On 8 Oct 2017, at 07:03, John Dammeyer wrote: > Hi Gene, > Truly a matter of how we use our tools and how often. >
True. I use both Mach3 and LinuxCNC (on a PC, although I do have a Beaglebone Black). For a little while I used Mach3 as the go-to software, but I use LinuxCNC almost exclusively now, simply because I like programming, and I find the structures available in LinuxCNC to be way, way more capable than in Mach3. I do use Vectric CAM software, but find I can code lots of operations quite easily in the editor, as well as tweaking Vectric-generated code more effectively than running the CAM program again. The problem I found with the wizards initially available Mach 3 is that I didn't like the rather crude approach some of them took to the machining paths. Some of the plunge cuts seemed rather brutal to me. They also didn't allow the cut to be finessed in any way - like doing a clearance operation, then climb cutting to finish; or transitioning from one part of a cut to another in what I would consider to be an effective way (with intermediate motion to ensure clean start and finish, or maintain a milling direction). For sure, there are probably much better routines available now, but by I still find I have much more control in LinuxCNC. I don't dislike Mach3, and recognise it has some nice features, as well as being the chosen option by most of our world, but it has not been updated or supported for a long time now; and I am not familiar with Mach 4. This is all just my opinion, though. I would like to be able to run LinuxCNC on the Beaglebone, but, last time I looked at MachineKit, it seemed not as well supported by the user group, forums, or authors, as the support I have found on this list. So I stayed away. I use lots of subroutines I simply load and assemble, to make code writing simple. The O<word> external routines Gene mentions are also quite useful. Marcus > I have a PCB touch plate for my MACH3 JGRO style CNC router. Had to modify > some example code for the button on the screen including a couple of > reminder dialogs to make sure (really sure) that I attached/removed the clip > lead from the router bit since my router shaft is insulated. I believe > there was even a youtube video on how to set all that up. > > Without good documentation all of this is hard for someone new at this. For > example, the Xylotex.ini file didn't have any documentation that the max > velocity was in ips and no comment to that effect. The same file also has > totally different example values in the comments from what is actually used. > Very confusing for a while. > > The Xylotex.hal file has this commented out for the probe input. I'll have > to check and see if this can be used. > #probe input > #net probe motion.probe-input <= bb_gpio.p8.in-18 > #setp bb_gpio.p8.in-18.invert 1 > > But where to start after that? Does one load a TouchPlate.nc file and run > it. Then load the actual g-code file again? > > Can you make it pause and print a comment to let you know it's going to go > to the touch plate location? Can it show any dialogs to guide a user > through the operation? > > For the MACH3 system I move the Z axis over and close to the top of the item > I want to have as zero. I then click on a button on the screen. Then I > wait and follow the dialogs. The first tells me to attach the clip because > without it no ground will be sensed and the Z will try and go through the > table. Next it moves, touches off and lifts to 1" above with the zero now > set. Finally another dialog to remind me to remove the clip off the tool. > > Takes longer to type than to do it. Change or adjust the tool then place > the PCB on the work and just re-zero. > > And as far as custom G-Code, I use Alibre CAD and MecSoft Visual CAM to > create my G-Code. I routed a parabolic reflector out of MDF that I don't > think I could have done with hand written G-Code. Same with DB-9 and DB-25 > cut-outs. > > But if I want to do a bolt circle of 8 holes I can use my Shumatec DRO (once > I find the manual) but I think it would take me a lot longer to write G-Code > by hand. > > How easy is it to add a button to the main user interface that starts the > touch plate action? > > I know. Way more questions and perhaps the wrong place for them? > Thanks > John > >> A temporary touch plate is a piece of pcb material with a wire soldered >> to the top face and connected to an interface breakout pin. Stick it >> down someplace with a half a drop of superglue, and when that operation >> is done, rip it off & hang it on a peg till the next time you need it. >> Wire that pin up to motion.probe-in in the hal file and a line or 8 of >> gcode (G38.2 usually), done. Then you don't worry about the TLO in the >> tool table. None of my TTS toolholders have a permanently assigned and >> calibrated tool in them as I'd have to buy another $300+ dollars worth >> of the Chinese versions to do that. I am so used to writing my own gcode >> that I don't normally use more than the arc calculator. I'm fairly >> familiar with loop and subroutine constructs, and have written 90 line >> programs that might take 3 days to run. The one time I looked at Mach, >> it would have taken me 3x as long to become "productive" using it. Of >> course for me, productivity isn't relative as 90% of what I do is one >> offs for my own use anyway. >> >> The outside parties making wizards aren't outsiders, but generally, >> members of this list and often authors of some of LinuxCNC itself. I >> only know of two other lists I am on where that is the case, most lists >> are users only and the lists seem to be an insulating wall between the >> authors and the users. Here we have some extremely talented people. And >> I thank them everytime I make some swarf. >> >> My $0.02. >> >> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: Jon Elson [mailto:[email protected]] >>>> Sent: October-07-17 8:01 PM >>>> To: Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC) >>>> Subject: Re: [Emc-users] MachineKit on the BeagleBone Black >>>> >>>> On 10/07/2017 12:38 PM, John Dammeyer wrote: >>>>> Enter the MachineKit LinuxCNC port and in some ways I feel like >>>>> I've >>> >>> stepped >>> >>>>> back into the dark ages. Simple things like how do I see if a >>>>> limit >>> >>> switch >>> >>>>> is closing or not. >>>> >>>> Use Hal Configure, or HalMeter to just see one at a time. >>>> You can add these to the PyVCP virtual control panel while >>>> setting up. >>>> >>>>> There doesn't seem to be a screen with hardware >>>>> interface. Etc. >>>>> I can see in the .ini file where I can set max override but not >>>>> max jog speed. I'd like to be able to output max step rate and >>>>> verify that everything else is working. >>>> >>>> The maximum speed is in the [TRAJ] section of the .ini file, >>>> MAX_LINEAR_VELOCITY >>>> The jog speed slider cannot be set above that. >>>> >>>>> So is MachineKit just an interesting exercise for the College or >>> >>> University >>> >>>>> level? To show CNC can be done with a 1GHz 32 bit ARM? That the >>>>> real solution is LinuxCNC on a 1GHz PC (or faster) with an >>>>> external >>> >>> controller >>> >>>>> that can be set up with the Stepping Configuration program? >>>> >>>> Machinekit is almost identical at the user's level to >>>> LinuxCNC. That includes what you can see in >>>> HAL. The GUI is a bit sluggish on the ARM CPU, but it is >>>> tolerable. You do have a wider selection of >>>> motion hardware interfaces on a PC. The PRU stepping scheme >>>> on the Beagle Bone is nearly as good as >>>> external hardware step generators. >>>> >>>> Jon >>> >>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> ------ -- >>> >>>> Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most >>>> engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Emc-users mailing list >>>> [email protected] >>>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users >>> >>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> -------- Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's >>> most engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Emc-users mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users >> >> >> Cheers, Gene Heskett >> -- >> "There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: >> soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." >> -Ed Howdershelt (Author) >> Genes Web page <http://geneslinuxbox.net:6309/gene> >> >> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > -- >> Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most >> engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot >> _______________________________________________ >> Emc-users mailing list >> [email protected] >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most > engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot > _______________________________________________ > Emc-users mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
