GearHeads Forum

Posted: **Tue Jun 23, 2015 3:02 pm**

I have two laser engravers/cutters that have stepper motors on the platform/z axis. I have been wondering why there is no software available to control the up/down while engraving in the XY coordinates? All the laser software I see is for two axis with the Z being set to the focus point and then left there. I have a friend that has been making wooden jewelry boxes with a domed top. He has been machining the dome using a 5 axis DIY machine. But he want to use a laser to do some of the intricate engraving where tools bits would be to big. It would seem to me that mach3 could be used to control the three axis and laser using G code. So my real question is why hasn't this been done before?

On another subject I recently purchased a raspberry pi 2 that has a quad core and is rated at 1 Ghz but is actually around 920mHz. What caught my attention is that MS has released a win10 OS for the Raspberry pi2 and for some other small Micro controllers. I have thought that if win10 can run mach3 then using a USB interface like the UC100 or an Ethernet SS then a small standalone PC would be nice to replace some big shop pc's. Any comments?

Dan mauch

Posted: **Thu Jun 25, 2015 2:23 am**

it can be done if M3 will work with win 10, then pi plus screen plus key board or touch screen plus motion devices. it has been done with a different single board computer it was post on the M3 forum sometime ago the person said it worked well.

it is a good idea it would be good if M4 could work with a single board computer plus touch screen and motion devices

Posted: **Thu Jun 25, 2015 11:19 am**

Hi Dan(s)

Well, I wasnt going to mention it, but Im working on a new module called "LaserGear". This module is a cnc motion control
module. It is beign designed specifically for lasers and impact engravers to do a couple things not possible in any other
program, firstly control power during motion, and secondly have a focus axis so a laser can do topological work.

This is all because I am now in Win7, not XP, I can no longer use my printer port driver, and I have no access to plugins
for other devices in M3 or 4. To sync output like power and focus one needs to do it in the motion plugin.. so, since I no
loner can do it in Darwin, Gearotic will soon ( hopefully) have a cnc module of its own that can do these things.

To do this I had to pick hardware.. I dont like to play favorites, but I have settled on the PoKeys57cnc. Its usb, ethernet, and has
a c api for programming. Also the programmers at Pokeys are working with me to add the sync capabilites I need as I go. This module
will be my sandbox for cnc, allowing me to develop future plugins for mach4 in various areas as well. More importantly I'm hoping it
will set a protocol standard for Lasers in CNC, and perhaps be usefull as a 3d printing motor control module.

This work is in progress, but I cannot yet announce a release date. But in the end, my laser will be driven by Gearotic directly
via ethernet, or USB. Its the only way I can get the power I need. My Arduino project worked well for me, but now, since a
Pokeys can do PWM, it will not be required. All that will be needed is a Pokeys 57 and Gearotic.

Ill post video's as I get close as always.

Art

Posted: **Thu Jun 25, 2015 8:52 pm**

Two in 5 voices is my head

asked " will be ready tomorrow?" I argued against them but lost!
My other voices simply say keep us informed. It exciting.

Dan Mauch

Posted: **Thu Jun 25, 2015 11:32 pm**

did you have to go with that one O well just have to use the arduino. looks like I wont be able to plug my G540 into it I new you would be changing I was hopeing a ESS or PDMX

time to start save then

Posted: **Fri Jun 26, 2015 1:02 am**

Dan:

The decision to use the PoKeys wasnt a hard on in this case for a couple reasons,
first, it has a motion engine, Arduino's , though handy, are not fast enough for
what I need to do. Secondly, it has a C library for programers, it is unique in that,
Thirdly, it has a built in utility for PLC operations with a well designed graphic program
where you just drop and place AND, OR gates and such and download programs into it. This
capability runs in parallel with whatever software may be controlling it. This is like
having Brains built in from Mach3.

Its top speed of 125khz for the Pokeys57cnc makes it twice as fast as my printer port.

The PMDX and ESS are great boards, I like them both, but they are not at a point in
their development where I can as easily attach to them. ( I am designing this so that other
baords "could" be used in future if the protocols do get taken up.), but for design and testing,
Im using 4 different Pokeys, the Pokeys 56u and 56e should work for 3 axis motion and digital bit output
during motion, while the 57U and 57E woudl work for 3 axis with variable on the fly PWM manipulations
(thus allowing power manipulation during motion. ) the 57CNC is both usb and ethernet and should work with 8 axis.

