Windows embedded (7) - repurposing a thin client PC

[Kitwn]

m_c,
Thank you so much for that, it's cleared up a lot including exactly what Clive S meant in this comment from a thread I started last year...

"I am not sure why you sure why knocking linuxcnc saying that it "especially one requiring an antiquated parallel port" as that is not true. Stick any Mesa card in it and you will have pulse timing as fast and accurate as you will need. If you want Ethernet connected card then use a 7i76e card."

I've had a look around for information on using LinuxCNC with a MESA card and came across a YouTuber called Marco Reps in Germany. Slightly eccentric (I liked him immediately) he has an interesting video on exactly that. It drags on a bit (14 mins) and the first minute or so are not relevant but he goes on to describe some of the tools in LinuxCNC which I had no clue about, some of which are only used when tuning servo drives. He recommends the MESA 6i24 card

Kit

PS I should probably appologise to Voicecoil for starting what has amounted to a complete hijack of his original thread.

[mekanik]

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O...1N3jGf6_9t-9mw

[m_c]

It's worth mentioning that the parallel port was a good option for many years, and is more than adequate for the vast majority of machines. The main reason I wouldn't recommend it now, is there are too many potential issues in getting it working. You need a suitable motherboard. You've got to make sure the port settings are correct. You've got to hope Mach/LinuxCNC will play nicely with the motherboard. In the case of Mach, you need a suitable version of Windows.
None of which are insurmountable, but it's all things that can potentially add additional time and cost to getting a machine running.

To me, it's worth spending the extra money on a dedicated motion controller, as it removes quite a bit of uncertainty from the setup process. Plus it usually means you get improved support to get it working in the first place.

I wouldn't get too hung up on the ideal theoretical option, as in practise, and as the parallel port proves, things can still work very well even if they're far from theoretically ideal.

Servo tuning is whole other topic, but most closed loop capable controllers will have some form of tuning tools available. Dynomotion/KFlop tools are pretty advanced, and let you plot/adjust all sorts of things. CS-labs include a tuning screen, but IIRC it's pretty basic. Galil you have to buy their GDK to get servo tuning.

[Doddy]

UCCNC on linux was a bit tongue in cheek, I’ve bought it and an UC300ETH for my mills, and would happily slave a couple of I/O for the lathe as well... but it doesn’t do Lathes well. The only reason I have any windows boxAnywhere in the house now is for UCCNC. I do most of the CAD/CAM in the warmth and use the cloud to transfer from Mac to windows in the shed where it gets final fettle before cutting.

Parallel ports?, if they work they can be reliable, they/the signaling doesn’t scare me. If I could find a reliable but cheap Ethernet motion controller for Linux CNCdrive then I will but first stop is trialling Linux CNC in anger before committing to a rabbit hole technology. My plan is to avoid windows where possible.

[Kitwn]

Doddy,
Using parallel ports has to be on the way out, it's still a cheap starting option for amateurs but it can't last. Trouble is there are now several other options available at various price levels with no clear winner for the inexperienced to choose.

[Doddy]

Doddy,
Using parallel ports has to be on the way out, it's still a cheap starting option for amateurs but it can't last. Trouble is there are now several other options available at various price levels with no clear winner for the inexperienced to choose.

Engineering is the art of doing for ten shillings what any fool can do for a pound. :-)

[Kitwn]

Engineering is the art of doing for ten shillings what any fool can do for a pound. :-)

And for those of us who only have ten shillings available for this specific part of the project, the seventeen-and-sixpence solution is not an option. And having now totally confused all of our non-UK readers and all of our under-50-yearold UK readers, I'm done for today.

Kit