Re: [Emc-users] More control board questions

[Erik Friesen]

What I have in mind is my own "daughtercard".  Encoders would be fed
through to the 5i25.  I would use a mcp3208 in spi mode to give me 8 analog
inputs, assuming the 5i25 can do it.

I have been looking at the gecko drives, they are 10x microstepping, which
seems overkill.  They do have some decent features though.  However, my
computer can only do 15khz software step generation, which doesn't do well
with 10x microstepping and speed.

On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 8:55 AM, Andy Pugh  wrote:

>
>
> On 16 Feb 2012, at 14:29, Erik Friesen  wrote:
>
> > How feasible is it to use the mesa 5i25 in a similar way to the universal
> > stepper controller?  IE.. Use hardware step generation + encoder
> feedback?
>
> Just a bare 5i25, or using daughter cards?
> You ought to be able to do it with a 7i76 and a 7i77 (that's the stepper
> board _and_ the servo board at the same time.  Otherwise you would need a
> special firmware I think. 25 pins might be a bit few, though there is a
> second 25 pin header too. The dedicated daughter boards use
> serial-connected hardware for the extra IO pins with only the stepgens,
> encoders and pwms wired direct back to the 5i25.
>
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[Emc-users] More control board questions

[Erik Friesen]

How feasible is it to use the mesa 5i25 in a similar way to the universal
stepper controller?  IE.. Use hardware step generation + encoder feedback?

Another ignorant question, why is the industry so inclined to isolated IO?
vs single board designed systems where everything is layed out properly.
This just gets me, when trying to make a control system look neat, and you
have to use a hodge podge of different breakout boards, drivers, etc, with
a resultant rats nest of wires.
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Re: [Emc-users] intel smi

[Erik Friesen]

Can anyone give me some pointers on "X server", if 10.04 uses it, or more
information on how to do what is hinted to here -
http://rtai.dk/cgi-bin/gratiswiki.pl?Latency_Killer

On Wed, Feb 15, 2012 at 5:19 PM, Erik Friesen  wrote:

> Ok, that was it apparently.  Even with it enabled, I get 25000 blips,
> which don't makes sense to me.  Its a p4 at 3.0 ghz with hyper thread
> disabled, software 3d, etc.  I suppose I could try a pci graphics card over
> the pci express card.  When I enabled hardware 3d, I got latencies in the
> 200K range.
>
> My old p4 1.3ghz got better than this machine, but I got tired of waiting
> on it.
>
>
> On Wed, Feb 15, 2012 at 4:46 PM, andy pugh  wrote:
>
>> On 15 February 2012 21:27, Erik Friesen  wrote:
>> > I was working with disabling the smi on my machine, and got it working.
>> > However, one thing I notice, is that when I run the latency test, that
>> the
>> > smi disabler doesn't seem to load.  It only loads when I actually run
>> emc.
>> > Is this by design, or am I missing something here?
>>
>> It is all a bit vague now, and I was a Linux noob at the time (and
>> being told about SMI by cradek IIRC was my first ever time on IRC) but
>> I seem to recall that I knew the SMI patch was working because the
>> latency test sorted itself out.
>> However, that was the command-line version, not the GUI version.
>>
>> A possible confusion is that smi.ko is loaded under the control of
>> rtapi.conf, and you may have more than one version of that file if you
>> have a RIP version as well as an installed one. I ended up putting an
>> echo message in each file which reported which one it was to untangle
>> my confusion. For extra fun rtapi.conf is auto-generated from rtapi.in
>> during a compile.
>>
>> --
>> atp
>> The idea that there is no such thing as objective truth is, quite simply,
>> wrong.
>>
>>
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Re: [Emc-users] intel smi

[Erik Friesen]

Ok, that was it apparently.  Even with it enabled, I get 25000 blips, which
don't makes sense to me.  Its a p4 at 3.0 ghz with hyper thread disabled,
software 3d, etc.  I suppose I could try a pci graphics card over the pci
express card.  When I enabled hardware 3d, I got latencies in the 200K
range.

My old p4 1.3ghz got better than this machine, but I got tired of waiting
on it.

