Re: [Emc-users] off topic opinions
On Sat, Apr 27, 2013 at 7:00 PM, andy pugh bodge...@gmail.com wrote: Indeed, it is a matter of priorities, and he knew his. I choose a house, typically, on whether it has a garage. If I was looking for a house now I wouldn't have bought the one I did, I would have been looking for more workshop space, and might be willing to lose a bedroom, and maybe the kitchen :-) -- atp Andy, You're leaving out one extremely important factor. SWMBO. Mark -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] off topic opinions
On 28 April 2013 12:09, Mark Wendt wendt.m...@gmail.com wrote: You're leaving out one extremely important factor. SWMBO. I have done a cost/benefit analysis and prefer the extra workshop space :-) -- atp If you can't fix it, you don't own it. http://www.ifixit.com/Manifesto -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] off topic opinions
On Sun, Apr 28, 2013 at 8:59 AM, andy pugh bodge...@gmail.com wrote: On 28 April 2013 12:09, Mark Wendt wendt.m...@gmail.com wrote: You're leaving out one extremely important factor. SWMBO. I have done a cost/benefit analysis and prefer the extra workshop space :-) -- atp In other words, you ain't got one... ;-) Mark -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
[Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image
As promised, I have prepared an SD card image for the beaglebone ready-to-run. README: http://static.mah.priv.at/public/beaglebone/starterkit/README.beaglebone-sd download from: http://static.mah.priv.at/public/beaglebone/starterkit/ Please understand this as a 'raw hide, some assembly required' image for users who can help themselves in a bare linux environment - this is not a polished 'pacakge', no desktop, no colored buttons to start LinuxCNC. I'd like to thank all folks who beta-tested this and suggested improvements: Kent, Charles, David, Yishin Li, Amit. - Michael ps: Gscreen runs nicely too. Axis is real CPU hog. Emcweb is very lightweight. All advanced features in master work fine too! README.beaglebone-sd What is it: An 4GB size SD card image for the BeagleBone board, which contains: - Debian Wheezy - the Xenomai 3.2.21 kernel with Xenomai 3.6 support in-kernel - the Xenomai 2.6 runtime support installed (master) - all prerequisite packages for LinuxCNC installed - two LinuxCNC development branches installed ready to run: arm335x-hal-pru-module-emcweb (v2.5_branch - based) arm335x-hal-pru-module-emcweb-master (master-based) both branches track git://git.mah.priv.at/emc2-dev.git Alternatively, tar files of the boot and root partitions: -rw-r--r-- 1 mah mah 3974103040 Apr 23 16:56 beaglebone_sd4GB.img -rw-r--r-- 1 mah mah 380457 Apr 23 16:56 boot.tar.gz -rw-r--r-- 1 mah mah 1704164777 Apr 23 17:28 root.tar.gz The kernel and include files used in this image is here, it is a slightly updated version of what has been available so far (still 3.2.21/2.6 based, but all patches from arago/v3.2-staging applied): -rw-r--r-- 1 mah mah9617304 Apr 21 09:50 linux-3.2.21-xenomai+.tar.gz -rw-r--r-- 1 mah mah 824139 Apr 21 09:51 linux-headers-3.2.21-xenomai+.tar.gz How to get it to run: - download - copy to a 4GB MicroSD card: determine which device the SD card has, and make sure it is umounted assuming the card is at /dev/sdb, run this $ sudo dd if=beaglebone_sd4GB.img of=/dev/sdb bs=10M - insert into beaglebone SD slot abd boot Alternatively you can extract the tar files to a mounted SD card which is formatted like so: partition 1 - VFAT, size 64MB, formatted as vfat, marked as bootable partition 2 - ext4, size 3.8GB or greater, How to log in: user root password linuxcnc user linuxcnc password linuxcnc Running LinuxCNC: a. Let the beaglebone complete the boot process. b. From the X-server host enter the command $ ssh -X -l linuxcnc beaglebone ip address c. answer the password prompt d. after login is complete continue as outlined below. Charles' super-high-speed stepper demo config can be run like so: $ cd ~/linuxcnc-pru-emcweb/configs/pru-examples $ linuxcnc pru-stepper.ini To run the miniEMC2 Web server config: $ cd ~/linuxcnc-pru-emcweb/configs/sim $ linuxcnc emcweb.ini Then connect to the webserver at http://ip-address-of-beaglebon:8080 What happens on startup in /etc/rc.local: echo 0 /proc/sys/kernel/hung_task_timeout_secs modprobe uio_pruss # load the PRU support driver # enable group 1002 (xenomai) to use Xenomai RT functions echo 1002 /sys/module/xeno_nucleus/parameters/xenomai_gid # I dont understand why this is needed: # NB: here comes your security hole! chmod 644 /dev/mem Partitions on sd card: Mine looks like so (if I plug in the SD card on some other Linux machine): $ fdisk /dev/sdb You will not be able to write the partition table. Command (m for help): p Disk /dev/sdb: 3974 MB, 3974103040 bytes 123 heads, 62 sectors/track, 1017 cylinders, total 7761920 sectors Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes Disk identifier: 0x Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System /dev/sdb1 *2048 133119 65536b W95 FAT32 /dev/sdb2 133120 7761919 3814400 83 Linux Command (m for help): The output of 'sfdisk -d' on the beaglebone looks like so: # partition table of /dev/mmcblk0 unit: sectors /dev/mmcblk0p1 : start= 2048, size= 131072, Id= e, bootable /dev/mmcblk0p2 : start= 133120, size= 15144960, Id=83 /dev/mmcblk0p3 : start=0, size=0, Id= 0 /dev/mmcblk0p4 : start=0, size=0, Id= 0 -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
[Emc-users] Mesa Board Configuration
I’m preparing for a conversion of a mill that has servos and encoders. It currently has 3 axis but I want to add spindle control. In the future I’d like to be able to add a rotary axis... What I’d like is a configuration to allow 8 servos plus some I/O for limit and home switches. The configurations I saw listed seemed to have 4 servos + I/O or more servos without I/O. Any recommendations for best solution, 8 encoders, 8 PWM out plus I/O. Roger Neal -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Mesa Board Configuration
