None of this equipment/software is all that expensive. I have done a couple of commercial machines that run on Mach3. I have done more that run on LinuxCNC.
Besides the obvious limitations of Mach3 vs LinuxCNC, to me the crux of the situation for me comes back to Open vs Closed source code. If you run into a problem with Mach3/4/whatever you are beholden to one set of developers to fix your issue. If they can't fix it, are busy, etc; you are screwed. If you run into a problem with LinuxCNC, you have a varaety of options. Including, fix the software yourself, find others who can fix it for you, etc. There are dozens of people (probably a lot more than that.) who at least dabble in the LinuxCNC source code. The methods of attaching external motion devices to Mach3 have long been established years ago and they all work basically the same way. There is example code on the web if you look for it. The other issue I would consider is stability. If you are happy with the existing Mach3 functionality and issues, fine. If not, and you are in waiting for "Mach3 to be fixed" mode, then you may have a long wait. (Ask any old Mach3 user.. about patience.) So I would look at the software for what it is NOW, not something that has been promised. Dave On 1/3/2013 10:55 AM, Andrew wrote: > 2013/1/3 andy pugh<[email protected]> > > >> On 3 January 2013 13:36, Andrew<[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >>> There are PWM outputs and encoder inputs in KFLOP >>> http://dynomotion.com/Help/SchematicsKFLOP/ConnectorsKFLOP.htm >>> >> I seem to have managed to overlook that, despite looking at that page. >> >> Does the servo PID run in Mach or on the Kflop in that situation? >> (And why would you use Mach and not Kmotion at that point?) >> >> > I guess that MAch only outputs the trajectory points into KFLOP. > I'm not really familiar with Kmotion. It is probably more simple than Mach. > > 2013/1/3 Dave<[email protected]> > > >> Kflop. >> >> Mach3 has no realtime loop control suitable for closed loop servo control. >> >> > But why is it so bad? External hardware does the job even better. > Of course LCNC is much more configurable. And say 5i25+7i77 equals to KFLOP > in price and does more. But for a simple machine, for somebody used to > Mach... why not? > > So to answer the original question: LinuxCNC and Mach3 are two entirely > >> different animals; so No! >> >> Only if there were some Mach drivers for MESA cards. But there ain't, so >> > no :) > > Andrew > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Master Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL, ASP.NET, C# 2012, HTML5, CSS, > MVC, Windows 8 Apps, JavaScript and much more. Keep your skills current > with LearnDevNow - 3,200 step-by-step video tutorials by Microsoft > MVPs and experts. ON SALE this month only -- learn more at: > http://p.sf.net/sfu/learnmore_122712 > _______________________________________________ > Emc-users mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Master Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL, ASP.NET, C# 2012, HTML5, CSS, MVC, Windows 8 Apps, JavaScript and much more. Keep your skills current with LearnDevNow - 3,200 step-by-step video tutorials by Microsoft MVPs and experts. ON SALE this month only -- learn more at: http://p.sf.net/sfu/learnmore_122712 _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