On Wed, Feb 15, 2012 at 4:46 PM, andy pugh  wrote:

> On 15 February 2012 21:27, Erik Friesen  wrote:
> > I was working with disabling the smi on my machine, and got it working.
> > However, one thing I notice, is that when I run the latency test, that
> the
> > smi disabler doesn't seem to load.  It only loads when I actually run
> emc.
> > Is this by design, or am I missing something here?
>
> It is all a bit vague now, and I was a Linux noob at the time (and
> being told about SMI by cradek IIRC was my first ever time on IRC) but
> I seem to recall that I knew the SMI patch was working because the
> latency test sorted itself out.
> However, that was the command-line version, not the GUI version.
>
> A possible confusion is that smi.ko is loaded under the control of
> rtapi.conf, and you may have more than one version of that file if you
> have a RIP version as well as an installed one. I ended up putting an
> echo message in each file which reported which one it was to untangle
> my confusion. For extra fun rtapi.conf is auto-generated from rtapi.in
> during a compile.
>
> --
> atp
> The idea that there is no such thing as objective truth is, quite simply,
> wrong.
>
>
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[Emc-users] intel smi

[Erik Friesen]

I was working with disabling the smi on my machine, and got it working.
However, one thing I notice, is that when I run the latency test, that the
smi disabler doesn't seem to load.  It only loads when I actually run emc.
Is this by design, or am I missing something here?  I'd like to improve my
machine, and I think the smi is still happening with the latency test, as
it stays around 5000, but about every 30 seconds, it jumps to 25000.
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Re: [Emc-users] Two side routing

[Erik Friesen]

One thing that could be a factor I suppose..  I am using the probotix 40v
system, it uses a sla7078mr stepper driver.  There is no shielding on the
cables to the motor, and whenever I am routing plastic, if I run the vacuum
too close, static discharge does something somewhere, and the drivers, or
something fritzes until I cycle the power.

If indeed it is missing steps, I find it hard to accept that it is from
overpowering the system.  40ipm in plastic with a .125" bit at .2" depth
per pass isn't much.

On Mon, Feb 13, 2012 at 7:24 AM, Erik Friesen  wrote:

> These are long reach 2 flute, they do flex a bit.  I suppose I could be
> losing steps, but it always finishes pretty well at zero, not .1 off.
>
>
> On Sat, Feb 11, 2012 at 11:06 PM, Jon Elson wrote:
>
>> Erik Friesen wrote:
>> > I have been puzzling over how to deal with double sided routing of 1"
>> pvc.
>> > Currently I am working on a 12" x 12" square area, with 10 work pieces
>> > arrayed out.  Each part has a couple 1/8" zero holes that I use to line
>> up
>> > when I flip the pvc.  The problem lies in the fact that nothing really
>> > comes out when I flip the pvc.  I am using G10l2P*R* to rotate the board
>> > depending on a two point zero.  However, the points never are square
>> with
>> > each other, to the tune of .100 off at 10" from zero.  I have checked my
>> > machine squareness and I believe it is less than .010 on a 12" piece.
>>  All
>> > I can figure out is that the 1/8 endmill is wandering enough to cause
>> > this.  Does anyone with experience doing this have some points to offer?
>> >
>> Hmmm, very strange.  I don't use 1/8" HSS endmills, only carbide.  I
>> know the HSS cutters
>> can deflect, but no WAY can it deflect even .050" (half your error).
>> Could the workpiece
>> be slipping on the table?  Could the head of the machine be swinging on
>> the round
>> ram (if it is built like that?)  Why not cut one side and then go back
>> and re-check the
>> initial coordinate setup at the corner?  That will detect part slippage.
>>
>> And, of course, if this is a stepper machine, check for loss of steps
>> after a long
>> program.
>>
>> Jon
>>
>>
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Re: [Emc-users] Two side routing

[Erik Friesen]

These are long reach 2 flute, they do flex a bit.  I suppose I could be
losing steps, but it always finishes pretty well at zero, not .1 off.

