On 01/19/2020 11:42 PM, Rafael Skodlar wrote:
Based on my research LinuxCNC is undesirable in production
environments or as an option in new CNC products. I spent
countless hours to find out if any CNC manufacturer is
recommending or including LinuxCNC with their products.
Most small to medium size CNC machines in built or kit
forms, come with Mach or some other thing. When the
subject matter comes up I don't recommend their product
because it's only available on crippled OS.
Well, check with Tormach, they only sell a system that is
based on LinuxCNC (they call their version PathPilot).
After decades of proven good records, there is a lot of
misunderstanding about using Linux in small business
environments. I hate to write it, but LinuxCNC is not
ready for software option with new or DIY CNC machines.
When I tried to get small business owners or others at
trade shows interested in LCNC I get questions that are
impossible to answer. What kind of computer and other
electronics HW are needed, who's supporting it, how much
does it cost, etc.
Most PCs work fine, also there is a version that runs on the
Beagle Bone computer. Several companies make add-on
hardware to interface to the motor drives, etc. Mesa, Pico
Systems (that's me) and PMDX. LinuxCNC is free,
including the OS, real time option and the CNC program. Was
this info impossible to obtain? Or, did you never look?
I can't tell people to come ask questions on this mailing
list. Discussions more often than not degenerate from the
lists main purpose.
Suggestions to find a used PC or a motherboard with
parallel port are just silly. That's fine for hackers with
more spare time than $$$ in their pockets but not for
serious business owners. During my visit to EU I could not
find a used PC to demonstrate LinuxCNC around.
I sell PCIe parallel ports so that users of my boards can
get a known-good parallel port to go with my hardware.
If things were different, open source community would
embrace LCNC instead of putting their effort into GRBL for
example.
Do you have any idea how many people are using LinuxCNC? It
definitely numbers in the thousands. I know a great number
of commercial and semi-commercial shops that run LinuxCNC,
and many of them are using it on ALL the machines in their
shop. I've sold 336 motion controllers that are only
supported by LinuxCNC, and I'm a small contributor compared to
the others.
Jon
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