#linuxcnc Logs

Feb 27 2025

#linuxcnc Calendar

01:27 AM NoSpark: I have a small 6040 router with a dead controller, I am thinking about changing it over to linuxcnc
01:43 AM NoSpark: aside from MESA, what would be a good low cost controller option? The NVEM boards look apealing, are there any other options?
01:43 AM mlu: woah, this place exists?! :D
01:43 AM NoSpark: My machine has an ATC, so it needs a coupl emore IO than is standard
01:43 AM NoSpark: this is specifically for www.linuxcnc.org
01:43 AM mlu: ah, neat
01:43 AM mlu: hmm, if I understand correctly, it's a Linux-based CNC board firmware system? nominally based on some sort of Linux but has a RTOS component for driving the motors on an appropriate board?
01:43 AM NoSpark: linuxcnc is a different beast compared to GRBL :D
01:44 AM NoSpark: this is mainly for military
01:44 AM mlu: i.e. my most recent firearm was a shotgun -- paid ~$200USD for it
01:45 AM NoSpark: not really needed for civilian use
01:45 AM NoSpark: currently a "standard" soldier carries ~200 rounds for his rifle, and maybe another 200-300 rounds for the squad machine gun
01:45 AM mlu: ah, for scenarios where you might want to fire a bit and not leave behind shells (or be caught conspicuously picking them up)
01:47 AM mlu: yep, so the weight savings would be significant
01:47 AM NoSpark: because caseless rounds don't have the weight of the brass, and the propellent is more efficient, you can carry 2 to 3 times as much ammunition
01:47 AM mlu: hehe, if you're allowed to sell to the US, I'd love to sample some :P
01:47 AM NoSpark: also, the rifle weighs less, because the barrel can be thinner due to less heating
01:48 AM NoSpark: I suspect the US would be the main market for individual sales
01:48 AM NoSpark: what state are you in?
01:48 AM mlu: California
01:48 AM NoSpark: lol, prolly not then
01:48 AM mlu: been looking into getting a FFL07 myself as soon as I can afford a proper premesis to do so
01:48 AM mlu: we're not allowed tracers or specific brands of armor penetration bullets, but everything else is actually no biggie
01:49 AM NoSpark: the muzzle velosity od the caseless round is ~1200 meters per second, I think that is about 5000fps
01:49 AM NoSpark: I think a 5000fps round is def going to be concidered AP
01:49 AM mlu: and while we can have 50BMG rounds, we cannot have 50BMG rifles -- no problem, we can drive across to Nevada or Arizona
01:49 AM NoSpark: even leaad going that fast will go through 1/2" ar500 plate
01:49 AM mlu: NoSpark: I said "specific" -- if the round doesn't exist yet, it doesn't count
01:50 AM mlu: there's a list of brand names (i.e. Black Talon)
01:50 AM NoSpark: ahh
01:50 AM NoSpark: I thought it was general
01:50 AM mlu: but yeah, for exampsle, M855 round? perfectly legal
01:50 AM mlu: uranium round? yeah, that's not on the list -- also perfectly legal
01:50 AM NoSpark: M855a1 is AP though?
01:50 AM mlu: lightweight AP
01:50 AM mlu: steel at the tips IIRC
01:51 AM NoSpark: the rounds I'm working with are kinda similar to M855, copper jacketed hardened alloy steel core
01:51 AM NoSpark: they are lead free though :P so there is that
01:51 AM mlu: I imagine in .308 caliber?
01:51 AM mlu: most of my lead-free rounds are pure coppper
01:51 AM NoSpark: 6.5mm
01:52 AM mlu: ooh, 277Fury? 6.5mm creedmore?
01:53 AM NoSpark: 227 fury and creedmore both refer to the case
01:53 AM mlu: ah, 6.5mm bullet in this case, right?
