Clarification about responsibilities of CAM softwa, CNCSoftware and motion controller


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Thread: Clarification about responsibilities of CAM softwa, CNCSoftware and motion controller

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    Default Clarification about responsibilities of CAM softwa, CNCSoftware and motion controller

    I am trying to build a machine that can do solder paste dispensing, pick and place and also create PCB's. For this I am planing to write my own software as integrating existing ones to do all these does not seem to be easy. However motion planning according to g-code may be too much work for me.

    To my understanding, CAM software generates g-code. For example, Fusion 360 creates g-code based on my milling setup. For a PCB design, there are tools that convert pcb Gerber file in to gcode. For a pick and place machine, a software like openpnp would create g-code to control each motor. I hope this understanding is correct.

    There are some controller cards that claim they can accept gcode. For example, gecko drives and any card that can run Smoothieware. If these cards can actually accept g-code, what is the purpose of a software such as mach and linuxcnc (apart from doing things like homing, setting offsets, etc). Cant I just pass g-code output from CAM software to the controller card to get the job done?

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    Default Re: Clarification about responsibilities of CAM softwa, CNCSoftware and motion contro

    No, you need a "G-code interpreter" like Mach3 or LinuxCNC as well as the code itself. These translate the written instructions into a stream of pulses that activate the motors. They are either emitted by the computer's parallel port, a DSP chip, or a USB adapter like the UC100. Controllers, like the G540 Gecko makes, amplify these signals and send them to the appropriate motors, as well as taking on auxilliary functions like running the spindle, dust collector, tool-changer, etc.

    [FONT=Verdana]Andrew Werby[/FONT]
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    Default Re: Clarification about responsibilities of CAM softwa, CNCSoftware and motion contro

    Quote Originally Posted by awerby View Post
    No, you need a "G-code interpreter" like Mach3 or LinuxCNC as well as the code itself. These translate the written instructions into a stream of pulses that activate the motors. They are either emitted by the computer's parallel port, a DSP chip, or a USB adapter like the UC100. Controllers, like the G540 Gecko makes, amplify these signals and send them to the appropriate motors, as well as taking on auxilliary functions like running the spindle, dust collector, tool-changer, etc.
    When a card says it can accept g-code, what does it mean if this is the case? To my understanding, a card such as gecko can accept g-code and translate that to control pulses to drive motor driver. A basic card that does not support g-code interpretation would need a software to do this how ever. Is this understanding wrong?



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    Default Re: Clarification about responsibilities of CAM softwa, CNCSoftware and motion contro

    To my understanding, a card such as gecko can accept g-code
    What card are you referring to? Gecko makes stepper drives.

    I'm not familiar with any card, from anybody, that accepts g-code.

    Gerry

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    Default Re: Clarification about responsibilities of CAM softwa, CNCSoftware and motion contro

    There are some all in one controllers that will accept G-code directly and output pulses to the stepper drives to run the machine. But they still have the G-code translator built in, just not the nice user interface that you get with a PC attached to the system. I think I have one of them around here somewhere. Not really a very useful device. Limited in scope and definitely not amenable to a R&D project. The one I have is a 2 axis, maybe 3, but if you are going to dispense solder paste you are going to need a 4 axis unit, and a method of precise control. For pick & place you are going to need some additional I/O under computer control for controlling the gipper.

    Jim Dawson
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    Default Re: Clarification about responsibilities of CAM softwa, CNCSoftware and motion contro

    Quote Originally Posted by ger21 View Post
    What card are you referring to? Gecko makes stepper drives.

    I'm not familiar with any card, from anybody, that accepts g-code.

    smoothieboard [Smoothieware]
    http://cohesion3d.com/cohesion3d-remix/
    https://oceancontrols.com.au/SMC-648G.html
    card supporting tinyg.
    https://github.com/synthetos/TinyG/wiki/Gcode-Support



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    Default Re: Clarification about responsibilities of CAM softwa, CNCSoftware and motion contro

    The Smoothieboard requires the Smoothie, software, which is what actually reads and interprets the g-code.
    Since the Cohesion board runs the Smoothieboard firmware, I'm assuming that it's the same.

    The Ocean Controls board can run g-code directly, but the g-code is still loaded and controlled through a simple Windows program. See image of interface below. Most users of these types of controllers write their own software interface.

    Not positive, but I believe the TinyG is similar to the Smoothieboard. It looks like Chilipepper is the standard interface used to communicate with the TinyG.

    Back to your original question.

    If these cards can actually accept g-code, what is the purpose of a software such as mach and linuxcnc (apart from doing things like homing, setting offsets, etc).
    You could consider all of these options as competitors to Mach and LinuxCNC.
    They are all similar. The difference is in the hardware and features that they support. Boards like the Smoothie and TinyG were designed as simpler solutions to control smaller machines, and have far fewer features.


    Cant I just pass g-code output from CAM software to the controller card to get the job done?
    You still need a software interface to load the g-code, and have control over the machine.

    Bottom line, is that you need to figure out what features you need, and pick the option that is best suited for you.
    Personally, I find the info and documentation on these low cost options to be severely lacking.

    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Clarification about responsibilities of CAM softwa, CNCSoftware and motion controller-smc6480-jpg  
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    [URL]http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html[/URL]

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    [URL]http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html[/URL]

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    [URL]http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html[/URL]

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)


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Clarification about responsibilities of CAM softwa, CNCSoftware and motion controller

Clarification about responsibilities of CAM softwa, CNCSoftware and motion controller