2013/4/28 RogerN re...@wildblue.net I’m preparing for a conversion of a mill that has servos and encoders. It currently has 3 axis but I want to add spindle control. In the future I’d like to be able to add a rotary axis... What I’d like is a configuration to allow 8 servos plus some I/O for limit and home switches. The configurations I saw listed seemed to have 4 servos + I/O or more servos without I/O. Any recommendations for best solution, 8 encoders, 8 PWM out plus I/O. In case you don't (and you actually don't) need 8 axes, MESA 5i25 + 7i76 is a perfect fit with 6 servo axes + 48 I/O. If you still insist on 8 axes it will be more complicated and much more expensive: 5i22(or 5i23) + 7I65 (or 2x7i33) + 7i37 or other breakout board. Andrew -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Mesa Board Configuration
2013/4/28 Andrew parallel.kinemat...@gmail.com In case you don't (and you actually don't) need 8 axes, MESA 5i25 + 7i76 is a perfect fit with 6 servo axes + 48 I/O. Sorry, it's 5i25 + 7i77 for servos. 7i76 is step/dir card. Andrew -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Mesa Board Configuration
If you need 8 axis of pwm+encoders you cold go with a 5i25, two 7i85 cards, plus what ever smart serial card(s) suit your io needs. If you only need 4 for now, you could buy just the one 7i85 and add the other one later as needed. - Original Message - I’m preparing for a conversion of a mill that has servos and encoders. It currently has 3 axis but I want to add spindle control. In the future I’d like to be able to add a rotary axis... What I’d like is a configuration to allow 8 servos plus some I/O for limit and home switches. The configurations I saw listed seemed to have 4 servos + I/O or more servos without I/O. Any recommendations for best solution, 8 encoders, 8 PWM out plus I/O. Roger Neal -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users -- Todd Zuercher mailto:zuerc...@embarqmail.com -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image
Michael, Thank you! This is like getting a an unexpected new toy :-) Dave Message: 3 Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:09:37 +0200 From: Michael Haberlermai...@mah.priv.at Subject: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD cardimage To: Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC) emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net Message-ID:ee3dd32e-0227-468d-9a5b-c7d1dde36...@mah.priv.at Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii As promised, I have prepared an SD card image for the beaglebone ready-to-run. snip -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image
Michael Haberler wrote: As promised, I have prepared an SD card image for the beaglebone ready-to-run. Fantastic work, many thanks! partition 2 - ext4, size 3.8GB or greater, In a number of places, ext4 has been reported to be associated with early failure of SD cards. I'm not sure whether to believe this, but I have seen so many reports, I worry about it. Is there a consensus about BeagleBone vs. Raspberry Pi? I have been thinking about redoing my old BeagleBoard EPP converter for one of these boards, but didn't want to start until it was decided which way to go. Jon -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image
At $49 vs. $35, I would take the new BeagleBone Black any day over the Raspberry Pi. The processor is from TI (with long processor experience) instead of Broadcom. The processor also has great peripherals for motion control (not present in the Broadcom chip). The only thing the RPi has going for it is volume production, but that could fizzle very quickly if the fad passes or Broadcom drops the chip. After all, the 100K volumes of the RPi are not large for a commodity supplier like Broadcom. The fact that a turn-key LinuxCNC image is already out for the BeagleBone is the clincher. Thank you again to Michael and helpers. -- Ralph From: Jon Elson [el...@pico-systems.com] Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2013 10:55 AM To: Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC) Subject: Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image Michael Haberler wrote: As promised, I have prepared an SD card image for the beaglebone ready-to-run. Fantastic work, many thanks! partition 2 - ext4, size 3.8GB or greater, In a number of places, ext4 has been reported to be associated with early failure of SD cards. I'm not sure whether to believe this, but I have seen so many reports, I worry about it. Is there a consensus about BeagleBone vs. Raspberry Pi? I have been thinking about redoing my old BeagleBoard EPP converter for one of these boards, but didn't want to start until it was decided which way to go. Jon -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image
On Sun, Apr 28, 2013 at 1:55 PM, Jon Elson el...@pico-systems.com wrote: Is there a consensus about BeagleBone vs. Raspberry Pi? I think it's a no-brainer myself. I have a Raspi, but I just don't see it competing with the bbb -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image
Beaglebone -- TI chip. Intended for industrial use. Family will be available forever. The boards are open source. Raspberry Pi -- Broadcom chip. Intended for cell phone use. A new model every year. The boards are open source -- you just can't buy the chips for them. The PRU on the Beaglebone is a deal maker. Ken On 4/28/2013 1:55 PM, Jon Elson wrote: Michael Haberler wrote: As promised, I have prepared an SD card image for the beaglebone ready-to-run. Fantastic work, many thanks! partition 2 - ext4, size 3.8GB or greater, In a number of places, ext4 has been reported to be associated with early failure of SD cards. I'm not sure whether to believe this, but I have seen so many reports, I worry about it. Is there a consensus about BeagleBone vs. Raspberry Pi? I have been thinking about redoing my old BeagleBoard EPP converter for one of these boards, but didn't want to start until it was decided which way to go. Jon -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image
Eric Keller wrote: On Sun, Apr 28, 2013 at 1:55 PM, Jon Elson el...@pico-systems.com wrote: Is there a consensus about BeagleBone vs. Raspberry Pi? I think it's a no-brainer myself. I have a Raspi, but I just don't see it competing with the bbb OK, this was my take on the hardware, but there was so much RPi discussion here, I thought that might be the way development was headed. I support the Beagle direction, too, and hope much of what I have learned on the original Beagle will port over to the Bone. So, if I were going to make something for the Bone, should it be like a PC parallel port, or some other kind of breakout board? I'd like to make something that allows my parport-connected devices to be used with the Bone, but maybe others would rather have a much wider I/O device, maybe a couple dozen inputs and outputs from the PRU-accessible pins. So, any thoughts would be welcome. Jon -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image
