#linuxcnc | Logs for 2012-11-17

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[00:00:33] <tjb1> Does the hal configuration menu update live?
[00:01:25] <r00t4rd3d> samsung/google piss me off allowing every service provider to fragment the Android OS.
[00:01:45] <tjb1> iOS ftw
[00:02:18] <Jymmm> That just lets one entity phuk it up instead tjb1
[00:03:40] <tjb1> Jymmm: !
[00:03:42] <r00t4rd3d> ios is like ubuntu
[00:03:51] <tjb1> I need a way to track down what isnt working...
[00:03:53] <r00t4rd3d> riding on the back of something else
[00:04:42] <Jymmm> tjb1: That's not necessarily a good thing.
[00:04:47] <roh> i find it kinda funny to see samsung cut pieces out of apples pockets
[00:04:58] <tom3p> tjb1 can you load the comp using halcmd -f yourhalfile.hal? and see if your pins all exist with 'show pin'
[00:05:03] <Jymmm> roh: ?
[00:05:24] <r00t4rd3d> i find it funny that apple devices are filled with samsung chips
[00:05:34] <tom3p> tehn, can you put print style debugs in the mcode files and see them in the terminal that ran linuxcnc?
[00:06:30] <roh> Jymmm: who do you think makes the cpus and displays for apple?
[00:07:20] <Jymmm> roh: I know that, but what did you mean? Did you expect apple to drop samsungs chips overnight?
[00:07:53] <roh> Jymmm: nope. but that suing and countersuing game isnt running since yesterday. rather years
[00:07:59] <tjb1> Oh my! THC IS WORKING
[00:08:05] <tjb1> I forgot a piece in HAL
[00:08:06] <roh> congrats
[00:08:11] <tom3p> cool!
[00:08:33] <Jymmm> roh: Well apple made a bold choice in suing samsung. It might have been to break out of contract
[00:09:11] <roh> Jymmm: not an option. you'll see.. that time samsung has the longer lever. they just raised prices for apple massively
[00:09:20] <roh> but thats all ot ;)
[00:10:23] <Jymmm> roh: Again, you dont think that apple wouldn't know that smasung wouldn't retaliate? Of course they would. But like I said, I suspect it's to break out of some long term contract
[00:11:17] <tjb1> apple is already moving to new supplies
[00:11:20] <tjb1> suppliers...
[00:11:28] <tom3p> does it track the correct height? it should work even over a warped uneven surface. it may not work as well at high speeds over varying work surface, but thats further development.
[00:11:38] <Jymmm> They did that FAR before the lawsuit
[00:11:47] <tjb1> im just doing flat right now…im gonna put a high angle and try it soon :D
[00:13:03] <tom3p> well you could just toss a few thick washers coins on the surface and see it ride up & down over them
[00:13:22] <tjb1> its not that fast
[00:13:32] <tjb1> I dont think it could do that
[00:14:09] <tjb1> if I set the correction too high it will over shoot
[00:14:18] <tjb1> I may need to adjust the tolerance on the voltage
[00:14:29] <tjb1> at .0005 a run its still up down up down up down
[00:16:04] <tom3p> tracking voltage is proportionate to distance. up&down how much ( sounds like servo hunting , this is a new servo loop youve created :)
[00:16:27] <tjb1> I have no way to adjust the amount to go based on voltage
[00:16:31] <tjb1> I could set that up
[00:16:52] <tjb1> A lot of work…but I will see if I can take care of it with voltage tolerance and distance per thread run
[00:19:31] <tjb1> just cut up a 6* incline :D
[00:19:45] <tjb1> It was hunting along the way which is good…I know where to set it now
[00:20:05] <Jymmm> San Francsico Sheriff's Deputy arrested for bank robery
[00:20:14] <tjb1> I guess I could make the arduino output another signal to change the correction amount based on offset from target voltage
[00:20:35] <tom3p> way way cool! ( a little hunt is good, its kinda more sensitive , but avoid anything like +/-.010"
[00:20:51] <tjb1> I have correction set at .00015
[00:21:24] <tjb1> voltage tolerance is +- 1 volt
[00:21:36] <tjb1> Im not sure how critical that is
[00:22:08] <tom3p> i'll go back and read your alg, dunno what 'correction' involves ( my unit was .0001" and my voltage was in .1v increments )
[00:22:20] <tom3p> your system will tell you whats important :)
[00:22:30] <tjb1> every time the comp runs and the input is high it moves .00015
[00:22:37] <tjb1> so its not moving much
[00:22:51] <tom3p> ok, how big is the up down up down?
