Hokey Smoke Bullwinkle, the zero works and rather well at that.
I have it running on a Zero 2 W and Windows Remote Desktop. It does run better on the Zero 2 rather than the Zero. But not much difference. Performance is better than using my old Windows dell desktop connected directly to the Shapeoko 3 that I’ve been using for years, so I’m a happy camper… I also tested with my windows tablet. Was nice to see the touch screen works too. It took me a couple of days to figure out how to hook my TerraMaster RAID to the file system.
I now see that the zero’s are sold out. I’m glad I ordered one of the 4s just before they sold out from CanaKit.
I’m using build 550. Is there a more recent one out there?
I set up a pi model 3 and the “official” raspberry pi touch screen. It works fine, but the display resolution isn’t quite enough. Some of the buttons are are not legible, but other than that it works fine.
I’ll definitely be looking at a different display. I would prefer a raspberry pi 4, but they are impossible to get at the moment.
This is a far better solution than using an expensive laptop.
I’m casually eyeing other CNC’s for various features and reasons. Mostly for fun but also to be informed if things do take off a bit with our side gig.
It is really impressive if you look at what Carbide Motion + Pi offers once you start looking at other products and realizing they don’t do one or all of these things.
Loading from a network file share (WiFi)
Touchscreen
Automated Z offset for toolchange (not somuch a Pi thing but…)
Only thing lacking is a true MPG, which we workaround with wireless devices (eg keyboards, keypads, etc)
This makes a bid difference for me. I have an iMac in my study, in my house. I have a Linux workstation in my workshop, in the barn, where the Shapeoko is. (Note that means the iMac and Shapeoko are in 2 different buildings, about 600’ apart by walking, so that can create some issues with workflow.) When the 27" M1 iMacs come out, I’ll get a new one for my study and move the current one to the workshop.
Until I can do that, I’m glad there’s a solution so I can use CM without having to setup a Windows or macOS VM! (And, hey, if I like it on a touchscreen, I may want to stick with that!)
One other question - the current Linux workstation in the shop is Debian, but not rPi. Is it worth trying to see if the .deb will install on that?
It won’t work. Carbide Motion for the RPi is compiled for ARM and not for x86. Currently, the only option for running CM on Linux is with an RPi or another ARM (same version of instruction set, there are several) machine.
I’ve gone out of my way to make sure I have a network connection for the Shapeoko. We have had multiple lightning strikes near that building that have blown out equipment. I was NOT about to run an ethernet cable through that small space between the ceiling and roof (this is on the 2nd floor of a barn), so I ran fiber optic cable to that point. It comes out in the ceiling over where the Shapeoko goes. Then there’s a converter to convert back to ethernet.
I can easily hook the Pi up to power and the LAN without having wires to trip over. Also, with my work situation, where my main iMac is in my study, in the house, a several minute walk away, all my 3D stuff (CNC and printing) goes on a network share. I can work on it in my study and still get to it in the workshop in the barn (and I have most of the same software on that workstation - it’s just not as comfortable or convenient). It’ll be easily accessible to my iMac in the study, the workshop workstation and the Pi with CM on it!
For anyone having a hard time getting a Pi, Pi 400 is a little easier to get. Not as small but is built into a keyboard, so kinda handy. I got one for my machines that are coming soon!
I ordered a Raspad-3 on the 21st, apparently I got lucky and ordered the last one they had that comes with a Ras Pi 4.
Fingers crossed that it shows up.