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[01:58:42] <DJ9DJ> moin
[03:09:53] <Loetmichel> mornin'
[03:22:33] <Vq> g'dmornin
[08:08:48] <theos> hi
[10:06:57] <JT-Shop> http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/warbird-flies-again-video-5108120
[11:03:21] <Eran_> so, I've got a robotic arm (
http://www.roboex.com/s7.html) and I'm want to use it for 3d printing, to connect it (somehow..) to EMC2. any help will be greatly appreciated!!
[11:04:07] <L84Supper> http://www.roboex.com/pdf/p10.pdf
[11:04:23] <L84Supper> not much info on the controller
[11:05:11] <Eran_> L84Supper: I've got a 300 page book :)
[11:05:23] <Eran_> L84Supper: what do you want to know?
[11:06:15] <Tom_itx> where did you get it?
[11:06:45] <Eran_> Tom_itx: at my university, they closed the robotic class
[11:06:51] <Tom_itx> cool
[11:06:54] <Eran_> Tom_itx: so I decided to use it
[11:07:05] <Tom_itx> you weren't able to get the pc in the picture?
[11:07:13] <Tom_itx> it probably has control software on it
[11:07:19] <Eran_> Tom_itx: there wasn't any
[11:07:41] <Tom_itx> then you need to find out what format the control talks and go that route imo
[11:07:48] <Tom_itx> since it appears to be working
[11:07:59] <Eran_> Tom_itx: ok
[11:08:11] <Eran_> Tom_itx: it's got a paralell cable, which I don't have on my laptop..
[11:08:11] <Tom_itx> unless you just want a project :D
[11:08:22] <Eran_> Tom_itx: I want to run it asap :)
[11:08:29] <Eran_> Tom_itx: no new project..
[11:08:29] <Tom_itx> you can find a pc with a parport i'm sure
[11:08:38] <Eran_> Tom_itx: I can
[11:08:51] <Tom_itx> but you will need to find out what format etc it wants to see
[11:09:02] <Eran_> Tom_itx: let me check on the book
[11:09:55] <Tom_itx> i would start there and then maybe contact the mfg for more info
[11:10:15] <Tom_itx> whatever they tell you won't be cheap but you may gain some knowledge
[11:10:45] <Eran_> Tom_itx: It's communication with BASIC
[11:11:31] <pcw_home> Hmm, is it possible it has a serial port?
[11:11:37] <L84Supper> do they list the commands available?
[11:11:46] <L84Supper> yes, i noticed a serial
[11:11:54] <Eran_> yes, the command list available
[11:11:59] <Eran_> RS232
[11:12:03] <L84Supper> Serial (R5-232C), parallel (Centronics)
[11:12:05] <Tom_itx> you've got alot more info starting out than most do
[11:12:35] <Tom_itx> just don't bust a hole thru your wall or knock yourself out with it
[11:12:43] <L84Supper> you might be able to use it as is
[11:12:51] <Tom_itx> i would sure try
[11:12:59] <Tom_itx> since it has a learn mechanism
[11:17:07] <L84Supper> Teaching and MDI (manual data input)
[11:18:32] <Eran_> L84Supper: so, using a manual data input, one can connect it to EMC2, right?
[11:18:44] <Eran_> so EMC2 will send the data to the control box?
[11:19:01] <L84Supper> Eran_: no, you won't need EMC at all for that
[11:19:24] <Tom_itx> you would likely just send a file to it
[11:19:31] <Tom_itx> once you figure out the format
[11:19:32] <Eran_> L84Supper: mmm...
[11:19:33] <Eran_> how?
[11:19:44] <L84Supper> it loks like you can just send manual commands over serial
[11:19:47] <Tom_itx> that's on your list of things to do
[11:20:29] <Eran_> let's say I want to 3d print something with it, how can I 'send' the gcode
[11:20:49] <Eran_> isn't it easier to use EMC2?
[11:21:10] <L84Supper> if it understands g-code, but it probably doesn't
[11:21:11] <Tom_itx> first of all it wasn't designed for that
[11:22:29] <Eran_> I know it doesn't understand gcode, but, EMC2 can read g-code, so I'm thinking that it could translate the gcode position to the robot arm one
[11:23:32] <L84Supper> but there's no function in EMC to send commands to your robot controller
[11:24:16] <L84Supper> if you used a controller with EMC support then yes you could input g-code and control the robot
[11:24:51] <L84Supper> but your controller has its own OS, application and protocol
[11:24:59] <Eran_> L84Supper: I see
[11:25:11] <L84Supper> so if you use its own controller EMC is not in the picture
[11:25:20] <Eran_> L84Supper: so, I'm on my own :)
[11:25:32] <L84Supper> we didn't know you had the controller when you first mentioned the robot
[11:26:09] <L84Supper> Eran_: yes, but you have a lot to work with. It looks like you have the programming guide for the controller.