[00:23:08] <tom3p> ( really sounds great so far )
[00:23:49] <tjb1> well the screw looks to be moving a lot but its not
[00:23:54] <tjb1> ill do a video here and upload it
[00:24:04] <tjb1> Ill probably lose internet for the next 20 minutes or less
[00:24:22] <tom3p> i'll be lookin, again, great work!
[00:26:59] <tom3p> oh, do you have any deadband? could help get rid of any hunt ( the voltage range between HI and Lo states )
[00:27:29] <tjb1> deadband?
[00:28:14] <tom3p> is there a voltage that is not HI and is not LO? between those 2 would be no motion, a deadband,
[00:28:53] <tjb1> yes
[00:29:00] <tjb1> now at 3 volts
[00:29:33] <tom3p> larger dead band is quieter motion ( less nervous ) but not as sensitive
[00:32:13] <tjb1> publishing video now
[00:33:00] <tjb1> I am gonna have to work a lot on this...
[00:33:15] <tjb1> Thats only 30ipm and the cut speed for that material is 140
[00:33:30] <tjb1> If I move that to the base thread will it run faster?
[00:33:36] <tjb1> Well base thread is running faster to begin with
[00:33:59] <tom3p> no fp in the comp?
[00:34:07] <tjb1> fp?
[00:34:34] <tjb1> I changed it to base thread and the error was thcud needs FP
[00:34:36] <tjb1> :)
[00:34:42] <tom3p> floating point math cant be in the classis linuxcnc 'base' thread
[00:34:49] <tjb1> oh...
[00:34:54] <tjb1> I shall speed up servo thread then
[00:35:21] <tom3p> hey whats the url for the video?
[00:35:28] <roh> hm.. what i didnt understand so far... why the arduino etc for thc? arent there analog inputs on whatever you use as interface?
[00:35:51] <tjb1> no
[00:36:06] <roh> and if not.. why not use something readymade
[00:36:08] <tjb1> I dont have a card with analog inputs
[00:36:15] <tjb1> nothing plug and play for linuxcnc
[00:36:19] <roh> like http://axis.unpy.net/01198594294
[00:36:30] <tjb1> plus readymade = expensive
[00:36:40] <tom3p> ( hehe i had to model mine up using the analog pots of a joystick )
[00:36:51] <roh> thats what i did when i needed analog inputs for our machine while playing with plastic printing heads
[00:36:52] <tjb1> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZWv4OYLs1Q
[00:36:56] <tom3p> thx
[00:37:02] <tjb1> Phone cant see the arc so I just filmed the screw
[00:38:05] <tom3p> excellent! i always watch the Z motor coupling to judge this kind of servo!
[00:38:34] <t12> was that hunting in both directions
[00:38:35] <tjb1> How did it look?
[00:38:39] <t12> or incrementing in one?
[00:38:41] <tjb1> Once it got to voltage it did pretty good
[00:39:03] <tjb1> t12: It was catching up then just going up every so often
[00:39:15] <tom3p> i cant see that fine in the vid, but it wasnt crazy, and thats real good for a first day
[00:39:19] <t12> could that be natural drift?
[00:39:25] <t12> like metal heating up resistance etc
[00:39:33] <tjb1> That part is on a 6* incline
[00:39:38] <t12> ahhh
[00:40:00] <tjb1> im afraid to try at 140ipm...
[00:40:00] <tjb1> I see bad things happening
[00:40:36] <tjb1> If I made the servo thread faster, will that increase the feed rate at which the z move due to the comp file running faster?