On 4/28/2013 5:15 PM, Jon Elson wrote: Eric Keller wrote: On Sun, Apr 28, 2013 at 1:55 PM, Jon Elson el...@pico-systems.com wrote: Is there a consensus about BeagleBone vs. Raspberry Pi? I think it's a no-brainer myself. I have a Raspi, but I just don't see it competing with the bbb OK, this was my take on the hardware, but there was so much RPi discussion here, I thought that might be the way development was headed. I support the Beagle direction, too, and hope much of what I have learned on the original Beagle will port over to the Bone. So, if I were going to make something for the Bone, should it be like a PC parallel port, or some other kind of breakout board? I'd like to make something that allows my parport-connected devices to be used with the Bone, but maybe others would rather have a much wider I/O device, maybe a couple dozen inputs and outputs from the PRU-accessible pins. So, any thoughts would be welcome. Jon Jon, I think if you look at the capabilities of the Bone, it might be hard to justify adding your board. (Note that I haven't looked at the detailed specs.) The Bone has multiple encoders support. How does the rate supported compare with the rate of your boards? The Bone can drive multiple steppers at a high rate. Compare with your boards. The Bone has multiple pwm outputs. How do the number of outputs, resolution, and rate compare to your boards? I think that those are key questions you will need to be able to answer. Regards, Ken -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image
I have some RPIs and I think the BBBs will run rings around the RPIs... The PRUs seem to be the clincher. RPIs are fine for some things, but I just ordered a couple Beaglebone Blacks from Mouser. They are suppose to ship this week. The capes in the works are impressive.. The fact that Michael has a loadable version of LinuxCNC ... slam dunk. Looks like a winner to me. I want to try this out If you want to grab a BBB, Mouser says they are going to fill outstanding orders with an incoming batch of 8500 units this next week. They currently have a backorder of 8100 plus right now. After that I have no idea how long it might take to get a BBB. http://www.mouser.com/beagleboardorg/ http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/BeagleBoard-by-CircuitCo/BB-BBLK-000/?qs=%2fha2pyFadugh6wNMONnDuAbTwbrIHVw4R%2f%252bth5Q2M%2fX2Gs60muroNw%3d%3d The only reason I say this is that I waited a very long time for my first RPIs.. And no...I don't work for Mouser or have any connection to the BeagleBone... Dave On 4/28/2013 3:27 PM, Eric Keller wrote: On Sun, Apr 28, 2013 at 1:55 PM, Jon Elsonel...@pico-systems.com wrote: Is there a consensus about BeagleBone vs. Raspberry Pi? I think it's a no-brainer myself. I have a Raspi, but I just don't see it competing with the bbb -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image
On Sunday 28 April 2013 17:29:54 Jon Elson did opine: Eric Keller wrote: On Sun, Apr 28, 2013 at 1:55 PM, Jon Elson el...@pico-systems.com wrote: Is there a consensus about BeagleBone vs. Raspberry Pi? I think it's a no-brainer myself. I have a Raspi, but I just don't see it competing with the bbb OK, this was my take on the hardware, but there was so much RPi discussion here, I thought that might be the way development was headed. I support the Beagle direction, too, and hope much of what I have learned on the original Beagle will port over to the Bone. So, if I were going to make something for the Bone, should it be like a PC parallel port, or some other kind of breakout board? I'd like to make something that allows my parport-connected devices to be used with the Bone, but maybe others would rather have a much wider I/O device, maybe a couple dozen inputs and outputs from the PRU-accessible pins. So, any thoughts would be welcome. Jon Not that I have a dog in this fight Jon, I don't expect to have to replace these atom's I bought anytime soon, but it seems to me it should allow the more or less std 26 pin IDC connector to be used so it could plug straight into our existing BOB's. Here of course I am assuming the .hal file could put the right signals on the right pins. That generally is up to us anyway. Perhaps 2 of the connectors on yours, for those with more I/O needs than one EPP port can supply. But I haven't studied it well enough to know if the PRU has enough I/O to fill up the 2nd connector. That would be pure icing on the cake IMO if it did. Cheers, Gene -- There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order. -Ed Howdershelt (Author) My web page: http://coyoteden.dyndns-free.com:85/gene is up! My views http://www.armchairpatriot.com/What%20Has%20America%20Become.shtml There's so much plastic in this culture that vinyl leopard skin is becoming an endangered synthetic. -- Lily Tomlin A pen in the hand of this president is far more dangerous than 200 million guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens. -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image
I'm with Gene on this. For the short term, at least, a parallel port adapter (or 2) would allow existing BOB's to be used. But the ideal would be a dedicated cape that could provide the functionality of a Mesa or Pico Systems board. +++ Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist. -Kenneth Boulding, economist “How unfortunate that the Earth’s first intelligent social animal is a tribal carnivore” -E.O. Wilson, sociobiologist From: Gene Heskett ghesk...@wdtv.com To: emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2013 4:40 PM Subject: Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image On Sunday 28 April 2013 17:29:54 Jon Elson did opine: Eric Keller wrote: On Sun, Apr 28, 2013 at 1:55 PM, Jon Elson el...