[11:26:26] <Eran_> L84Supper: I do
[11:26:35] <Eran_> L84Supper: I'm not upset or something
[11:26:41] <Eran_> L84Supper: just trying to figure where to start from
[11:26:50] <Eran_> L84Supper: eventually, I want to 3d print with it
[11:26:59] <Eran_> L84Supper: clay
[11:27:17] <L84Supper> if you really want to use it for 3d printing then you have to decide between writing software to say take g-code and convert it to commands your controller understands
[11:27:47] <Eran_> L84Supper: I would preffer on taking g-code and convert it
[11:27:48] <L84Supper> or replacing the controller with EMC and supported hardware
[11:27:53] <Eran_> prefer
[11:28:08] <Eran_> L84Supper: replacing hardware = expensive
[11:28:23] <L84Supper> software time is not?
[11:28:33] <L84Supper> it's up to you
[11:29:07] <Eran_> L84Supper: maybe there could be a software 'between' emc2 and the controller, so emc2 will send data and the software will translate it
[11:29:31] <Eran_> L84Supper: well, I've got time, not money
[11:29:50] <Eran_> 5 axis servo driver is expensive
[11:31:21] <L84Supper> maybe somebody has worked on a g-code to RV-M2 tool?
[11:31:50] <Eran_> dunno..
[11:31:52] <Eran_> will try to check
[11:32:20] <Tom_itx> research it well before you tear into it
[11:32:32] <Tom_itx> looks like a nice piece of equipment
[11:33:41] <L84Supper> looks like there already is one
[11:33:56] <Eran_> L84Supper ?
[11:35:14] <L84Supper> somebody also worked with EMC and the movemaster earlier this year
[11:37:37] <L84Supper> Eran_: google g-code and movemaster, the links are old
[11:37:53] <Eran_> L84Supper: checking
[11:38:02] <L84Supper> the comments are about a utility to do exactly what you need
[11:38:28] <Tom_itx> http://www.journalamme.org/papers_vol31_2/31271.pdf
[11:39:03] <L84Supper> http://claymore.engineer.gvsu.edu/~jackh/books/integrated/pdf/integratedbook.pdf
[11:41:58] <Eran_> L84Supper what page?
[11:42:08] <Tom_itx> 290 something
[11:42:15] <Tom_itx> just closed it
[11:42:22] <DJ9DJ> all! ;)
[11:42:54] <L84Supper> starts around 286
[11:43:23] <Loetmichel> *splishsplash* ... nothing better than sittin in a HOT bathtub wit eucalytus oil when having a cold... *splishsplash*
[11:43:59] <jdh> except for maybe a warm bed, hot run, ukranian hookers.
[11:44:17] <L84Supper> looks like it wouldn't be too hard to work with
[11:44:30] <jdh> s/run/rum/
[11:44:31] <Tom_itx> nope
[11:44:56] <Tom_itx> you couldn't ask for much more than that right out of the box
[11:45:44] <L84Supper> http://www.linuxcnc.org/index.php/italian/forum/30-cnc-machines/15795-robot?start=6 somebody here was going to replace the controller and run EMC
[11:46:21] <Tom_itx> seems like alot of work when you have a working controller
[11:46:38] <L84Supper> but he disappeared
[11:47:12] <Tom_itx> probably got his head stuck in a pdf
[11:47:18] <L84Supper> we had to piggyback on top of robot hardware to integrate inkjets
[11:47:27] <Eran_> L84Supper: I understand how to send commands to the controller
[11:47:39] <Eran_> L84Supper
[11:47:47] <Tom_itx> and now you have the command set
[11:47:57] <L84Supper> there was no realtime pass-through of encoder data or realtime position info
[11:48:22] <Eran_> L84Supper, Tom_itx: yes, I have. how do you think I can 'translate' a g-code to those commands?
[11:48:23] <L84Supper> most robots just update every millisecond or so with where it is at
[11:48:48] <Tom_itx> Eran_, i'm not sure why you would want to if it's a working machine
[11:49:01] <Tom_itx> and it has a learn pendant wired to it
[11:49:58] <Eran_> Tom_itx: to 3d print clay
[11:50:08] <L84Supper> Eran_: I actually prefer to hold the wrong end of a soldering iron or belt sand my nipples to writing code, but take a look at the motion commands listed in the manual, some are already very similar to g-code
[11:50:13] <Tom_itx> what cad software do you plan to use?
[11:50:46] <Eran_> Tom_itx: rhino/solidworks
[11:50:54] <Eran_> L84Supper: me too :)
[11:50:56] <Tom_itx> maybe they have a plugin for it
[11:51:09] <Eran_> Tom_itx: mm
[11:51:46] <Tom_itx> don't make it harder than it is
[11:52:00] <L84Supper> Eran_: are you going to carve clay or extrude clay?
