Gantry oxyfuel / plasma type machine from scratch

saxa wrote:

Hi RodW, many thanks for answering. Seems you are telling me to use an EtherCAT Beckhoff module for the THC ?

Should I be using only Beckhoff modules or can I go with any other producer, there is a lot of stuff out there. I was evaluating Triomotion modules for motion controll, IO and Analog IO. The Flexslice series (www.triomotion.com/public/products/flexsliceExpansion.php). Seems they should work with LinuxCNC.

Linux-CNC is the Ethercat master. You just need ethercat slaves. Have a look at the Beckhoff EK1100 and the many various modules that attach to it. Many of these modules have native support in LinuxCNC. There may be other brands of modules available but you would need to write the driver and you'd need to be sure they have 500v or so over voltage protection in case something goes wrong. Beckhoff and Mesa have that.

saxa wrote:

Can you share more details on what are you looking for to use for the retrofit ?
 

I have not yet started shopping for servos for my machine, but I plan to use ethercat servo drives. I'm thinking likely Stepperonline or Lichuan or Delta brand. For I/O I expect to use Mesa or Beckhoff EK1100 with EL1809 and EL2409. I've used both in multiple projects without any problems that I can remember.
If connecting multiple encoders I nearly always use Mesa because Beckhoff encoder counters are so much more expensive.

For slow cheap I/O I used to not like modbus, but tried it some more recently and am pleased how it is performing. This would not do for limit or homing switches, for those you'll want ethercat or Mesa for sure.

NWE wrote:

For slow cheap I/O I used to not like modbus, but tried it some more recently and am pleased how it is performing. This would not do for limit or homing switches, for those you'll want ethercat or Mesa for sure.
 

Thats interesting. I never thought of this either. If you look at this diagram in the docs. it clearly shows what can be run in non-real time mode
linuxcnc.org/docs/stable/html/code/code-...rchitecture_overview

So spindle, coolant and auxillary devices could be modbus and I can see modbus I/O modules locally for < AUD $50 for 16 inputs and 16 outputs. I'm might also play with some now there is good modbus support in hal