Once you load up a Gcode program into LinuxCNC you can control the
start/pause/stop of the program remotely.
I've done this via Modbus from a PLC. Now you can do this via Modbus
TCP via Ethernet. I retrofitted an automatically loaded waterjet years
ago. It feeds sheets of foam onto a chainlink conveyor bed under a
waterjet CNC machine which is run by LinuxCNC. The PLC handles all of
the surrounding controls for the waterjet pump, valves, etc, while
LinuxCNC runs the Gcode that cuts out the sheets. You tell the
machine how many sheets to cut out and it feeds sheets and runs the
program until it completes the run.
I used a VCP panel to set the counter in the PLC. There is a lot of
interaction between the PLC and LinuxCNC via Modbus. I used Classic
Ladder to make the PLC to LinuxCNC connection. Its been running for
years now. The Siemens S7-1200, and I believe the S7-1500 PLC will run
Modbus TCP directly via the built in Ethernet port.
So you can do this with with LinuxCNC as it is.
I think you can run VNC with LinuxCNC or run a remote X session, so you
can log onto different LinuxCNC computers if you want to reload
programs, make changes, etc remotely as well.
You might be able to run the machines from home! ;-)
Dave
On 12/11/2017 12:05 PM, Todd Zuercher wrote:
I've been mulling an idea over in my head. Seeking ideas and opinions.
I work with wood carving machines, doing large production runs in a factory
setting. In order to increase production speed we have several large
multi-spindle gang router machines. These are big and expensive custom built
contraptions.
I've been seeing these very inexpensive Chinese CNCs. (We could buy a dozen of
them for the price of one of our big custom machines.) And some of them don't
even look half bad, in pictures at least.
My idea, instead of having 1 huge multi spindle machine, what if we tried
putting multiple small inexpensive machines side by side and controlled them as
one machine. For example have 4 small 3ftx4ft routers lined up. I think I'd
still like to have each machine have it's own Linuxcnc PC and they would be
networked together. One of the PCs would be the master control and have the
HMI. Arrange so that all 4 machines can be moved together as one, starting and
running the same part program simultaneously, but also be able to do some
things independently on each machine, like touching off, homing, jogging... I
might even want the option to be able to operate each or selected machines
independently at times if that might be convenient for the job(s) at hand or if
one of them breaks down.
How possible do you guys think this idea might be?
How big of a stumbling block is the remote control of multiple instances of
Linuxcnc by a single user-interface going to be?
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