CNCMILL

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  CNCMILL : 4 axis GCODE compiler and stepper controller, released under GNU GPL, requires RTLinux kernal. Features include isometric plotting of tool paths, gcode generator for engraving, an XML like markup capability to extend GCODE programing to include programming by geometry and programming flow control for subroutines.

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    CAVEATS CNCMILL was written almost 10 years ago while I was recovering from a heart attack. It was intended as experimental code to convert my 1957 Bridgeport. Accordingly, the code is full of "spaghetti". T hat said, CNCMILL met my needs for various small parts and details for an aircraft we have been building. After moving to Flagstaff we needed to rebuild the controller and and it was time to take a second look at my code needs. I've toyed over the years with using the RTAI kernel instead of the RTlinux kernal for CNCMILL.

    I currently writting a new integrated CNC development environment using the stock linux kernel downloaded from kernel.org, modified by the rt project patches found on the kernel.org website. It is expected that by the time the next linux kernel release is complete the real time patches will have become a part of the stock linux kernel. One of the first advantages of the real time patched kernel is the ability to develop the code that schedules the steppers running in user space. This avoids all the nasty kernel module crashes and long sessions of trying to figure out what happened typical to kernel module development (at least for me!).

    When the new project is complete I may or may not release the new software under the GPL. The rewrite uses a shared memory model between the user interface and the stepper scheduling. I have re-thought the use of a macro language addition to the g-code compiler in CNCMILL in favor of a high level geometry modeling language to generates the low level g-code.

    If you want a copy of the old CNCMILL be my guest, I would suggest you use it only for reference and I would highly suggest deriving future codes using the kernel.org sources. The rt project patches are being intregrated into the mainline kernal source tree. Linux is moving on and upward. Enjoy!

  CNCMILLcode request
  Overview (PDF)