I was thinking of trying EMC to control my HobbyCNC driver kit. I have no linux knowledge, but I know a lot about PCs (no linux though.. :confused: )

Is there a EMC braindead install that will work with the hobbycnc driver? Does someone have the configuration info to connect and setup a hobbycnc driver with this EMC? Can someone walk me through how to setup a Hobbycnc to work on EMC?

Will I gain any advantages of using EMC versus Mach2? Mach2 backlash comp really doesnt work well for me right now, and I am hoping EMC may be better at backlash comp. Any thoughts?

Thanks, Zachery

Try TurboCNC and DOS. I use it with my HobbyCNC board. EMC is difficult to setup for anything other than the parallel port pinouts that it uses.

EMC2 is suppose to help this by using several config files and a Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL). The current EMC2 setup is with Ubuntu 5.10 (Breezy Badger) and a GUI called Axis.

Axis GUI - http://axis.unpythonic.net/
EMC - http://www.linuxcnc.org/
Install shell script - http://timeguy.com/cradek/emc/ubuntu
EMC2 LiveCD with Axis - http://dsplabs.cs.upt.ro/~juve/emc/

Good luck,
RipperSoftware

Try TurboCNC and DOS. I use it with my HobbyCNC board. EMC is difficult to setup for anything other than the parallel port pinouts that it uses.

EMC2 is suppose to help this by using several config files and a Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL). The current EMC2 setup is with Ubuntu 5.10 (Breezy Badger) and a GUI called Axis.

Axis GUI - http://axis.unpythonic.net/
EMC - http://www.linuxcnc.org/
Install shell script - http://timeguy.com/cradek/emc/ubuntu
EMC2 LiveCD with Axis - http://dsplabs.cs.upt.ro/~juve/emc/

Good luck,
RipperSoftware

EMC allows you to change the pins in the .INI file with ease, (I used the generic.ini file myself, not the shereline version, just read the install tutorial, or better yet, log onto the IRC and ask them they will help you, And another note EMC2 makes it easier to do changes within the program by opening up the ini files for you to change the values.

When i first started i used the HobbyCNC kit with EMC with no problem.

Joe

Zachery,

It looks (from the info on the HobbyCNC website) that the pinout for the HobbyCNC board is the same as the default pinout for EMC stepper. It is different than CandCNC's breakout board, and the default pinout for TurboCNC and I suspect the default for Mach2, however, on most systems re-configuring the pinouts in the software is easily accomplished.

You will also need to select the microstepping level that you are going to use (should be in your HobbyCNC documentation). You probably have to set the current level for the HobbyCNC board to match the steppers that you are using (should be described in the HobbyCNC documentation). This is true whether you use EMC, TurboCNC, Mach or whatever.

You will need to set the steps per inch and tune the speed in the EMC config file (or whatever system you choose).
TPI = Threads per inch
Steps per rotation = (200 * #microsteps per full step )
Steps per inch = (TPI * steps per rotation)

So the standard BDI should work. Download the software, wire up the system and give it a try.

Alan

Does anyone know if the default config should work with The HobbyCNC board?

Hobby CNC has:
Outputs
Pin 2 - X axis Direction
Pin 3 - X axis step
Pin 4 - Y axis Direction
Pin 5 - Y axis step
Pin 6 - Z axis Direction
Pin 7 - Z axis step
Pin 8 - A axis Direction *
Pin 9 - A axis step *

Other output pins: Suggested/optional uses
Pins 10-13,15 have pullup resistors
Pin 10 - Limit (NC switches in series)
Pin 11 - Home X (NC or NO switch as desired)
Pin 12 - Home Y (NC or NO switch as desired)
Pin 13 - Home Z (NC or NO switch as desired)
Pin 15 - Home A (NC or NO switch as desired) *

Pin 14,16,17 have no pullup resistors
Pin 14 - Not assigned - Router/Spindel on/off **
Pin 16 - Not assigned
Pin 17 - Not assigned

Pin 1 - Not brought out for use on the board. A small 'hack' could make it available.

* - Many do not have/use this axis - typically used in heated bow CNC cutters for styrafoam
** - My desired use

Does anybody know what I should use for the EMC2 timing requirements for the Hobby CNC board? I'm getting away with the Xylotex default settings, but I'd like to do this right...

Thanks!

~Luke

a

Does anybody know what I should use for the EMC2 timing requirements for the Hobby CNC board? I'm getting away with the Xylotex default settings, but I'd like to do this right...

Thanks!

~Lukedo you have the latest version of EMC? I think doing it right probably would include running the stepper setup wizard and following all the instructions to the letter
Eric

I also have a hobbycnc board. I have the 4AUPC. I also need timing requirements.

Step Time
Step Space
Direction Hold
Direction Setup

C

the stepper default config for standard_pinout.hal is:

# finally connect physical pins to the signals
linksp Xdir => parport.0.pin-02-out
linksp Xstep => parport.0.pin-03-out
linksp Ydir => parport.0.pin-04-out
linksp Ystep => parport.0.pin-05-out
linksp Zdir => parport.0.pin-06-out
linksp Zstep => parport.0.pin-07-out


check the EMC2 User manual, you will most likely have to change the defaults.

As far as timing requirements go, you will first have to determine the latency of your computer.

This is done using the Terminal and running a latency test.

http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/emcinfo.pl?TweakingSoftwareStepGeneration#Run_a_Latency_Test

the latest versions of emc make it really easy to setup the pinout , latency , or what have you .
the emc startup menu has the wizard which takes you thru the steps to set up your system , its far more user friendly then it was in the past ,no more need to be tracking down the ini files

I also have a hobbycnc board. I have the 4AUPC. I also need timing requirements.

Step Time
Step Space
Direction Hold
Direction Setup

C

After some teeth pulling I did get a bit of info on step translation chip on this board and added it to here:

http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/emcinfo.pl?Stepper_Drive_Timing

remember that signal conditioning and opto isolation can increase timing requirements. That's why you need to know the timings for a driver board, not just the step translator chip that is contains

John