1. Introduction

TkLinuxCNC is one of the first graphical front-ends for LinuxCNC. It is written in Tcl and uses the Tk toolkit for the display. Being written in Tcl makes it very portable (it runs on a multitude of platforms). A separate backplot window can be displayed as shown.

TkLinuxCNC Window
Figure 1. TkLinuxCNC Window

2. Getting Started

To select TkLinuxCNC as the front-end for LinuxCNC, edit the INI file. In the section [DISPLAY] change the DISPLAY line to read

DISPLAY = tklinuxcnc

Then, start LinuxCNC and select that INI file. The sample configuration sim/tklinuxcnc/tklinuxcnc.ini is already configured to use TkLinuxCNC as its front-end.

When LinuxCNC is launched the TKLinuxCNC window is opened.

2.1. A typical session with TkLinuxCNC

  1. Start LinuxCNC and select a configuration file.

  2. Clear the E-STOP condition and turn the machine on (by pressing F1 then F2).

  3. Home each axis.

  4. Load the file to be milled.

  5. Put the stock to be milled on the table.

  6. Set the proper offsets for each axis by jogging and either homing again or right-clicking an axis name and entering an offset value.
    [For some of these actions it might be necessary to change the mode LinuxCNC is currently running in.]

  7. Run the program.

  8. To mill the same file again, return to step 6. To mill a different file, return to step 4. When you’re done, exit LinuxCNC.

3. Elements of the TkLinuxCNC window

The TkLinuxCNC window contains the following elements:

  • A menubar that allows you to perform various actions

  • A set of buttons that allow you to change the current working mode, start/stop spindle and other relevant I/O

  • Status bar for various offset related displays

  • Coordinate display area

  • A set of sliders which control Jogging speed, Feed Override, and Spindle speed Override which allow you to increase or decrease those settings

  • Manual data input text box MDI

  • Status bar display with active G-codes, M-codes, F- and S-words

  • Interpreter related buttons

  • A text display area that shows the G-code source of the loaded file

3.1. Main buttons

From left to right, the buttons are:

  • Machine enable: ESTOP > ESTOP RESET > ON

  • Toggle mist coolant

  • Decrease spindle speed

  • Set spindle direction SPINDLE OFF > SPINDLE FORWARD . SPINDLE REVERSE

  • Increase spindle speed

  • Abort

then on the second line:

  • Operation mode: MANUAL > MDI > AUTO

  • Toggle flood coolant

  • Toggle spindle brake control

3.2. Offset display status bar

The Offset display status bar displays the currently selected tool (selected with Txx M6), the tool length offset (if active), and the work offsets (set by right-clicking the coordinates).

3.3. Coordinate Display Area

The main part of the display shows the current position of the tool. The color of the position readout depends on the state of the axis. If the axis is unhomed the axis will be displayed in yellow letters. Once homed it will be displayed in green letters. If there is an error with the current axis TkLinuxCNC will use red letter to show that. (for example if an hardware limit switch is tripped).

To properly interpret these numbers, refer to the radio boxes on the right. If the position is Machine, then the displayed number is in the machine coordinate system. If it is Relative, then the displayed number is in the offset coordinate system. Further down the choices can be actual or commanded. Actual refers to the feedback coming from encoders (if you have a servo machine), and the commanded refers to the position command send out to the motors. These values can differ for several reasons: Following error, deadband, encoder resolution, or step size. For instance, if you command a movement to X 0.0033 on your mill, but one step of your stepper motor is 0.00125, then the Commanded position will be 0.0033 but the Actual position will be 0.0025 (2 steps) or 0.00375 (3 steps).

Another set of radio buttons allows you to choose between joint and world view. These make little sense on a normal type of machine (e.g. trivial kinematics), but help on machines with non-trivial kinematics like robots or stewart platforms. (you can read more about kinematics in the Integrator Manual).

Backplot

When the machine moves, it leaves a trail called the backplot. You can start the backplot window by selecting View→Backplot.

