Re: NIST EMC Software

Bob Bachman wrote:

> From: Bob Bachman <bobach@...>
>
> Jon and all,
>
> What's the best way to get started with Linux with a goal of using the NIST
> EMC
> software. There are several vesions of Linux around - I downloaded the
> Dragon75
> program but haven't tried to install it. I think it runs under DOS. I have a
> catalog which lists a 'Red Hat' Linux operating system on cdrom for $39. I
> know
> there is a version that's free also.

Ugh! It is not so clean. Red Hat is good, I use it. But, the messy part
is a Red Hat 5.x CDROM doesn't guarantee that you'll have the same
version of the kernel as somebody else who also has a CD with the
same label. You have to install the real time patches to the kernel, and
the patch MUST match the kernel version exactly. I had a big mess
with this when I started out.

Once you have Linux and the RT patch installed, then putting EMC in
is pretty easy. You download a 4 MB file from the NIST web server,
and give about 3 commands to unpack and install the software.
You need to get a Servo-to-Go card, which runs a little over $800
for 4 axes, and is $888 for 8 axes (that's what I have). Then, you need
servo amps, encoders and servo motors. (EMC will drive steppers,
but if you're going this way, servos have MANY advantages.)

I don't know what Dragon75 is (is it a CAD/CAM package?
I'm using Bobcad/CAM V16.1 on a Windows 95 system for cad to
G-code generation.)

Fred Proctor at NIST has been really helpful in getting my system
going. He has made CDROMs with all the right pieces, so I could
avoid these compatibility problems.

Jon