This is a quick note to the LinuxCNC development team. Steffan noted that you might find our project interesting. ————————————————
Chuck Peplinski and I are working to build an open-source system which we are calling the Rose Engine Butler (the logo with Reuben is shown to the left). The Rose Engine Butler is a specific configuration of LinuxCNC with associated hardware for use with a rose engine lathe (OTBoK.info/index.php?n=Main.RoseEngineLathe <https://otbok.info/index.php?n=Main.RoseEngineLathe>). The hardware will be a commercial offering, but we are also publishing the plans for anyone who wishes to build their own. Rose engine lathes often have multiple, optional parts which need their movement to be synchronized with other parts and the spindle(s) to achieve the desired work by the artist. Now that stepper motors are so ubiquitous and inexpensive, these activities can be synchronized electronically rather than using the mechanical (and expensive) options pursued in the legacy systems (from the 1800s). We can also use this automation to handle some of the more onerous tasks for the artist. Some key notes: The spindles (Sp0 & Sp1) run quite slowly on a rose engine. 10 rpm is quite fast, and 1-5 rpm is far more typical. The other axes are also moved quite slowly. Traversing 75mm over a 10 minute period would be quite common. Users of this system will be spread around the world, with few users even in the same city. ———————————————— The systems developed by Dewey Garrett and Bill Ooms (both great artists!) are true CNC systems based on LinuxCNC which provided rose engine functionality. The Rose Engine Butler is not the same. Instead, the intended user will still be driving a lot of the functionality by hand; the LinuxCNC functionality will be simply making that easier. As Lewis Mumford wrote in his classic history of technology, “The essential distinction between a machine and a tool lies in the degree of independence in the operation from the skill and motive power of the operator.” The rose engine controlled by the Rose Engine Butler will not be a push a button to run system; it will be controlled by a human user. Other customized control systems have been developed for this over time, but these have a number of limitations: They are usually designed and supported by a single programmer, They rely on technology which typically becomes unavailable (the currently best system runs on a Teensy 3.5 and will not run on the Teensy 4.1), Or, the system is quite expensive, which also means there are very few users. And, in all cases, the overall support environment for the user base is not there. Each person is on your own. Good luck. ———————————————— Chuck and I are building the Rose Engine Butler based around LinuxCNC running on: Raspberry Pi 5, with a Mesa 7i92 board, and a Customized break out board (primarily to make manufacturing of the user boxes easier for us), & DM542T stepper motor drives. Users will connect this to stepper motors on up to 8 axes: Spindles Spindle (Sp0) 2nd Spindle (Sp1) - used for the rosettes Linear Axes X Y Z U V Rotary Axis B As the stepper motors used in the field will vary, we separated out the axis HAL files (as .inc files) into a different directory so the user can maintain those files themselves. Some of the values which could change are the STEP_SCALE & ENCODER_SCALE. The file directory structure (support.RoseEngineButler.com/index.php?n=Main.FileLocations <https://support.roseenginebutler.com/index.php?n=Main.FileLocations>) for that is in the Rose Engine Butler Support Manual (support.RoseEngineButler.com <https://support.roseenginebutler.com/>). We have also designed a cabling standard for the stepper motor wiring (support.RoseEngineButler.com/index.php?n=Main.OtherAxes <https://support.roseenginebutler.com/index.php?n=Main.OtherAxes>) which will allow rose engine devices (jigs / fixtures) to be developed which also incorporate limit switches. One scenario where this all comes into play is a curvilinear slide (OTBoK.info/index.php?n=Main.CurvilinearSlide <https://otbok.info/index.php?n=Main.CurvilinearSlide>). The one sold by Columbus Machine Works is one which a user would purchase as an off-the-shelf solution and use on their Lindow Rose Engine. The updated curvilinear slide will have: A NEMA 17 stepper motor as the drive mechanism (with the capability to manually control it if the artist wishes to do so), Limit switches built in to ensure the user does not “crash” it, and A cable with the correct plug (GX-16/6) already on it so that they can plug it into the Rose