Software for Linux

[Ringo42]

I jsut built my first 3 axis machine and now I'm looking for software. I need the software to read teh gcode and output step and dir, as well as some cam software for generating teh gcode files. Can anyone recommend any (preferably free) software that will run in linux?
Thanks
ringo

[joecnc2006]

http://www.linuxcnc.org/

[ESjaavik]

And it works fine for me. I recommend the BDI version unless you already know Linux well. Sherline uses it for their CNC mill.

[joecnc2006]

Originally Posted by ESjaavik And it works fine for me. I recommend the BDI version unless you already know Linux well. Sherline uses it for their CNC mill.

Since you have used it do you mind posting a review of it here and also some screen shots? that would help people look at it from a glance to see if they would even want to go to the trouble of loading linux and the cnc software..

thanks, Joe

[MrBean]

Great idea. I recently installed Linux (Fedora) on my CNC computer in the garage, just to have a play. Not from a CNC point of view, but out of curiosity. I actually liked it. Seems it has a lot to offer.

May have to try the BDI and see if I can get EMC running. Would be nice to get more info/screenshots, from people using it here.

Regards Terry.....

[Ringo42]

The laptop I want to install this on only has 192mgs of memory so the live version is out. It looks like the other version has the entire version of linux included, so I'm assuming this would overwrite my existing linux, is this correct? I'm using SUSE 9.2 right now and don't want to risk messing it up.
Ringo

[ESjaavik]

BDI Live will need 256M RAM when run from CD. So one solution is if you can borrow more memory from another machine, install to hard disk, then you can go back to 192M again. When run from CD, it needs RAM to use as a RAMdisk. Then it will not even touch your HD until you choose to install it there.

I find it hard to do a review of a control program. It's like doing a car review, if you followed my recommendations, you would drive the most twisted roads in your county just for fun, but your groceries would have to be brought home in a wheelbarrow. It all depends upon what you need it for, and what your preferences and background is.

EMC needs to boot it's own kernel, as it is based on the RTAI real time system that is compiled into the kernel. If you know Linux, it should not be difficult to make it a boot option into it's own partition. EMC cannot be installed just as an application program onto an existing kernel. You can do that if you just want to look at the GUI and run the backplot though. But you can't run your machine then.

I don't think showing screenshots is very useful for several reasons:
- There are at least 3 different user interfaces for EMC. You can choose the one you like the best, or even pick the one closest to your liking and customize it. That would be only if you can do a bit of programming though.
- The user interface is one of the least important points IMO. That's just the "operator panel". It does not help a bit if you like it a lot if the works behind it does not do a good job, and/or it cannot be tied to your hardware.

EMC is very flexible when it comes to connecting hardware. If you start out with steppers, then find that too limiting and want to change to servos no problem, just fix the .INI file to reflect what you have connected. (Some configurations, like servos without step/dir interface need special hardware. Even though it should be obvious, I mention it). This versatility is the main reason I chose EMC and not Mach2. I don't want to be forced to change control program for running high speed servos which is my next stage.

If your need for speed is moderate, it can be connected directly from the parallel port to your step/dir drives. There should be a breakout board in between if your drives do not have galvanically separated inputs (optocouplers).

If you need to go fast, you should consider one of the hardware options that makes this possible. I'm upgrading to pico-systems Universal Stepper Controller. A friend of mine already use it, and his old PC can spit out step pulses faster than any motor can swallow them. Other possibilities are ISAbus or PCIbus analog servo control boards. There are several to choose from at reasonable prices.

As I mentioned, the user interface can be first chosen, then changed. I have an industrial PC with integral LCD touchscreen that I want to use. As all the source code comes with it, I can adapt whatever needed to exploit that possibility.

All this adaptablility comes at a price: You should have a bit of stamina to get it running. If not, you should at least choose one of the example setups. The documentation is scattered and not well updated. I found this frustrating at times, but the EMC community is very helpful, and I got a system I feel can do whatever I want to do in future projects. At the moment it is not suited for lathes (no threading), but this is one of the highest on the priority list for EMC2 that is well on it's way. So I stay confident that when I get to retrofitting my largest lathe, EMC2 can do it.

The closest I found to EMC is Mach2. It's not for me, as it is closed and I would have to live with the existing interface to the drives which to me is not an option, I need more speed and versatility. If you like to just answer "yes" when asked if you want to install, then be up and running the same evening, Mach2 could do that if you just read the nearly excellent manual. BTW, read the Mach2 manual even if you don't intend to use Mach2! My hat off to the guy that wrote it.

I also lisenced TurboCNC the other day, so I can probably soon see what's in that program. Reason for that is I need a quick and easy replacement for the ancient controller that my Emco Compact5 lathe came with, and as mentioned EMC can't do threading just now. TurboCNC also comes with source code, so even if the 100-hole spindle encoder of the Emco does not fit in with the program, I can choose to alter the lathe or the program. Whichever I feel give the best result.

Hopefully my ranting have given been of use to you even if it is not a review.

[joecnc2006]

Thanks for the review. I went ahead and installed the DBI with EMC and right off the bat my CNC Router worked with jogging (did not have to set pins or even flip axis), and the spped control is great, it is a good looking cnc program and i believe i will use it instead of other, the only thing i have to figure out is the TPI i use a 1/2" threaded rod and it has 13 turns per inch and use 1/2 step on the hobby cnc board. I think i need to figure out the number somewhere in the EMC.ini file....

any help is apriciated.

How many do we have running Linux EMC????

Thanks, Joe

[maxxgraphix]

I've been playing with this too. INPUT_SCALE = 5200, at least that made it move 1 inch when you told it to move 1 inch. 13tpi , 200 steps per rev, half step mode. I like linux and I haven't tossed this one out yet. You'll need to install to a drive.

[jfong]

The EMC guys just recently released a new BDI version 4.16 based on Debian. You can get it from the Sherline website.

http://sherline.com/emc/

I am downloading it now to see what is new since I've been using BDI 2.xx for the past year or so on my converted Harbor Freight Micro Mill. Some minor install issues but it has been running just fine since.

Jim
www.embeddedtronics.com

[ESjaavik]

I haven't tried it yet. It is not yet considered a working version as far as I've understood, so you may want to keep your old one. And 4.18 is the most recent.

[maxxgraphix]

I used the Live version, then used the install to drive option.
I just noticed that the axis directions are flipped. How do you fix that? You tell Z to go up, but it goes down. Mach 1 works correctly, so my machine is setup right.