Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: stepper feedback?
Posted by
Jon Elson
on 2000-05-15 15:21:33 UTC
Andrew Werby wrote:
workstation,
as an intellectual exercise, and then under a 'real-time' extension to
Windows NT
that wasn't very real-time, at all). I started working with the Linux
version of EMC
in about Feb, 1998, and got it running on the Beidgeport in about Aug
1998.
It had a number of poor man-machine interface problems, but it performed
motion
well. Over the end of 1998 and the first half of 1999, we went through
4 major
versions of user interface (from a character terminal emulator screen,
to Java,
to X-windows, to Tk/Tcl). This was a pain, but we had specific reasons
at each
step why we were dissatisfied with what we had at the time. We are
finally at a
stage where moderately sophisticated end users can customize and add to
the
GUI, where we are supporting both servo and stepper systems, with
optional
feedback on the steppers.
DeskNcrt is a project in the first stages of development, and is pretty
primitive
at this point. EMC required much greater computer resources, but has
the advantage
that it is a true multitasking OS, so you can have network functions
working,
pop up a calculator or text editor on the screen, keep notes on the
setup or
other details as you set up a job you will do again, etc. I really find
all of this
useful. I'm not sure I will take advantage of the capability of running
Windows
CAD/CAM programs under a Windows emulator, but I could do that, too.
I do send programs by network from my Windows computer that the CAD/CAM
software is on. Sometimes, while working at the CAD/CAM computer, I
need
to look at a file on the EMC computer, and I can do that easily.
So, I am not greatly in favor of going back to DOS for CNC purposes.
I see many advantages to running EMC on Linux, although I do agree that
the initial install of Linux and getting the RT kernel patch installed
had been
difficult.
Jon
> From: "Tim Goldstein" <timg@...>I should warn you that EMC is in its 3rd incarnation (first was Sun
> Subject: RE: steper feedback?
>
> EMC can do it and I believe DeskNCrt (A DOS port of EMC) can also read
>
> encoders for a closed loop stepper.
>
> Tim
> [Denver, CO]
>
> [I'd be extremely interested in this, but checking their website, it
> seems
> that currently it is limited to interpreting 200 lines of code,
> maximum.
workstation,
as an intellectual exercise, and then under a 'real-time' extension to
Windows NT
that wasn't very real-time, at all). I started working with the Linux
version of EMC
in about Feb, 1998, and got it running on the Beidgeport in about Aug
1998.
It had a number of poor man-machine interface problems, but it performed
motion
well. Over the end of 1998 and the first half of 1999, we went through
4 major
versions of user interface (from a character terminal emulator screen,
to Java,
to X-windows, to Tk/Tcl). This was a pain, but we had specific reasons
at each
step why we were dissatisfied with what we had at the time. We are
finally at a
stage where moderately sophisticated end users can customize and add to
the
GUI, where we are supporting both servo and stepper systems, with
optional
feedback on the steppers.
DeskNcrt is a project in the first stages of development, and is pretty
primitive
at this point. EMC required much greater computer resources, but has
the advantage
that it is a true multitasking OS, so you can have network functions
working,
pop up a calculator or text editor on the screen, keep notes on the
setup or
other details as you set up a job you will do again, etc. I really find
all of this
useful. I'm not sure I will take advantage of the capability of running
Windows
CAD/CAM programs under a Windows emulator, but I could do that, too.
I do send programs by network from my Windows computer that the CAD/CAM
software is on. Sometimes, while working at the CAD/CAM computer, I
need
to look at a file on the EMC computer, and I can do that easily.
So, I am not greatly in favor of going back to DOS for CNC purposes.
I see many advantages to running EMC on Linux, although I do agree that
the initial install of Linux and getting the RT kernel patch installed
had been
difficult.
Jon