Re: NIST EMC Software

Dan Mauch wrote:

> From: "Dan Mauch" <dmauch@...>
>
> I don't have a PC set up for Linux so I can't comment on the program. I did
> d/l it tho. Man does it bring back the good old days before windows. I
> haven't used unix in years.

Well, if you don't want to deal with the Unix-like commands of Linux, you
really don't have to. I often bring up my system, mill some stuff freehand
and then shut it down, and harly have to do any command level stuff.
Really, I only use about 3 commands on that system anyway. One to
start EMC, one to edit a file, and one to do a system shutdown.

> In any case what g codes does it support that Maxnc doesn't?

I don't know. But, it has a VERY full set of commands. It has both
cutter radius and cutter length compensation, which I have used, and
they work fine. It has a bunch of canned cycles, mostly drilling-type.
It has 10 work coordinate systems, which are remembered through
a power down (if you have your home switches set up). It has circular
and helical interpolation, and I've used the circular a lot. I've done
a few thread milling operations with helical interpolation, and it works
quite well.

> The big problem with maxnc is the max size of the tool path file is limited
> to ~250K bytes and the limitations in the config file for backlash.

No such limit in EMC. I don't know what the limitations in the config
file are in maxnc, but EMC does have backlash compensation. I haven't
been using it, although I do have about .001" backlash, probably most
due to worn balls in the ball nuts, but some of it is flex in the screws,
torsion in the screws, and other things that are just a wee bit lacking in
rigidity.

Jon