@pico-systems.com wrote: Is there a consensus about BeagleBone vs. Raspberry Pi? I think it's a no-brainer myself. I have a Raspi, but I just don't see it competing with the bbb OK, this was my take on the hardware, but there was so much RPi discussion here, I thought that might be the way development was headed. I support the Beagle direction, too, and hope much of what I have learned on the original Beagle will port over to the Bone. So, if I were going to make something for the Bone, should it be like a PC parallel port, or some other kind of breakout board? I'd like to make something that allows my parport-connected devices to be used with the Bone, but maybe others would rather have a much wider I/O device, maybe a couple dozen inputs and outputs from the PRU-accessible pins. So, any thoughts would be welcome. Jon Not that I have a dog in this fight Jon, I don't expect to have to replace these atom's I bought anytime soon, but it seems to me it should allow the more or less std 26 pin IDC connector to be used so it could plug straight into our existing BOB's. Here of course I am assuming the .hal file could put the right signals on the right pins. That generally is up to us anyway. Perhaps 2 of the connectors on yours, for those with more I/O needs than one EPP port can supply. But I haven't studied it well enough to know if the PRU has enough I/O to fill up the 2nd connector. That would be pure icing on the cake IMO if it did. Cheers, Gene -- There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order. -Ed Howdershelt (Author) My web page: http://coyoteden.dyndns-free.com:85/gene is up! My views http://www.armchairpatriot.com/What%20Has%20America%20Become.shtml There's so much plastic in this culture that vinyl leopard skin is becoming an endangered synthetic. -- Lily Tomlin A pen in the hand of this president is far more dangerous than 200 million guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens. -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image
Kenneth Lerman wrote: I think if you look at the capabilities of the Bone, it might be hard to justify adding your board. (Note that I haven't looked at the detailed specs.) The Bone has multiple encoders support. How does the rate supported compare with the rate of your boards? The Bone can drive multiple steppers at a high rate. Compare with your boards. The Bone has multiple pwm outputs. How do the number of outputs, resolution, and rate compare to your boards? My boards have high-current 5V outputs, and the latest PWM controller has switch-settable digital filters on the encoder inputs, so you can have 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 MHz count rates from the encoders. The PWM counters are clocked at 40 MHz, so you can have 800 pulse width steps at a 50 KHz PWM frequency. I think the Bone has 3.3 V I/O (the original Beagle was 1.8 V) with limited current capability, so you still need some kind of level/current translator for a lot of things. The PPMC system has 16-bit DACs for analog velocity servos, and each DIO board has 16 opto-isolated digital inputs plus place to mount 8 solid state relays for output. You can plug in multiple DIO boards as needed for more complex systems. I think our stepper controller may be superseded by what the PRU step generator will likely be able to do, but it can go to 300,000 steps/second, with only 3% timing jitter. And, it can handle encoder inputs also. Jon -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image
Considering the fact that good BOB's cost pretty much what the B3 does being able to plug to current BOB's would be nice. Dave On Sun, 2013-04-28 at 14:55 -0700, Greg Bernard wrote: I'm with Gene on this. For the short term, at least, a parallel port adapter (or 2) would allow existing BOB's to be used. But the ideal would be a dedicated cape that could provide the functionality of a Mesa or Pico Systems board. +++ Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist. -Kenneth Boulding, economist “How unfortunate that the Earth’s first intelligent social animal is a tribal carnivore” -E.O. Wilson, sociobiologist From: Gene Heskett ghesk...@wdtv.com To: emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2013 4:40 PM Subject: Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image On Sunday 28 April 2013 17:29:54 Jon Elson did opine: Eric Keller wrote: On Sun, Apr 28, 2013 at 1:55 PM, Jon Elson el...@pico-systems.com wrote: Is there a consensus about BeagleBone vs. Raspberry Pi? I think it's a no-brainer myself. I have a Raspi, but I just don't see it competing with the bbb OK, this was my take on the hardware, but there was so much RPi discussion here, I thought that might be the way development was headed. I support the Beagle direction, too, and hope much of what I have learned on the original Beagle will port over to the Bone. So, if I were going to make something for the Bone, should it be like a PC parallel port, or some other kind of breakout board? I'd like to make something that allows my parport-connected devices to be used with the Bone, but maybe others would rather have a much wider I/O device, maybe a couple dozen inputs and outputs from the PRU-accessible pins. So, any thoughts would be welcome. Jon Not that I have a dog in this fight Jon, I don't expect to have to replace these atom's I bought anytime soon, but it seems to me it should allow the more or less std 26 pin IDC connector to be used so it could plug straight into our existing BOB's. Here of course I am assuming the .hal file could put the right signals on the right pins. That generally is up to us anyway. Perhaps 2 of the connectors on yours, for those with more I/O needs than one EPP port can supply. But I haven't studied it well enough to know if the PRU has enough I/O to fill up the 2nd connector. That would be pure icing on the cake IMO if it did. Cheers, Gene -- There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order. -Ed Howdershelt (Author) My web page: http://coyoteden.dyndns-free.com:85/gene is up! My views http://www.armchairpatriot.com/What%20Has%20America%20Become.shtml There's so much plastic in this culture that vinyl leopard skin is becoming an endangered synthetic. -- Lily Tomlin A pen in the hand of this president is far more dangerous than 200 million guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens. -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net
Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image
