I would like to start this year with the construction of the LR4. I would like to use Planet CNC TNG to control the LR4. The background is that next year I want to build a CNC that mainly processes aluminum and steel. Closed loop steppers are then used for this. Since I don’t want to have different systems in use or then only have to learn one, I wanted to use planet CNC right away. I used to even think about LinuxCNC, but I guess Planet CNC is the better choice.
Now I wonder does the software run with the Jackpot Controller?
For my later CNC I would then use the controller of the Planet CNC. But this currently presents me with a challenge, because I do not know how I can integrate the TMC Stepper drivers into the controller of the Planet CNC.
I haven’t ever tried or even heard of planet cnc. FluidNC uses grbl style gcode input (mostly). So if it was connect to a grbl cnc, then it will probably work with fluidnc and the jackpot.
It didn’t seem clear to me how you would get closed loop steppers to work, unless you were also getting a controller from planet cnc. In that case, you don’t need a jackpot or FluidNC.
The low rider uses two motors from Z and Y. They also have separate endstops that the controller can read so the motors are always square after homing. If you want to use another controller, make sure you understand if it can do that and if not, what it will mean for your workflow.
I will install the closed loop steppers in another CNC. I have already drawn several ideas and also drawn one in fusion. But I also had another space requirement. Unfortunately, that has now changed. The LR4 will help me build the other milling machine.
So the LR4 is built quite classically. Only I was hoping for a different control.
Doing a quick pass on the Planet CNC software and hardware, it appears that PlanetCNC TNG Software needs to be paired with the Planet CNC Control board. I don’t see provisions for interfacing with other boards. How difficult it would be to drive a Lowrider with the PlanetCNC control board is an open question. As Jeff indicates, the paired steppers along with the squaring of the machine during homing is the main issue. There is probably a PlanetCNC forum or Facebook group that could give you better guidance on this specific issue.
PlanetCNC TNG Software does support the export of g-code, so it is possible you could use the software to generate the g-code, but deliver it to the Lowrider Jackpot controller through the other methods available for the Jackpot (wired, wireless, SD), though you lose a lot of the PlanetCNC functionality that way. If the TNG software is free to try, you could try the g-code export and see what flavor of g-code it provides. If you post a sample g-code file, we can give you some feedback on how it would work using FluidNC or Marlin.
I do not know how I can integrate the TMC Stepper drivers into the controller of the Planet CNC
The PlanetCNC control boards use a standard external driver interface. You can either use external stepper drivers (such as the TB6600), or they make stepper driver expansion boards that you can use for socketed stepper drivers. Personally, if I was going to use a socketed stepper driver, I’d be more comfortable with using a DRV8825 stepper drivers rather than the TMC stepper drivers. The Lowrider is not specifically tied to the TMC drivers. Any driver that supports the stepper motors can be used.
I learned on planetcnc running an xcarve. It ran on the computer and fed code line by line. It has the ability to be much more in control of the moment to moment moves. The biggest perk, you could pause anywhere, send the tool back to any line of code and start it up again.
I’ve gotten used to the ‘press start and hope for the best’ we do with the fluidnc/jackpot, but I miss the control from time to time.