[00:43:47] <t12> i should try and linuxcnc this beast: http://www.dodeca-t.com/photos/shop/_E088457.jpg
[00:43:55] <tom3p> i made the vid full screen, i can see theres some not-even-ness. not bad tho on a rise. keep the part flat and test there for the coupler to be stabile
[00:44:40] <tom3p> when the input should be stabile , and the coupler is stabile, move onto uneven surfaces
[00:47:11] <tom3p> if you make the thread faster, the speed will not be faster, the response will be faster. a high speed would require a long time of same signed HIs or LOs
[00:47:13] <tom3p> it doesnt depend on thread speed as much as consequtive signed decisions from the arduino
[00:48:14] <tom3p> making the thread faster will make it jiggle more, but finer ( like it would approach buzzy )
[00:48:46] <tom3p> making the thread slow could make it 'dopey' or sluggish
[00:50:31] <tjb1> Just made servo thread 150k
[00:50:34] <tjb1> oh boy :D
[00:50:44] <tom3p> great video, i swear i can smell the ozone
[00:50:47] <tjb1> I turned the correction offset down
[00:50:54] <tjb1> and it kept up at 140ipm
[00:50:55] <tjb1> :D
[00:51:34] <tjb1> I have about $60 total in my THC
[00:52:00] <tjb1> arduinos are $12, BOB is $28, db25 cable was $10 then the wire
[00:54:44] <tom3p> what was the servo period? the 1000000 from some of the examples?
[00:55:01] <tom3p> >was< before you sped it up
[01:07:54] <tjb1> Yes 1 million
[01:12:11] <tjb1> Well I am off to bed, good night everyone
[02:17:54] <DJ9DJ> moin
[04:21:25] <Loetmichel> *SHIT* ... mouth full of coffee... urge to sneeze... *cleaning keyboard, desk and TFTs* :-(
[04:25:36] <archivist> failure to aim at the floor haha
[04:27:35] <Loetmichel> archivist: its morning over here... not really fast reflexes before the first coffee :-)
[04:28:06] <archivist> mid morning for you
[04:28:33] <Loetmichel> ok, 11:16
[04:28:42] <Loetmichel> bu i just got up
[04:28:45] <Loetmichel> +t
[05:42:07] <mazafaka> http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc28laGRU11qm7t0mo1_500.jpg Loetmichel do you like how it looks&
[05:42:52] <Valen1> lol it has a definate style
[05:42:58] <Valen1> no grill though?
[05:51:00] <mazafaka> It's a car, not grill
[05:51:50] <Valen1> the car lacks a grill
[05:52:22] <mazafaka> i know, i know!!!
[05:52:26] <mazafaka> :)
[05:52:51] <mazafaka> Who needs a grill nowadays...
[05:53:01] <Valen> steel my nick will you, take that!
[05:53:31] <Valen> http://www.vapourforge.com/jake/general/hotness_touched.jpg is mine ;->
[05:53:47] <Valen> spent the past week doing stuff on the bastard lol
[05:53:59] <Valen> new brake rotors and unsiezing the calipers
[05:54:00] <Valen> new pads
[05:54:04] <Valen> new altinator
[05:54:22] <Valen> (which of course crapped itself on the way home with the missus and sister in law in the car)
[05:54:36] <Valen> at least i had a new alternator in the back seat lol
[05:56:22] <Valen> archivist: (or anybody) whats a not crap serial terminal for linux
[05:56:32] <Valen> i'd be happy with a hyperterm equivilent
[05:56:39] <mazafaka> Right steering wheel? You're in Great Britain? You can particippate in the English Rally - the hillclimb
[05:56:49] <Valen> australia
[05:57:01] <Valen> UK couldn't handle a car like that ;->
[05:57:11] <mazafaka> Why?
[05:57:11] <Valen> 4L straight 6
[05:57:20] <mazafaka> Oh///
[05:57:24] <archivist> last terminal I used was to unix and it ran on a pc and was written in assembler, I have teh code
[05:57:30] <Valen> lol
[05:58:26] <archivist> iirc it emulated a wyse terminal mainly
[05:59:31] <archivist> and after some brain work I should remember the terminal PCB and code I did for Unimation robots
[06:03:28] <archivist> main problems with terminals are getting the handshake and both system and terminal to speak the same language( escape codes)
[06:08:43] <Valen> i was at a lower level than that
[06:08:54] <Valen> pointing stuff at serial ports was the issue
[06:09:06] <Valen> minicom does the job, its just not paticularly user friendly
[06:10:18] <archivist> cannot see, the backup of the assembler terminal I have, on this box
[06:11:09] <archivist> modern windaz will require some hoops to jump through to use serial
[06:11:51] <Valen> I have in the past got stuff done with one terminal with a "tail /dev/ttyfoo" and then "echo "bar" > /dev/ttyfoo"
[06:11:51] <Valen> ;->
[06:12:54] <Valen> I'm resetting the password on a cisco 887 adsl modem for my mother
[06:13:38] <Valen> now to go pick the missus and th sister in law up from a "night out with the girls"
[06:13:39] <archivist> er press the reset button if it has one
[10:57:56] <JT-Shop> andypugh: when you spun that metal did you have to put a lot of pressure on the metal to make it flow?
