Ethernet Motion Controllers

[legendboy]

Gotcha

I didn't realize 125khz was slow for step pulse train

[backyard_cnc]

I retrofitted my knee mill using an AJAX CNC (CENTROID) All in One controller and their software. I did all set up and testing using a laptop with no issues at all. Just be sure to disable all power saving options to avoid having the laptop go to sleep when it should be working. The interface between laptop and machine is ethernet.

cheers
gerald

[Hood]

Heres a video of my initial tests with the CSMIO/IP-S controller that I previously mentioned.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKp34...1&feature=plcp
I am testing it out on the baby lathe first to see how things go but it is looking good so far and I am probably going to use their analogue version (CSMIO/IP-A) on the Chiron FZ12S VMC that I am presently retrofitting.
Hood

[skunkworks]

How are they doing with the threading entry/exit?

Thanks Andrew,
the threading itself looks good but I am wondering about the slow pullout at the end of the thread. Will that be normal or is that due to the lathe it is being used on? If it is normal will that be improved on as you develop further or is that how it will always be?

Heres a video of my initial tests with the CSMIO/IP-S controller that I previously mentioned.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKp34...1&feature=plcp
I am testing it out on the baby lathe first to see how things go but it is looking good so far and I am probably going to use their analogue version (CSMIO/IP-A) on the Chiron FZ12S VMC that I am presently retrofitting.
Hood

[Hood]

You seem to spend almost as much time on the Mach forum as me

Andrew should be getting the info he requires, hopefully tomorrow, from Steve so fingers crossed the pullout issue will be solved soon.

Hood

[skunkworks]

I see mach/linuxcnc forums as my reality tv....



I really wanted to throw in a linuxcnc jab but there isn't a viable ethernet solution yet. Thinking the begining of next year. Still though - the computer running linuxcnc still needs to be realtime. (the link over ethernet will be realtime also) The latency isn't as critical as what you would need for software step generation but still needs to be decent. IMHO though this gives you wonderful control over all aspects of your machine and you are not tied to what has been implimented in the 'external motion controller'.

sam

[Hood]

I really wanted to throw in a linuxcnc jab

When I started down my CNC road, probably about 8 or so years ago, I looked at EMC. It seemed complicated, especially to a someone who caught shellfish for a living, but things like that have never put me off anything before. What kind of did it for me was the observation that the majority of the EMC community seemed to thrive on trying to score points, looks like you and John are keeping the tradition alive

Hood

[skunkworks]

Ouch Oh just very passionate. (and can't understand why people would use anything else ) I have converted probably one of the more complicated 4 axis machining centers out there and linuxcnc has done everthing I have needed and more. Plus it just keeps getting better and better. I can honestly say I love linuxcnc - Yes love. It has never failed me or done something random (that wasn't my own fault). Plus it is free and opensource and industrial grade interface hardware is inexpensive and powerful. Yada yada yada... I have said it before and will keep saying it.

I have had nothing but good to say about the developers. They have always been responsive and helpful. Not to mention the users..

sam

[Hood]

Bloody hell that is news to me, I actually thought you hated EMC and that it was expensive
I feel the same about Mach but only because it has served me well and like you I have never had it go do anything weird or fail in all the years I have used it. Oh tell a lie, the lathe once did something unexpected but that was during the Beta testing of the SmoothStepper and was a problem in the plugin. There are some things it doesnt do but then again from talking to people that use both Mach and EMC there are some things EMC doesnt do. I am sure both Mach and EMC will eventually do these things and everyone will live happily ever after
I know my way around Mach and can do most things I want, I am sure you are the same with EMC, my next project is a Chiron FZ12S, hope to be able to test out the toolchanger in the next few days, it looks complicated but isnt really

Hood

[Hood]

Here is the first job done on the Chiron I mentioned above. Very happy with the CSMIO/IP-A controller, it is the best controller I have used so far for Mach and I am loving the encoder update of DROs in Mach.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS9mh_iMing
Hood