[11:52:46] <Eran_> L84Supper, Tom_itx: extrude. I've build a 80x80x80cm clay printer, look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1LF14QhNyY
[11:55:20] <L84Supper> Eran_: I think I've seen some of your clay prints before
[11:55:52] <Eran_> L84Supper:
http://www.3ders.org/articles/20120806-israeli-student-develops-largest-3d-porcelain-printer.html
[11:56:06] <L84Supper> yeah, that was it
[11:56:16] <DJ9DJ> wow, thats cool
[11:56:59] <Eran_> thx :)
[11:57:19] <Eran_> so now I want to 3d print with the robot arm!
[11:57:20] <Eran_> :)
[11:58:14] <L84Supper> I'm working on lots of materials like that
[11:58:41] <Eran_> L84Supper: ceramic?
[11:59:51] <L84Supper> ceramics as well as hybrids, polymers, resins, etc for electronics and additive manufacturing
[12:00:40] <Eran_> cool
[12:01:15] <L84Supper> inkjet, DLP and SLA only take you so far
[12:02:35] <L84Supper> or melted plastic printers made from threaded rods :)
[12:03:40] <Eran_> :)
[12:04:11] <Eran_> L84Supper: what company?
[12:04:45] <L84Supper> Eran_: whats your approximate print rate? (Liters/hour or similar)
[12:05:06] <Eran_> L84Supper: about one liter per hour or so
[12:06:52] <L84Supper> did it take much effort to work out the slump of the slurry?
[12:09:17] <Eran_> well, yes. I still got issues with filtering the clay
[12:09:24] <Eran_> sometimes the nozzle get clogs
[12:09:26] <L84Supper> we're working mostly on techniques for sub-micron features to expand MEMS to more than just silicon
[12:09:40] <L84Supper> yes, filter filter filter, same as inkjet
[12:09:43] <Eran_> and when I put a filter, it's helps but then it acts as a water-seperator
[12:10:23] <L84Supper> does it agglomerate in the lines as well, even if you filter the powder before blending?
[12:11:57] <Eran_> yes
[12:12:04] <L84Supper> yeah, thats the fun of working out the process, it sounds simple, just combine water and powder and pump it, but it's not quite that simple :)
[12:13:34] <Eran_> that's right :)
[12:13:45] <Eran_> L84Supper - are you from the US?
[12:14:06] <L84Supper> yes, but we are doing most of this in China
[12:14:54] <Eran_> L84Supper I see
[12:16:10] <Eran_> L84Supper: the motors will work with this controller:
http://www.geckodrive.com/geckodrive-brush-dc-drives.html
[12:16:13] <Eran_> ?
[12:16:17] <L84Supper> I have to run, but take a look at that manual
[12:16:18] <Eran_> (one motor...)
[12:16:22] <L84Supper> 20 SP 7 ; set speed
[12:16:22] <L84Supper> 30 MO 10, C ;move to position 10 with the hand closed
[12:16:22] <L84Supper> 40 MO 9, O ;move to position 9 with the hand opened
[12:16:22] <L84Supper> 50 TI 40 ;stop for 4 seconds
[12:16:59] <L84Supper> you might be able to translate from g-code without lots of work
[12:17:27] <L84Supper> lots of start here, move there, then move there
[12:17:35] <IchGuckLive> hi all B)
[12:17:37] <L84Supper> similar to g-code
[12:17:52] <Eran_> L84Supper: ok, thank you!
[12:18:21] <IchGuckLive> Eran_: what cam are you using
[12:18:26] <L84Supper> Eran_: the g-codes that slic3r and skeinforge are pretty well documented
[12:18:41] <Eran_> IchGuckLive: solidworks, rhino
[12:18:45] <L84Supper> IchGuckLive: he's using a robot
[12:18:52] <IchGuckLive> Rhino cam 2.0
[12:19:02] <IchGuckLive> L84Supper: ok
[12:19:04] <Eran_> L84Supper: so, you think I could translate the g-code to the robot commands
[12:19:31] <IchGuckLive> Rhino visual has a robot module
[12:19:37] <L84Supper> Eran_: take a look, I've seen the command list for 2 more minutes longer than you :)
[12:19:43] <IchGuckLive> you can download the adon on the rhino side
[12:19:53] <Eran_> L84Supper: ok :)
[12:19:56] <Eran_> IchGuckLive: which one?
[12:20:20] <IchGuckLive> whitch one what side
[12:20:25] <L84Supper> http://www.roboex.com/pdf/p10.pdf is his robot and controller
[12:20:27] <IchGuckLive> or cam
[12:21:13] <IchGuckLive> Rhino cam 1.0 does not support this
[12:21:24] <IchGuckLive> only visual
[12:22:39] <L84Supper> Eran_: take a look at the Mesa boards if you decide to swap hardware, the 7i48 has 6 channel servo
[12:22:48] <L84Supper> http://www.mesanet.com/
[12:23:12] <Eran_> L84Supper: looking
[12:23:44] <Eran_> L84Supper: have you used it?