[10:58:40] <JT-Shop> I'm playing with some 0.012" (0.3mm) aluminum sheet
[11:04:43] <cncbasher> JT:0.3mm ali probably will need some pressure , are you trying by hand or using the crosslide
[11:05:11] <JT-Shop> by hand with a 3' long tool against the tool holder
[11:05:44] <cncbasher> I use a tool with a 608 bearing on the end in my tool post
[11:06:26] <cncbasher> similar to a knurling tool , i.e the kurls replaced with bearing
[11:06:32] <JT-Shop> I'll fab one up... just a U slot with the bearing inbetween?
[11:06:36] <JT-Shop> ah ok
[11:06:37] <cncbasher> yep
[11:07:17] <cncbasher> i regulary spin 400 grade stainless without probs 0.5mm thick
[11:07:33] * JT-Shop goes to look in the bearing hiding spot
[11:09:07] <Tom_itx> JT-Shop, figure what it takes just to bend said piece of metal
[11:09:17] <Tom_itx> then add what it takes to form it
[11:31:23] <andypugh> It takes a fair bit of force.
[11:31:47] <andypugh> Forget the fact that it is spinning, what force would you expect to need to bend it?
[11:32:11] <andypugh> Ah, I just said the same as Tom_itx
[11:35:07] <JT-Shop> bending the alli is pretty easy, it acts like it is just flexing and springing back
[11:38:17] <andypugh> Yes. You need to also stretch/squash it to get the shape.
[11:38:47] <andypugh> I think you use soap to test the temperature when annealing aluminium
[11:39:13] <andypugh> (and ali is very work-hardening-ey
[12:03:29] <Tom_itx> i wonder after the final pass if you anneal it again or leave it hardened
[12:08:29] <andypugh> A friend just found this in his bilges. Anyone any idea what it is? http://zbmc.eu/DSCF5223.JPG
[12:11:11] <Tom_itx> what sort of mat is that? you seem to like soldering on it
[12:11:15] <archivist> bit of shafting with something missing from the end
[12:11:38] <archivist> the end was riveted
[12:17:40] <cncbasher> could be an old handle off a bilge pump
[12:18:11] <archivist> search boat for bodged item
[12:19:07] <cncbasher> get off the boat it's sinking , because theirs no handle on the bilge pump
[12:20:15] <archivist> fetch bukket get back on boat start bailing out
[12:21:20] <archivist> which reminds me of http://www.walrusbucketsaga.com/
[12:28:26] <pcw_home> yeah, shaft of double acting piston bilge pump pulled out whilst pumping too vigorously
[12:29:36] <s1dev> piston bilge pump pulled out whilst pumping too vigorously.....
[12:29:59] <s1dev> That doesn't sound sexual at all..... :P
[12:30:45] <Jymmm> More BDSM
[12:35:43] <IchGuckLive> hi all
[12:35:49] <IchGuckLive> F1 in USA
[12:36:00] <IchGuckLive> Austin Texas the center of Granprix
[12:36:09] <awallin> seen mhaberler ?
[12:36:25] <awallin> hmh, is there a bot that should reply to that?
[12:36:49] <IchGuckLive> he may read the logs
[12:36:53] <awallin> I saw bats under a bridge in Austin... :)
[12:38:47] <IchGuckLive> im off to TV By
[12:41:32] <archivist> awallin, only if you add a !
[12:41:39] <archivist> !seen mhaberler
[12:41:40] <the_wench> last seen in 2012-11-17 14:57:56GMT 03:31:10 ago, saying Read error: Connection reset by peer
[12:41:54] <awallin> oh, ok
[12:43:46] <awallin> actually I was looking for the dxf2gcode main dev, but maybe mhaberler would know if he is on irc..
[12:45:36] <Jymmm> awallin: Uh, google?
[12:46:07] <Jymmm> awallin: First hit actually... http://code.google.com/p/dxf2gcode/
[12:46:12] <awallin> I did send an email to the dev-list, just thinking it would be faster to have a chat..
