Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: EMC and Taig w/ MicroProto and DeskCNC

> The answer to my next question is probably no, given what you said
> above. But, can EMC2 call the CNC interpreter G-code file from MACH
> or DeskCNC?

Yes, the answer is no ;) I don't understand what you mean here...

> OR can I "put" the MACH or DeskCNC or VS-3D file G-code
> file into EMC2?

EMC2 will be able to interpret and machine using G-code created by any
program that produces "standard" G-code. I've used Mastercam and
Surfcam. G-code from Mach or DeskCNC will probably run fine.

> I would want to do this to be able to create a
> variable information list ( names ) in G-code, in a EMC2 Do Loop to
> engrave n=1 name on "nested" part 1, engrave n=2 name on "nested"
> part 2, etc. I would also like to nest a sobroutine within the Do
> Loop to center the variable width name on some defined X direction
> coordinate.
>

That's probably doable with the O-words as described in the wiki. Mach
or DeskCNC will probably not be able to create this kind of G-code for
you automatically though...

> I am using Windows XP, and use a printer cable from the PC to the
> stepping motor controller electronics. Which I guess is parallel
> port. The controller electronics have the DeskCNC card integrated
> into it, and 4 axis Gecko drivers have been integrated into the
> controller electronics. The controller electronics are from KDN
> Tool, who did my mechanical, and electronics SIEG X2 CNC
> conversion. It is the Pinacle Series electronics package.
>

OK.. I'm not familiar with the DeskCNC solution. I wonder what, if
anything, the controller that sits between your parallell port and the
geckodrives does ?
Geckos can be run directly from the parallell port using step/dir signals.

> Back to EMC - it seems that EMC can be "purchased by the pound".
> What I mean by that is, as you mentioned that a version of EMC can
> do true closed loop motor control, and that has a price associated
> with that performance. You also mention that EMC is a controller -
> do you mean that in a software sense, or in an electronics hardware
> sense (power supply, stepping motor drivers, ...). I guess that
> conceptually I don't understand what EMC is. Is it hardware,
> software, or both? From what you have kindly said is that EMC runs
> on Linux, and can run over something other than parallel port
> (possibly USB).
>

EMC = Enhanced Machine Controller. Software. Usually used for
controlling machine tools based on G-code. On the hardware side EMC can
be used with the parallell port or a number of pci-cards or external
hardware which offer higher step-rates than the parallell port, and/or
high speed encoder counters (not possible with parallell port), and/or
analog input/output channels requires by some servodrives.


AW