Building a GUI to to interface with a CNC Machine

[Flumer]

Hi everyone,

I'm starting a project that requires me to build a GUI via Python on a Raspberry Pi which will then interface with an Arduino connected to stepper motors and encoders. Three separate stepper motors are to translate a head in XYZ directions and eventually carry out preset motions (sweeping for example). I also need to relay the data (speed, position, acceleration) back to the GUI.

After some research I've found Tkinter (Python GUI package), which I'm assuming is where I'll start. From there I'm just blindly finding guides and following tutorials.

I'm not looking for someone to do this for me. I really just need some advice on getting started. I've had some programming experience so I'm confident I can pick-up new material quickly.

Any tutorials/advice/resources are immensely appreciated. I'm still not sure how a large of a task this is...

Thanks in advance,
Flumer

[brianosaur]

What you are describing is pretty high level. So I'm not really sure what you are expecting for answers here. But after a quick google search, this looks like a good starting point with learning how to use Tkinter:

[url]http://www.tutorialspoint.com/python/python_gui_programming.htm[/url]

Its hard to give u specific help when you don't actually have a specific problem. I feel like I would need to know more about interfacing with arduino. And the flow of data.

Observer pattern or publisher subscribe pattern might be stuff to look into. Observer pattern is a pattern that is something I have always had good luck with for console guis. It makes for (unit) testable user interfaces.

BTW this sounds like a pretty huge project if have to also develop the arduino interface and program all the motor.