#linuxcnc Logs
Sep 28 2025
#linuxcnc Calendar
12:15 AM Deejay: moin
03:16 AM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> Mornin
03:17 AM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> Someone just offered me a Kuka KR 140 without controller for £2500.
03:17 AM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> No. I mustn't. I won't.
03:23 AM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> https://i.postimg.cc/6TJWyq3F/Kr140.jpg
03:40 AM jpa-: i wonder if it has the servo drives internal to the arm
03:40 AM jpa-: if yes, retrofitting for linuxcnc might be easier
03:49 AM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> Don't think so, they're just not included, will cost a fortune to get running even if I built EOs drives
04:09 AM jpa-: our hacklab has a kuka kr3, it has servo amplifiers in the arm and a serial bus to controller
04:11 AM lcnc-relay: <Sbeach92> https://youtu.be/IBtIB9mVzEI?si=6IxIHPaJGPafqjz4
04:12 AM lcnc-relay: <Sbeach92> That is not Linux CNC, but quite nice projects
04:26 AM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> Sbeach92: Yeah, that's what I meant by EOs drives
04:27 AM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> jpa-: Yeah, I think is supposed to have a huge freestanding cabinet
04:28 AM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> *it's
04:33 AM Tom_L: morning
04:45 AM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> Mornmorn
09:22 AM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> moin
10:23 AM -!- #linuxcnc mode set to +v by ChanServ
11:24 AM lcnc-relay: <roguish> good morning...
11:26 AM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> gotta go do a honeydo project before we can ge tto the fun stuff
11:54 AM rdtsc: lol, FreeCAD measure tool was greyed out, clicked it, seemed to be working, made a measurement anyways, then crashed
12:13 PM xxcoder: weird
12:18 PM he1 is now known as hel
12:35 PM lcnc-relay: <allaboutjake@> Hi all. new to LinuxCNC. Considering updating my dated grizzly 3102 CNC to Mesa and Linux CNC. Doin’ my own research but may have a question or two as I go.
12:37 PM xxcoder: hi. thats why the discord, matrix, and irc server exists ;)
12:39 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> allaboutjake@: would love to see pics!
12:48 PM lcnc-relay: <allaboutjake@> lesliet@: Sure. not sure I have permissions to post images. Its about 23 years old and has an old CNC conversion with Geckodrives.
12:48 PM Tom_L: that should be a very easy conversion
12:48 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> allaboutjake@: cool!
12:49 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> for this server, one is best to post a single line with a link to an online photo depository, there's a bridge to IRC that makes things a little different
12:49 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> single line meaning if you have text that's not part of the link, sometimes it messes up
12:50 PM lcnc-relay: <allaboutjake@> ah. got it.
12:53 PM lcnc-relay: <allaboutjake@> Here you go then: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/hip69to75vjldmwu2zgd3/IMG_4573.jpeg?rlkey=68zxwo8knffh9wg14m1tesn43&st=5xe56rm6&dl=0
12:57 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> allaboutjake@: looks like a fun project
12:58 PM lcnc-relay: <allaboutjake@> The only thing that makes geckodrives a little wierd is the way they handle the fault/error/res signal. It is both an input and an output. That's what I'm researching now.
01:11 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> I'm pretty much of a noob at linuxcnc, but here to learn and ask questions when I get a little further along. Currently working on an R2E4 Bridgeport rehab
01:11 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> geckodrives do seem to be well supported, though
01:15 PM Tom_L: what geckos are they?
