beaglebone black, machinekit and autoleveller

[booski]

I've recently acquired a beaglebone black sbc with the intention of using it to replace my laptop with Linux cnc on it.

So far I have the bbb setup and running the machine kit image and linuxcnc working. I'm in the process of creating the config for my machine but so far it looks promising.

My question is, autoleveller uses variables when it's probing to store the saved data with linuxcnc. I have assumed that because I'm still using linuxcnc albeit on a sbc, that these variables will still be there. Is there any way too check without firing up the machine?

[daedelus]

Do you mean are the variables still an option on the linuxcnc version which is on the bbb? I presume the bbb linuxcnc is a cut down version of the full linuxcnc? Alas I know next to nothing about the bbb so cannot help here, sorry.

Looking at the bbb though, I am curious how you connect a parallel cable to it for linuxcnc. Do you have some sort of parallel port shield?

[booski]

Afaik, the Linux cnc on the bbb is a fully fledged version, no cutbacks. I've had it working and tested the io on my scope and it's very capable, even got the probe input working. I'm just assuming that it will work.

As for connecting to it, there are parallel capes for it but none available in the UK so I'm currently developing my own cape for use with it.

[daedelus]

Im intrigued

I have looked at similar options before but they all involve loosing linuxcnc and using some propitiatory software which would not be good for me and Autoleveller fans

[booski]

Well, this is why I went for this option. I managed get a bbb for less than retail and it's completely standalone, just plug in a monitor, keyboard, mouse and network. The machinekit image just needs to be put on an sd card or flashed to the emmc on the board which is fairly easy.

Once it's all running, the tricky bit is configuring the hal and ini files to your machine. I just used my original ini file for the information I needed to configure for my machine. As for the hal, I'm designing my own parallel interface board similar to the xylotex board and it should use xylotex hal config with a few tweaks for probing and additional io. Just need to finish the board design which I'm struggling with a little.

I was going to mill my own parallel interface board once I had it designed but I'm looking at 8-10 mil tracks, double sided and through hole plating, far beyond the reach of my or any cnc machining.

Might have to contact a pcb manufacturer and try and get a good deal on some boards