Looking at LinuxCNC (EMC2) or Mach 3 so far. Some aspects of the software may limit or modify our plans so feel free to discuss the software here.
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Looking at LinuxCNC (EMC2) or Mach 3 so far. Some aspects of the software may limit or modify our plans so feel free to discuss the software here.
You need to be a member of diydrones to add comments!
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Hi Guys I was in the doctors office today for a 6 month check up and I "scooped " a copy of "Design Engineering from the waiting room www .design-engineering.com I could scan and send the pages but I don't know if that is legal. for software
www.cadmicro.com and www.solidcad.ca I don't know if this will help . the magazine deals with cnc machined parts and cnc machine and suppliers
My next machine build would be with EMC2 so I'll give a thumbs up to that.
Regarding TurboCNC - it just runs Gcode, sits resident on the controller/PC and makes things move.
The drawings and the drawings-to-Gcode would be done on another machine usually.
EMC2 is the next level up IMHO.
I've spent few months on reading many CNC forums and blogs. I was about to build my own machine but situation changed and it's a postponed project at the moment. However, I gathered hundreds of links, photos etc.
One of the best controller shipping together with own software (it has small CAD features too) is PikoCNC. The problem for most of you will be the language - it's Polish and I'm not sure if author (who is still developing this) added at some point support for English. I suppose he could if he will find market for that.
I've compared dozens of solutions, searched eBay from A to Z and having all that knowledge I've picked PikoCNC as a system of choice.
It has even it's own system of parametric templates. One can create a script that requires some dimensions and will cut complex result according to those dimensions (imagine template of the wing - you provide length and all other dimension can be done by the script). And many, many more...
It's using USB instead of LPT which is great as most modern computers just don't have LPT anymore. It has also own software which can alter CAD files and produce better effect in shorter time. There is a 2-years old thread on the forum showing a great progress and some results of that combo.
Here are some movies of the users.
If anyone will be interested you can use google translate for a draft overview. Hard to say if that will be interesting for any of you.
Is this of interest ?
http://www.planet-cnc.com/
So, anyone know whether either Mach or EMC will work with RS485 or CANOpen protocol?
The motors I'm looking at now has a controller that speaks those.
Have we considered the interface between PC and 'the machine'?
I am currently using the 'good-ole' parallel port/break-out method. I works but is getting dated.
This requires a parallel port PC. I know the newer softwares support USB so the bridge hardware between the PC and the driver cards should be considered --- unless I missed that part somewhere in all the enthusiasm.