#linuxcnc Logs

Sep 16 2025

09:21 AM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> Hi! Just got a Bridgeport V2E3 ( I think this is what it is, still sleuthing out numbers) and after seeing how fast a centroid conversion adds up $$$ I think I'm going to go the LinuxCNC route, instead
09:35 AM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> not a complete noob to machining or CNC, I have a tormach mill, and built a diy cnc router from a yt vid
09:35 AM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> but the linux stuff has been a bit daunting so far, with my history of failing at figuring out config files
09:35 AM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> anyway, figured I'd check out the server, and probably lurk for a bit, just wanted to send the initial "not a bot or spammer" msg
09:35 AM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> what software did you use for the cnc router?
09:36 AM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> lol.. right
09:40 AM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> I bet the dc drives would work just fine..
09:40 AM Unterhaus_ is now known as Unterhausen
09:45 AM rdtsc-w: measure just twice, cut a million times
09:47 AM rdtsc-w: can find others refurbing them https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/refurbishing-a-bridgeport-v2e3.25082
10:01 AM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> It would be interesting to know what the counts per inch the setup is..
10:01 AM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> I saw one spec that the resolution was .001 and repeatability to .0008
10:02 AM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> which would be more than good enough
10:03 AM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> The matsuura - which was around 84 - was 25400 counts per inch
10:04 AM Tom_L: my steppers aren't that much
10:04 AM Tom_L: as far as steps
10:05 AM Tom_L: are you talking about encoders or steps on the drivers?
10:05 AM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> encoders
10:05 AM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> wondering how well the stock setup could be tuned..
10:06 AM andypugh_ is now known as andypugh
10:09 AM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> ai says it is 1024 (4096 counts) encoder and 5tpi.. That would be .00005.. that would be easy enough to tune.
10:11 AM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> but I don't knwo
10:12 AM Unterhausen: I can't stand clough42, but I had to watch his video about the most dangerous time for any project
10:12 AM Unterhausen: when it's almost done
10:20 AM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> which video?
10:21 AM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> I don't know if I have concerdered any of my projects finished..
10:22 AM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> actually - the car was.. twice
10:25 AM Tom_L: hopefully it stays that way
10:34 AM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> time will tell
11:26 AM lcnc-relay: <meisterdippel@> https://cserver1.multixmedia.org/flow-gui.png
11:27 AM lcnc-relay: <meisterdippel@> rio-flow config with generate linux-cnc gui 🙂
11:28 AM lcnc-relay: <meisterdippel@> with safety checks for servo-drives and power-usage
11:29 AM lcnc-relay: <meisterdippel@> I think it's absolutely awesome. 😱 😇 😎
11:39 AM rdtsc-w: nice work :)
11:39 AM -!- #linuxcnc mode set to +v by ChanServ
12:00 PM -!- #linuxcnc mode set to +v by ChanServ
12:04 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> skunkworks8841@: https://www.omc-stepperonline.com/ts-series-4-axis-4-0nm-566-56oz-in-nema-24-closed-loop-stepper-kit-w-power-supply-4-clts40-v41
12:06 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> unless I'm reading stuff wrong, these should match the original servos for power, originals are 35 in-lb and a non nema bolt pattern, so I will have to machine adapters
12:07 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> on the encoder thing, my understanding is the original encoders only do 1000 counts per revolution
12:07 PM lcnc-relay: <meisterdippel@> you can get 4 AC-Servos for ~360Euro
12:07 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> might be worth it for the upgrade
12:07 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> still figuring out the plan
12:09 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> https://www.omc-stepperonline.com/ts-series-4-axis-4-0nm-566-56oz-in-nema-24-closed-loop-stepper-kit-w-power-supply-4-clts40-v41 this page talks about the encoder thing
12:09 PM lcnc-relay: <meisterdippel@> with 17bit encoder (131072 / rev)
12:09 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> woops, wrong link
12:09 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> hang on
12:10 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> https://www.centroidcnc.com/bridgeport_boss.htm
12:11 PM lcnc-relay: <meisterdippel@> https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0DM5V6BZ2
12:11 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> so, the original brushed dc servos can be reused, and upgraded with new encoders, but I just haven't found new drives that aren't rather extremely expensive
12:11 PM -!- #linuxcnc mode set to +v by lithium.libera.chat
12:13 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> Centroid wants over $3000usd for their basic kit, and each add on is similarly pricy
12:13 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> are the servos direct drive? or belt driven?