[12:23:45] <L84Supper> http://www.mesanet.com/motioncardinfo.html servo drivers here
[12:24:18] <L84Supper> yes, I use them to control AC servos on similar machines
[12:25:13] <L84Supper> Eran_: you'll have to see what the robot uses for encoders
[12:25:33] <Eran_> L84Supper - I don't find the 7i48
[12:26:06] <L84Supper> http://www.mesanet.com/aiodaughter.html on this page
[12:26:16] <L84Supper> http://www.mesanet.com/pdf/motion/7i48man.pdf
[12:26:57] <L84Supper> thats just the servo interface, you'll need an anything IO FPGA card and motor drivers as well
[12:27:29] <L84Supper> http://www.mesanet.com/fpgacardinfo.html
[12:27:33] <Eran_> L84Supper: interface? Do I need a motor driver?
[12:27:54] <IchGuckLive> mitsubishi has also a pathcad that reads DXF abnd outputs the robot commands
[12:28:25] <L84Supper> PC Host ---> PCIe ----> FPGA -----> servo interface -----> servo driver
[12:28:28] <Eran_> IchGuckLive, L84Supper: brb
[12:29:02] <L84Supper> have to get back to work here myself
[12:30:55] <L84Supper> Eran_: several here can guide you with the Mesa boards, even the guy that makes them :)
[12:42:44] <IchGuckLive> F1 world champion and youngest tripple champion Sebastian Vettel
[13:02:58] <IchGuckLive> By have a nice working day
[13:22:10] <Eran> L84Supper: I'm back..
[13:26:16] <Eran> seen L84Supper?
[13:26:25] <Eran> seen L84Supper
[13:33:40] <L84Supper> Eran: yes?
[13:33:54] <Eran> L84Supper: nothing :)
[13:34:11] <Eran> L84Supper: trying to figure my next moves
[13:34:39] <Eran> L84Supper: don't want to buy any new hardware, but want to 'import' slic3r g-code to the robot
[13:37:18] <L84Supper> Eran: don't know of any util to do that
[13:38:29] <Eran> L84Supper: ok
[13:39:28] <icee> hey everyone
[13:39:32] <icee> what do people use for CAM?
[13:42:38] <Loetmichel> icee: grey matter between ears? ;-)
[13:54:37] <icee> hehe
[13:55:34] <icee> i have written sequences by hand, and written code to emit gcode for boring operations.. but i have a few different moderately complicated sheet metal parts i want to emit toolpaths for
[13:57:29] <jthornton> if you can draw them you can code them too :)
[13:58:11] <icee> heh
[13:58:15] <icee> sure, it's just annoying
[13:58:33] <icee> getting the cutter compensation on the right side of the lines etc ;)
[13:59:06] <jthornton> cutter comp is either right or left
[14:00:09] <jthornton> have you tried sheetcam?
[14:00:53] <icee> :) this looks very nice
[14:00:54] <icee> no i've not
[14:22:08] <jarray52> I wanted to convert parts created in brlcad into g-code. To do this, I ran g-dxf to create a .dxf file for the part and then, I ran dxf2gcode. The resulting .ngc file is quite long (9453 lines) with many lines of the form G1 X 0.000 Y 0.000. Does anyone have any suggestions?
[14:23:44] <jarray52> Is the question above appropriate for this channel?
[14:23:50] <awallin> file your DXF and g-code as an issue to the dxf2gcode project
[14:24:05] <awallin> someone might have played with dxf2gcode here... not sure
[14:24:33] <awallin> pycam can import DXF, I don't know if it can create the g-code you want
[14:25:19] <jarray52> awallin: Based on your experience, how do dxf2gcode and pycam compare?
[14:25:54] <awallin> I don't know, sorry. dxf2gcode is strictly 2D or 2.5D. pycam has some 3D functions
[14:26:08] <awallin> does your DXF look OK when opened in e.g. librecad?
[14:28:27] <jarray52> awallin: Let me install librecad and try opening the dxf file.
[14:43:56] <abetusk> archivist, ping
[14:53:09] <jarray52> awallin: I installed librecad and opened my .dxf file. However, nothing appears. Do I need to do something to render/draw the object?
[14:54:00] <awallin> no, just pan and zoom and you should find it.. any other program you could use to verify that your DXF is ok? does inkscape open DXF?
[14:59:19] <jarray52> awallin: inkscape failed to load the file. There might be a problem with the file.
[15:10:31] <tom3p> mevon, you can change the trajectory target on the fly, every mSec if you wanted to ?
