I suppose I ought to update my last post concerning my use of miniPC’s (vs RPi4/5) to run gSender, UGS, CNC.js, and even Lightburn… to control my cnc and laser machines. The more cost effective and better performing option [than RPi4/5] is these tiny $81 LarkBox Pro miniPC’s (new, not used/refurbed) that have the CPU, memory, and storage capacity to hold and run virtually any/all g-code senders and/or machine controllers you might want to use with a hobby machine…
I’ve blown away the pre-installed Windows 11 Home on all my miniPC’s and replaced it with LMDE6… but I suppose you could use it “as is” if you’re so inclined. And that might be preferred if Estlcam is your regular CAM. [I did boot up one miniPC into the pre-installed OS just to verify the hardware was working properly but personally found it so excruciatingly slow and “naggy” that I didn’t hesitate to overwrite it as fast as I could reboot the machine.]
So far, I’m inclined to prefer UGS as my machine controller/sender… primarily because of its cellphone pendant functionality. I intially set up the job remotely… using Xrdp to present a remote desktop to my main Debian laptop… and when satisfied I have the job setup to my liking, I can have UGS present the pendant QR code onscreen. I can then scan the code with my phone and be presented with all the essentials to control my machine locally… with big buttons and DRO making it easy to jog the machine into position, set zeros, and start the job, without ever bringing my main laptop to the machine.
GSender’s phone pendant is IMO much harder to use with fat fingers and shaky hands…
Touchscreens and I don’t generally get along… but I just find the UGS pendant easier to use than gSender’s. But both programs will get the job done of course… and I resort to the cellphone pendant simply to keep my laptop’s keyboard and screen out of the sawdust and debris.
– David