Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] LinuxCNC and USB Controller

JackC wrote:

> Just curious, is there a USB controller that can interface with LinuxCNC?
>
> There wasn't in the past, but I am just hoping there is now.
>

Hmmm, well, however, there IS some new stuff coming along. LinuxCNC
has been ported to the BeagleBone, a $45 credit card sized CPU that
can communicate by USB or Ethernet. The way some people are using
it now, they use a traditional PC or laptop as the user interface, and
only run the motion part on the Bone. The Bone has a huge amount
of I/O available, about 60 pins, I think! Charles Steinkuehler demoed
a 3D printer running LinuxCNC at the Wichita LinuxCNC code fest
in June. It is still a work in progress, but they are making huge strides
and there will probably be a production-ready version later this year.
You can get the downloads from Charles anytime, if you want to
tinker. The Bone's CPU has a pair of powerful "realtime" CPUs
added to the main ARM processor, these can be delegated to making
PWM and step signals very well. This is certainly the future for
a number of things we are doing.

Jon