3.4. TkLinuxCNC Interpreter / Automatic Program Control

TkLinuxCNC Interpreter / program control
Control Buttons

The buttons in the lower part of TkLinuxCNC are used to control the execution of a program:

+ * Open to load a program, * Verify to check it for errors, * Run to start the actual cutting, * Pause to stop it while running, * Resume to resume an already paused program, * Step to advance one line in the program and * Optional Stop to toggle the optional stop switch (if the button is green the program execution will be stopped on any M1 encountered).

Text Program Display Area

When the program is running, the line currently being executed is highlighted in white. The text display will automatically scroll to show the current line.

3.5. Manual Control

Implicit keys

TkLinuxCNC allows you to manually move the machine. This action is known as jogging. First, select the axis to be moved by clicking it. Then, click and hold the + or - button depending on the desired direction of motion. The first four axes can also be moved by the keyboard arrow keys (X and Y), the PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN keys (Z) and the [ and ] keys (A/4th).

+ If Continuous is selected, the motion will continue as long as the button or key is pressed. If another value is selected, the machine will move exactly the displayed distance each time the button is clicked or the key is pressed. The available values are:

+

1.0000, 0.1000, 0.0100, 0.0010, 0.0001

+ By pressing Home or the HOME key, the selected axis will be homed. Depending on your configuration, this may just set the axis value to be the absolute position 0.0, or it may make the machine move to a specific home location through use of home switches. See the Homing Chapter for more information.

+ By pressing Override Limits, the machine will temporarily be permitted to jog outside the limits defined in the INI file. (Note: if Override Limits is active the button will be displayed using a red color).

TkLinuxCNC Override Limits and Jogging increments example
Figure 2. TkLinuxCNC Override Limits & Jogging increments example
The Spindle group

The button on the first row selects the direction for the spindle to rotate: Counterclockwise, Stopped, Clockwise. The buttons next to it allow the user to increase or decrease the rotation speed. The button on the second row allows the spindle brake to be engaged or released. Depending on your machine configuration, not all the items in this group may have an effect.

The Coolant group

The two buttons allow the Mist and Flood coolants to be turned on and off. Depending on your machine configuration, not all the items in this group may appear.

3.6. Code Entry

Manual Data Input (also called MDI), allows G-code programs to be entered manually, one line at a time. When the machine is not turned on, and not set to MDI mode, the code entry controls are unavailable.

The Code Entry tab

This allows you to enter a G-code command to be executed. Execute the command by pressing Enter.

Active G-Codes

This shows the modal codes that are active in the interpreter. For instance, G54 indicates that the G54 offset is applied to all coordinates that are entered.

3.7. Jog Speed

By moving this slider, the speed of jogs can be modified. The numbers above refer to axis units / second. The text box with the number is clickable. Once clicked a popup window will appear, allowing for a number to be entered.

3.8. Feed Override

By moving this slider, the programmed feed rate can be modified. For instance, if a program requests F60 and the slider is set to 120%, then the resulting feed rate will be 72. The text box with the number is clickable. Once clicked a popup window will appear, allowing for a number to be entered.

3.9. Spindle speed Override

The spindle speed override slider works exactly like the feed override slider, but it controls to the spindle speed. If a program requested S500 (spindle speed 500 RPM), and the slider is set to 80%, then the resulting spindle speed will be 400 RPM. This slider has a minimum and maximum value defined in the INI file. If those are missing the slider is stuck at 100%. The text box with the number is clickable. Once clicked a popup window will appear, allowing for a number to be entered.

4. Keyboard Controls

Almost all actions in TkLinuxCNC can be accomplished with the keyboard. Many of the shortcuts are unavailable when in MDI mode.

The most frequently used keyboard shortcuts are shown in the following table.

Tableau 1. Most Common Keyboard Shortcuts
Keystroke Action Taken

F1

Toggle Emergency Stop

F2

Turn machine on/off

`, 1 .. 9, 0

Set feed override from 0% to 100%

X, `

Activate first axis

Y, 1

Activate second axis

Z, 2

Activate third axis

A, 3

Activate fourth axis

Home

Send active axis Home

Left, Right

Jog first axis

Up, Down

Jog second axis

Pg Up, Pg Dn

Jog third axis

[, ]

Jog fourth axis

ESC

Stop execution