01:16 PM lcnc-relay: <allaboutjake@> Tom_L: G320X
01:19 PM Tom_L: https://forum.linuxcnc.org/38-general-linuxcnc-questions/36371-amplifier-with-geckodriver-g320x?start=10
01:20 PM lcnc-relay: <allaboutjake@> I used to have older black/red ones forget the number maybe G320 non-X but I’ve swapped them out over the years
01:21 PM Tom_L: there is support for them
01:21 PM Tom_L: mine are stepper drivers
01:22 PM lcnc-relay: <allaboutjake@> Yeah they expose a standard step/direction interface so I’m not worried about that. I was just trying to understand if the errr/fault/reset stuff could be elegantly handled or if I needed a separate circuit
01:23 PM Tom_L: no doubt someone has gone down that path
01:26 PM Tom_L: the forum is slow today
01:26 PM Tom_L: https://www.forum.linuxcnc.org/27-driver-boards/32565-7i76-gecko-320x-also-7i76-6-stepper-drives
01:28 PM lcnc-relay: <allaboutjake@> Hah so it’s not just me then. Yeah hardly loading for me
01:30 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> I remember seeing a yt video about lcnc gecko drives
01:30 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> Can't remember who though
01:36 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> I have offered to pay for forum hosting, but there are complications it seems
01:36 PM Tom_L: yes
01:42 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> I don't think it's really viable to self host a high traffic website in 2025 unless you're a hardcore haxx0r, I'm guessing more than half of internet traffic is just cyberattacks from bots
01:42 PM xxcoder: its why more and more sites use cyberflare
01:44 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> I find that disturbing in itself
01:44 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> Concentration of power
01:44 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> Opposite of what the Internet was supposed to be
01:45 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> Though admittedly, the early 90s optimism was laughably naive
01:56 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> The time has come for me to put some analog servos on my ACIERA F5 mill
01:56 PM lcnc-relay: I am planning using heidenhein linear encoders + analog servos with the 7i97t
01:56 PM lcnc-relay: Whats the easiest way to get additional I/o ?
01:59 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> how much io do you need?
01:59 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> https://mesaus.com/product/7i84u/
02:01 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> lol, with the discovery of that bonus 7i77 daughter card, I don't think I'll run out of i/o any time soon
02:01 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> I was looking at the eusurplus website because im in the EU, is that a good idea?
02:01 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> Im a bit confused on how to connect a daughter card
02:01 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> are they all rs422 ?
02:02 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> I think they come with different methods, some are parallel, some use an rj45 connection?
02:02 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> the one I linked was smart serial
02:02 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> (network cable connection_
02:04 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> i would prefer everything being a network connection because my last project was a PCIE system and it was a bit ugly in to get wired nicely
02:04 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> hmm, yeah, the 7i77 I already have is parallel , so not going to work with the 7i97 I'm planning
02:06 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> wait, no it does have a port for that
02:06 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> cool
02:06 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> mesa stuff is pretty cool
02:06 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> getting that impression, so far
02:07 PM lcnc-relay: <allaboutjake@> lucid.nonsense@: Yeah. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0k3cR2d8dsM&pp=ygUORzMyMHggbGludXhjbmM%3D though I was wondering if a mesa could be made to handle this kind of pin directly
02:08 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> Almost guaranteed
02:09 PM lcnc-relay: <allaboutjake@> He uses an extra circuit. If I was doing with a microcontroller it could be done by temporarily turning an input pin to an output (maybe with a protection resistor just to be safe)
02:14 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> so how would a 7i97t + 7i84u connection look like
02:14 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> indeed the outputs and inputs are perfect for me
02:17 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> one end would have a normal network end - the other would be connected to the correct screw terminal plug on the 7i97t
02:20 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> ah i see, i forgot the 7i97 has serial rs422/485
02:20 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> yes
02:20 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> i expected it to be a separate connector, but it is a screw terminal indeed
02:20 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> this settles it, im ordering them both
02:20 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> is eusurplus endorsed by mesa?
02:22 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> They are one of two EU dealers, never had any problems with Filipe
02:24 PM Tom_L: sserial cards work for general IO
02:25 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> I picked up some mesa stuff and servo drives in person because I was visiting Portugal anyways and he spent an hour showing me around and giving me the story of the business
02:31 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> Wonderful
02:31 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> i shall order them tomorrow
02:32 PM Tom_L: iirc the sserial cards ususally have a RJ45 connector
02:33 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> Does linuxcnc go well with touchscreens?