On Sun, 28 Apr 2013 10:41:46 -0700, you wrote: Thank you! This is like getting a an unexpected new toy :-) Agreed, fantastic work by Michael. I, like many others, would love to build a small footprint controller with no PC involvement, but there are still those niggling long term bugs and restrictions within LinuxCNC itself that put me off investing any money on something 100% LinuxCNC exclusive. Steve Blackmore -- -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image
I disagree. If you want a killer product for the BeagleBone Black, you need to toss the EPP port concept entirely and have the BeagleBone Plug into the Breakout board - similar to a cape. But make it larger and put 24 volt DC I/O on it, along with analog I/O, Encoder ins, and step and direction I/O. To me that would be an attractive package. I really dislike 5volt I/O for field I/O. 24 volt DC I/O is much more reliable and is the current industry standard. You could have two versions - one for step and direction and another for Analog servo, but I think I would design one board. The only reason anyone ever used the EPP LPT port was because it was cheap and already part of the PC. I have no desire to reuse old BOBs and keep it PC compatible. Dave On 4/28/2013 8:57 PM, dave wrote: Considering the fact that good BOB's cost pretty much what the B3 does being able to plug to current BOB's would be nice. Dave On Sun, 2013-04-28 at 14:55 -0700, Greg Bernard wrote: I'm with Gene on this. For the short term, at least, a parallel port adapter (or 2) would allow existing BOB's to be used. But the ideal would be a dedicated cape that could provide the functionality of a Mesa or Pico Systems board. +++ Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist. -Kenneth Boulding, economist “How unfortunate that the Earth’s first intelligent social animal is a tribal carnivore” -E.O. Wilson, sociobiologist From: Gene Heskettghesk...@wdtv.com To: emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2013 4:40 PM Subject: Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image On Sunday 28 April 2013 17:29:54 Jon Elson did opine: Eric Keller wrote: On Sun, Apr 28, 2013 at 1:55 PM, Jon Elsonel...@pico-systems.com wrote: Is there a consensus about BeagleBone vs. Raspberry Pi? I think it's a no-brainer myself. I have a Raspi, but I just don't see it competing with the bbb OK, this was my take on the hardware, but there was so much RPi discussion here, I thought that might be the way development was headed. I support the Beagle direction, too, and hope much of what I have learned on the original Beagle will port over to the Bone. So, if I were going to make something for the Bone, should it be like a PC parallel port, or some other kind of breakout board? I'd like to make something that allows my parport-connected devices to be used with the Bone, but maybe others would rather have a much wider I/O device, maybe a couple dozen inputs and outputs from the PRU-accessible pins. So, any thoughts would be welcome. Jon Not that I have a dog in this fight Jon, I don't expect to have to replace these atom's I bought anytime soon, but it seems to me it should allow the more or less std 26 pin IDC connector to be used so it could plug straight into our existing BOB's. Here of course I am assuming the .hal file could put the right signals on the right pins. That generally is up to us anyway. Perhaps 2 of the connectors on yours, for those with more I/O needs than one EPP port can supply. But I haven't studied it well enough to know if the PRU has enough I/O to fill up the 2nd connector. That would be pure icing on the cake IMO if it did. Cheers, Gene -- There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order. -Ed Howdershelt (Author) My web page:http://coyoteden.dyndns-free.com:85/gene is up! My views http://www.armchairpatriot.com/What%20Has%20America%20Become.shtml There's so much plastic in this culture that vinyl leopard skin is becoming an endangered synthetic. -- Lily Tomlin A pen in the hand of this president is far more dangerous than 200 million guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens. -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your
Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image
So this setup for the BeagleBone Black runs LinuxCNC and a small web server, to control it you login via Ethernet? Interesting setup, that. I do that quite often with HP laser printers and I've remotely updated and operated Portmasters hundreds of miles away. For the control peripheral board (whatever their cutsey name is for the BeagleBone series) I'd say skip rebuilding the parallel port wheel and design one to directly control as many stepper or servo driver/amplifiers as possible. To offer options on the number of axes, design one board then just don't fully populate it for versions with less than the maximum. That's what the big computer component vendors have done for a long time, especially for OEMs like Dell and HP where you'll often see empty spots for slots and connectors and chips the company ticked a delete box on the order. It'd save a bunch on design and production costs, and sufficiently motivated people could add more components and update firmware if they have a need for another axis. I put together a 1Ghz PIII last night for what'll be my first CNC homebrew machine. Got a much beefier one that will most likely go with a CandCNC Dragon-Cut kit on a large plasma table. After those, this BBB system looks like it could be cheaper, smaller and easier to use, especially for lights out unattended operation. -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] ?Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image