Engine Butler system and quickly begin making art. As noted, the hardware system we are designing will be published so that anyone can build their own; however, we expect most users will choose to purchase a completed system from us (but that is not required). All the instructions will be on the Rose Engine Butler web site. ———————————————— The artist will be provided customized menus developed in GladeVCP to run on the Axis GUI. You can see the menus at the on-line user manual (manual.RoseEngineButler.com <http://manual.roseenginebutler.com/> - look for “Rose Engine Butler User Menus”). This is the first iteration (version 1.0) of what we are building, and we expect those to evolve over time (possibly to the point where it may be fully customized and not use Axis). QtPyVCP is something we will certainly be exploring. ———————————————— Probably the most important part is that we are developing an environment for the artist's successful use of the system. The front end for this is this web site: www.RoseEngineButler.com <http://www.roseenginebutler.com/>. In particular, we are providing: An on-line user manual (manual.RoseEngineButler.com <http://manual.roseenginebutler.com/>) which will be expanded over time. One area we need to develop out quickly are some on-line calculators needed by the artist to ensure the completed work looks as expected. For example, when cutting a Turks Head (OTBoK.info/index.php?n=Main.ECFOnFlatSurfaces <https://otbok.info/index.php?n=Main.ECFOnFlatSurfaces>), it is key to ensure the alignment of the circles is perfect. If not, the piece will look terribly sloppy. And, over time, we may provide these as UIs within the LinuxCNC environment, or as separate programs delivered in a library on the user’s Linux environment. A library for Gcode programs (gcode.RoseEngineButler.com <http://gcode.roseenginebutler.com/>) they can use to perform standard functions such as threading (e.g., of a lid onto a box), or as a starting point for developing their own Gcode. A support library for the system (support.RoseEngineButler.com <http://support.roseenginebutler.com/>). A forum for user discussions (forum.RoseEngineButler.com <http://forum.roseenginebutler.com/>). By the way, we do not expect to implement a Discord channel. YouTube videos for helping the user get started, or to help with topics they don’t use often (www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9WeBVI2Iby6HMYFQFcAu5I1L3QOwVCcS <http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9WeBVI2Iby6HMYFQFcAu5I1L3QOwVCcS>) Also, we are providing some usability tools installed on the Linux desktop to allow the user to: Backup their configuration (and restore it later) Update everything (we want the users to get their updates delivered to them electronically instead of having a system fixed in time) The Rose Engine Butler configuration (i.e., a git pull from our code base site - github.com/RichColvin/RoseEngineButler <http://github.com/RichColvin/RoseEngineButler>), LinuxCNC base code (i.e., by sudo apt update / sudo apt upgrade) Debian Linux system (i.e., by sudo apt update / sudo apt upgrade) The ClamAV anti-virus software and virus definitions ———————————————— The UIs we are delivering are intended to provide the basic functionality which is most commonly used by a rose engine user. We will probably add functionality to these UIs over time; however, we expect the users will find that having Gcode snippets available will provide them more power and flexibility than we could deliver. There really is only one company which actively makes a rose engine for sale these days: Columbus Machine Works based in Columbus, Ohio. They make two machines: the Lindow Rose Engine (most common), and the MADE Lathe (only 13 have been made). Chuck and I are working with Columbus Machine Works to get everything setup on the Lindow Rose Engine to accommodate the use of the Rose Engine Butler system. Additionally, I maintain the design for the MDF Rose Engine 2.0 (mdfre2.ColvinTools.com/ <mdfre2.colvintools.com/>) which is used by most who make their own rose engine. (I am also based in the Columbus, Ohio area.) The MDF Rose Engine 2.0 is already capable of using the Rose Engine Butler system. ———————————————— We are excited about this, and we really must thank each of you for all you have done to make the Rose Engine Butler system possible. If you have any questions, please reach out to either of us. Kind regards, Rich  _______________________________________________ Emc-developers mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-developers
