
I will have some feed back on this soon I have 3 RPi cnc projects I am trying out ( more for fun then anything )... First is a Pi with Protoneer 4 axis hat running bCNC and grbl on a Nano v3.. The hat is on it's way now, I already have the drivers and Pi 2.. The other two are both linuxcnc ( machinkit ) based.. I still need place my oshpark order for the boards, However I have uploaded Kinsamanka's files and included his github link if anyone else wants to check it out. OSH Park ~ Profile for Kyo One board (v2.1) allows using the common pololu drivers similar to the protoneer hat just running linuxcnc/machinekit instead of grbl/bcnc.. The second board (v2.0) will allow you to use G540 or similar parallel port style driver boards from ebay and such.. The other cnc project I have in the works is a new Arduino Nano V3 board allowing you to use the Gecko G540 and similar over usb via GRBL... Just need to place my digikey order for this one but only so much money to spread between projects is putting most of these at a snails pace.. edit note: i am building and testing the above referenced boards. i did not design them. credit for that goes to each respective designer.
Worked with Bananapi M2 to for a while decided to go back to Raspberry Pi2. May someday try some more on BananaPi. But this is what I have going on now. Have created a Raspberry Pi2 image that has 12C, SPI, Serial messaging and Canbus enabled. I will try Canbus interface. Image can be downloaded here. Dropbox - login_pi_pw_lcnc_8GB_raspberryPi2_12c_spi_serial_canbus_enabled If you decided to give it a try use this program on a windows machine to write to SDcard sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager/ When selecting image file choose file type *.* , because the name of file is so long and will not show if you look for img file type. File name is descriptive login pi password lcnc If a bigger than 8GB SDcard is used from terminal use sudo raspi-config to expand file system If you give image a try, use from terminal for latency test latency-histogram --nobase I have now in my possession the following items www.microcenter.com/product/431995/Arduino_Mega_2560 mikroBUS Interface Shield for Raspberry Pi (Pi cli microcontrollershop.com/product_info.php?products_id=4619 A couple of these http://www.amazon.com/CAN-BUS-Shiel...qid=1460074301&sr=8-1&keywords=canbus+arduino And a couple of these www.microcenter.com/product/431997/Uno_R3_MainBoard Will use these drivers Bipolar Stepper Motor Driver Max 4A Current 40VDC Input 16 Subdivision ST-6600|ST-6600|Stepper Motor Drivers Also have all motors a combination of Nema 17 and 23 I have allot of soldering to do, should not be to long though. Will most likely need some pointers in coding Couple of screen shots here would not let me post in this forum LinuxCNC: latency 2.7.2 install on Raspberry Pi (1/2) and here LinuxCNC: ubuntu 14.04.1 linuxcnc help (4/21) Tim PS some links were broken I have fixed them all