Dave, PMDX is considering just such a product and is trying to figure out what things are needed for a real industrial control. Meanwhile, we are actually working on a cape to be used as a test platform at Wichita. It will use the parallel port header approach along with other debugging stuff. It can be used together with PMDX-112/PMDX-111 debugging accessories, or it could simply be used as parallel ports to drive an existing breakout board. The design is based around a programmable logic device to minimize the impact of incorrect assumptions of how the Beagle Bone Black is pinned out and configured. Regards, Steve Stallings www.PMDX.com -Original Message- From: Dave [mailto:e...@dc9.tzo.com] Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2013 9:23 PM To: Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC) Subject: Re: [Emc-users] ?Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image I disagree. If you want a killer product for the BeagleBone Black, you need to toss the EPP port concept entirely and have the BeagleBone Plug into the Breakout board - similar to a cape. But make it larger and put 24 volt DC I/O on it, along with analog I/O, Encoder ins, and step and direction I/O. To me that would be an attractive package. I really dislike 5volt I/O for field I/O. 24 volt DC I/O is much more reliable and is the current industry standard. You could have two versions - one for step and direction and another for Analog servo, but I think I would design one board. The only reason anyone ever used the EPP LPT port was because it was cheap and already part of the PC. I have no desire to reuse old BOBs and keep it PC compatible. Dave On 4/28/2013 8:57 PM, dave wrote: Considering the fact that good BOB's cost pretty much what the B3 does being able to plug to current BOB's would be nice. Dave On Sun, 2013-04-28 at 14:55 -0700, Greg Bernard wrote: I'm with Gene on this. For the short term, at least, a parallel port adapter (or 2) would allow existing BOB's to be used. But the ideal would be a dedicated cape that could provide the functionality of a Mesa or Pico Systems board. ++ + Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist. -Kenneth Boulding, economist How unfortunate that the Earth's first intelligent social animal is a tribal carnivore -E.O. Wilson, sociobiologist From: Gene Heskettghesk...@wdtv.com To: emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2013 4:40 PM Subject: Re: [Emc-users] ?Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image On Sunday 28 April 2013 17:29:54 Jon Elson did opine: Eric Keller wrote: On Sun, Apr 28, 2013 at 1:55 PM, Jon Elsonel...@pico-systems.com wrote: Is there a consensus about BeagleBone vs. Raspberry Pi? I think it's a no-brainer myself. I have a Raspi, but I just don't see it competing with the bbb OK, this was my take on the hardware, but there was so much RPi discussion here, I thought that might be the way development was headed. I support the Beagle direction, too, and hope much of what I have learned on the original Beagle will port over to the Bone. So, if I were going to make something for the Bone, should it be like a PC parallel port, or some other kind of breakout board? I'd like to make something that allows my parport-connected devices to be used with the Bone, but maybe others would rather have a much wider I/O device, maybe a couple dozen inputs and outputs from the PRU-accessible pins. So, any thoughts would be welcome. Jon Not that I have a dog in this fight Jon, I don't expect to have to replace these atom's I bought anytime soon, but it seems to me it should allow the more or less std 26 pin IDC connector to be used so it could plug straight into our existing BOB's. Here of course I am assuming the .hal file could put the right signals on the right pins. That generally is up to us anyway. Perhaps 2 of the connectors on yours, for those with more I/O needs than one EPP port can supply. But I haven't studied it well enough to know if the PRU has enough I/O to fill up the 2nd connector. That would be pure icing on the cake IMO if it did. Cheers, Gene -- There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order. -Ed Howdershelt (Author) My web page:http://coyoteden.dyndns-free.com:85/gene is up! My views http://www.armchairpatriot.com/What%20Has%20America%20Become.shtml There's so much plastic in this culture that vinyl leopard skin is becoming an endangered synthetic.
Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image
Dave wrote: I disagree. If you want a killer product for the BeagleBone Black, you need to toss the EPP port concept entirely and have the BeagleBone Plug into the Breakout board - similar to a cape. Yes, I mostly agree with this. What I had in mind was to put an 8-bit plus control signals interface in the adapter so that it could connect to my existing boards, as a first step. Then, I can change the firmware on my boards to handle a much faster protocol between the ARM and my FPGAs. Another plan might be to make an FPGA board specific for the Bone, but what do I do with all the inventory I already have, here? The problem is in a mid-performance servo system, the PRU may not be fast enough to read encoders and produce PWM for the servo drives. Since there are two PRU units, this may not actually be true, but I still imagine that a completely software encoder counter would take at least several us, maybe tens of us to complete for 4 or more axes, so that would limit the maximum encoder count frequency. I have often run into the 1 MHz default count rate on my boards. So, a 100 KHz count limit would be at least a concern. Also, using the PRU to generate PWM, I'd imagine the timing resolution would be a us or so, at best. I have 25 ns timing resolution with my PWM controller. So, FPGAs still have something to offer. Just some comments to throw out there. Jon -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image
On Sun, 28 Apr 2013, Dave wrote: Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2013 21:23:24 -0400 From: Dave e...@dc9.tzo.com Reply-To: Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC) emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net To: Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC) emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net Subject: Re: [Emc-users] [utf-8] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image I disagree. If you want a killer product for the BeagleBone Black, you need to toss the EPP port concept entirely and have the BeagleBone Plug into the Breakout board - similar to a cape. But make it larger and put 24 volt DC I/O on it, along with analog I/O, Encoder ins, and step and direction I/O. To me that would be an attractive package. I really dislike 5volt I/O for field I/O. 24 volt DC I/O is much more reliable and is the current industry standard. You could have two versions - one for step and direction and another for Analog servo, but I think I would design one board. The only reason anyone ever used the EPP LPT port was because it was cheap and already part of the PC. I have no desire to reuse old BOBs and keep it PC compatible. Dave We are considering a Beaglebone step/dir daughtercard. It also looks like the PRU and a UARTs could run the sserial host