[12:46:23] <Jymmm> awallin: or google it
[12:58:30] <tjb1> My THC has stopped working...
[12:59:03] <tjb1> Arduino is driving outputs high so im not sure where its broken…either the signals aren't getting in from the BOB or the comp file isnt being enabled
[13:00:24] <tjb1> Any ideas on where to look first?
[13:03:19] <pcw_home> serial link still running?
[13:03:50] <tjb1> How can I check that?
[13:04:56] <pcw_home> How did you check the serial data before?
[13:05:19] <pcw_home> Did it just stop working or did you change something?
[13:05:22] <tjb1> Hal pins come in…I checked that other parport worked by switching gecko to it
[13:05:36] <tjb1> I was changing the correction vel and now its just not doing anything now
[13:06:03] <tjb1> The arduino messed up and I changed it and now its working again, I have LEDs on the outputs and you can see them go high
[13:06:23] <tjb1> I dont know if the comp file isnt starting or what
[13:08:12] <pcw_home> linuxCNC would likely bail if the comp file wont start (if for no other reason than missing hal pins)
[13:08:31] <tjb1> if there a way to watch in real time if the pins are activating inside linuxcnc?
[13:08:48] <pcw_home> Yes
[13:09:24] <tjb1> Under Hal Configurator, the signals torch up and torch down are both true
[13:09:40] <pcw_home> either halmeter, halscope or the machine / show hal configuration menu in Axis
[13:10:33] <pcw_home> but they are correct outputs from the Arduino?
[13:10:35] <tjb1> *configuration
[13:10:35] <tjb1> but I dont know if that means anything
[13:11:00] <tjb1> yes
[13:11:17] <pcw_home> how do they get to the PC?
[13:12:45] <pcw_home> Serial?
[13:14:50] <tjb1> hal meter says they are false
[13:14:51] <tjb1> so I pick the pin/signal and select it to watch it then?
[13:14:58] <tjb1> yes
[13:15:49] <tjb1> I watched both signals in the hal scope and the line stayed flat
[13:18:55] <pcw_home> Sounds like communications are not working
[13:20:10] <tjb1> the leds were taking too much current from the arduino...damnit
[13:20:10] <tjb1> I hate electronics with a passion
[13:20:11] <tjb1> I took the voltage divider off because that was messing up…is it normal for the resistor value to drop when its all hooked up?
[13:20:11] <tjb1> It went from like 5k to 2k
[13:23:45] <pcw_home> Yes it will change because whatever you have connected to it has a resistance as well and the all sum together (well the 1/Rs sum)
[13:23:56] <pcw_home> they all
[13:24:42] <tjb1> So I would need to add enough to get the 2k/5k divider with it all hooked up?
[13:25:14] <tjb1> I just think im not going to divide it…ive never gotten above 4volts when I was trying to get a max out of the plasma cutter
[13:26:08] <pcw_home> your tap from the plasma may well be a resistive divider as well so you put a 7K load on its output, probably dropping it
[13:27:06] <tjb1> Well im not smart enough to find out how to fix that :P
[13:27:29] <pcw_home> The plasma power supply may specify the output impedance/minimum load resistance
[13:29:02] <pcw_home> You can also figure it out by measuring the plasma voltage (voltmeter) with and without your divider connected
[13:31:52] <pcw_home> (this only matters if you need actual correct voltage readings, for THC the actual setpoints are probably going to be determined empirically anyway)
[13:33:18] <tjb1> im just not going to divide it
[13:33:22] <tjb1> it created a bunch of problems...
[13:33:29] <tjb1> if the arduino breaks oh well, out $8
[13:40:55] <tjb1> Im going to try the arc spiral code at 350ipm
[13:57:49] <awallin> hrmh, I'm getting "Xlib: extension "NV-GLX" missing on display ":0"." for many OpenGL programs now... any ideas?
[13:58:24] <t12> wrong video driver in x?
[13:59:53] <awallin> maybe, I'm using whatever is installed by default. How do I find out which one is in use?
[14:00:39] <t12> depends on distro, /etc/X11/xorg.conf device section
[14:01:04] <t12> what videocard?
[14:02:18] <awallin> it's some old nvidia card I think..