02:33 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> or am i going into driver hell
02:34 PM Tom_L: should be ok
02:34 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> verbatim pmt14
02:34 PM Tom_L: there are touch screen gui available
02:34 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> i would very much prefer gmocappy
02:34 PM Tom_L: i personally recomend flexgui so you can build what you want
02:34 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> fair point
02:34 PM Tom_L: fewer problems with it
02:35 PM Tom_L: and live support here
02:35 PM Tom_L: https://www.gnipsel.com/linuxcnc/flexgui/index.html
02:35 PM Tom_L: he has a touch screen example
02:35 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> Oh man i cant wait to make one of my acieras into a proper 3axis mill
02:35 PM Tom_L: https://github.com/jethornton/flexgui
02:36 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> flexgui looks quite beautiful ngl
02:36 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> I have tried 3 different touch screens and they work without configuration
02:36 PM Tom_L: not touch screen but one i did: http://tom-itx.no-ip.biz:443/~webpage/cnc/JT-SHOP/flexgui/touch-probe3.png
02:36 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> thats perfect
02:36 PM Tom_L: http://tom-itx.no-ip.biz:443/~webpage/cnc/JT-SHOP/flexgui/touch-probe3-2.png
02:36 PM Tom_L: that is also in the examples
02:37 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> my aciera has a very large rotary table which i plan to use as a fourth axis, is any kind of machinesim possible
02:37 PM Tom_L: not sure about that
02:38 PM Tom_L: i did an A axis on my mill with no real problems
02:38 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> No biggie
02:38 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> no need to simulate if i can crash in real time
02:39 PM Tom_L: that's pretty easy
02:39 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> heidenhein linear encoders or servo rotary encoders as feedback?
02:40 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> linear is king right?
02:40 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> ive seen some conflicting opinions online...
02:40 PM Tom_L: glass scales
02:41 PM Tom_L: doesn't matter too much that i know of as long as you have the resolution you need
02:41 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> 5 microns on the scales
02:42 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> I haven't tried it, but isn't there some configuration where you use the libear as error correction for the servo encoders.
02:42 PM lcnc-relay: <sodakaustik@> potentially more precise if i do rotary encoders, but backlash will not be accounted for
02:55 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> libear?
02:56 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> oh - linear
02:57 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> There have been some setups using linear incoders for I and rotory encoders on the servos for P and D
03:02 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Combining_Two_Feedback_Devices_On_One_Axis
03:04 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> this was done on a very large boring machine in wichita
03:25 PM lcnc-relay: <andypugh@> There will be a meeting of LinuxCNC developers, users, and enthusiasts in Stuttgart, Germany, during the weekend from Friday October 31th to Sunday November 2th 2025.
03:25 PM lcnc-relay: This will be a pretty informal meeting, there is no registration, no entrance fee, no badges, no speakers, and no set agenda. It is a chance for people interested in LinuxCNC to meet each other, show off their projects, and talk about issues, fears, hopes, and dreams.
03:25 PM lcnc-relay: Details and signup here: https://nuudel.digitalcourage.de/dGtDlt4Tzw9tZ3Hn
03:50 PM xxcoder: definitely cool. I wont be able to go lol
04:02 PM lcnc-relay: <roguish> andypugh@: are the formal meeting going to be on video ????
04:10 PM lcnc-relay: <lesliet@> wish I could go, but US border crossings are a little scary right now
04:14 PM rdtsc: I bet meisterdippel will be there :)
04:15 PM rdtsc: <sodakaustik@> Does linuxcnc go well with touchscreens? <-- all boils down to the TS supported for your particular linux flavor
04:15 PM xxcoder: lcnc also hav guis specifically designed for touchscreens
04:15 PM rdtsc: (TS functionality is more an OS concern than a LCNC concern)
04:17 PM rdtsc: do have one ancient dual-core Athlon PC at work with a very unusual IR LED touchscreen... at one point, had a driver for it, but it has not been updated in a long time, and does not work with newer kernels
04:19 PM rdtsc: on the rpi4/5, using a Waveshare touchscreen - natively supported, but did have to add some tweaks to the OS configuration for it
04:22 PM rdtsc: backlash can be accounted for in the .ini but you have to measure it manually
04:23 PM rdtsc: would be better to use glass scales though, for instance if a screw unevenly wears.
