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Is anybody using EtherCAT?

 

After seeing a LinuxCNC video on EtherCAT last year, it intrigued me enough to purchase a set of EtherCAT closed loop steppers, and a couple Beckhoff modules to do some testing, as I like the idea of simpler wiring.

However after going through three different setups (RPi 4, older mini-ITX mobo out my mill, and an Odroid H3+), all it resulted in was realising LinuxCNC has various issues, and a flaw in the EtherCAT stack whereby the first drive wouldn't initialise unless you started the master before plugging in the Cat cable.
The EtherCAT drives have since been sat on my testing bench while I weigh up options.

Now I've seen the This Old Tony vid where he installs the Automation Technology/IntervalZero/Kingstar setup, but they only sell that as a complete turnkey system, so by the time it gets shipped over the pond, it works out quite expensive. I would have been interested if they were to do this as a software only option, but that doesn't appear to be an option.
The other option I'm aware of is the Vital EC01, however I can't seem to find anybody who's actually used that system.

So is there anybody who has an EtherCAT setup running Mach?
If so, what setup are you using, and would you recommend it?

At the moment, I've got a router planned, which I'd be willing to spend the extra on EtherCAT servos for, but I want a reliable test setup before committing to that.

Thanks
 

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Hi,

We have been running it here for 5 years :) In the past 2 years we have been doing capacitance height sensing for fiber laser and that has been working very well!

The PC's that will not effect the timing are a bit of a pain. another good option is to look at the Ethercat board from Vital systems :


Thanks

Brian


______________________________

Brian Barker
Engineering / Development
ArtSoft | Newfangled Solutions
Livermore Falls, Maine (USA)
Webpage:
On 5/30/2023 2:57 PM, moray via groups.io wrote:

After seeing a LinuxCNC video on EtherCAT last year, it intrigued me enough to purchase a set of EtherCAT closed loop steppers, and a couple Beckhoff modules to do some testing, as I like the idea of simpler wiring.

However after going through three different setups (RPi 4, older mini-ITX mobo out my mill, and an Odroid H3+), all it resulted in was realising LinuxCNC has various issues, and a flaw in the EtherCAT stack whereby the first drive wouldn't initialise unless you started the master before plugging in the Cat cable.
The EtherCAT drives have since been sat on my testing bench while I weigh up options.

Now I've seen the This Old Tony vid where he installs the Automation Technology/IntervalZero/Kingstar setup, but they only sell that as a complete turnkey system, so by the time it gets shipped over the pond, it works out quite expensive. I would have been interested if they were to do this as a software only option, but that doesn't appear to be an option.
The other option I'm aware of is the Vital EC01, however I can't seem to find anybody who's actually used that system.

So is there anybody who has an EtherCAT setup running Mach?
If so, what setup are you using, and would you recommend it?

At the moment, I've got a router planned, which I'd be willing to spend the extra on EtherCAT servos for, but I want a reliable test setup before committing to that.

Thanks

 

Not using it but these guys should be able to help you with the mach4 cfg file:

 

Hi Brian,

it's mostly the Vital EC01 board that I'm interested in, but it would be nice to have a chat with somebody who's actually used the system before committing.
However, there just seems to be little information around about people who've used EtherCAT on a reasonable sized machine, let alone via Mach4.

Moray

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