1  = About LinuxCNC
  2  
  3  == The Software
  4  
  5  * LinuxCNC (the Enhanced Machine Control) is a software system for computer
  6    control of machine tools such as milling machines and lathes, robots
  7    such as puma and scara and other computer controlled machines up to 9 axes.
  8  * LinuxCNC is free software with open source code. Current versions of LinuxCNC
  9    are entirely licensed under the GNU General Public License and Lesser
 10    GNU General Public License (GPL and LGPL)
 11  * LinuxCNC provides:
 12  ** a graphical user interface (actually several interfaces to choose from)
 13  ** an interpreter for 'G-code' (the RS-274 machine tool programming language)
 14  ** a realtime motion planning system with look-ahead
 15  ** operation of low-level machine electronics such as sensors and motor drives
 16  ** an easy to use 'breadboard' layer for quickly creating a unique 
 17     configuration for your machine
 18  ** a software PLC programmable with ladder diagrams
 19  ** easy installation with a Live-CD
 20  * It does not provide drawing (CAD - Computer Aided Design) or G-code
 21    generation from the drawing (CAM - Computer Automated Manufacturing)
 22    functions.
 23  * It can simultaneously move up to 9 axes and supports a variety of
 24    interfaces.
 25  * The control can operate true servos (analog or PWM) with the feedback
 26    loop closed by the LinuxCNC software at the computer, or open loop with
 27    step-servos or stepper motors.
 28  * Motion control features include: cutter radius and length
 29    compensation, path deviation limited to a specified tolerance, lathe
 30    threading, synchronized axis motion, adaptive feedrate, operator feed
 31    override, and constant velocity control.
 32  * Support for non-Cartesian motion systems is provided via custom
 33    kinematics modules. Available architectures include hexapods (Stewart
 34    platforms and similar concepts) and systems with rotary joints to
 35    provide motion such as PUMA or SCARA robots.
 36  * LinuxCNC runs on Linux using real time extensions. 
 37  
 38  == The Operating System
 39  
 40  LinuxCNC is available as ready-to-use packages for the Ubuntu and Debian
 41  distributions.
 42  
 43  
 44  == Getting Help
 45  
 46  === IRC
 47  
 48  IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat. 
 49  It is a live connection to other LinuxCNC users. 
 50  The LinuxCNC IRC channel is #linuxcnc on freenode.
 51  
 52  The simplest way to get on the IRC is to use 
 53  the embedded java client on this 
 54  https://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=%23linuxcnc[page].
 55  
 56  .Some IRC etiquette
 57  
 58  * Ask specific questions... Avoid questions like "Can someone help me?". 
 59  * If you're really new to all this, think a bit about your question 
 60    before typing it. Make sure you give enough information so 
 61    someone can solve your question. 
 62  * Have some patience when waiting for an answer, sometimes it takes a 
 63    while to formulate an answer or everyone might be busy working or 
 64    something. 
 65  * Set up your IRC account with your unique name so people will know who 
 66    you are. If you use the java client, use the same name every time you 
 67    log in. This helps people remember who you are and if you have been on 
 68    before many will remember the past discussions which 
 69    saves time on both ends.
 70  
 71  .Sharing Files
 72  
 73  The most common way to share files on the IRC is to upload the file 
 74  to one of the following or a similar service and paste the link:
 75  
 76  * 'For text' - http://pastebin.com/ , http://pastie.org/, https://gist.github.com/
 77  * 'For pictures' - http://imagebin.org/ , http://imgur.com/ , http://bayimg.com/
 78  * 'For files' - https://filedropper.com/ , http://filefactory.com/ , http://1fichier.com/
 79  
 80  === Mailing List
 81  
 82  An Internet Mailing List is a way to put questions out for everyone on
 83  that list to see and answer at their convenience. You get better
 84  exposure to your questions on a mailing list than on the IRC but
 85  answers take longer. In a nutshell you e-mail a message to the list and
 86  either get daily digests or individual replies back depending on how
 87  you set up your account.
 88  
 89  You can subscribe to the emc-users mailing list at:
 90  https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
 91  
 92  === Web Forum
 93  
 94  A web forum can be found at https://forum.linuxcnc.org or by following the link at the
 95  top of the linuxcnc.org home page. 
 96  
 97  This is quite active but the demographic is more user-biased than the
 98  mailing list.  If you want to be sure that your message is seen by the
 99  developers then the mailing list is to be preferred.
100  
101  === LinuxCNC Wiki
102  
103  A Wiki site is a user maintained web site 
104  that anyone can add to or edit.
105  
106  The user maintained LinuxCNC Wiki site contains a 
107  wealth of information and tips at:
108  
109  link:http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/[http://wiki.linuxcnc.org]
110  
111  === Bug Reports
112  
113  Report bugs to the LinuxCNC 
114  link:http:///github.com/LinuxCNC/linuxcnc/issues[github bug tracker].
115