01:53 AM NoSpark: lol, no case
01:53 AM NoSpark: 42mm long by 12mm diameter
01:53 AM NoSpark: one sec
01:54 AM mlu: that sounds like a 6.5 Grendel
01:54 AM NoSpark: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSSfJePD4LaUKCxMfDWNEv_ZN4-fgAmEm8XiQ&s
01:54 AM NoSpark: actually, more like : https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0563/6453/1793/files/CA-dummie_rounds_2_480x480.jpg?v=1685186215
01:54 AM mlu: :D
01:55 AM NoSpark: the middle one, the bullet is fully telescoped into the case
01:55 AM NoSpark: https://preview.redd.it/avbgsh3myg651.jpg?width=1080&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=2052e6a8b0090c928ee0d5657ffb60e23196bf70 like these G11 bullets on the right of this pic
01:56 AM mlu: hmm
01:56 AM mlu: do you plan for these to be compatible with existing firearms?
01:56 AM NoSpark: not really
01:57 AM NoSpark: the problem is, there is no good way to extract a caseless round from a chamber
01:58 AM NoSpark: not usually a problem, because you can just fire the round, and there is no case to extract, but if you want to unload, or there is a missfire, you need to extract the round
01:58 AM mlu: yeah
01:58 AM mlu: pull back, tip-tap :D
01:59 AM mlu: the rim isn't quite strong enough, right?
01:59 AM NoSpark: no rim
02:00 AM mlu: ah
02:00 AM * mlu imagines an extraction button
02:00 AM NoSpark: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.namu.wiki%2Fw%2FLSAT%2520%25EC%2586%258C%25EC%25B4%259D&psig=AOvVaw2t9xhqiaorpIN4IpQkpsBL&ust=1740729070679000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBMQjRxqFwoTCICj16Kv44sDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE
02:02 AM mlu: ooh fun!
02:06 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> just noticed this conversation; my 5 cents, linuxcnc is a beast as said, but damn can it be frustrating to setup etc 😄
02:06 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> but the amouns of possiblities......
02:06 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> and dead stable when setup correctly
02:06 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> have an pre-historic version runnin my old mechmate, never had any issues
02:08 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> but the amount of possiblities......
02:08 AM mlu: mm... sounds very extensible
02:09 AM rifraf: i miss my mechmate
02:09 AM mlu: wonder what type of I/O most attachments use these days
02:09 AM rifraf: still have the gantry but had to give table away, no room
02:09 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> have mine at my old mans
02:09 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> but selling it asap 😄
02:10 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> now that I have my wee apartment router
02:10 AM rifraf: yep i am hoping someone in AU still would like to by it, have all the parts from the sheetmetal kit , control box etc, have reused motors and spindle alreay
02:11 AM rifraf: oddname, yep i did not see your entire machine but the little ER11 toolchanger looks cute
02:12 AM rifraf: have also made a desktop sized cnc here to replace the mechmate
02:13 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> i did the occasional full sheet but super rare
02:13 AM rifraf: 5 axis in an odd configuration that that works perfect for the stuff i need to make
02:13 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> mostly smaller items in alu perfect for this size 🙂
02:14 AM rifraf: yep, mainly brass and bronze here with some ally, and it does steel nicely so pretty happy
02:14 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> I licked on of my steel beams when cutting some holes in the table
02:14 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> shiny shiny 😄
02:15 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> so I need to test some steel one day properly
02:15 AM rifraf: oddname, so yours is more of a router or would you say a small mill?
02:15 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> router no doubt
02:15 AM rifraf: ok, but US made so can imagine its made fairly well
02:16 AM rifraf: you have any pictures? moving gantry then i guess?
02:17 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> https://i.imgur.com/0pT6P3L.jpg
02:17 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> im swedish 😄
02:17 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> so the steel should be good 😄
02:17 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> organic locally sourced 😄
02:19 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> https://youtu.be/173HSMmHj4E and a video I made of a test when trying out my code for picking up and dropping tools
02:21 AM rifraf: its all very nice and compact, about 800w spindle?
