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IndustryArena Forum > CNC Electronics > Gecko Drives > G-REX > What went wrong with the G100?
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Posts
    522

    What went wrong with the G100?

    So I've heard the G100 was overall a "failed" product... Google searches show even Mariss said it didn't do what it was intended to do and bemoaned the whole project.

    However, I'm not sure what the specific problem was.
    Was the firmware on the G100 itself buggy, or the hardware on it not up to the computing task?

    Was the protocol flawed?

    I saw complaints that it was the Mach3 plugin itself that was buggy- given the closed-source nature of Mach3 and it seems like only Art really knows how it works, I can see that as being a problem.

    Was it supported for EMC2, or just Mach3?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538
    Quote Originally Posted by MechanoMan View Post

    Was it supported for EMC2, or just Mach3?
    Neither, really.

    Afaik, the G100 was not designed with Mach3 in mind, but as a standalone motion controller.
    A 3rd party was writing the firmware for Mach3 use, and he never finished it.
    Without that firmware, the Mach3 plugin was very limited.
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
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    522
    Was the hardware up to the task though? And is the protocol published?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538
    Was the hardware up to the task though?
    For what task?

    From what I recall, the space for the firmware was not really enough for what was needed for the Mach3 firmware. The firmware was extremely complex, and only one person appeared capable of doing it, and he disappeared before completion.

    The Geckodrive Yahoo group should have all the documentation you're looking for in the files section there.
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Posts
    522
    So the G100 protocol is "good", but the Mach3 plugin was never finished? And Smoothstepper came in and made something which seems to have been based on the G100 project, yet it is closed-source?

    Did EMC2/LinuxCNC ever make the G100 plugin, or anything like it?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538
    So the G100 protocol is "good", but the Mach3 plugin was never finished?
    No, the firmware for Mach3 use was never completely finished.

    The Smoothstepper was designed for Mach3 use, while the G100 was not.

    Afaik, EMC doesn't support devices like the Smoothstepper or G100.
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  7. #7
    It's unlikely we will ever design another Mach3 compatible motion controller again. That doesn't mean we have given up on motion controllers though. Please see the attached pdf to see the direction we are taking. This manual is a work in progress so please excuse its incompleteness.

    Mariss
    Attached Files Attached Files

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