blog/data/2022-03-02-linuxcnc-debian.txt

   1 Title: Run your industrial metal working machine using Debian?
   2 Tags: english, debian, linuxcnc, 3d-printer, robot
   3 Date: 2022-03-02 18:40
   4
   5 <p>After many months of hard work by the good people involved in
   6 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LinuxCNC">LinuxCNC</a>, the
   7 system was accepted Sunday
   8 <a href="https://tracker.debian.org/pkg/linuxcnc">into Debian</a>.
   9 Once it was available from Debian, I was surprised to discover from
  10 <a href="https://qa.debian.org/popcon.php?package=linuxcnc">its
  11 popularity-contest numbers</a> that people have been reporting its use
  12 since 2012.  <a href="http://linuxcnc.org/">Its project site</a> might
  13 be a good place to check out, but sadly is not working when visiting
  14 via Tor.</p>
  15
  16 <p>But what is LinuxCNC, you are probably wondering?  Perhaps a
  17 Wikipedia quote is in place?</p>
  18
  19 <blockquote>
  20 "LinuxCNC is a software system for numerical control of
  21 machines such as milling machines, lathes, plasma cutters, routers,
  22 cutting machines, robots and hexapods. It can control up to 9 axes or
  23 joints of a CNC machine using G-code (RS-274NGC) as input. It has
  24 several GUIs suited to specific kinds of usage (touch screen,
  25 interactive development)."
  26 </blockquote>
  27
  28 <p>It can even control 3D printers.  And even though the Wikipedia
  29 page indicate that it can only work with hard real time kernel
  30 features, it can also work with the user space soft real time features
  31 provided by the Debian kernel.
  32 <a href="https://github.com/linuxcnc/linuxcnc">The source code</a> is
  33 available from Github.  The last few months I've been involved in the
  34 translation setup for the program and documentation.  Translators are
  35 most welcome to
  36 <a href="https://hosted.weblate.org/engage/linuxcnc/">join the
  37 effort</a> using Weblate.</p>
  38
  39 <p>As usual, if you use Bitcoin and want to show your support of my
  40 activities, please send Bitcoin donations to my address
  41 <b><a href="bitcoin:15oWEoG9dUPovwmUL9KWAnYRtNJEkP1u1b">15oWEoG9dUPovwmUL9KWAnYRtNJEkP1u1b</a></b>.</p>