On Sat, Feb 11, 2012 at 11:06 PM, Jon Elson  wrote:

> Erik Friesen wrote:
> > I have been puzzling over how to deal with double sided routing of 1"
> pvc.
> > Currently I am working on a 12" x 12" square area, with 10 work pieces
> > arrayed out.  Each part has a couple 1/8" zero holes that I use to line
> up
> > when I flip the pvc.  The problem lies in the fact that nothing really
> > comes out when I flip the pvc.  I am using G10l2P*R* to rotate the board
> > depending on a two point zero.  However, the points never are square with
> > each other, to the tune of .100 off at 10" from zero.  I have checked my
> > machine squareness and I believe it is less than .010 on a 12" piece.
>  All
> > I can figure out is that the 1/8 endmill is wandering enough to cause
> > this.  Does anyone with experience doing this have some points to offer?
> >
> Hmmm, very strange.  I don't use 1/8" HSS endmills, only carbide.  I
> know the HSS cutters
> can deflect, but no WAY can it deflect even .050" (half your error).
> Could the workpiece
> be slipping on the table?  Could the head of the machine be swinging on
> the round
> ram (if it is built like that?)  Why not cut one side and then go back
> and re-check the
> initial coordinate setup at the corner?  That will detect part slippage.
>
> And, of course, if this is a stepper machine, check for loss of steps
> after a long
> program.
>
> Jon
>
>
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[Emc-users] Two side routing

[Erik Friesen]

I have been puzzling over how to deal with double sided routing of 1" pvc.
Currently I am working on a 12" x 12" square area, with 10 work pieces
arrayed out.  Each part has a couple 1/8" zero holes that I use to line up
when I flip the pvc.  The problem lies in the fact that nothing really
comes out when I flip the pvc.  I am using G10l2P*R* to rotate the board
depending on a two point zero.  However, the points never are square with
each other, to the tune of .100 off at 10" from zero.  I have checked my
machine squareness and I believe it is less than .010 on a 12" piece.  All
I can figure out is that the 1/8 endmill is wandering enough to cause
this.  Does anyone with experience doing this have some points to offer?
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Re: [Emc-users] Control board

[Erik Friesen]

I have the master, as of a couple weeks ago, but I don't see any of the hm2
stuff.

On Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 5:58 PM, Erik Friesen  wrote:

> I have also been mulling over the ft232h.  I asked ftdi, but never
> received a reply, about the latency.  I assume it is at least 125 usec, but
> that depends how that everything is managed.  If the usb host stack could
> be hacked to give extra care to a specific device, it seems it could work,
> although not sure if it really is worth it.
>
>
> On Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 10:36 AM, andy pugh  wrote:
>
>> On 7 February 2012 15:10, Erik Friesen  wrote:
>>
>> > I'll have to think this over a bit. It is one thing to write a driver
>> when
>> > you have complete docs, yet another when you have to search so many
>> places
>> > for all the information.
>>
>> Well, the docs do exist, but don't seem to be linked to the PDF or
>> HTML manuals.
>> man hm2_bspi_setup_chan
>> man hm2_bspi_write_chan
>> man hm2_tram_add_bspi_frame
>> man hm2_allocate_bspi_tram
>> man hm2_bspi_set_read_funtion
>> man hm2_bspi_set_write_function
>>
>> These also might only work in the "master" development branch. It is
>> pretty experimental at the moment.
>> (There is a UART version of the same thing which is even more
>> experimental)
>>
>> --
>> atp
>> The idea that there is no such thing as objective truth is, quite simply,
>> wrong.
>>
>>
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Re: [Emc-users] Control board

[Erik Friesen]

I have also been mulling over the ft232h.  I asked ftdi, but never received
a reply, about the latency.  I assume it is at least 125 usec, but that
depends how that everything is managed.  If the usb host stack could be
hacked to give extra care to a specific device, it seems it could work,
although not sure if it really is worth it.

On Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 10:36 AM, andy pugh  wrote:

> On 7 February 2012 15:10, Erik Friesen  wrote:
>
> > I'll have to think this over a bit. It is one thing to write a driver
> when
> > you have complete docs, yet another when you have to search so many
> places
> > for all the information.
>
> Well, the docs do exist, but don't seem to be linked to the PDF or
> HTML manuals.
> man hm2_bspi_setup_chan
> man hm2_bspi_write_chan
> man hm2_tram_add_bspi_frame
> man hm2_allocate_bspi_tram
> man hm2_bspi_set_read_funtion
> man hm2_bspi_set_write_function
>
> These also might only work in the "master" development branch. It is
> pretty experimental at the moment.
> (There is a UART version of the same thing which is even more experimental)
>
> --
> atp
> The idea that there is no such thing as objective truth is, quite simply,
> wrong.
>
>
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Re: [Emc-users] Control board

[Erik Friesen]

My current spindle is very low tech, a bosch colt.  I would use a 4-20ma
amp donut, perhaps wind a couple extra loops.