I dont recommend anyone getting a device specifically for this as of yet, Im in the middle of the
screen designer ( the old chicken and egg problem ) , and it will be awhile before I report full motion
,at this point the program only displays test screen controls and attaches to all Pokeys in a system.
Id also point out, this will not be a full implementation of the GCode side of a controller, it is being
written specifically for Lasers and engravers, specifically because I have a laser and it NEEDS a solution
to handle the exact things Dan was asking about. Focus and Power during motion.

The good thing I suppose is that anyone with a pokeys can use Mach3 , Mach4 AND gearotics controller when
it is done. What works well in Gearotic will likely end up in Mach at some point. Ive done quite a bit
of coding over time that has never been used or was just research. ( 3d from webcam was 4 years in
my projects folders for example). I have a 6 axis, 6th order Quintic planner I almost completed and was tested in
Quantum, I intend to use that for motion which means Ill have to finish its pause function. The Screen is a design
idea from the days of Mach2 ( which probably few remember. ), mixed with things Im learning this summer from GDI+
graphics.

Anyway, thats the plan, I woudlnt rush to get ready, this is very experimental, as most of my summer projects
are. This is a standalone program which will be callable only from the Gearotic Tools screen as a module.

Posted: **Fri Jun 26, 2015 3:28 am**

its all cool art the hope for ESS is that I will have to add a laser to my dad`s machine when I have it working on the emco and it does a good job I will just have to get my arise into gear to get the electric wheel chair addon`s finished to pay for what will be needed in a year or what ever.

it`s all good I will just make do to my xp computer blows up and do the change over then I will have to get gearotic any way for the scanner, gray scale, and laser when done.

if I can use one of the other podkey board`s it would be good in the long run what ever you say is good I will go with that

thanks for all your cool stuff you do art

Posted: **Mon Jul 27, 2015 4:38 am**

Hay art I would be keen to have a play with the screen set it looks quite good

Posted: **Mon Jul 27, 2015 11:59 am**

Hi Dan ( et al.)

Here is a link to the screen designer shoudl anyone like to play with it.

http://www.gearotic.com/linkcnt/click.php?id=7

Art

Posted: **Sun Aug 30, 2015 2:41 pm**

It's been a couple months since you started this thread on 3D laser engraving and was wondering if you will have it done before you put on your gearotic hat and return to that.
Dan Mauch

ArtF wrote: Dan:

The decision to use the PoKeys wasnt a hard on in this case for a couple reasons,
first, it has a motion engine, Arduino's , though handy, are not fast enough for
what I need to do. Secondly, it has a C library for programers, it is unique in that,
Thirdly, it has a built in utility for PLC operations with a well designed graphic program
where you just drop and place AND, OR gates and such and download programs into it. This
capability runs in parallel with whatever software may be controlling it. This is like
having Brains built in from Mach3.

Its top speed of 125khz for the Pokeys57cnc makes it twice as fast as my printer port.

The PMDX and ESS are great boards, I like them both, but they are not at a point in
their development where I can as easily attach to them. ( I am designing this so that other
baords "could" be used in future if the protocols do get taken up.), but for design and testing,
Im using 4 different Pokeys, the Pokeys 56u and 56e should work for 3 axis motion and digital bit output
during motion, while the 57U and 57E woudl work for 3 axis with variable on the fly PWM manipulations
(thus allowing power manipulation during motion. ) the 57CNC is both usb and ethernet and should work with 8 axis.

I dont recommend anyone getting a device specifically for this as of yet, Im in the middle of the
screen designer ( the old chicken and egg problem ) , and it will be awhile before I report full motion
,at this point the program only displays test screen controls and attaches to all Pokeys in a system.
Id also point out, this will not be a full implementation of the GCode side of a controller, it is being
written specifically for Lasers and engravers, specifically because I have a laser and it NEEDS a solution
to handle the exact things Dan was asking about. Focus and Power during motion.

The good thing I suppose is that anyone with a pokeys can use Mach3 , Mach4 AND gearotics controller when
it is done. What works well in Gearotic will likely end up in Mach at some point. Ive done quite a bit
of coding over time that has never been used or was just research. ( 3d from webcam was 4 years in
my projects folders for example). I have a 6 axis, 6th order Quintic planner I almost completed and was tested in
Quantum, I intend to use that for motion which means Ill have to finish its pause function. The Screen is a design
idea from the days of Mach2 ( which probably few remember. ), mixed with things Im learning this summer from GDI+
graphics.

Anyway, thats the plan, I woudlnt rush to get ready, this is very experimental, as most of my summer projects
are. This is a standalone program which will be callable only from the Gearotic Tools screen as a module.

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