Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Raspberry Pi for CADCAM CNC?

scyvt wrote:

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> Jon
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> Not long ago I asked this group if there was a simple hardware/software solution for single axis control. There were two answers: 1) just use use a cheap computer running Mach, and ignore the excess capacity, and 2) hang on for Mariss to release the long-awaited FPGA-based drive that would (maybe) have that capability built-in.
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> Would perhaps the board & Linuxcnc that you recommend be a third path to consider for this application?
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Oh, absolutely, if you want just one axis, I'm sure LinuxCNC can be made to
do the job. I had a guy that needed to profile laser beams and create 3-D
graphs of intensity. I built him a Taig X-Y base with the older EMC2,
and he hooked up his laser power meter and made a program to scan
the X-Y profile. So, LinuxCNC has great capability to be reconfigured
for special tasks that are far from standard G-code machining.
You could run a Gecko stepper drive directly from the parallel port,
or possibly with a breakout board. Or, you could use a servo
approach with Mesa or Pico Systems products, or Pico Systems'
Universal Stepper Controller. There are a number of ways to do
it, depending on the exact requirements (required steps/second, etc.)

Jon