I'll have to think this over a bit. It is one thing to write a driver when
you have complete docs, yet another when you have to search so many places
for all the information.

Managing this with a pic32 would be a piece of cake, its just the dev time
that holds me back.

On Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 2:59 AM, andy pugh  wrote:

> On 7 February 2012 01:34, Erik Friesen  wrote:
> > I feel like I'm fumbling a bit for information on the mesa cards.  Is the
> > firmware open source?  How does one go about configuring the card?  I
> have
> > a bit of experience with embedded electronics, but working with this is a
> > bit new to me.  How configurable is the spi?
>
> The SPI is a bit too configurable, and in effect you have to write a
> sub-driver for any specific new hardware.
> There is a tool in LinuxCNC for writing real-time drivers and
> components called comp
> http://www.linuxcnc.org/docview/html/hal_comp.html
> To use the Mesa-card BSPI modules you need to write yourself a
> realtime component using comp. Currently there is only one example
> which is used by another Mesa card (the 7i65 8x servo control card)
>
> http://git.linuxcnc.org/gitweb?p=emc2.git;a=blob;f=src/hal/drivers/mesa_7i65.comp;h=41bcc37e2a9ab42c4cc00547a20955f7624650a1;hb=HEAD
> That card has 8x analogue inputs and 8x analogue outputs handled by
> on-board SPI devices.
>
> I think that, for your requirements, a Pico or Mesa board to handle
> the encoder counting and realtime stuff and a USB-connected Arduino
> would work well.
>
> Bear in mind that even with an encoder the best you can do with
> steppers is detect a stall or missed steps, recovery isn't really
> possible as driving a stepper harder == faster only makes things
> worse.
>
> --
> atp
> The idea that there is no such thing as objective truth is, quite simply,
> wrong.
>
>
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Re: [Emc-users] Control board

[Erik Friesen]

I feel like I'm fumbling a bit for information on the mesa cards.  Is the
firmware open source?  How does one go about configuring the card?  I have
a bit of experience with embedded electronics, but working with this is a
bit new to me.  How configurable is the spi?

On Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 6:05 PM, Peter C. Wallace  wrote:

> On Mon, 6 Feb 2012, Erik Friesen wrote:
>
> > Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 17:57:10 -0500
> > From: Erik Friesen 
> > Reply-To: "Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC)"
> > 
> > To: "Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC)"  >
> > Subject: Re: [Emc-users] Control board
> >
> > The mesa card looks interesting to me.  The catch is, how is one going to
> > go about doing spi and pulling the data into emc2?
>
>
> There is FPGA firmware support for SPI with up 16 channels and up to 32
> bits
> of data/channel and clocklow/2 = 16.666 or ~25 MHz)
>
> There is also HostMot2 driver support for the SPI firmware
> (in LinuxCNC 2.5 or >)
>
>
> I assume everything
> > would have to be bit banged, and is not taken care of in the fpga.  It
> also
> > says it has quadrature encoder interface, but once again, how is this
> > handled?  If this was handled with a accessible register, that would work
> > pretty well.
> >
>
> Its fully supported by the HostMot2 driver.
>
> if you have a running LinuxCNC system type:
>
> man hostmot2
>
> for Mesa HostMot2 driver/firmware capabilities on your system
>
> > On Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 1:28 PM, Kirk Wallace <
> kwall...@wallacecompany.com>wrote:
> >
> >> On Mon, 2012-02-06 at 12:29 -0500, Erik Friesen wrote:
> >>> I am not so sure about the parallel port and encoder idea though, the
> >>> encoders I see are up to 1000 per rev, that requires a pretty fast base
> >>> period to handle that, not?  <2us ?
> >>
> >> In reference to my reply, I suggested that using the parallel port for
> >> encoders, but only if the encoder pulse rate is similar to the step
> >> rate. An FPGA PCI or parallel port board would be needed for decent
> >> encoder rates.
> >>
> >>> I also am not very clear on emc2 capability to manage analog inputs, it
> >>> seems easier to offload the deciding to an external mcu of some sort.
> >>> Also, how would emc2 handle encoders with steppers?
> >>
> >> In the normal stepper configuration file, the position command and the
> >> position feedback are software "shorted" together.
> >>
> >> core_stepper.hal
> >> ~~~
> >> ...
> >>  25 # connect position feedback from step generators
> >>  26 # to motion module
> >>  27 net Xpos-fb stepgen.0.position-fb => axis.0.motor-pos-fb
> >>  28 net Ypos-fb stepgen.1.position-fb => axis.1.motor-pos-fb
> >>  29 net Zpos-fb stepgen.2.position-fb => axis.2.motor-pos-fb
> >> ...
> >> ~~~
> >>
> >> This is because when a step is sent out, it is assumed that the step
> >> completes properly, and besides, a normal stepper system has no way of
> >> providing feedback. I haven't worked on a stepper system with encoders,
> >> but I think one replaces the above stepgen feedback with the encoder
> >> output.
> >>
> >> This link indicates there is are example files somewhere?:
> >> http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Steppers_With_Encoders
> >>
> >> For the cost, this may be a good analog trip indicator:
> >> http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9147
> >>
> >> The biggest problem might be in conditioning the analog signal to a 0 -
> >> 5 Volt range. One could use the USB connection as is, or change the
> >> program to just send out a one bit or watchdog signal. Being a
> >> microprocessor, the trip conditions could be quite sophisticated.
> >> --
> >> Kirk Wallace
> >> http://www.wallacecompany.com/machine_shop/
> >> http://www.wallacecompany.com/E45/index.html
> >> California, USA
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
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Re: [Emc-users] Control board