02:21 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> 1500W if I recall correctly
02:22 AM rifraf: cool, and you made this in sweden? ah yes sorry i am getting mixed up with another machine
02:22 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> Indeed
02:23 AM rifraf: and the collet screwing mechanish is your idea? have not seen auto changer like that
02:23 AM rifraf: mechanism*
02:24 AM rifraf: making  headstock here with old 5C collets, they screw in too as well as taper
02:26 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> ah nope the rapid change is something I bought 🙂
02:26 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> its pretty new so they are still making it work for different systems, linuxcnc wasnt on the top of the list since they didnt have access to a machine running it
02:26 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> alot of community work too
02:31 AM NoSpark: how are you finding that tool changer?
02:31 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> havent tried it live yet, but it seems solid
02:31 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> when setup it just works it seems
02:31 AM NoSpark: I'm thinking of upgrading my spindle to something bigger, but am not going to go without a tool changer
02:32 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> you cant get it up to ER32
02:32 AM NoSpark: er 32 might be a bit big for the 6040 router
02:32 AM NoSpark: :P
02:33 AM NoSpark: I do have a spare 25kw er32 spindle though....
02:34 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> 11 16 20 25 32
02:34 AM NoSpark: link?
02:35 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> https://rapidchangeatc.com/
02:35 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> time to catch a cold shower 😄
02:47 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> now Im alive!
04:00 AM Deejay: moin
04:24 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> moin!
04:36 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> ah slow and steady progress, qtdragon touchoff just achieved
04:37 AM -!- #linuxcnc mode set to +v by ChanServ
05:44 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> hmm since I have a custom tab now for the rapidchange atc, can I make the which I guess is the default name "user" into another?
05:44 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> I want the tab to be called Rapidchange instead 🙂
05:57 AM lcnc-relay: <lechner> Hi, can LinuxCNC do five axes?
07:33 AM Tom_L: lechner, it can do 9
07:34 AM Tom_L: http://linuxcnc.org/docs/stable/html/config/ini-config.html#sub:ini:sec:joint-num
07:53 AM Tom_L: odname_skane, look for the style sheet
07:54 AM Tom_L: https://forum.linuxcnc.org/qtvcp/43699-qtdragon-2-modifications
07:56 AM lcnc-relay: <lechner> thanks!
07:59 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> Tom there isnt one for this addon, it just uses the style that is applied
08:00 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> it feels like a default name, that qtdragon just user for user-changes
08:00 AM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> * use
08:03 AM lcnc-relay: <satiowadahc@> Looking for advice on a m6 remap. There is one G1 that is being skipped unless I pause before or after it.
08:06 AM lcnc-relay: <satiowadahc@> G4 P0.0001
08:06 AM lcnc-relay: G53 G0 Z#<rapid-height>
08:06 AM lcnc-relay: G4 P0.0001
08:06 AM lcnc-relay: Works
08:06 AM lcnc-relay: ... long message truncated: https://jauriarts.org/_heisenbridge/media/jauriarts.org/rVHhSLZnToqaeftMGrZCrqOe/hrbKD7w2aZg (6 lines)
08:06 AM lcnc-relay: <satiowadahc@> G53 G0 Z#<rapid-height>
08:06 AM lcnc-relay: Does not
08:06 AM lcnc-relay: <satiowadahc@> Sorry for repeated messages, apparently I forgot how to use a keyboard
08:08 AM Tom_L: satiowadach, what is the value of #<rapid-height> before and after the change?
08:09 AM Tom_L: lcnc doesn't generally skip gcode unless told to
08:09 AM Tom_L: and is it in G90 or G91? that might matter
08:10 AM lcnc-relay: <satiowadahc@> G90, -9.5 which is within limits
08:10 AM lcnc-relay: <satiowadahc@> adding the pauses makes it execute the line, If I add surrounding prints both prints get output
08:11 AM Tom_L: did you try a G91? incremental
08:13 AM Tom_L: make sure it's still within the limits since it will travel -9.5 instead of going to -9.5
08:13 AM Tom_L: try that as a test at least
08:14 AM lcnc-relay: <satiowadahc@> Alright, give me a bit.
08:14 AM lcnc-relay: <satiowadahc@> Does make me nervous when machines don't do what they are told to
08:14 AM Tom_L: it may travel further changing modes so do it cautiously
08:14 AM Tom_L: i've never seen linuxcnc skip gcode unless instructed to
08:16 AM lcnc-relay: <satiowadahc@> Does it make a difference in remap?