[14:02:44] <t12> lspci | grep -i nvidia
[14:03:14] <awallin> yeah, GeForce 9800GT
[14:03:41] <t12> i usually just reinstall the nvidia drivers from their package, i dont konw if thats right in the linuxcnc context
[14:04:05] <awallin> this is my desktop machine on ubuntu 12.10, not linuxcnc specific
[14:05:17] <awallin> etc/X11 doesn't seem to have xorg.conf...
[14:06:08] <t12> some modern distros did away with it
[14:06:15] <t12> and kinda automate the driver selection some other annoying way
[14:06:27] <t12> i'd except the nvidia installer to sort it out
[14:06:46] <awallin> what package is that nvidia installer?
[14:06:56] <t12> the binary one that nvidia distributes
[14:07:14] <t12> ubuntu people might still be being opernsource zelots about it and refusing to distribute the package through apt-get
[14:08:04] <t12> you'll find that anytime the kernel is updated you'll need to redo this
[14:08:53] <psha> awallin: there is xorg.conf.d
[14:09:23] <psha> split into parts - one in /usr/share another in /etc
[14:21:09] <awallin> well great, there's this "additional drivers" package which is really named "jockey" that should be able to install the nvidia drivers. but it fails with a long error messave in var/log/jockey.log grrr....
[14:33:35] <kwallace> I thought "vesa" was the driver to use with LinuxCNC. Then the Linux open source drivers, and lastly, the proprietary drivers. I add xorg.conf to /etc/X11. It contains the driver call out and often the monitor timing data and sometimes the screen resolution. If this doesn't work, I just find a different computer.
[14:35:22] <pcw_home> (this is awallins desktop not specifically linuxcnc related)
[15:04:06] <MattyMatt> aren't the blob drivers likely to have lower latency on GL than the open ones?
[15:09:28] <MattyMatt> I got my nvidia blob on a debian server libgl1-nvidia-glx + a whole heap of other stuff including kernel modules (becuase I'm getting ready for cuda/CL)
[15:10:31] <MattyMatt> would a debian kernel module work on ubuntu or is it a separte ecosystem?
[15:12:08] <psha> MattyMatt: blobs with very high probability would have extra high peaks
[15:12:17] <psha> since nobody cares about it
[15:12:25] <roh> MattyMatt: no. blobs make sure nobody debugs stuff for you.
[15:12:45] <psha> open source drivers are in better shape since low quality patches are refused from kernel
[15:13:03] <psha> usually, not always :)
[15:13:14] <roh> use an older ati card with fully open drivers. that makes sure it works. i use oldish ati cards. passive cooled.
[15:13:56] <roh> even something like radeon9000 series works great (old agp junk)
[15:14:15] <roh> axis doesnt need that much gl to render a few lines
[15:15:06] <psha> also using libgl1-mesa-swx11 makes your system to use more tested 2d code paths instead of 3d
[15:15:46] <psha> since most of rendering is done in software and hardware just blits result to the monitor
[15:17:36] <MattyMatt> fair enough
[15:18:18] <MattyMatt> my only linuxcnc machine has SiS onboard :)
[15:18:41] <MattyMatt> it works, but it works better with 3d view turned off
[15:22:41] <tjb1> http://linuxcnc.org/docs/html/examples/spindle.html
[15:22:50] <tjb1> Is there an error under 2s description
[15:23:02] <tjb1> Nvermind...
[15:43:27] <tjb1> Should I be able to measure a voltage off of G540 VFD output to ground?
[15:44:03] <andypugh> Not necessarily.
[15:44:19] <andypugh> It is almost certainly an isolated voltage.
[15:45:01] <andypugh> (Some motor controllers float the control pot at high voltage, 200VDC for the KBIC I had)
[15:45:46] <tjb1> I measured the 10v out and the vfd output against the vfd ground and got nothing
[15:50:24] <tjb1> "ANALOG OUTPUT: This is a 0V to +10V opto-isolated analog output intended for use with VFD drives. VFD OUT goes
[15:50:25] <tjb1> to 0VDC while the G540 is disabled. Connect VFD GND, VFD OUT and VFD +10V to the VFD drive inputs. Make sure the
[15:50:26] <tjb1> VFD drive positive voltage does not exceed +12VDC. Do not short VFD OUT to any other terminal. Do not reverse
[15:50:26] <tjb1> polarity to VFD GND and VFD +10V or the G540 may be damaged."
[15:51:29] <andypugh> Have you connected the VFD +10V?