[Erik Friesen]

The mesa card looks interesting to me.  The catch is, how is one going to
go about doing spi and pulling the data into emc2?  I assume everything
would have to be bit banged, and is not taken care of in the fpga.  It also
says it has quadrature encoder interface, but once again, how is this
handled?  If this was handled with a accessible register, that would work
pretty well.

On Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 1:28 PM, Kirk Wallace wrote:

> On Mon, 2012-02-06 at 12:29 -0500, Erik Friesen wrote:
> > I am not so sure about the parallel port and encoder idea though, the
> > encoders I see are up to 1000 per rev, that requires a pretty fast base
> > period to handle that, not?  <2us ?
>
> In reference to my reply, I suggested that using the parallel port for
> encoders, but only if the encoder pulse rate is similar to the step
> rate. An FPGA PCI or parallel port board would be needed for decent
> encoder rates.
>
> > I also am not very clear on emc2 capability to manage analog inputs, it
> > seems easier to offload the deciding to an external mcu of some sort.
> > Also, how would emc2 handle encoders with steppers?
>
> In the normal stepper configuration file, the position command and the
> position feedback are software "shorted" together.
>
> core_stepper.hal
> ~~~
> ...
>  25 # connect position feedback from step generators
>  26 # to motion module
>  27 net Xpos-fb stepgen.0.position-fb => axis.0.motor-pos-fb
>  28 net Ypos-fb stepgen.1.position-fb => axis.1.motor-pos-fb
>  29 net Zpos-fb stepgen.2.position-fb => axis.2.motor-pos-fb
> ...
> ~~~
>
> This is because when a step is sent out, it is assumed that the step
> completes properly, and besides, a normal stepper system has no way of
> providing feedback. I haven't worked on a stepper system with encoders,
> but I think one replaces the above stepgen feedback with the encoder
> output.
>
> This link indicates there is are example files somewhere?:
> http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Steppers_With_Encoders
>
> For the cost, this may be a good analog trip indicator:
> http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9147
>
> The biggest problem might be in conditioning the analog signal to a 0 -
> 5 Volt range. One could use the USB connection as is, or change the
> program to just send out a one bit or watchdog signal. Being a
> microprocessor, the trip conditions could be quite sophisticated.
> --
> Kirk Wallace
> http://www.wallacecompany.com/machine_shop/
> http://www.wallacecompany.com/E45/index.html
> California, USA
>
>
>
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Re: [Emc-users] Control board

[Erik Friesen]

I am not so sure about the parallel port and encoder idea though, the
encoders I see are up to 1000 per rev, that requires a pretty fast base
period to handle that, not?  <2us ?

I also am not very clear on emc2 capability to manage analog inputs, it
seems easier to offload the deciding to an external mcu of some sort.
Also, how would emc2 handle encoders with steppers?

On Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 12:23 PM, Erik Friesen  wrote:

> I don't care about an analog measurement, I want the system to pause or
> park when amps are outside of a set range.  How would you do the first
> scenario?
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 12:14 PM, Jon Elson  wrote:
>
>> Erik Friesen wrote:
>> > I have been looking pretty close at the pico systems board, however, as
>> of
>> > yet I am not clear how to integrate spindle amps monitoring with it.  I
>> > also want to monitor vaccum for a holddown system.
>> >
>> You just want an overcurrent limit, or you want an analog measurement
>> available to LinuxCNC?  The first should be fairly easy, assuming you
>> have some kind of current sensor.  The second is not easy, I just didn't
>> put in a provision for analog inputs.  If low-resolution is good enough,
>> you could hook up an 8-bit ADC chip to 8 digital inputs and use
>> the weighted-sum HAL component to turn that back into a value.
>>
>> Jon
>>
>>
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Re: [Emc-users] Control board

[Erik Friesen]

I don't care about an analog measurement, I want the system to pause or
park when amps are outside of a set range.  How would you do the first
scenario?

On Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 12:14 PM, Jon Elson  wrote:

> Erik Friesen wrote:
> > I have been looking pretty close at the pico systems board, however, as
> of
> > yet I am not clear how to integrate spindle amps monitoring with it.  I
> > also want to monitor vaccum for a holddown system.
> >
> You just want an overcurrent limit, or you want an analog measurement
> available to LinuxCNC?  The first should be fairly easy, assuming you
> have some kind of current sensor.  The second is not easy, I just didn't
> put in a provision for analog inputs.  If low-resolution is good enough,
> you could hook up an 8-bit ADC chip to 8 digital inputs and use
> the weighted-sum HAL component to turn that back into a value.
>
> Jon
>
>
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Re: [Emc-users] Control board

[Erik Friesen]

I have been looking pretty close at the pico systems board, however, as of
yet I am not clear how to integrate spindle amps monitoring with it.  I
also want to monitor vaccum for a holddown system.

On Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 9:02 AM, Greg Bernard wrote:

> Jon Elson's Universal Stepper Controller will take care of the encoders
> for you: http://pico-systems.com/univstep.html. Many devices including
> the very inexpensive Teensy board can manage the HID.
>
>
>
>
> >________
> > From: Erik Friesen 
> >To: Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC) 
> >Sent: Monday, February 6, 2012 6:32 AM
> >Subject: [Emc-users] Control board
> >
> >I am doing a bit of 3 axis cnc routing on pvc.  I would like to set it and
> >forget it while it runs.  I have been thinking about building, or buying
> if
> >available, something down this line.
> >
> >Parallel breakout for stepper drive.
> >
> >Microchip pic32 or similar to monitor incoming steps
> >
> >Encoders on steppers to compare against steps.
> >
> >Pic set up as usb HID device, with misc IO for jogging, etc.
> >
> >Amperage monitoring on 110 out relays, controlled with HID or aux parport
> >io.
> >
> >I would set up the amperage and stepper monitors on the control board to
> >flip a bit if things get out of whack, which would be netted to the
> >machine-on.
> >
> >
> >Is there something out there that fits the bill already?
>
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[Emc-users] Control board

[Erik Friesen]

I am doing a bit of 3 axis cnc routing on pvc.  I would like to set it and
forget it while it runs.  I have been thinking about building, or buying if
available, something down this line.

Parallel breakout for stepper drive.

Microchip pic32 or similar to monitor incoming steps

Encoders on steppers to compare against steps.

Pic set up as usb HID device, with misc IO for jogging, etc.

Amperage monitoring on 110 out relays, controlled with HID or aux parport
io.

I would set up the amperage and stepper monitors on the control board to
flip a bit if things get out of whack, which would be netted to the
machine-on.


Is there something out there that fits the bill already?
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Re: [Emc-users] Workpiece is longer than the mill travel

[Erik Friesen]

Perhaps more experienced hands will have a better idea, but here is how I'd
do it.

Make two programs, with the second program zeroing on the last hole of the
first.

When you clamp the second phase down, zero on hole, and check square with
program via one of previous holes.

Use the g10L2 etc rotation feature and do some math with another hole from
program 1, or clamp piece perfect, then proceed.