08:16 AM Tom_L: no
08:16 AM Tom_L: remap is just a subroutine
08:16 AM Tom_L: unless you add .py to the mix
08:17 AM lcnc-relay: <satiowadahc@> https://github.com/LinuxCNC/linuxcnc/blob/cb18af7440fdcc68eb486929ac233d0c778955cc/configs/sim/axis/remap/rack-toolchange/nc_subroutines/rack_change.ngc
08:17 AM lcnc-relay: Its effectively the same as this routine, I was tempted to try M78 and G61.1 but its a new to me command
08:18 AM Tom_L: M78 is custom
08:18 AM Tom_L: http://linuxcnc.org/docs/stable/html/gcode/g-code.html#gcode:g61.1
08:18 AM Tom_L: G61.1 is exact stop
08:20 AM Tom_L: or did you mean M73
08:20 AM Tom_L: http://linuxcnc.org/docs/stable/html/gcode/m-code.html#mcode:m73
08:24 AM Tom_L: M73 just restores the modal state prior to the call
08:26 AM lcnc-relay: <satiowadahc@> I was thinking exact stop might get rid of the need for pauses/queuebusters. Operators were nervous it would remove G64 for path blending. I see they use M73 in the rack_change so hoping that will restore G64 afterwards?
08:26 AM Tom_L: M73 will restore the modal state prior to the call
08:27 AM Tom_L: i don't think i've ever used it but that's what it does
08:28 AM Tom_L: if you're concerned, put a G64 at the bottom of the change sub
08:29 AM Tom_L: or monitor the active codes
08:29 AM Tom_L: dunno what gui you use but i have those at the bottom of my screen
08:29 AM Tom_L: http://tom-itx.no-ip.biz:443/~webpage/cnc/JT-SHOP/flexgui/touch-probe3.png
08:34 AM Tom_L: you might actually consider turning path blending off in the sub and restoring it upon exit
08:34 AM Tom_L: see if that helps
08:39 AM Tom_L: adding pause fixes it, makes me wonder if path blending is interferring
08:48 AM Tom_L: maybe M73 at the start of the sub
08:48 AM Tom_L: G61 right after that
08:49 AM Tom_L: and upon exit M73 will restore the G64
08:49 AM Tom_L: if i read that correctly
08:50 AM lcnc-relay: <zincboy_ca_on@> I have had all sorts of weird behavior using M73. I removed it from all of my subs and do my own modal store/restore.
08:50 AM Tom_L: if i needed that i would probably do the same thing
08:51 AM Tom_L: can you tell if path blending is on upon entry?
08:51 AM Tom_L: he may have some programs that don't use it
08:53 AM lcnc-relay: <zincboy_ca_on@> I don't think the status of G64 is available in the g code interpreter. It would need to be tracked by the user.
08:54 AM lcnc-relay: <satiowadahc@> M6 is a remap... programs come from cam. I'm just the guy who builds machines so I never see the day to day.
08:56 AM Tom_L: adding the pause might be the answer if G64 state is unsure
08:56 AM Tom_L: it's a tool change.... they're always slow :)
08:59 AM Tom_L: using G61.1 might interfere as well.
09:00 AM Tom_L: it wouldn't be the first time i saw a pause in a toolchange sub
09:01 AM Tom_L: and you're not going to notice a .0001 pause
09:09 AM lcnc-relay: <satiowadahc@> It's a 30'x80' mill. I think the x travel will take longer than the tool change
09:12 AM Tom_L: gantry?
09:14 AM -!- #linuxcnc mode set to +v by ChanServ
09:14 AM Unterhaus_ is now known as Unterhausen
09:24 AM lcnc-relay: <satiowadahc@> Yeah. Two y axis, one has a facing head and the other a 5 axis spindle.
11:22 AM lcnc-relay: <voiditswarranty@> not really cnc, but crosses enough venn diagrams of the people in here I thought I'd mention this. I burned out a motor in one of those ubiquitous manual mill addon power feeds, and found 1970's electronics techniques inside a basically brand new unit. Couldn't stomach paying another $300 for more 1970's neon tube based current limiting circuitry and wanted a slower feed than it could provide anyaway, so I shoved a spare...
