Re:The Last i486 Online
by Gracana on Wednesday March 16, 2022 @10:25AM
(#30699226)
You may be able to use a "drip feed" / DNC (direct numeric control) system, where NC code is fed to your machine from an external controller. At a previous company we had a modern PC on the network, with connections to ethernet COM port modules installed on the CNC machines. You'd choose a program for a machine, set up the machine controller to run a program from tape (or somesuch.. it depends on the controller), cycle start.. boom, you're running a large program over the network. It's a very handy solution.
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Re:The Last i486 Online
by Brian_K_White on Wednesday March 16, 2022 @01:23PM
(#30701537)
Sounds like Klipper but for cnc.
The scheme is a huge win on 3d printers even though it adds a component to the system (generally a bad thing all else being equal, but all else is not equal).
Even when you aren't talking about being stuck with some old proprietary and limited controller & firmware but can buy powerful new wide open controllers and load your own up to date open source firmware on them, it still ends up being even better to have the minimal klipper firmware on the controller and do all the real work on a host.