[15:14:03] <mevon> tom3p, yes its a matter of sending the command over the usb, but the set position is always updated and the arduino moves the axis as long as it havent reached the desired position
[15:14:28] <tom3p> servo or stepper ( does it matter?)
[15:14:44] <tom3p> (err feedback or open loop... does it matter?)
[15:19:15] <icee> does dxf2gcode simplify the geometry at all? or could it just be that the dxf is excessively complicated garbage geometry and the resulta match?
[15:20:03] <mevon> tom3p, I have steppers but linuxcnc treats them as servos
[15:20:43] <mevon> but I have implemented position feedback
[15:21:01] <icee> aren't they servos then? :)
[15:21:17] <icee> i mean, there's a closed position loop, even if you're using stepper motors to do it
[15:21:43] <mevon> for me servos are the cheapo little motors used on teleguided hobby planes to stear...
[15:22:13] <mrsun> for cnc people its big mofo motors that will make your hobby plane sink into the ground ;P
[15:22:22] * icee nods
[15:22:26] <tom3p> mevon: thx, it sounds very cool, is the code available, and/or is this a product you plan to sell?
[15:22:45] <mevon> well I started off the Arduino2EMC project
[15:22:57] <icee> mevon, how rapid is the position feedback?
[15:23:06] <mevon> I use cheapo Hbridge drives
[15:23:10] <jarray52> icee: It could be that .dxf is garbage geometry. brlcad can export to other formats. Is there a gcode generator that works well with another import format?
[15:23:38] <icee> really, for something like a stepper, all feedback gets you is detection of stalling/lost steps
[15:23:55] <mevon> feedback is done every 1ms but Im working to get it to 500us
[15:24:21] <mevon> maybe add an indexer in emc to make it faster
[15:24:32] <icee> mevon: i'm still figuring out my own CAM stack/what to do.. most of the open source stuff is garbage
[15:25:30] <mevon> icee youre right its not always done in the best possible way
[15:25:44] <icee> er, that last one was to jarray52 :P
[15:26:10] <L84Supper> any chance that Arduino will change it's name to something better?
[15:26:33] <mevon> softduino?
[15:27:35] <jarray52> icee: Do you currently write your own gcode or use a commercial tool?
[15:27:39] <mevon> I was thinking the easyduino
[15:28:06] <jdh> avrfordummies?
[15:28:22] <mevon> tom3p I have a board Im working on that is based on the sanguino
[15:28:48] <icee> jarray52: I've written my own and i've used featurecam some.. which for small tools is overkill
[15:29:01] <icee> jarray52: what i'm currently looking at is pycam which looks decent
[15:29:24] <icee> all of these tools don't produce wonderful gcode like a human would
[15:29:41] <icee> the best you can hope for is a toolpath that's 'okay/good' instead of bad
[15:30:31] <tom3p> mevon, do you use the code at
https://github.com/dewy721/EMC-2-Arduino?
[15:30:34] <L84Supper> look somebody has also started
http://emc2arduino.wordpress.com/
[15:31:30] <mevon> tom3p, yes version 0.7b heavily customized
[15:31:57] <mevon> its made for step/dir drives but I have Hbrigdes for my steppers
[15:32:13] <mevon> so I implemented the driver in the arduino
[15:32:44] <tom3p> mevon: thx, i've just been adding and offset component to the position stream for the position command ( like 'net zpos-cmd2 offset.0.out => stepgen.2.position-cmd')
[15:33:20] <tom3p> this is to allow another classic 'servo operation ( the Z tracks an analog voltage, just like rc servo, but used for EDM )
[15:33:45] <icee> tom3p: so you close the EDM loop in software?
[15:34:15] <tom3p> the position that is desired is the position dictated by the gap voltage, that <<<--- closes the loop
[15:34:27] <icee> i plan to build an EDM machine eventually, and have had a bit of indecision about whether to close the height loop in software ot hardware
[15:35:38] <tom3p> its NOT position interpolated ( just closer/further, not lines/arcs )
[15:36:37] <tom3p> what i do is let linuxcnc 'pose' the tool, then move a single axis according to the process
[15:37:30] * icee nods
[15:37:33] <tom3p> i've played with the old sine/cosine tricks in the original HAL manuals to allow orbiting ( the example John Kasunich wrote )
[15:37:39] <icee> sure, plunge EDM or whatever
[15:38:00] <icee> what i really want is ... to control closed-loop the short term height
[15:38:12] <icee> and terminate the operation when i've reached a target depth
[15:38:37] <icee> i also want to..
