Wanted: Suitable controller for OpenPnP - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Yellofriend
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2022, 09:15:05 am
content: Hi makers,I am looking for some suggestions on a CNC controller that can be used for OpenPnP, for, well, obviously a Pick n Place machine.I need 5 axis (X, Y, Z and 2x rotation). I am very confused about the different boards that are on the market. From initial research it looks like Smoothie is a bit slow in developing and does not run on many controllers. Marlin or Duet3 seem to be the modern options. I wonder if I can use just any (modern 32bit) controller that can handle 5 or more stepper?

author: doppelgrau
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2022, 06:23:36 pm
content: I would get one that is quite common, since then it is easier to get help if something behaves weired.But in the end OpenPnP just sends gcode, so anything correctly parsing it should work.https://github.com/openpnp/openpnp/wiki/Motion-Controllers

author: Yellofriend
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2022, 05:11:50 am
content: Quote from: doppelgrau on December 04, 2022, 06:23:36 pmThanks. Meanwhile I got a "normal" Marlin controller with a STM32F446. Will see how that goes. Have really no experience with that type of project.

author: doppelgrau
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2022, 07:51:49 pm
content: That sounds like masochism :-)"It's not recommended to use 3D printer firmware with OpenPnP, but if you work hard enough it can be made to work."

author: Yellofriend
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 12, 2022, 05:18:20 am
content: Quote from: doppelgrau on December 10, 2022, 07:51:49 pmWell, so far it does not work. But frankly, the OpenPnP community support is terrible. Asking for board suggestions gets zero replies other than "yeah, any will do". Not too helpful.Smoothie site is also rather poorly maintained with many dead links and outdated information, other than "don't buy from China", but info where to buy now.

author: doppelgrau
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2022, 07:40:28 pm
content: Where did you ask? The discord or the mailinglist?While I was a bit more active (author of the HeapFeeder), the discord was nice for some discussions, but the mailinglist had the most reach.On the other hand, you are complaining that people in their free time are not supporting you enough, even they had written a whole wikipage dedicated to that topic (and you choose to pick one of the "not recommend" options).

author: Yellofriend
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2022, 08:20:16 am
content: Quote from: doppelgrau on December 14, 2022, 07:40:28 pmMany things are not recommended, I was interested in what is recommended. And those options are either not available, or priced out of range. I understand they like to push their Smoothieboard, that is fine, but then it should be available, and it's not. In short, an up to date list of models would be a good idea,And for the support, we are all active in many groups and reply other people questions in our free time. I have no complain about that.Anyway, seems my board has some type of fault that I can't fix without manufacturers support - and their support sux quite badly. I know, those China stuff and that I should have known better .... ;-)Anyway, hope that one day in 2022 I will get my Marlin board working and then go from their.