ARM-based CNC systems are used as a low-cost solution for controlling 2-3 axis machines. The increase of computing power of ARM processors facilitated their application to controlling multi-tasking and multi-axis machines with several independent control channels. The paper presents the results of the exploratory investigation of the transition from the PC-based to the ARM-based CNC solution. The cross-platform architecture of CNC systems, the porting of CNC kernel software to the single-board computers Raspberry Pi 2 with the Linux operating system and the control of servo drives and PLC I/O over EtherCAT fieldbus with cycle time of 2 ms are investigated as well.
The dual-channel configuration of ARM-based CNC designed to control the multi-tasking turning and milling machine with inclined layout is presented. The paper illustrates the kinematic scheme and the network architecture of NAKLON 535 machining center for ARM-based CNC solution.