RE: [Machinekit] Seeed to design and build Machinekit focused Cape for BeagleBone Black/AI

[John Dammeyer]

I too have looked at the BBB as a machine controller.  Using the Xylotex Cape I 
temporarily hooked it up to my mill conversion that had Z and Y completed.  
MachineKit.  The Xylotex DB-25 PP Port output to a PMDX-126 Break out board.
https://youtu.be/9GF709ZfLRQ
Although it worked I found the BBB video a bit laggy.  And I needed more and 
the either the limit switch or the ESTOP were for N/O switches which I don't 
believe is safe. It was the extra I/O and NO switches that moved me to a stock 
PC and for LinuxCNC I'm using the MESA 7i92 which is similar to a Ethernet 
Smooth Stepper for MACH.
 
The new Xylotex Cape for the BBB doesn't have this NO Switch problem.
They are also working on a larger cape that has drivers built in so a Break Out 
Board isn't needed.
 
I also own but haven't used the Replicape to install on a POS Delta 3D printer. 
 Both are sitting collecting dust as other projects have a higher priority.  
The Replicape, now discontinued, could also have run small CNC milling machines 
with the on board drivers although still more targeted at 3D printing hardware. 
 For example I don't think it will support an encoder on the spindle.
 
I think most of the small stepper drivers out there are for motors under 2A and 
24V.  Realistically it might be better to aim at using modules like the Gecko 
G250X to plug into the cape.  
https://www.geckodrive.com/g250x-digital-stepper-drive.html
Perhaps add a second socket for the cheaper drives used on 3D printers.  Google 
" 3D Printer Parts StepStick Motor Driver With Heat Sink A4988"
This way at least you can switch up to 3.5A motors at 48V which is handier for 
say Sherline Mills and lathes.
 
Perhaps the best way to make this cape is with the headers for the Gecko on the 
bottom like their G540
https://www.geckodrive.com/g540-4-axis-digital-stepper-drive.html
 
Add enough I/O for both types of heaters and also encoders and you might have 
something that works for both types of products.
 
The question is.  If you have a small Sherline Mill or Lathe would you even buy 
something like that?
John
 
 
 
From: 'David benson' via Machinekit [mailto:machinekit@googlegroups.com] 
Sent: May-05-20 1:08 AM
To: Machinekit
Subject: Re: [Machinekit] Seeed to design and build Machinekit focused Cape for 
BeagleBone Black/AI
 


On Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 11:12:49 PM UTC+11, Jason Kridner wrote:
I think we have to reliably enable hobby-class machines first. Now, some people 
take hobby pretty far and I'm not trying to cap this off too small, I just 
don't want to boil the oceans. I'd say if we can do a bit more than what CRAMPS 
can do today, we should.
 
Personally, I'd want to at least be able to handle the larger 3D printers, 
smaller CNC mills and some pick-and-place machines. Looking around for some 
open source ones where the controller could be swapped:
* Aleph Objects LulzBot Tax Pro
* SeeMeCNC Rostock Max v3
* PocketNC V2
* Charmhigh CHM-T36VA (not open source, but affordable and hackable)
* Lasersaur
 
The desire for the above is mostly to be a vehicle for demonstrating motion 
control in a familiar way. Something CRAMPS-like could largely serve the above, 
though would need to be done regarding the price to make it sufficiently 
attractive, perhaps bundling as a kit.
 
Getting to the standard DB25 seems like a required thing to be widely usable in 
the community, no?
 
Hi Jason
 
I've just found this discussion regarding a new cape for the BBB\BBAI for the 
hobby focused 
cnc community.
A little background, so you know where I'm coming from, and what my biases are 
:P.
I've been using Mach3 Hobby grade mills and lathes for not quite 20 years now.
Three years ago I cnc'ed a 9 X 20 Lathe and was very happy with it's 
performance.
Two years ago I made a AI tool changer for it. 
build blog here: https://cambamcnc.com/forum/index.php?topic=6844.0 
 
The blog is a bit dated now and goes to MK6, I'm currently at MK8. Here is a 
video of it running on the bench 
for the battery torture tests and AI detecting the tools.
Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH2_B-Vgblc 
 &t=413s
 
I'm here because, I'm working on the Linuxcnc version of the software and have 
a BBB
with Machinekit installed, so that I can write a Linuxcnc component for it as 
well.
 
I don't know if you are aware, but Centroid have a Beagle Bone Green powered 
Acorn
CNC controller, and that board may be worth a look for some Ideas as it has 
some serious
thought gone into it.
 
