How many of you guys run EMC2 (poll, sort of)

[ichudov]

I am going to convert a Series II bridgeport from the old Heidenhain control to EMC2 and (likely) Mesa boards. I would like to know how many of you run EMC2 and Linux.

I live and breathe linux, so the OS is not a problem, but I would like to know your opinion on EMC2.

Also, for EMC2 users, what program do you use to design things, if any.

My last question is is it at all possible to machine from shell script. I am very much a shell script kind of guy and would love to do it.

Ergo, my dreams include fixturing a piece of brass and typing

cnc-make-belt-buckle.pl --text "Bob Smith" --font Courier

and it would, based on what I program, cut out material so that "Bob Smith" is embossed. Just curious how far from reality am I?

i

[cyclestart]

Originally Posted by ichudov My last question is is it at all possible to machine from shell script. I am very much a shell script kind of guy and would love to do it.

If the shell script outputs a text gcode file it may work. Give the script a .sh extension and configure emc to execute .sh extensions in bash (or whatever shell) the same as it executes a .py script in python. Executing a script with options.....hmm, not sure. Hope I understood the question correctly.

A Bridgeport with Mesa electronics sounds like a good fit with emc, but I don't have first hand experience to offer. Lots of help available at linuxcnc.org mail/irc.

[gschoep]

I have a Bridgeport Boss 5? with steppers (Kwik Switch 200 spindle) and use EMC2. I find that EMC2 is quite powerful. May not have all the bells and whistles that the commercial packages have but works well for this CNC newbie.

If you know Python, EMC2 runs it out of the box. Open a Python script and it will execute. The script should be written to dump out G-code which EMC parses and displays on the screen as tool paths. There are some examples that come with the software (a hole pattern generator).

The Python code for what you want is not yet available as far as I know. A text to G-code converter is easily possible and someone may be writing it as we speak. Of course not all fonts are particularly useful in G Code.

I could do something similar to what you suggest with code that I have written but choose to make separate files before milling. That is how I handle tool changes. A separate file for each tool allows me to move the knee and adjust Z for each tool. Eventually I will have it automated with a tool table in software.

I have written Python scripts for pockets, arcs, slots, parabolas, radials, and circular hole patterns. As I need a new feature I write the code on my existing framework.

I did post the python for a parabola on my CNC blog. http://gschoep.blogspot.com/2009/12/...in-g-code.html

[gschoep]

BTW: a Bridgeport with steppers is EASY to retrofit.

No really, I used a CNC4PC C11G, Gecko 201s (came with the mill but buy 203s) and a VFD from Automation Direct. The hardest thing was deciding where to fit the equipment in the cabinet (I only have the back one).

Note: it was easy because I called Maris at Gecko and he educated me in a 2 hour phone conversation on CNC steppers... He knows Bridgeports.