linuxcnc

[m79b01]

I am wondering if anyone has linuxcnc running their table. Not to long ago I had a windows "blue screen of death" on my Mach3 setup and what a pain to install Windows XP anymore. I am using a candcnc setup with the DTHC II. I read posts from them they were working on linuxcnc and it would be out by the end of the year. Talked to them today about other issues and it sounds like they haven't even started. I am a linux guy to the core but don't have the heart to set it all up on my own.

[tcaudle]

I would not say we have not started on the project. Any major engineering project (and this is one) starts with things like research, planning, group meetings and non-code things. Stuff like: what program will we use to develop the custom screens that will be needed and won't look like a 3rd grader drew them with a crayola. There is an extensive level of communications that will have to be ported including the drivers for our C3Bus USB to RS485. Then we have to look at what 3rd party card we would use for the Ethernet version (or do we go with a bus level CNC interface card?) Most of our users don't know the difference between Linux and a Bendix and we have to release a product that we can support (hard to do on something that is free).

At this point the demand for a LinuxCNC solution is miniscule and focus has to stay on what the market dictates. We continue to do the precursory steps above prior to writing code. We have a retrofit CNC mill we will bring up on LINUXCNC We have had a basic CNC router running with LinuxCNC and we have a retorfit CNC mill we will bring up on LINUXCNC for two years and there have been a couple of HALs written for our older MP1000 THC that would work with our hobby grade LCTHC but you would forgo all of the integration and automation features of our later MP3000 and the DTHCII /DTHCIV advanced products.

We use Linux in our design and engineering a lot but the office here still runs on Windows.

TOM C