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Topic: DNC-X ARM Support?

By: GuestPosted on: May 18 2015 at 06:59:32 PM
Hi there, I wanted to know if DNC-X will run on an ARM based set up like a Raspberry Pi.

By: GuestPosted on: May 18 2015 at 08:09:27 PM
PC Only

By: GuestPosted on: May 18 2015 at 08:35:39 PM
So x86 architecture only?

By: GuestPosted on: May 18 2015 at 09:46:36 PM
Correct.

By: Robert Cartwright, Aero-Plastics, Inc.Posted on: Sep 11 2015 at 03:58:48 PM
I would like to strongly express a suggestion, build one for ARM. Utilizing a Raspberry Pi to host DNC software for CNC controllers is the next most logical step in the evolution of keeping older CNC equipment up with the pace. IoT and Industry 4.0 is here, so don't fall too far behind.

By: Robert Cartwright, Aero-Plastics, Inc.Posted on: Sep 17 2015 at 03:28:03 PM
Can i get source code so that I can recompile this for ARM support?

By: GuestPosted on: Sep 17 2015 at 06:25:58 PM
Not sure why you're so keen on Raspberry.

Maybe a couple of years ago but now you can get a windows tablet for less than a $100. Wifi, touch screen, usb to RS232. Job done.

By: GuestPosted on: Aug 12 2016 at 11:09:12 AM
Raspberry is interesting if you're a hobbyist and get some enjoyment out of putting your own PCB and LCD in your own custom case. But if you just want to hang a touchscreen device on the side of your CNC then a tablet running Windows 10 is a low cost, ready built solution.

If you intend to leave the tablet permanently stuck to the side of the CNC machine then find a tablet that has either more than one USB port or has a separate Power jack.

By: ArthurPosted on: Nov 3 2016 at 01:42:42 AM
I would love to get the source on this. I too would like to compile for a Pi. Is this at all possible?

By: GuestPosted on: Nov 12 2016 at 07:40:18 PM
Is it a possibility to get a version to be used with the Raspberry Pi? Is this something your working on? Can we get the source code?

By: SupportPosted on: Nov 12 2016 at 09:40:57 PM
What is the commercial benefit of using a PI over something like a $50 windows tablet?

By: ArthurPosted on: Nov 15 2016 at 04:17:33 PM
Commercially there is no benefit. But for people who love to tinker and make their own device, the Pi offers an extremely cost effective devices over a windows tablet. Is a windows tablet easier? For sure. But that's not really the reason people purchase a Pi.

I currently have a few of them deployed in our shop, strapped straight to the mills. from my desktop in the office I can trigger the Pi to load the program into the machine using python. It works. It's not the most elegant solution. I really enjoyed your product, so I would love to have that as a solution if it were possible.

By: GuestPosted on: Nov 22 2016 at 07:59:02 PM
Many old CNC machines will not run off a USB to RS232 converter...hence the interest in the RPi, which offers real serial connection. This kinda screws up the idea of the $100 windows tablet.

By: GuestPosted on: Nov 23 2016 at 05:39:01 PM
I couldn't get my 20 year old procass working with a new computer. New computers don't have RS232 ports so only option was a USB/RS232.

But I'm thinking the problem was the speed of the computer and the big buffering in the USB.

But using a low powered Windows 8 'Linx' tablet with USB/RS232 it works just fine.

By: GuestPosted on: Dec 29 2017 at 05:15:05 AM
The benefit of supporting Pi is there are obviously people in the market for it. Selling the idea of salvaging old Windows tablets is hardly an argument against new tech. Pi allows for actual RS-232 port, as opposed to USB dongles which are problematic in the real world of DNC/CNC communication.

I was here looking for something to buy. Leaving without buying anything.

By: GuestPosted on: Jan 1 2018 at 04:43:12 PM
I don't think anyone was suggesting you 'salvage old Windows tablets'. What's wrong with the brand new ones you can get at low cost nowadays.

I still maintain that PI is a device for people who like to tinker with electronics.

What is the advantage of a PI over something like an 8" or 10" tablet with full windows operating system, desktop, networking capability and the ability to run things like MS Office etc.

You said you were looking for something to 'Buy' but left without buying anything. How much were you expecting to pay? Probably nothing or just a few dollars. I fear the few 'pi' enthusiasts would not make it financially viable.

If it was financially viable (by that I mean enough copies sold to pay employees to do the work) then I'm sure they'd have done it by now.

By: Arrow22Posted on: Jan 7 2018 at 05:00:07 AM
Anyone who does not understand the value of a Rpi-Based Communications package does not understand the CNC manufacturing industry - Especially for older machines at older companies. The NEW platforms were designed by those who want to make things faster. Old machines could not get the information fast enough so safeguards were written to counter the shortcomings. Anyone pursuing this ave, email me. I used to work on the Dave project and not bad at signal processing. Also have a bunch of Okuma machines I can help test with.

By: GuestPosted on: Jan 8 2018 at 03:06:23 PM
Arrow22. I'm sure an Rpi based package could successfully communicate with an older CNC. But please explain why a low spec WIndows tablet would fail to communicate?

I'm not saying that you're wrong - but it would be good if you gave a reason for your statement.

By: MrtinPosted on: Jan 8 2018 at 03:20:33 PM
I think Arrow22 is suggesting that most modern computers are just too fast for some old CNC machines and that a low performance RPI is ideal for communicating with such older machines.