side interface (though at a different baud rate and awkwardly due the the really stupid and ancient UARTS the Sitara uses) I dont think the case for servo systems is very good without some additional hardware. The BBB has just three possible hardware encoder counters. Software encoder counters could be done by the PRU but they would not be comparable to hardware encoder counters in performance (hardware can do MHz count rates and more importantly multi MHZ oversampling for digital filtering). Also you lose one hardware encoder if you use the on card flash memory and one more if you use video. On 4/28/2013 8:57 PM, dave wrote: Considering the fact that good BOB's cost pretty much what the B3 does being able to plug to current BOB's would be nice. Dave On Sun, 2013-04-28 at 14:55 -0700, Greg Bernard wrote: I'm with Gene on this. For the short term, at least, a parallel port adapter (or 2) would allow existing BOB's to be used. But the ideal would be a dedicated cape that could provide the functionality of a Mesa or Pico Systems board. +++ Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist. -Kenneth Boulding, economist ??How unfortunate that the Earth??s first intelligent social animal is a tribal carnivore?? -E.O. Wilson, sociobiologist From: Gene Heskettghesk...@wdtv.com To: emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2013 4:40 PM Subject: Re: [Emc-users] ??Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image On Sunday 28 April 2013 17:29:54 Jon Elson did opine: Eric Keller wrote: On Sun, Apr 28, 2013 at 1:55 PM, Jon Elsonel...@pico-systems.com wrote: Is there a consensus about BeagleBone vs. Raspberry Pi? I think it's a no-brainer myself. I have a Raspi, but I just don't see it competing with the bbb OK, this was my take on the hardware, but there was so much RPi discussion here, I thought that might be the way development was headed. I support the Beagle direction, too, and hope much of what I have learned on the original Beagle will port over to the Bone. So, if I were going to make something for the Bone, should it be like a PC parallel port, or some other kind of breakout board? I'd like to make something that allows my parport-connected devices to be used with the Bone, but maybe others would rather have a much wider I/O device, maybe a couple dozen inputs and outputs from the PRU-accessible pins. So, any thoughts would be welcome. Jon Not that I have a dog in this fight Jon, I don't expect to have to replace these atom's I bought anytime soon, but it seems to me it should allow the more or less std 26 pin IDC connector to be used so it could plug straight into our existing BOB's. Here of course I am assuming the .hal file could put the right signals on the right pins. That generally is up to us anyway. Perhaps 2 of the connectors on yours, for those with more I/O needs than one EPP port can supply. But I haven't studied it well enough to know if the PRU has enough I/O to fill up the 2nd connector. That would be pure icing on the cake IMO if it did. Cheers, Gene -- There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order. -Ed Howdershelt (Author) My web page:http://coyoteden.dyndns-free.com:85/gene is up! My views http://www.armchairpatriot.com/What%20Has%20America%20Become.shtml There's so much plastic in this culture that vinyl leopard skin is becoming an endangered synthetic. -- Lily Tomlin A pen in the hand of this president is far more
Re: [Emc-users] ?Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image
Hi Steve, Sounds like you have your head in the game..Smart! :-) I have no clue how successful the BeagleBone is going to be. But it sure is interesting! It could really be a game changer. I'm going to try hard to get to Wichita and so far I have been able to keep my schedule clear for that week. It could be a very interesting gathering. The design is based around a programmable logic device to minimize the impact of incorrect assumptions of how the Beagle Bone Black is pinned out and configured. Very smart as this bleeding edge stuff sometimes needs different accommodations! :-) Regards, Dave Cole Cole Controls On 4/28/2013 9:56 PM, Steve Stallings wrote: Dave, PMDX is considering just such a product and is trying to figure out what things are needed for a real industrial control. Meanwhile, we are actually working on a cape to be used as a test platform at Wichita. It will use the parallel port header approach along with other debugging stuff. It can be used together with PMDX-112/PMDX-111 debugging accessories, or it could simply be used as parallel ports to drive an existing breakout board. The design is based around a programmable logic device to minimize the impact of incorrect assumptions of how the Beagle Bone Black is pinned out and configured. Regards, Steve Stallings www.PMDX.com -Original Message- From: Dave [mailto:e...@dc9.tzo.com] Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2013 9:23 PM To: Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC) Subject: Re: [Emc-users] ?Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image I disagree. If you want a killer product for the BeagleBone Black, you need to toss the EPP port concept entirely and have the BeagleBone Plug into the Breakout board - similar to a cape. But make it larger and put 24 volt DC I/O on it, along with analog I/O, Encoder ins, and step and direction I/O. To me that would be an attractive package. I really dislike 5volt I/O for field I/O. 24 volt DC I/O is much more reliable and is the current industry standard. You could have two versions - one for step and direction and another for Analog servo, but I think I would design one board. The only reason anyone ever used the EPP LPT port was because it was cheap and already part of the PC. I have no desire to reuse old BOBs and keep it PC compatible. Dave On 4/28/2013 8:57 PM, dave wrote: Considering the fact that good BOB's cost pretty much what the B3 does being able to plug to current BOB's would be nice. Dave On Sun, 2013-04-28 at 14:55 -0700, Greg Bernard wrote: I'm with Gene on this. For the short term, at least, a parallel port adapter (or 2) would allow existing BOB's to be used. But the ideal would be a dedicated cape that could provide the functionality of a Mesa or Pico Systems board. ++ + Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist. -Kenneth Boulding, economist How unfortunate that the Earth's first intelligent social animal is a tribal carnivore -E.O. Wilson, sociobiologist From: Gene Heskettghesk...