[15:38:50] <icee> heh, my long-term plan is i want to make rifle barrels via plunge edm
[15:39:10] <tom3p> thats just a hal loop watching position, you let it move between STartPosn and ENdposition till either its stuck at STart ( bad or timedout at End ( good :)
[15:39:25] <icee> need to control depth + rotation of an appropriately shaped cutter (something that looks like, say, a bolt for polygonal rifling)
[15:39:58] <icee> it'd be slow, and energy inefficient, but it does it all in one operation, on full-hard stock
[15:40:26] <tom3p> 'rifling' grooves, gotcha
[15:41:44] <tom3p> hint, use thin disc electrodes, <2mm, else the dirt accumulates on sides and creates draft ( and guide at 2 ends,like good leadscrews)
[15:42:55] <icee> yah, i've thought about how to adequately guide.. i want to drill/rifle at the same time, so odds are it's some big 4 point linear motion assembly around the barrel
[15:43:43] <tom3p> mevon: is the customization the direct driving of hbridge? or something to do with requested position?
[15:45:12] <tom3p> icee: look at 'gundrilling' then, apply it to edm ( its a lot like hole drilling edm... hi pressure flush, constant guiding of tool )
[15:46:46] * icee nods
[15:46:51] <icee> yes, that's the plan
[15:46:59] <icee> i'm probably a couple of years from getting to this
[15:47:52] <mevon> tom3p, yes mainly it is for the stepping of the 2 Hbridge per motors needed
[15:48:03] <mevon> but I added position feedback
[15:48:35] <mevon> you could ay real time position feedback but Im thinking of using an indexer now
[15:48:58] <mevon> and put in a real time core in the arduino
[15:49:11] <mevon> something like chibi os
[15:49:24] <mevon> or uc os III
[15:49:25] <tom3p> mevon: thx, what is done when 'posnWanted' != 'posnSensed' ?
[15:49:52] <mevon> linuxcnc handles that for now
[15:50:39] <mevon> because in the arduino what happens is movement
[15:50:54] <mevon> as in it will move until it is reached
[15:52:14] <tom3p> ok, i understand a bit more "tom3p, I have steppers but linuxcnc treats them as servos"
[15:52:46] <mevon> Im sry my linuxcnc jitsu is really weak
[15:53:25] <tom3p> :) what do you mean by 'indexer' ?
[15:54:13] <mevon> well how I implemented it now is everytime I step,I send a position feedback
[15:54:55] <mevon> I need to convert into distances the number of steps, format a string, etc. and send over usb
[15:55:24] <mevon> I want to implement a new signal, or msg, thatd indicate an axis stepping
[15:55:39] <mevon> like an axis encoder or indexer
[15:55:50] <mevon> would be more efficient
[15:56:04] <mevon> process wise
[15:58:16] <mevon> also adding a realtime os would be better in all ways
[15:58:33] <mevon> now the arduino is doing the job but
[15:59:16] <mevon> the speed I move is the fastest the loops can go
[15:59:56] <mevon> Id like to change that so I can have timed jobs and somekind of QoS
[16:00:18] <mevon> ans change the velocity on the fly too
[16:01:43] <tom3p> understood about arduino loop time limits, i just change the linuxcnc position by a single minimum command unit ( fanuc speek )
[16:01:44] <tom3p> i dont get near velocity or acc limits due to the 'speed' of edm
[16:01:49] <mevon> im looking into the freakduino seems a good prospect
[16:02:05] <tom3p> saw that ( an rtos for arduino )
[16:02:59] <mevon> tom3p, Ive been lookin to changethat increment units to, how have you done it?
[16:03:54] <DJ9DJ> gn8
[16:04:03] <mevon> with the offset you mentionnend earlier?
[16:04:07] <mevon> DJ gn
[16:04:41] <tom3p> the idea is ... wait till the the process changes from 'donothing' to 'dosomething', then add or subtract a single unit of measure to the value fed to stepgen.N.position-cmd
[16:05:16] <mevon> i dont use stepgen :(
[16:05:30] <mevon> i think Im str8 in the motmod
[16:05:54] <tom3p> the single unit of measure is up to you & the mechanics of ytour system ( you may have a nice step size or encoder feedback unit, you may have .000876543 mm units )
[16:06:15] <tom3p> ok, its just what i could hack and get to work
[16:06:32] <mevon> i started off the axis simulation
[16:06:48] <tom3p> (and yes i use the offset component )
[16:07:58] <mevon> thing is ive only tested off the manual continuous mode now
[16:08:33] <mevon> and when I hold the + or - down, after a while I get a growing f-error
[16:09:06] <mevon> but I need to tweak that too
[16:09:25] <Aero-Tec> o300 repeat [#244]
[16:09:39] <Aero-Tec> would that be a correct call?
[16:10:05] <tom3p> mevon: the ferror is avoided my way, which may not suit you. its avoided because linuxcnc is told a new position is wanted
[16:10:21] <Aero-Tec> would it use the value stored in variable 244?