12:14 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> If this were going to be a high production machine, yeah, I might go there, but I'm just another broke hobbyist
12:14 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> skunkworks8841@: belt driven, 2:1
12:14 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> do you know the pitch of the lead screw?
12:14 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> not yet
12:14 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> and do you know the specs of the servos? more than just the in-lbs.
12:14 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> only got the machine this weekend, so still learning it
12:15 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> they run about 140 volts, and say 15 amps
12:15 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> those are then around 2kw...
12:16 PM lcnc-relay: <meisterdippel@> I wouldn't use steppers for that, because you fall asleep.
12:17 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> didn't seem very efficient, for the torque they make
12:17 PM lcnc-relay: <meisterdippel@> or use another reduction with steppers
12:18 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> I mean, if ac servos would be better, and I can find them in the states for a reasonable cost, that might be the way to go.
12:18 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> So - it looks like 5tpi X 2:1 and 1000cpr 4000count.. that would be a resolution of .000025 inch..
12:19 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> (that link didn't give a price, not available,here)
12:19 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> that would be very usable
12:20 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> skunkworks8841@: that's what I was picking up from my reading, that going to better encoders makes the machine a lot better than it originally was
12:20 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> I would not even worry about the encoders if they work
12:22 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> if you can tune to within 10 encoder counts - that is a possible position accuracy of .00025"
12:22 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> the originals are 1000 CPR, not ppr
12:23 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> right - 1000 cpr = 4000 counts quadature..
12:23 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> or are you saying they are 250?
12:23 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> yes
12:23 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> oh
12:23 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> lol
12:23 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> they were not very good
12:23 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> 1982 technology
12:23 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> you should probably get better encoders
12:23 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> 😉
12:25 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> The centroid kit goes to 8000 counts quadrature, but I think 4k would be fine
12:34 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> I haven't really messed with ac servos, I guess the advantage is being able to control them with a less busy signal than sending pulses? https://www.ebay.com/itm/266204538811
12:37 PM lcnc-relay: <meisterdippel@> you can use it like steppers woth step/dir signals, the advantage is the max rpm, the disadvantage the torque at standstill
12:38 PM lcnc-relay: <meisterdippel@> but you have this disadvantage also with most closed-loop-steppers
12:42 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> meisterdippel@: That's awesome, well done
12:44 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> I plan to get the 1kw stepperonline servos for my turret mill, you can get them with 17bit or 23bit absolute encoders, thinking 23bit is insane overkill
12:44 PM lcnc-relay: <meisterdippel@> 1kw is also overkill
12:45 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> Well, torque isn't amazing
12:45 PM lcnc-relay: <meisterdippel@> lesliet@: check the size of the servos, NEMA42 is very big
12:45 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> And it's a 1400mm cast iron table
12:45 PM lcnc-relay: <meisterdippel@> ok 🙂
12:47 PM lcnc-relay: <meisterdippel@> But believe me, a servo has a completely different power output than a stepper.
12:47 PM lcnc-relay: 1 kW can break all your bones in 10 ms 😱
12:48 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> Just the way I like it
12:49 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> I used to race superbikes, putting it that way just makes it feel more right
12:49 PM Tom_L: and they didn't break all your bones?
12:49 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> Funnily enough, no
12:50 PM Tom_L: not much inbetween on those
12:50 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> But, afterwards I started riding mountainbikes and then I did break all my bones
12:51 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> Ergo bicycles are much more dangerous than motorcycles
12:53 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> The K&T has about 7kw servos..
12:54 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> skunkworks8841@: How much power have you got coming into the property?
12:54 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> 400a
12:54 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> 3 phase
12:54 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> At what voltage?
12:54 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> 340
12:54 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> oops
12:54 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> 480
12:55 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> jesus
12:55 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> 240
12:55 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> Lol
12:55 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> the cheapest 3 phase service you can get around here
12:55 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> called 'wild leg'
12:56 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> Thought you lived in the sticks, isn't it difficult getting 3phase in rural US?
12:56 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> yes - we lucked out. Dad got them to run it before things got crazy
12:56 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> Nice
12:57 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> so you get 120 across 2 of the legs - and 170 on the third
12:57 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> I was quoted £120,000 to get 3phase
12:58 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> at the house in town - I build a garage and when they hooked up the service - I asked them how much for 3 phase. (the pole is about 1/2 a block away) he said it would be well over 10,000usd
12:59 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> At least I might have considered it at that price
01:00 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> I thought over by you - they ran 3 phase to all houses?
