Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

KF6SNJ · Posted: Sat 24 May 2008, 01:00 Post subject: Anyone used coolcnc Puppy?

I am looking at a puppy based linux with the enhanced machine controller suite (emc) preinstalled on it. It is called coolcncb05. It can be found at:

http://dsplabs.utt.ro/~juve/emc/

I was wondering if anyone knows much about this derivative? I am thinking of remastering it as part of my robot project that I have been discussing off and on over in the off topic section. I am thinking that this may work for me, but I think it may need some work first. Thoughts? Opinions? Ideas? Stoning for heresy?

Lobster · Posted: Sat 24 May 2008, 01:25 Post subject:

I was unaware of this project
maybe the info / ISO can be hosted
and added to the new Puppy website

. . . there have been several hardware interfacings using Puppy
A submersible (search for Puppy submarine)
A vending machine
A robot dog (still being developed)

It looks like the linked package could do with upgrading . . .

Good luck Cool

KF6SNJ · Posted: Sat 24 May 2008, 02:04 Post subject:

Yes, I am still developing the robot dog. That is part of why I am interested in the program. The other reason is because I had not previously been aware of this derivative either. I will look into updating it as I have already downloaded and tested it. So I guess I would like to ask for some suggestions. One thought I had was to install it in a partition, use Puppy 4.0 to upgrade it and then use that to create a new ISO file. Would that work? I honestly don't know. I also considered installing Puppy 4.0 and then trying to compile the newest version of enhanced machine controller (emc2) on it and then create an ISO from that. I have already downloaded the tar file for the new version of the program, so I have it. Any thoughts?

muggins · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 6660 Location: lisbon

KF6SNJ

You could try pm'ing the person behind coolcnc, although they haven't been around the pupforum for awhile. But I'm sure they would still be active on the emc forum you linked to.

Can I ask you if you could "flesh" out what your logic is in going this route? I don't know anything much about cnc, or robots, but I'm curious as to how you envisage using coolcnc in your project.

Writing a program to control a stepper motor is no big deal, but is it that there will be several limbs, & several sensory inputs, and it needs a "conductor" to prioritise things etc.

KF6SNJ · Posted: Sat 24 May 2008, 10:38 Post subject:

Ok, fair enough question.

My robotics project only has two motors that are not generally standard computer peripherals. Those are the port and starboard drive motors (M1 and M2 respectively). These motors are to be placed side by side such that they work together to move the robot forward and backward and either one can be used independently to turn the robot. This creates a very tight turning radius.

I am looking the enhanced motor controller system itself as possibly being capable doing this. The fact that there is a puppy derivative that already comes with this shows me that it can definately be done using puppy as the base OS. The question now is whether or not the enhanced motor controller is the appropriate program for this or should I perhaps try and code something else that is more robot specific, though I have not tried my hand at programming anything more than web pages in years.

Thoughts and opinions are welcomed. Who knows, it could lead to forking this derivative into a new puppy? I am still learning.

KF6SNJ · Posted: Sun 25 May 2008, 00:40 Post subject:

Truthfully, I don't know if I am even capable of what I am considering, especially given my lack of practical programming experience. Perhaps I was wrong to even bring up this topic. Sorry.

John Doe · Joined: 01 Aug 2005 Posts: 1689 Location: Michigan, US

muggins · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 6660 Location: lisbon

I hope I haven't put you off by querying where coolcnc fits in your project. Maybe it's better to do this in modules, and not be overwhelmed by the complete project. Getting the motors functioning via software could be one sub-section. Do you already have the motors? Are they stepper motors?

muggins · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 6660 Location: lisbon

You've probably already seen this link for parallel port motor control?

big_bass · Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 1736

KF6SNJ · Posted: Sun 25 May 2008, 09:40 Post subject:

big_bass · Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 1736

KF6SNJ · Posted: Mon 02 Jun 2008, 10:47 Post subject:

Please let me ask a stupid question:

If I were going to attempt to remaster coolcnc into something more useful for my particular robotics project and yet include enough flexibility for others, where would I start? I have, obviously, downloaded and burned the iso to a disk and it works. What would I have to do next? Obviously I need to learn about dc motor control via a computer so I can either adapt the Enhance Machine Controller or else start writing my scripts for motor control.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

big_bass · Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 1736

jason.b.c · Joined: 08 Feb 2006 Posts: 751 Location: Marshfield,MO