[16:11:01] <Aero-Tec> I tried o300 repeat #244
[16:11:40] <Aero-Tec> but it complained about no bracket
[16:12:19] <Aero-Tec> thought you did not need one it there was no math and was a variable
[16:13:11] <tom3p> Aero-Tec: they used brackets even with literals in the examples at point 4
http://linuxcnc.org/docs/html/gcode/o-code.html
[16:14:19] <tom3p> theres always the 'right way' and then there's what works :) wether the 2 are similar , i dunno
[16:15:37] <tom3p> mevon: i'll try to clean up and example of the offset comp trick if you like, expect a few days delay tho
[16:16:25] <tom3p> ( i used to just loosen the 'in-position limit' to get around the ferrors )
[16:17:36] <Aero-Tec> when the have brackets used with variable there is always a equation involved, other wise I see just the variable
[16:17:45] <Aero-Tec> they
[16:18:40] <Aero-Tec> so when calling a sub and you want to pass a variable do you still use brackets?
[16:19:10] <Aero-Tec> the examples all use number in brackets
[16:20:05] <Aero-Tec> o200 call [1] [2] [3]
[16:20:13] <Aero-Tec> o200 call [1] [2] [#244]
[16:20:29] <Aero-Tec> not o200 call [1] [2] #244
[16:20:52] <Aero-Tec> just wanting to make sure I have it right
[16:23:21] <tom3p> only the code will tell you the rule.
[16:23:22] <tom3p> and i see that even a literal (eg [1]) has brackets, so i'd guess container/delimiter is needed for the passed param,
[16:26:14] <Aero-Tec> thanks
[16:30:15] <tom3p> oing back to the usb emc2, i see it as very interesting, but know that args about the realtime nature of usb communication will raise hackles.
[16:30:17] <tom3p> i'd doubt, 2 rtos's (linuxcnc and chibi) could sync, but usb motion maybe a good tool for some applications where speed and position are not critical
[16:47:11] <zekitest> hellow i just bough a CNC Desktop machine, How can i tell that the computer (Linuxcnc) is recognizing it?
[16:47:38] <zekitest> if someone can help me i will really apreciate it
[16:51:27] <zekitest> Is someone here?
[16:55:57] <jdh> where?
[16:56:00] <pcw_home> Nope Sunday supper time for most Americans and midnightish for Europe
[16:58:00] <pcw_home> If you have a simple step/dir driven hardware, there's not much for LinuxCNC to recognize
[16:58:02] <zekitest> In this chat
[16:58:32] <zekitest> I have a simple machine whcich i bough from amazon
[16:58:50] <pcw_home> what is its interface to the PC?
[16:58:52] <zekitest> Is call Orange desktop CNC
[17:00:17] <zekitest> Paralell port
[17:00:19] <tom3p> its a paralel port stepper system
[17:00:58] <pcw_home> So Stepconf is your friend (and the Orange CNC parallel port pinout)
[17:01:06] <zekitest> yeah I connectedthe machine to the PC through parallel port
[17:01:39] <pcw_home> maybe Orange CNC supplies a config file set?
[17:02:12] <zekitest> Hey guys I am kind a newbie so I am not rally understanding the techncal terms, and yes to that orange guys supplied us with a config file and I already run it
[17:02:21] <tom3p> so, theres a bit to be done. you have to connect the orange to the parallel port and confirm your configuration works enough to manipulate the correct pins
[17:02:31] <zekitest> it works but not sure if the computer recognises the machine
[17:02:38] <tom3p> lights out at lib:) best o luck
[17:03:11] <pcw_home> the test is if it can move the machine (and sense limit switches if any)
[17:04:45] <zekitest> where is this test? LOoks like machine is not moving and I am trying to figure out if there is an error with my connection and tha the machine is not being recognised
[17:05:39] <zekitest> I am sure that the power and the motor connections are correct but I am suspecting there might bea problem with the paallel connection on the main board
[17:06:01] <pcw_home> Is it a motherboard parallel port?
[17:06:20] <zekitest> at this point first I have to make sure and understand if the computer can see the machine
[17:07:21] <zekitest> I have 3 mother boards on each one I habe MOTOR, POWER and PARALEL ins, so on each board I have 3 diffeent connections
[17:07:44] <zekitest> i had instructions and fallowed the cart for power and motor connection
[17:07:50] <zekitest> and i am sureits correct
[17:09:05] <pcw_home> When I said motherboard I meant PC motherboard
[17:09:18] <zekitest> ohh srry
[17:09:24] <zekitest> yes
[17:09:47] <zekitest> I have a parallel port on my old pc and that where I am connecting the machine
[17:11:36] <zekitest> I was wonderng if there is a way to know if the machine is recognised maybe with a multi meter
[17:11:56] <zekitest> to see if the connections are correct
[17:12:49] <pcw_home> if they supply a complete kit that plugs into a parallel port and you have got LinuxCNC installed
[17:12:51] <pcw_home> it should run but there are a couple of setup items that need to be right
[17:12:53] <pcw_home> 1. If the manufacturer supplied .ini and .hal files(and these are installed in the right place) you should be correct parallel port pinout wise
[17:12:54] <pcw_home> 2. You need to make sure your parallel port is enabled in the BIOS and that its address matches the one in the supplied .ini file
[17:14:00] <zekitest> Hmmmm so config file does not help with that?? do I have to do this manually??