[15:51:35] <tjb1> I see I need to give it voltage between 7 a nd 9 to get voltage out of 8
[15:51:43] <roh> 6sounds nearly as spooky as our chinese lasercutter-psu
[15:51:44] <tjb1> I dont have a VFD
[15:52:11] <andypugh> Yes, it's a potentimeter-emulator, and give the VFD a proportion of its "own" voltage back.
[15:53:02] <tjb1> If I supply 12v, is the scale then based 0-12v?
[15:53:21] <roh> for the pot. so supply 10V ..
[15:53:36] <roh> or put 2-3 diodes in series to your pot.. then its near 10V
[15:53:53] <tjb1> That message above says a max of 12
[15:54:30] <roh> 12 is just occuring a lot, so they choose it as the max. i guess the 0-10V input maxes out at 10
[15:54:50] <roh> so yeah.. directly connect the pot. but work safe...
[15:55:05] <roh> i've also seen pots on 125V half-line voltage
[15:55:15] <andypugh> Probably this circuit internally http://linuxcnc.org/index.php/forum/30-cnc-machines/25580-grizzly-g1006-milling-machine-cnc-conversion?limit=6&lang=english#25670
[15:55:20] <tjb1> I dont have 10v haha
[15:55:20] <tjb1> Im probably going to rip out all these little wall warts and use a computer power supply soon
[16:11:54] <DJ9DJ> gn8
[16:26:57] <andypugh> I struggled to get a PC power supply to run without a PC. (And I know about having a suitable load on the 5V, I ended up with power resistors on all outputs and it still wouldn't keep switched on)
[17:15:48] <Tom_itx> older supply?
[17:20:39] <Valen> they don't like sudden loads on the 12V either
[17:21:05] <andypugh> No, I suspect the problem was that it was too new
[17:21:21] <andypugh> I never got as far as connecting motors etc
[17:23:41] <L84Supper> http://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com/products-page/ballscrew-supports/bk12-c7-free-end-ballscrew-support not 12mm I.D. as indicated, they are actually 10mm I.D.
[17:24:31] <jdh> did you jumper the green wire?
[17:44:43] <Tom_itx> L84Supper did you get a set of those?
[17:45:17] <Tom_itx> you could look it up, it's a 6000z bearing
[17:53:23] <Tom_itx> http://www.aliexpress.com/item/One-Set-of-Fixed-Side-BK12-and-Floated-Side-BF12-Ballscrew-Ends-Supports-CNC/564707519.html
[18:38:39] <L84Supper> Tom_itx: I got a few of them when I was in a hurry. I'll either grind down to 10mm or swap them for 12mm on Monday
[18:40:58] <L84Supper> it's the one part i didn't measure when I was there
[18:41:14] <jdh> did you complain?
[18:42:04] <andypugh> What will you be grinding with?
[18:42:25] <IrrerIvan> hi there, I got a CNC machine in my fingers and for now managed tocommunicate with it via Serial. What do I need to implement to use it with linuxcnc to e.g. draw a 2d picture?
[18:42:49] <jdh> serial?
[18:42:55] <IrrerIvan> serial port
[18:42:56] <andypugh> What sort of CNC machine is it?
[18:43:15] <IrrerIvan> it's normaly a medical amchine for blood samples
[18:43:18] <andypugh> And do you know what data format is passing through the setial port?
[18:43:34] <IrrerIvan> yes, reverse engeneered that for the past days
[18:44:12] <IrrerIvan> http://www.biotechmedical.com.my/assests/images/pic_wadiana.jpg
[18:44:28] <andypugh> LinuxCNC generally interfaces directly with the motor control hardware
[18:44:39] <IrrerIvan> mhh, ok
[18:45:13] <andypugh> It is a motion controller, and in your case the motion control is performed by software on the far side of the serial link
[18:45:32] <IrrerIvan> yes, that's the case
[18:46:02] <andypugh> So, linuxCNC in its normal application is not a good fit for your machine in its current state
[18:46:23] <andypugh> You would either need to change LinuxCNC or change the machine.
[18:46:23] <IrrerIvan> can you recommend an other approach?
[18:46:57] <andypugh> Are you any good at software?
[18:47:04] <IrrerIvan> depends
[18:47:17] <andypugh> And what do you want the machine to do when you have it converted?
