G2Core & GOKO

[Kitwn]

I've been using LinuxCNC quite happily for a few years now but want to get away from needing a dedicated PC in my very small workshop, especially one requiring an antiquated parallel port. I've also found that the pulse timing from this machine, as with any controller relying on a conventional operating system to calculate when the pulses should occur, to be less than perfect and I'd like to see what improvements to noise and vibration I can get from a dedicated controller card able to produce accurately timed pulses. The plan is to have a small board built into the motor-controller box (suitably screened!) which I can talk to via USB with my lap-top when required, thus freeing up precious bench space when I'm not actually making chips.

Not being one to spend more money than I have to, my chosen hardware/software solution is the G2Core software from Synthetos running on an Arduino DUE board for the controller itself and GOKO as the software to handle sending it G-code and other operating instructions. A breakout board from Djuke.nl sits on the Due to connect the motor drivers, limit switches etc. All the software is available free and the Arduino Due board (or a clone thereof) and the breakout can be bought for only a few tens of dollars each. Links are below.

The G2Core software is an offshoot of the software Sythetos use for their TinyG controller board. The TinyG isn't suitable for my needs and the new software is too advanced for the TinyG itself to run, having some very advanced acceleration behaviour intended to reduce jerkiness even at increased speed. This is explained further in the wiki link below. Unfortunately this software is very much a work in progress and there is no one-size-fits-all package you can easily download and install. Part of the reason for starting this thread is to catalogue my progress in making a working controller for my cnc router and hopefully make it easier for others to follow me. I will undoubtedly be asking for help as well.

The linked video shows where I'm up to (I couldn't get a direct link to work but the URL is below). I'll be adding more details about the G2Core software and how to get it working later. Goko has some features dedicated for use with G2Core which is why I chose it.

Kit

https://goko.fr/
https://github.com/synthetos/g2/wiki
https://www.djuke.nl/en/products?pag...product_id=406