Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] More EMC Questions

machines@... wrote:

> Thanks for the replies on the screen shots and the interfacing.
> Now for more questions:-
> [1] Is this the correct place to ask these or is there an EMC group?

There is an EMC mailing list at NIST, but it appears that no one uses it.
I think there is a developer's group at SourceForge, but I don't know
if the moderator is still managing it, as I think I attempted to join
a month ago, and it never was approved.

> [2] Looking through the G Code commands I notice that G43/G49 is
> supported but not G44. All the UK and Europe use 44 as opposed to 43
> as we program from the work zero and not bed zero. Don't ask me why
> and no flames please. That's just the way it is. It would be very
> dangerous to have some machines on 43 and some on 44. can EMC handle
> 44 or be made to do so easily.?

I don't think this is a problem. The G43 can be thought of as working from
wherever the Z axis is now, not from machine home. So, i think EMC's
G43 works the way you expect a G44 to work.

> [3] Can EMC handle metric in it's setup? I know it can do G20/21 but
> will it display metric?

It is supposed to, but some people have reported odd problems that certain
special cases may not work right. These may have been fixed by now.
You should know that INTERNALLY, it is ALL METRIC. But, the GUI was
done by "Inch" people, and there may be some details that were missed.

> [4] Does the BDI install cover the stepper step and direction option
> or is it just for servo's?

It has both, in several flavors each.

> [5] if it does and I believe it's called steppermod? what more would
> be required other than a PC, BDI, and 3 G320's on the control side?
> Obviously I need 3 motors, 3 encoders and a power supply on the drive
> side.

Not much else. You'd need digital output for spindle, coolant, etc.

Jon