Anyone know if LinuxCNC can run a tool changer with limit switches etc? I didn't see a clear answer at the web site as to what you have to do. Looks like the PLC would be a separate app under Linux.
Jon Elson, are you lurking out there somewhere?
-- Ken
"The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits."
( Crossposted to rec.crafts.metalworking )
Limit switches for axes are easy. EMC (the actual program that LinuxCNC is the web page for) supports limit and home switches quite well.
Tool changers are a bit more complicated. There has been a lot of work on this, but it still hasn't been made easy. There are a couple of ways to do it. The hard way, but maybe worth it if you are going to make many of them, is to code up something, either using the ClassicLadder program that is partially integrated with EMC, or in C code, that will do all the sequencing through some I/O points. The other way is to use some generic interfacing that several other people have used to give the most concise info to a PLC, and have all the sequencing and interlocking done by the PLC. The PLC only needs to know the next tool number, and when to start a tool change cycle. EMC just needs to know when it is done (or when the PLC has run into a problem, and can't do it.)
When EMC2 is finished, and the "HAL" layer is fully implemented and connected to everything in EMC, this will become much easier to do.
Jon
Thanks Jon,
Any idea of when EMC2 may be available?
Know anyone in L.A. that might write something for a tool changer?
-- Ken
"The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits."
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