By: JohnOPosted on: Jan 8 2018 at 03:29:40 PM
@Mrtin. No that can't be the reason. Surely Arrow22 knows that each new Rpi board is faster than the previous one so that the Quad Core ARM processor in the current Rpi3 is actually a much higher spec (ie faster) that the usual dual core Intel Atom processor used in most Windows tablets.

If that were the reason the it would mean that a low end Windows tablet was actually the preferred choice for communicating with older CNC machines.

By: Arrow22Posted on: Jan 12 2018 at 03:13:10 PM
A tablet would work but the footprint of a Rpi especially with a 7" screen would be cheaper and easily mounted to any CNC. Rpi is a standard whereas windows tabs usually have so much running in the background that anything can interrupt the clocking. a "low-spec" rig would/has issues with continuous communications. The ARM processor is faster than most tabs out there but Linux generally runs clean especially from the CLI. The Rpi has the limitation of 1 gig memory and paging is SSLLOOWW.

By: Arrow22Posted on: Jan 12 2018 at 03:16:40 PM
would love to know if RemoDNC is considering a Linux-based version

By: SupportPosted on: Jan 12 2018 at 03:33:57 PM
We did release a version of easydnc for linux around 10 years ago. But the feedback we got was that nobody (and I mean nobody) wants to buy linux software so, from a commercial standpoint, it's not high on our list of priorities.

By: GuestPosted on: Jan 12 2018 at 03:37:26 PM
One question was asked above. How much would 'you' be willing to pay for a version of Remo working on RPI.

By: Arrow22Posted on: Jan 12 2018 at 05:03:41 PM
I would pay the 250 for a Linux version. More than likely, The Developers do not know how to port the Licensing Engine. Windows supports the one they are using quite well, Linux is a little more demanding.

By: Arrow22Posted on: Jan 15 2018 at 06:30:28 PM
I find it curious that no one has commented.

Started thinking about the numbers. There are those here that know how to recompile Source to a specific platform. Not too difficult but tedious. With that, If the developers decided to recompile (25 hours max?) they sell 10 licenses and it pays for itself.

By: SupportPosted on: Jan 16 2018 at 09:12:24 AM
It isn't just the time taken to compile the software.

If we were charging for support or selling support contracts then it would be different. But we offer LIFETIME support at ZERO COST. Some people purchased our DNC 20 years ago and haven't given us a cent since then and they still come back with questions and we still help them wherever we can.

Often the support we give is not directly related to our product. It's often related to the computer and the operating system. For example missing usb-rs232 device drivers etc. It's Windows so we know, within reason, what the user is looking at so even if the problem isn't directly related to our product we'll still help if we can.

But the RPI board is NOT a standard product. It has so many variations. So many different operating systems, add ons, types of display and other peripherals. It's basically a board for hobbyists and enthusiasts. You and many other people may know what they're doing when they build their own device. But just go browse the RPI forums and you'll find a lot of people who don't know what they're doing. For them it's an enjoyable learning experience and they're asking all manner of questions. I fear we'd be looking at an increase in support cases not directly related to our product. We'd be helping people to build their own device and that would not be covered by your 10 hypothetical licences.

By: Arrow22Posted on: Jan 17 2018 at 04:51:35 PM
is there any way the 10 year old version can be released as freeware? No support offered?

Supporting DNC for 20 years on a WinBox...
(Win3.1, 95, 98, ME, NT, XP, Vista, Win7, Win10)

Yes, I understand that the Rpi is intimidating to Windows Programmers but compared to the hardware Windows has been put on, The Pi is far more standard.

Thank you for your time though.

By: SupportPosted on: Jan 18 2018 at 12:20:50 PM
Easydnc for linux is freeware. Was release in 2007 i think but its built for x86.

None of our own sites offer that version but tu cows always had it available but i dont think you get it working in ARM.

By: Arrow22Posted on: Jan 18 2018 at 08:18:01 PM
How about the Source?
Do not give us the current stuff, you MUST have the last compiled for 2007.
Probably C, (please not VB)(joke) (not really)

Can you guys LET us continue to advance "a board for hobbyists and enthusiasts" by enforcing the GNU on software that MUST be credited to you?

I will go you one better: give us "enthusiasts" a chance: How much would the 2007 source code be? I'm sure we could do a go-fund-me page and you will see how many linux-based people will come out of the woodwork for something like this.

Anyone monitoring this thread please "bump" if interested. This will show these people how this could help us.

Addendum to followers of this thread:
I might be blowing smoke here, but I know the value this will have for the CNC community. If no one "bumps" this, I'm good too. Maybe this thread just enforces what the Developers believe.


By: SupportPosted on: Jan 19 2018 at 03:16:29 AM
@Arrow22

Sorry. Can't give out source. Company policy.

I also have a PI3 at home. santa brought it along with a breadboard and a load of wires and sensors. You and I are probably quite similar. I also enjoy fiddling with things. But therein lies one of the problems. Experience (many years of it) tells me that my fiddling is not commercially viable I do it in my free time because I enjoy doing it. If I had to do the Math and add up my hours and pay the bills with it then it wouldn't work. I'm sure there are engineers in machine shops up and down the country with a pi at home with wires hanging out of it in some unfinished project. Maybe with thoughts of using it somewhere in the shop - but, back in the shop, they're also under pressure to get their work done and out the door. Buying a $75 Windows 10 tablet off am*zon with next day delivery, in most cases, works right out the box.

Other problem is that I got my own pi specifically so I could take a closer look at Windows IOT. You're talking about Linux. If there was a common OS with a common API to a common set of peripherals then maybe it would work. But if we made a windows IOT version then that still wouldn't work on your Linux.

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