04:37 PM rdtsc: allaboutjake, also check out JT's https://github.com/jethornton/mesact which can help you create a configuration for the Mesa card
04:46 PM JT-Shop: that red oak I'm cutting up is 75' long and 36" diameter at the base... there will be a lot of firewood in that
04:51 PM rdtsc: that's 23m by 92cm for the metric-inclined... several metric tons too
04:52 PM JT-Shop: very heavy tree
04:52 PM rdtsc: suprised roycroft isn't here to requisition it for his needs :)
04:52 PM JT-Shop: he doesn't like red oak
04:52 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> he doesn't like red oak
04:52 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> lol
04:52 PM rdtsc: guess he's made it very apparent lol
04:53 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> very
04:53 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> white oak snob
04:53 PM rdtsc: makes great pallets
04:54 PM JT-Shop: I'm worn out
04:54 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> me too - been moving firewood
04:55 PM JT-Shop: I might have to noodle some of the rounds
04:57 PM JT-Shop: I can handle up to about 24" in diameter on the splitter
05:05 PM Tom_L: better drag that log home in pieces
05:09 PM JT-Shop: I got 2/3 cut into rounds today and brought 1/4 home
05:18 PM JT-Shop: he has a tractor with a bucket that he let me use so that helped a huge amount
05:21 PM Tom_L: that's good
05:21 PM JT-Shop: turns out he's an engineer at Briggs but he works in the cylinder area so I never worked with him
05:21 PM Tom_L: huh
05:21 PM JT-Shop: yup saves me having to bring my Kubota over there
05:21 PM Tom_L: he is a friend of 2 friends?
05:21 PM JT-Shop: they live pretty close to me
05:22 PM Tom_L: i think that's what i saw
05:22 PM JT-Shop: yup
05:23 PM JT-Shop: one is my dentist and friend and one is my business partner who died from cancer
05:23 PM JT-Shop: and that's the only two friend he had on fb
05:24 PM JT-Shop: must be boy scouts
05:27 PM Tom_L: should set you up with wood for the winter
05:28 PM JT-Shop: yup I have 3 bins full atm not sure how many cords it is
05:30 PM JT-Shop: Fred just showed up for dinner
05:35 PM JT-Shop: the deer are a bit spooked by the rounds on the trailer
05:40 PM JT-Shop: hopefully I don't need this wood this winter
05:43 PM Tom_L: better if it dries a year isn't it?
05:44 PM JT-Shop: yup
05:44 PM JT-Shop: it was standing dead so pretty dry already
05:44 PM Tom_L: boy's gf brought over some german chocolate cake...
05:44 PM Tom_L: mmm
05:45 PM JT-Shop: yum
05:47 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> well - that wasn't the best thing I have ever done.. There was an old condensor unit that has been in the field for as long as I can remember. Going to scrap it for copper... well - it was still fully charged..
05:47 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> was
05:47 PM Tom_L: woops
05:47 PM Tom_L: hopefully you didn't burn any skin when it cut loose
05:48 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> no.. I was using a sawzall and it was inside the unit.
05:48 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> suprised the crap out of me..
05:48 PM JT-Shop: I bet
05:48 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> there is another one in the polebuilding - I will have to check that one first
05:49 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> lol - probably why dad grabbed it.