On Sat, Feb 4, 2012 at 11:39 AM, Martin Patton  wrote:

> This is probably an easy one but I'm stuck.  I am a hobbyist using a
> Taig mill.  I want to drill a line of holes in a work piece that is
> longer than the mill table.   The holes are not equally spaced, they
> get closer together along the piece.  How do I stop the program,
> reposition the workpiece and restart the program without losing the
> spacing?
> Thanks,
> Marty
>
>
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Re: [Emc-users] Probing error?

[Erik Friesen]

Could there be any connection with this to the M66 problem I have listed
here?

I think its an error in communication between the top and bottom levels.
If M66 is followed by an o etc,  the decoder sees this as two subs
with the same name, the second time around.

My apologies if this has no bearing on the issue.

On Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 11:13 AM, Chris Radek  wrote:

> On Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 10:49:04AM -0500, gene heskett wrote:
> >
> > show stopper.  In doing a G38.2 f1 z2.5, it will probably stop well
> within
> > a thou of contact.  But then I am dead in the water because when I try to
> > do a z move to #5063 + 0.01, it will move about .0005, breaking the
> > contact, which is then reported as an error, shutting the machine down
> and
>
> Exactly what error do you get?
>
> I'm suspicious that it's not the break that's the error, it's
> another bounced make.
>
>
>
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Re: [Emc-users] File naming conventions in an o call?

[Erik Friesen]

Another gotcha with this,  upper and lowercase doesn't seem to work.  Keep
everything lowercase with both filename and subname.

On Mon, Jan 30, 2012 at 12:16 PM, gene heskett  wrote:

> On Monday, January 30, 2012 11:40:25 AM John Thornton did opine:
>
> > If your using 2.4
> >
> > http://linuxcnc.org/docview/html/gcode_main.html#r3_7
> >
> > if your using 2.5
> >
> > http://linuxcnc.org/docview/2.5/html/gcode/o-code.html#_calling_files
> >
> > http://linuxcnc.org/docview/2.5/html/config/ini_config.html#_rs274ngc_se
> > ction_a_id_sub_rs274ngc_section_a
> >
> > John
>
> I'm using linuxcnc-2.6.0-pre2442 IIRC. I saw it was available last night
> but the upgrade & renaming wasn't quite smooth, probably my fault though.
> There were at least 3 shells sitting there, cd'd into ~/gene/emc2 or
> deeper, so the install scripts can't rename a dir that's in use and
> obviously can't edit every .ini file to change the PROGRAM_PATH.  That did
> create a minor panic when I thought all my configs and code were wiped out.
> Common sense fixable though so no big deal as I had it all running again in
> 20 minutes.
>
> And in the wee hours of the morning last night I finally did grok that
> while it was being referred to as a 'o call', and had to have that
> same construction (o sub/endsub) internally, and while the error
> messages didn't mention it, the file HAD to be in the PROGRAM_PATH
> directory (that was in the wiki) AND named "name.ngc".
>
> No thanks to the wiki for pointing that automatic (add an .ngc to the name)
> renaming out.  That would have saved me about 10 hours of hair pulling
> trying to make sense of the error messages. :(  Only deduced by staring at
> the examples for hours, literally checking each character against what I
> had.  In the end, I must be going blind or I would have seen that quicker
> than I did.
>
> I have a bit more editing to apply to the drill files yet, it just occurred
> to me that I'll have to restore the X offset too in the bot.drill because
> I'm G92.1-ing everything back to the default before making the tool change
> move but s/b able to actually carve a board later today if it warms up
> enough. So far it hasn't.  Exactly freezing ATM.  Global warming, 20 years
> ago it would have been only 15 degrees at noon.
>
> But progress is being made, one small step at a time. This cat will get
> skint, I promise after the headache I've been to this list over it.  Many
> Thanks to all who have helped.
>
> Cheers, Gene
> --
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>  soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order."
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Re: [Emc-users] question on gcode parsing

[Erik Friesen]

Yes, C style.

On Mon, Jan 23, 2012 at 9:47 AM, Martin Dobbins  wrote:

>
> Yes
>
> Martin
>
>
>  Does anyone else indent their loops and subs in G-code?
>
>
>  atp
>  The idea that there is no such thing as objective truth is, quite simply,
> wrong.
>
>
>
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