[18:47:45] <IrrerIvan> maybe a CNC mill
[18:47:57] <IrrerIvan> maybe just drill holes in pcbs
[18:48:05] <andypugh> Is it stiff and strong enough for that?
[18:48:19] <andypugh> I can imagine it making a good pick-and-place machine
[18:48:21] <IrrerIvan> I'll find ou
[18:48:28] <IrrerIvan> out
[18:48:37] <IrrerIvan> it is pretty heavy and stable
[18:49:00] <IrrerIvan> maybe I'll give it an extruder and make a reprap out of it
[18:49:05] <IrrerIvan> maybe all the above cases
[18:49:23] <andypugh> You say you have decoded the serial protocol?
[18:49:31] <IrrerIvan> yes
[18:49:55] <IrrerIvan> I'ts an old machine...
[18:49:57] <andypugh> It might not be very hard to write some sort of script to convert G-code
[18:50:18] <andypugh> can you put a sample of the code up at pastebin?
[18:50:37] <IrrerIvan> I must say that's why I'm here, I have no clue of the normal workflow for a CNC
[18:50:51] <IrrerIvan> what do you mean by a sample of code?
[18:51:21] <IrrerIvan> I just used very basic command to test my serial connection and I have figured out how checksums are calculated
[18:51:22] <andypugh> The serial traffic
[18:51:31] <IrrerIvan> the code itself is not documented very well atm
[18:51:54] <L84Supper> Tom_itx: unfortunately it's not a pic of the actual blocks, they use the same pic for the larger blocks as well http://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com/products-page/ballscrew-supports/bf15-c7-free-end-ballscrew-support
[18:52:23] <andypugh> If it has checksums, then don't bother, I am not likely to recognise it if it isn't G-code, Gerber or HPGL
[18:52:25] <IrrerIvan> serial traffic would be "uI7+0010000N+0010000N?" for example
[18:52:49] <IrrerIvan> to put x and y on position 10k
[18:53:02] <andypugh> That does look a bit like Gerber
[18:53:18] <IrrerIvan> I don't think it's anything even remote standard
[18:54:03] <andypugh> Does it always go from point-to-point as fast as it can, or are they speed commands?
[18:54:48] <IrrerIvan> limited, you can set the speed per axis and also a duration (i suppose it's duration) for speedup/down
[18:55:49] <andypugh> Well, then you could consider either programming it in that code, or converting G-code (which isn't a great deal more friebdly) into that code.
[18:56:37] <andypugh> Or, possibly, find a CAM package with user-editable post-processors to produce code in that format
[18:56:46] <IrrerIvan> so I should propably for now write a Gcode to WhateverCodeThisIs converter
[18:57:11] <andypugh> Well, only if you thing that G0 X10000 Y10000 is easier that your example.
[18:57:30] <andypugh> And I am not sure it is.
[18:58:10] <andypugh> But you may find G-code examples onlline, and you won't find that pick-and-place code example
[18:59:44] <IrrerIvan> what would I use to generate G-Code?
[19:00:33] <andypugh> A CAM package (or a text editor, for simple stuff)
[19:00:47] <IrrerIvan> any OSS recommendations?
[19:01:28] <andypugh> Some simple stuff here: http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Simple_LinuxCNC_G-Code_Generators
[19:02:18] <IrrerIvan> Ok, great, I'll have a look. Is G-Code like one standart or is there a minimal subset of commands that must be supported?
[19:02:25] <andypugh> http://code.google.com/p/heekscnc/
[19:03:06] <andypugh> There are many dialects, but G0 G1 G2 G3 are very standard.
[19:03:27] <andypugh> http://www.linuxcnc.org/docs/html/gcode.html
[19:04:37] <andypugh> You could remove the internal "smarts" and just keep the motors, drives and hardware, then fit a miniITX PC and run a less opaque controller.
[19:05:27] <IrrerIvan> Well, I'm going to replace the original boards somday, bot for now I want to get experience with that kind of machinery.
[19:05:54] <IrrerIvan> Thank you very much for the information, now I at least know where to start
[19:11:37] <andypugh> I wonder if an Arduino could do on-the-fly translation?
[19:12:01] <jdh> probably, if it were mostly 1:1 or close.
[19:12:24] <andypugh> I am not sure where the source data would come from, though.
[19:15:16] <jdh> random gcode files on the interwebbes