05:49 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> he was always thinking about puting in central air - but it never happened
05:50 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> the house wasn't really built for ducting.. (and split units are way better)
05:52 PM * JT-Shop calls it a day
06:03 PM fywolfluff: skunkworks8841: it's ok. that's only like a million dollar fine or something. :P
06:12 PM Tom_L: just $69.7k
06:14 PM roycroft: i just made a sample scarf joint with the jig i made yesterday, and it fits almost perfectly - a couple minor adjustments to the jig and i'm good to go
06:15 PM roycroft: but i also discovered that i don't have the tooling to cut the joints in the big timbers, and the local woodcraft went out of business a couple months ago, so there is nowhere to get the tooling locally
06:15 PM roycroft: amazon will get it to me by wednesday
06:17 PM * roycroft thought he was actually going to start on the joinery today
06:17 PM roycroft: and it will rain tomorrow, tuesday, and wednesday
06:18 PM roycroft: not a lot, but enough to slow down or stop work
06:45 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> skunkworks8841@: My fuckup for the day was taking a 70mm deep tracksaw cut today, but failed to account for the thickness of the track. Kickback was so stronf ended up ripping the clamp out of the track.
06:46 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> *strong
06:47 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> Probably $100 worth of freon 22
06:47 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> So now the track will have to loose about 300mm
06:49 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> Though I saw new hole in the ozone layer
06:52 PM lcnc-relay: <lucid.nonsense@> Seriously felt like it was close to dislocating my wrist, was an awkward angle so I was using my left hand
07:23 PM * roycroft recommends against wrist injuries
07:40 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> agreed. Dad had a stihl kick when he was trying to start it. It screwed up his wrist for months and months
09:34 PM lcnc-relay: <ffffrf@> can someone help me with limit switch wiring, I am stumped, I am making another machine and figured it should be a piece of cake, but I am having a wierd issue: I wired my limit switch NC to GPIO in0 on my mesa 7i96s and set in0 as x limit min. When I go in to probe gpio00 in pncconf it shows the limit switch working, however, when I open the actual gmocappy instance, the probing no longer shows the switch changing gpio00 status.......
09:34 PM lcnc-relay: ... If I invert then the limit switch is constantly activated and it wont let me run the machine
09:35 PM lcnc-relay: <ffffrf@> for some reason it is not letting me upload my hal and ini
09:36 PM lcnc-relay: <ffffrf@> here is the relevant hal / ini in that case: # --- MIN-X ---
09:37 PM lcnc-relay: net min-x <= hm2_7i96s.0.inm.00.input-00
09:37 PM lcnc-relay: ---setup home / limit switch signals---
09:37 PM lcnc-relay: net x-home-sw => joint.0.home-sw-in
09:37 PM lcnc-relay: ... long message truncated: https://jauriarts.org/_heisenbridge/media/jauriarts.org/jRtlePGVUtRzHsvCnQVDnBwF/XGQh66KK494 (6 lines)
09:37 PM lcnc-relay: <ffffrf@> and from ini: MIN_LIMIT = -200.0
09:37 PM lcnc-relay: MAX_LIMIT = 200.0
09:37 PM lcnc-relay: HOME_OFFSET = 0.0
09:37 PM lcnc-relay: HOME_SEQUENCE = 2
09:37 PM lcnc-relay: <ffffrf@> literally looks the same as my C axis lathe
09:49 PM lcnc-relay: <ffffrf@> it seems like my gpio 000 is not communicating with me input-00
09:55 PM lcnc-relay: <ffffrf@> wait no thats wrong in pncconf they are working just as expected but when i run the software it does not work
10:02 PM lcnc-relay: <nein.9s@> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w1RFnLnexg (friction stir welding) is that initial wobble in the tool head intentional or due to lack of rigidity?
10:04 PM lcnc-relay: <nein.9s@> I wonder what kind of numbers are needed on the Z axis and X axis in force/Newtons. I wonder if my bridgeport type mill can do it?
10:05 PM xxcoder: probably needed to dig in, and not enough rigidity for that part
10:08 PM xxcoder: load on spindle must be unreal
10:08 PM xxcoder: I dont know how much sideload it would get though.
10:15 PM unreal is now known as _unreal_