11:22 AM lcnc-relay: ... nema34 stepper I had on the shelf and wrote a little driver to run it with an RP2040. Wrong tool for the job sure, but if anyone needs to control a stepper motor in velocity mode instead of position mode, I wrote a library for the pi pico rp2040. Probably works fine on the RP2340 too.
11:22 AM lcnc-relay: https://github.com/digiexchris/PIOStepperSpeedController
11:22 AM lcnc-relay: nearly done the power feed controller software that uses it:
11:22 AM lcnc-relay: https://github.com/digiexchris/PicoMillPowerFeed
11:36 AM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> neat!
12:30 PM JT-Shop: https://forum.linuxcnc.org/27-driver-boards/46911-mesa-hm2-hm2-7i96s-0-error-finishing-read?start=310#322755
12:56 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> well - the hd for my irc client booted in a second gen i3. I guess it is running ubuntu 18.04
12:56 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> updating now.
12:56 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> it was my mythtv frontend when I was goofing with that.
01:06 PM skunkworks: hey!
01:09 PM xxcoder: yo
01:09 PM xxcoder: lol https://static.mastodon.nz/media_attachments/files/114/068/777/637/053/301/original/3ab67fde08f2b5ca.mp4
01:09 PM xxcoder: good solution to illegal parking
01:15 PM skunkworks: now to setup a static ip and punching a hole through the router.
02:42 PM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> is there a specific discord or irc to talk about qt-dragon? 😄
02:43 PM xxcoder: not really I think? closest is qtpyvcp
02:43 PM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> or this might be a more generic question, trying to get tool touchoff to work, in theory with that I should be able to get 2 different tools to zero at the same spot right?
02:43 PM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> different length etc
02:44 PM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> I touch off T1 and it gets a Z value, then with T2 it gets another, then it should be able to think, it differs 5mm etc and adjust for it?
02:52 PM lcnc-relay: <oddname_skane@> am I assuming correctly?
03:06 PM JT-Shop: the way I touch off z tools is to touch them all off to a fixture then touch off the master to the material
04:43 PM lcnc-relay: <skunkworks8841@> I do so much one offs - I just touch each tool off to the part with a 1/2 dowel pin. (but I am lazy about setting up a tool table)
04:46 PM JT-Shop: yup on my bp knee mill I do the same but on the VMC and CHNC I set them
06:34 PM Tom_L: https://x.com/TungaloyJapan/status/1894900278928753007
06:34 PM Tom_L: what holds the stock while it's moving?
06:35 PM xxcoder: another collet internal to that I think
06:35 PM xxcoder: think that spot as it cuts as "steadyrest" since holder is deeper inside
06:36 PM xxcoder: watched a swiss lathe like that one and it was pretty amazing. its also quite long machine
06:37 PM bjorkintosh: electromagnet mey be
06:37 PM Tom_L: it's brass
06:37 PM xxcoder: yep brass care anout about magnets ;)
06:37 PM xxcoder: *not about
06:39 PM xxcoder: anyway for a hmm 9? 10? feet long machine, swiss machine work volume is quite small. maybe 18 inches long, inch diameter
06:40 PM xxcoder: length is without the stock hopper which doubles length
06:49 PM bjorkintosh: hmm. strong, tiny hands then.
06:50 PM xxcoder: nah just collet as usual
06:50 PM xxcoder: its just positioned back into machine
07:01 PM lcnc-relay: <thorhian@> Swiss machines use collets. It means you need to be careful with how much you remove and how far before finishing off the part in a sub spindle/parting off.
07:01 PM lcnc-relay: <big_kevin420@> yeah theres sometimes wither 2 collets or fancy bushing
07:05 PM lcnc-relay: <captainhindsight_.@> https://www.etsy.com/listing/1436426711/strong-hand-replica strong enough?
11:26 PM xxcoder: ohh good one. robinson casting https://youtu.be/vXC_rSEwnGI
11:33 PM CloudEvil: Now, coal.