[17:14:43] <pcw_home> I would , to avoid breaking their supplied files
[17:14:45] <zekitest> I actually connected the parallel pinouts myself looking at a map thats why I have daubts
[17:15:11] <zekitest> doubts
[17:15:36] <pcw_home> Well the other option is to use stepconf and ignore their supplied files
[17:16:52] <pcw_home> but in any case you first need to make sure the parallel port is enabled and find out where it is (MB ports are usually at 0x378 but this is not guaranteed)
[17:18:14] <zekitest> yes that sounds lik the first step at this point can you guide me to find where I can cekc if the parallel port is enabled?
[17:18:42] <pcw_home> Usually a BIOs option for MB ports
[17:22:32] <pcw_home> You could also just run stepconf and try the likely addresses (using 'Test this axis')
[17:23:12] <pcw_home> http://www.linuxcnc.org/docs/html/config/stepconf.html#
[17:23:39] <zekitest> perfect i will do thats thank you very much
[17:24:25] <pcw_home> welcome. now time for supper!
[17:25:02] <zekitest> Bonn appetite!
[18:43:57] <Aero-Tec> is there any way to display the tool that is loaded?
[18:44:32] <Aero-Tec> I have looked in the axis GUI and see no way to show the active or loaded tool
[18:45:06] <Aero-Tec> just wondering it such a thing exists or if I am missing something
[18:50:10] <Nick001-Shop> bottom of the screen - on a lathe anyway
[18:54:21] <Aero-Tec> really I must have missed that, and I am running lathe, maybe there is some setting to get it to display
[18:55:07] <Aero-Tec> I found linuxcnc status display also shows it and gets updated
[18:55:36] <Aero-Tec> will look closer at the bottom of the screen
[18:57:34] <Aero-Tec> wow, not sure how I missed it but your right
[19:06:30] <Nick001> Been running the hardinge for a while and that's where I check tool # and offset values
[19:52:26] <KimK> cradek: Thanks, your advice was very helpful, as always. I didn't stick with the install script, I found a -sim deb mentioned on the wiki, and that installed and worked. But it gave a similar error during software update searches, it turned out I had to change the software sources from linuxcnc2.5 to linuxcnc2.5-sim, and then it was happy.
[19:52:34] <KimK> I'm not sure if that was an error both times (installs) or just the first time or what. I'll try to repeat the error for you later on if I have time, we'll see. But it was just a vanilla Ubuntu 10.04 install (not our LinuxCNC version), then install LinuxCNC sim-only by the two above methods (script was first, then deb). That should make it show up, if it's going to.
[19:54:48] <KimK> I'll check back later
[19:57:42] <KimK> BTW, the latency test on that particular PC (a fairly recent model) is awful, so good thing it's sim-only, it's showing around 2,000,000-3,000,000 ns!
[20:19:47] <roh> KimK: i have a similar machine.. not that new, but also >1ms jitter on a 1ms thread
[20:20:04] <roh> will replace it with a good old asus a7v board these days and try again
[21:12:22] <Jymmm> SWPadnos: VA Police can detect illegal radar detectors
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4vC4aoHJf4&feature=related
[21:12:44] <Jymmm> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDYcfycWVOk&feature=endscreen&NR=1
[21:36:58] <Aero-Tec> when one is setting up tool table using touch off tool table
[21:38:01] <Aero-Tec> is it the norm to have to do it 2 times for the DRO to indicate the right reading?
[21:38:57] <Aero-Tec> I have had to redo the tool table touch off to get things reading properly
[21:39:08] <Aero-Tec> not sure if I am messing up or what
[21:40:20] <Aero-Tec> even reloaded the tool table to see if that helped
[22:19:03] <Aero-Tec> my lathe spindle speed is acting up again
[22:19:15] <Aero-Tec> not sure why
[22:19:22] <Aero-Tec> looking into it
[22:19:39] <Aero-Tec> it looks great on the scope
[22:20:02] <Aero-Tec> but keeps acting up
[22:20:13] <Aero-Tec> the speed bounces
[22:20:30] <Aero-Tec> even if the spindle is standing still
[22:21:08] <Aero-Tec> it will bounce, but some times it is good
[22:21:34] <Aero-Tec> not sure whats up with it
[22:44:54] <Aero-Tec> looks like it is the Pport cable at fault, the connection at the CNC