@wdtv.com To: emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2013 4:40 PM Subject: Re: [Emc-users] ?Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image On Sunday 28 April 2013 17:29:54 Jon Elson did opine: Eric Keller wrote: On Sun, Apr 28, 2013 at 1:55 PM, Jon Elsonel...@pico-systems.com wrote: Is there a consensus about BeagleBone vs. Raspberry Pi? I think it's a no-brainer myself. I have a Raspi, but I just don't see it competing with the bbb OK, this was my take on the hardware, but there was so much RPi discussion here, I thought that might be the way development was headed. I support the Beagle direction, too, and hope much of what I have learned on the original Beagle will port over to the Bone. So, if I were going to make something for the Bone, should it be like a PC parallel port, or some other kind of breakout board? I'd like to make something that allows my parport-connected devices to be used with the Bone, but maybe others would rather have a much wider I/O device, maybe a couple dozen inputs and outputs from the PRU-accessible pins. So, any thoughts would be welcome. Jon Not that I have a dog in this fight Jon, I don't expect to have to replace these atom's I bought anytime soon, but it seems to me it should allow the more or less std 26 pin IDC connector to be
Re: [Emc-users] Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit: ready-to-run SD card image
Another plan might be to make an FPGA board specific for the Bone, but what do I do with all the inventory I already have, here? Obviously you are not the only one in that boat! But I don't think the PC based CNC market is going to vanish overnight even if the BeagleBone is wildly successful.. as this is bleeding edge at this point and it will take a while to shake things out. But long term, it certainly could be a game changer. So, FPGAs still have something to offer. I entirely agree. One thing that really got my attention with the BeagleBone is that Canbus and Profibus capes are in the works and those are targeted directly at the industrial automation market. Dave On 4/28/2013 10:25 PM, Jon Elson wrote: Dave wrote: I disagree. If you want a killer product for the BeagleBone Black, you need to toss the EPP port concept entirely and have the BeagleBone Plug into the Breakout board - similar to a cape. Yes, I mostly agree with this. What I had in mind was to put an 8-bit plus control signals interface in the adapter so that it could connect to my existing boards, as a first step. Then, I can change the firmware on my boards to handle a much faster protocol between the ARM and my FPGAs. Another plan might be to make an FPGA board specific for the Bone, but what do I do with all the inventory I already have, here? The problem is in a mid-performance servo system, the PRU may not be fast enough to read encoders and produce PWM for the servo drives. Since there are two PRU units, this may not actually be true, but I still imagine that a completely software encoder counter would take at least several us, maybe tens of us to complete for 4 or more axes, so that would limit the maximum encoder count frequency. I have often run into the 1 MHz default count rate on my boards. So, a 100 KHz count limit would be at least a concern. Also, using the PRU to generate PWM, I'd imagine the timing resolution would be a us or so, at best. I have 25 ns timing resolution with my PWM controller. So, FPGAs still have something to offer. Just some comments to throw out there. Jon -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
[Emc-users] warning on the Beaglebone LinuxCNC starterkit :-/
as these things go.. I've learned hours after announcing the starterkit that: 1. this image will *not* boot on the Beaglebone Black 2. the 3.2.21/2.6 Xenomai patch used in the starterkit kernel does have a serious issue ad 1): Kent was the first to try and confirmed the BBB does NOT boot this image; however, it doesnt boot the BBW Angstrom card supplied with the BBW either, so we're in good company and I am pretty sure this is a trivial issue to resolve once I can get my hands on a BBB. ad 2) Gilles Chanteperdrix of the Xenomai project just informed me there is a potential memory corruption issue with mlock() in the Xenomai 2.6 patch for 3.2.21. While I have not seen fatal crashes of the starterkit configuration myself, or seen any reports, it would be unwise to ignore the issue. This issue will be resolved once the Xenomai patch for the 3.8 kernels is out and stable, which I think should be a low single-digit number of weeks. executive summary: - do not waste time trying to run the starterkit image on the BBB yet until I have a replacement known to work on the BBB - dont use the BBW/starterkit config for something critical _yet_. It is good enough for exploring configurations and performance though - on the BBW. sorry to be the party pooper, - Michael -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
[Emc-users] converting Monarch 10EE
I recently was given a 1953 Monarch 10EE basic Model lathe. It is the Ward Leonard motor generator type so no electronics to deal with. The basic model has no lead screw and no gearing for screw cutting. There is also no taper attachment. It does have carriage and cross slide power feeds. I have installed a rotary phase converter and have the lathe powered up and it is completely functional. The lack of thread cutting begs for the lathe to be converted to CNC. I have successfully converted a 7x10 and a jet 9 x 20 and am comfortable with the project. My only real concern is going to be integrating spindle speed control because the existing control utilizes two huge rheostats to control the drive motor field and the generator field. I might just lash up a servo or stepper with a belt to the control knob. Has anyone converted a 10EE to CNC? Cecil -- Try New Relic Now We'll Send You this Cool Shirt New Relic is the only SaaS-based application performance monitoring service that delivers powerful full stack analytics. Optimize and monitor your browser, app, servers with just a few lines of code. Try New Relic and get this awesome Nerd Life shirt! http://p.sf.net/sfu/newrelic_d2d_apr ___ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