01:00 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> Many European countries they do
01:00 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> are you in wales? iirc?
01:01 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> Uk has infrastructure from the Victorian age
01:01 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> lol
01:01 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> Yeah, the arse end of Wales
01:01 PM -!- #linuxcnc mode set to +v by ChanServ
01:01 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> If there's a bright spot in the universe...
01:04 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> wow - I just looked at the uk and area.. I thought wales was at the southern end by the english channel..
01:04 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> I guess it has been a while since I looked at a map
01:04 PM lcnc-relay: <meisterdippel@> stepper vs servo https://youtu.be/rfJOJ7xSrlQ?t=281
01:15 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> I'd order the servos now, but of to Norway on Fridayx don't want to risk it
01:15 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> * off to Norway on Friday
01:58 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> skunkworks8841@: Maybe thinking of Cornwall, they also have a celtic identity and flag, but not seperate from England like Wales/Scotland/Northern Ireland
03:31 PM lcnc-relay: <pink_vampire@> lesliet@ my milling machine G0704 use DC (brushed) servos with Gecko G320X drivers, it use Step / Dir signals.
05:39 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> I'll get some measurements on the existing dc servos, and the brand in a little bit here
05:39 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> they're pretty hugre
05:39 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> * huge
06:50 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> powertron
06:50 PM lcnc-relay: permanent Magnet DC servo motor
06:50 PM lcnc-relay: Rated Torque: 30" pounds
06:50 PM lcnc-relay: Max Voltage: 146
06:50 PM lcnc-relay: ... long message truncated: https://jauriarts.org/_heisenbridge/media/jauriarts.org/pAuKheibGdxQHBVNpJhaGnRC/4C1ZABx9Brw (8 lines)
06:50 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> about 305mm long
06:52 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> bolt pattern on the face appears to be SAE rather than metric, looks like 2.25" between centers of holes arranged in a square pattern
06:59 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> nice servos..
07:04 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> 7I29 Dual 2KW H-bridge
07:04 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> https://www.mesanet.com/motioncardinfo.html
07:05 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> (I don't know if you can get them still)
07:05 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> but hey are 165v 22.5 amps
07:09 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> yup, $300 each
07:11 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> one of my servos appears to have had the pulley disassembled, some missing parts. I think I'll take a closer look at that one, maybe pull the encoder out and see how it mounts. Price of encoders will likely be a factor, the centroid ones I think are about $300 each
07:11 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> just kinda looking and thinking at this point
07:26 PM rdtsc: lots to look at and think about; ease-of-conversion vs. cost vs. performance... also check the axis perpendicularity and any wear-spots (recently saw where a lathe Y screw was unevenly worn, causing a host of issues)
07:34 PM Tom_L: 2 7i29 in stock
07:38 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> *rummaging around for a nema 23 motor in the spare parts, to check bolt pattern
07:39 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> noop
07:40 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> nema 24, brain fart
07:43 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> hmm, very close
08:10 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> so, the most powerful nema 24 AC servos I see on stepperonline are 1kw, and 3nm. They come with a 17 bit encoder, and a brake, and together with the drive, they are $206 usd per axis, which is pretty doable
08:11 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> just wondering how much losing that 1 nm would affect me
08:27 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> half the power...
08:27 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> (am a scrapper and like to use orginal servos and drives...)
08:38 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> one of my issues with the original stuff on this one is that the drives aren't simple, discreet units- these have signals and wiring from the servos going all over. ( I need to locate schematics, if I go the original stuff route)
08:39 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> thinking a bit about how I would make adaptors to go up to the nema 42's- that would solve the power issue, and they're physically about the same size, just a bigger bolt pattern to mount.
08:58 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> so, I measured the mounting holes on the machine itself, and they are 89mm apart, it looks like nema 42 motors are a direct fit. Strangely, the servos I have have a bolt pattern closer to 60mm. the X and Z servos are off the machine, I guess I need to take the Y servo off and see if there's a missing adapter plate, or what.
09:50 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> yep, there is a steel adaptor plate that's missing on the other two servos
09:51 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> got the Y axis cranked back far enough to read numbers, and it is an R2E4 160
09:51 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> table moves smoothly, minimal backlash, ways look great
10:36 PM lcnc-relay: <w06704_89582@> Does anyone know how to set up a LinuxCNC post-processor for PowerMill? My NC code is giving me some serious issues and won't run. Any advice would be a lifesaver!