LinuxCNC 2.7.9 is released. This release fixes some obscure bugs and adds a couple of new features:

  • A driver for Mitsubishi VFDs.
  • Support for “auxiliary applications”, such as NativeCam, that are distributed separately from LinuxCNC.
  • Add a “Integrator’s Manual”, a work in progress with helpful information on how to build your own CNC machine.

Special shout out to two first-time committers in this release (we hope to see more of you in the future!):

  • Alexander Brock
  • Joe Hildreth

And as always, thanks to our awesome community of helpers and bug-reporters, and to the usual list of long-time committers:

  • Andy Pugh
  • Chris Morley
  • Chris Radek
  • Dewey Garrett
  • Jeff Epler
  • John Thornton
  • Jon Elson
  • Norbert Schechner
  • Sebastian Kuzminsky

The full changelog:

  • support “auxiliary apps”, distributed separately from LinuxCNC

  • docs: add a bit more info to position feedback ini setting
  • docs: sort board list in hm2_eth manpage
  • docs: fix pyvcp multi label description
  • docs: fix pyvcp example so it runs
  • docs: clarify return value in hal_pin_new(3) manpage
  • docs: add missing var section to index header
  • docs: add machine building info to integrator document
  • docs: add manpage for hal_parport realtime component
  • docs: add units info to halui max-velocity pins in manpage
  • docs: flesh out max-velocity pins in halui manpage
  • docs: fix incorrect info for stat.motion_type and stat.motion_mode
  • docs: code notes: a pose has 9 coordinates, not 6
  • docs: add hal_manualtoolchange manpage
  • docs: add info about remap debug messages
  • docs: fix paraport/parport typos
  • docs: fix pin names in thcud manpage example HAL config
  • docs: clean up the note about T0 handling
  • docs: add some info for the hal python module
  • docs: clarify an ambiguity about siggen in the HAL documentation
  • docs: add information about addf command in the HAL documentation
  • docs: add details on epp_dir command line parameter of hal_ppmc
  • docs: remove a footnote about the behavior of emc2 v2.4
  • docs: add or2 example
  • docs: fix description of USER_DEFINED_FUNCTION_MAX_DIRS in ini-config
  • docs: clarify g28/30 description
  • docs: add link to G54-G59.3 User Coordinates section
  • docs: clean up Machine Coordinate System section
  • docs: remove M6 from modal group description
  • docs: add links to machine origin from several places
  • docs: fix typos and markup problems all over
  • docs: add more information about the addf command
  • docs: sorted gmoccapy video links with headlines
  • docs: add a known problem with macros to gmoccapy docs
  • docs: fix cut-n-paste bug in mb2hal manpage
  • docs: expand on different ways of starting LinuxCNC
  • docs: document some features of the Axis GUI
  • docs: add info about the basic directory structure
  • docs: correct misleading descriptions of named parameters

  • docs: update info about ‘save’ command in halcmd manpage & help

  • Axis GUI: avoid unbounded memory growth in text widgets on stretch
  • Axis GUI: make tool info display widget larger
  • Axis GUI: remove unused .info.offset widget
  • Axis GUI: shorten tool touch off widget title text
  • gmoccapy GUI: removed unused code
  • gmoccapy GUI: added get_joints_amount() for compatibility 2.7 and master
  • gmoccapy GUI: new hal pin gmoccapy.ignore-limits
  • gmoccapy GUI: bug if no macros in ini file
  • gmoccapy GUI: bug in macro button handling
  • gmoccapy GUI: G96 bug solved
  • gscreen GUI: fix missing .themes folder error

  • halui: fix halui.program.run

  • gladeVCP: make CombiDRO compatible for both 2.7 and master
  • gladeVCP: fix delta scale pin not updating if wheel scroll used

  • gladeVCP: add missing icon image for hal_dial

  • pncconf: fix spindle command using wrong signal name

  • pncconf: fix sserial mode setting in HAL file

  • hal_ppmc: add command line arg to turn on/off port direction change

  • mitsub_vfd: add a driver for Mitsubishi VFDs

  • classicladder: fix sequential variable access

  • classicladder: fix whitespace errors

  • ilowpass: round the output instead of truncating

  • halcmd: waitusr: avoid race condition

  • hm2: better error message on unexpected pin descriptors

  • hm2_eth: don’t segfault on interfaces without addresses

  • linuxcnc python module: add doc string for stat.motion_mode
  • linuxcnc python module: add doc string for stat.motion_type
  • linuxcnc python module: add a doc string for stat.queued_mdi_commands

  • linuxcnc python module: add EMC_MOTION_TYPE_* constants

  • hal python module: better doc strings for connect() and new_sig()

  • Interp: fix a typo in a cutter-comp error message

  • Task: set the stat struct member queuedMDIcommands

  • example g-code: fix Z value reported by rectangle_probe.ngc
  • example configs: fix hal pin names in gmoccapy_plasma
  • example configs: limit led without off color in gmoccapy_plasma

  • example configs: xhc-hb04.tcl: if prior connects, continue with msg

  • rtapi: better error message when failing to connect

  • uspace: allow calculated parameter array sizes

  • tests: let introspection complete before continuing in the t0 tests
  • tests: fixup hm2-idrom test to match new hm2 PD error message
  • tests: add a test of ilowpass with low gain
  • tests: reorg ilowpass test so i can add a low-gain test next to it
  • tests: add a test of stat.queued_mdi_commands
  • travis: manually uninstall gpl3 readline
  • build: fix link error on i686 with gcc, or maybe objcopy 2.27
  • packaging: add the new LinuxCNC_Integrator pdf to the doc package