A lot of the existing Hobby CNC installations I've seen have been as a general 
rule 
Mach3/4 or Linux cnc powered machines. either using the DB25 and a parallel port
or with an external motion controller like for example a Smoothstepper or UCCNC 
UC100
200,300 or 400. The UC stuff retrofits into existing systems people have very 
easily as they have 
a DB25 connector. All you do is plug them in and set the 

Re: [Machinekit] Seeed to design and build Machinekit focused Cape for BeagleBone Black/AI

['David benson' via Machinekit]

On Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 11:12:49 PM UTC+11, Jason Kridner wrote:
>
> I think we have to reliably enable hobby-class machines first. Now, some 
> people take hobby pretty far and I'm not trying to cap this off too small, 
> I just don't want to boil the oceans. I'd say if we can do a bit more than 
> what CRAMPS can do today, we should.
>
> Personally, I'd want to at least be able to handle the larger 3D printers, 
> smaller CNC mills and some pick-and-place machines. Looking around for some 
> open source ones where the controller could be swapped:
> * Aleph Objects LulzBot Tax Pro
> * SeeMeCNC Rostock Max v3
> * PocketNC V2
> * Charmhigh CHM-T36VA (not open source, but affordable and hackable)
> * Lasersaur
>
> The desire for the above is mostly to be a vehicle for demonstrating 
> motion control in a familiar way. Something CRAMPS-like could largely serve 
> the above, though would need to be done regarding the price to make it 
> sufficiently attractive, perhaps bundling as a kit.
>
> *Getting to the standard DB25 seems like a required thing to be widely 
> usable in the community, no?*
>
> Hi Jason
>>
>>
>> I've just found this discussion regarding a new cape for the BBB\BBAI for 
>> the hobby focused 
>>
>> cnc community.
>>
>> A little background, so you know where I'm coming from, and what my 
>> biases are :P.
>>
>> I've been using Mach3 Hobby grade mills and lathes for not quite 20 years 
>> now.
>>
>> Three years ago I cnc'ed a 9 X 20 Lathe and was very happy with it's 
>> performance.
>>
>> Two years ago I made a AI tool changer for it. 
>>
>> build blog here: https://cambamcnc.com/forum/index.php?topic=6844.0
>>
>> The blog is a bit dated now and goes to MK6, I'm currently at MK8. Here 
>> is a video of it running on the bench 
>>
> for the battery torture tests and AI detecting the tools.

> Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH2_B-Vgblc&t=413s
>>
>>
>> I'm here because, I'm working on the Linuxcnc version of the software and 
>> have a BBB
>>
>> with Machinekit installed, so that I can write a Linuxcnc component for 
>> it as well.
>>
>>
>> I don't know if you are aware, but Centroid have a Beagle Bone Green 
>> powered Acorn
>>
>> CNC controller, and that board may be worth a look for some Ideas as it 
>> has some serious
>>
>> thought gone into it.
>>
>>
>> A lot of the existing Hobby CNC installations I've seen have been as a 
>> general rule 
>>
>> Mach3/4 or Linux cnc powered machines. either using the DB25 and a 
>> parallel port
>>
>> or with an external motion controller like for example a Smoothstepper or 
>> UCCNC UC100
>>
>> 200,300 or 400. The UC stuff retrofits into existing systems people have 
>> very easily as they have 
>>
>> a DB25 connector. All you do is plug them in and set the pins parameters 
>> ect.
>>
>> Hope this was useful.
>>
>>
>> Dave
>>
>
>
> -- 
> https://beagleboard.org/about
>

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[Machinekit] Re: BeagleBone local setup - Black screen with cursor after graphical login

[Pierre Ingels]

Thanks Jeff for the tip! I just installed lxde and ensured that it is 
enabled but am getting the same black screen with cursor visible. 

I'll have to look probably more in the configs as there seems to be 
something inhibiting the drawing of the interface.

Pierre

On Monday, 4 May 2020 21:38:20 UTC+5:30, Jeff Pollard wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
>   Some versions of MachineKit do not come with the desktop environment 
> installed.  I'm not sure if that is the problem you are encountering, but I 
> had a similar problem before.  I installed lxde as a desktop (remotely) 
> then rebooted, and I got a desktop display after logging in.  
>
> Jeff
>
>
> On Sunday, May 3, 2020 at 5:07:38 AM UTC-7, Pierre Ingels wrote:
>>
>> Hello all,
>>
>> I am attempting to set up a controller for my CNC lathe using the 
>> BeagleBone Black and Machinekit. I have set it up pretty well using remote 
>> terminal and I am now completing the system with a touchscreen (an Elecrow 
>> RR101 10.1 Inch 1280x800).
>>
>> It seems to work just fine and displaying the login graphical interface 
>> at 1280x800, but as soon as I login the mouse cursor remains but the screen 
>> is all dark. I have poked around with Xrandr thinking that it is the 
>> resolution but I get this message:
>> xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default
>> Screen 0: minimum 1280 x 800, current 1280 x 800, maximum 1280 x 800
>> default connected 1280x800+0+0 0mm x 0mm
>>1280x800   0.00*
>>
>>
>> I assume that I have to define the screen - any pointers how to do this 
>> and find the relevant parameters? Or obviously if I need to look in a very 
>> different direction :)
>>
>> Thank you!
>> Pierre
>>
>

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