A good Barebones PC for real time LinuxCNC
14 Oct 2019 21:01 - 14 Oct 2019 21:20 #147887
by LuisGZ
A good Barebones PC for real time LinuxCNC was created by LuisGZ
I've been running some tests the past couple of weeks with LinuxCNC real time kernel, a Mesa 7i76e and a couple of old desktop computers just to try them out. Both of them gave me awful latency (+100k jitter), so I started testing a barebones pc (Gigabyte Brix 3150) and it was somewhat better but still bad (70k), even when I disabled most of the addon bios features.
I'm thinking on trying an Intel NUC next, but maybe you guys have some better advice?
Edit: And additional note, I'm running the Gigabyte Brix with LinuxMint due to LinuxCNC on Debian 2.9 freezing randomly in the live cd and in the actual installed system. Anyone experiencing something similar?
I'm thinking on trying an Intel NUC next, but maybe you guys have some better advice?
Edit: And additional note, I'm running the Gigabyte Brix with LinuxMint due to LinuxCNC on Debian 2.9 freezing randomly in the live cd and in the actual installed system. Anyone experiencing something similar?
Last edit: 14 Oct 2019 21:20 by LuisGZ.
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14 Oct 2019 21:25 #147889
by tommylight
Replied by tommylight on topic A good Barebones PC for real time LinuxCNC
None of them are bad !
Since you have the Mesa card, make a simple test config with a stepgen or two and leave it on.
If Linuxcnc does not report loss of connection, you are good to go.
Since you have the Mesa card, make a simple test config with a stepgen or two and leave it on.
If Linuxcnc does not report loss of connection, you are good to go.
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14 Oct 2019 21:40 #147890
by LuisGZ
Replied by LuisGZ on topic A good Barebones PC for real time LinuxCNC
Is that so? I was under the impression a good candidate should be under 30,000 nanoseconds. Talking about my setup, I've ran long simulation paths with just 3 steppers and it never reported loss of connection, then I used an old minirouter to try a real setup and it has been working well.
I'm guess I'm being wary of the upcoming step, mounting everything on a plasma cutter and run the steppers at high velocities, I'm not sure what to expect with this setup. Should I give it a go?
I'm guess I'm being wary of the upcoming step, mounting everything on a plasma cutter and run the steppers at high velocities, I'm not sure what to expect with this setup. Should I give it a go?
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14 Oct 2019 21:49 #147891
by tommylight
Replied by tommylight on topic A good Barebones PC for real time LinuxCNC
Yes, yes and OH YES !
I have machines working with software stepping and base period set at 100000, happily for several years on a parallel port, they never miss a beat, ever.
This laptop i am typing on has 100 to 120K and i left it working for 5 full days with a Mesa 7i92, never fails.
Latency is very manageable even for software step generation, granted no high speeds are needed.
Mesa boards can easily do 10MHz step rates, over the network, with quite bad latency ( well under 200K tested so far ).
Stop overthinking and make the machine move, and cut parts, and enjoy.
I have machines working with software stepping and base period set at 100000, happily for several years on a parallel port, they never miss a beat, ever.
This laptop i am typing on has 100 to 120K and i left it working for 5 full days with a Mesa 7i92, never fails.
Latency is very manageable even for software step generation, granted no high speeds are needed.
Mesa boards can easily do 10MHz step rates, over the network, with quite bad latency ( well under 200K tested so far ).
Stop overthinking and make the machine move, and cut parts, and enjoy.
The following user(s) said Thank You: thefabricator03, LuisGZ
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14 Oct 2019 22:28 #147894
by LuisGZ
Replied by LuisGZ on topic A good Barebones PC for real time LinuxCNC
That's relieving to know, thanks! Then, with your blessing, I shall kick off the project.
Just one last thing, lately I have been getting this warning when LinuxCNC starts, should I look into it?
Just one last thing, lately I have been getting this warning when LinuxCNC starts, should I look into it?
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14 Oct 2019 22:47 #147898
by tommylight
Replied by tommylight on topic A good Barebones PC for real time LinuxCNC
Now that will not work ! That error can not be ignored as the latency was over 1000000 !
Did you disable everything not needed in BIOS?
Did you disable everything not needed in BIOS?
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14 Oct 2019 22:51 - 14 Oct 2019 22:52 #147900
by thefabricator03
Replied by thefabricator03 on topic A good Barebones PC for real time LinuxCNC
I had that error when I first started when I was trying to use a old pc with a air cpu cooler that did not have a fan attached. The computer was throttling it self down to prevent the cpu overheating giving me latency issues.
Also what is that GUI that you are using?
Also what is that GUI that you are using?
Last edit: 14 Oct 2019 22:52 by thefabricator03.
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15 Oct 2019 00:12 #147906
by LuisGZ
Replied by LuisGZ on topic A good Barebones PC for real time LinuxCNC
I disabled a couple of options more in the bios, and set up the fan at full speed. So far no message, I'll test it some more to make sure the warning stays off.
About the GUI, its Gmoccapy and PlasmaC with a system skin (joy blue), and some custom icons. I plan to redoing all of it, but I need to make sure the hardware works fine first
About the GUI, its Gmoccapy and PlasmaC with a system skin (joy blue), and some custom icons. I plan to redoing all of it, but I need to make sure the hardware works fine first
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15 Jul 2020 06:49 #174688
by RotarySMP
Replied by RotarySMP on topic A good Barebones PC for real time LinuxCNC
Are you still using the Gigabyte Brix 3150? I have one, but it is also freezing up under Debian 9. Without even starting LinuxCNC, as I am still trying to configure the PC.
Mark
Mark
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15 Jul 2020 12:38 - 15 Jul 2020 12:38 #174745
by LuisGZ
Replied by LuisGZ on topic A good Barebones PC for real time LinuxCNC
That's right, still freezing with Debian 9. I just switched to Linux Mint. Its a considerably longer process to install base Linux Mint and patch it with RTOS, there's a guide on Gnipsel.com
In this way you have to install everything from scratch, including LinuxCNC, but also you can choose which branch of LinuxCNC you would like to use.
In this way you have to install everything from scratch, including LinuxCNC, but also you can choose which branch of LinuxCNC you would like to use.
Last edit: 15 Jul 2020 12:38 by LuisGZ.
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