Hi Mark,
I am trying to install linuxcnc.
After running the install, I get this message.
The following packages have unmet dependencies.
linuxcnc : Depends: python (< 2.7) but 2.7.3-0ubuntu2 is to be installed
Depends: python2.6-tk but it is not installable
Depends: python2.6-imaging but it is not installable
Recommends: linuxcnc-doc-en but it is not going to be installed or
linuxcnc-doc-fr but it is not going to be installed or
linuxcnc-doc-de but it is not going to be installed or
linuxcnc-doc-es but it is not going to be installed or
linuxcnc-doc-pl but it is not going to be installed
Recommends: hostmot2-firmware but it is not installable
E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.
The recommends about the manuals I can understand, but the the ’ Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.’ has me beat.
Can I fix this program ? (with your help of course)
take care
Don W
Which Linux distro/version/architecture are you running ? (eg. Mint 13 64bit)
Which instructions are you following … provide a link if possible.
I am using Peppermint 3.
These are the instructions from the linuxcnc site.
f you prefer to start with the distributed Ubuntu CD, you can install LinuxCNC yourself with these instructions:
Step 1: Install Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx (for 32-bit) or 8.04 Hardy Heron (for 32- or 64-bit). Other versions of Ubuntu will not work with LinuxCNC as there are no packages designed to work with them.
Step 2: Once you have installed Ubuntu , get the install script from here: lucid-install or here: hardy-install, choose "Save to Disk" and click OK.
Step 3: With the file manager navigate to linuxcnc-install.sh. Right-click on the file, select Properties. Go to the Permissions tab and check the box for Owner: Execute. Close the Properties window.
Step 4: Now double-click the linuxcnc-install.sh icon, and select "Run in Terminal". A terminal will appear and you will be asked for your password.
Step 5: When the installation asks if you are sure you want to install the LinuxCNC packages, hit Enter to accept. Now just allow the install to finish.
Step 6: When it is done, you must reboot (System > Log Out > Restart the Computer) - once you have rebooted you can run LinuxCNC by selecting it on the Applications > CNC menu.
Step 7: If you aren't ready to set up a machine configuration, try the sim-AXIS configuration; it runs a "simulated machine" that requires no attached hardware.
Now that the initial installation is done, Ubuntu will prompt you when updates of LinuxCNC or its supporting files are available. When they are, you can update them easily and automatically with the Update Manager.
Hope this helps
take care
Don W
OK, those instructions won’t work for Ubuntu 12.04 (therefore Peppermint 3) … do this:
sudo apt-get install git dpkg-dev linux-headers-generic build-essential
then
mkdir ~/git
then:
cd ~/git
then
git clone git://git.linuxcnc.org/git/linuxcnc.git linuxcnc
then
cd ~/git/linuxcnc/debian
then
./configure sim
then
cd ~/git/linuxcnc
then post the output from:
dpkg-checkbuilddeps
so we can see which dependencies are missing … them I’ll post the rest of the instructions.
Hi Mark,
I carried out your instructions and there was a bit of worry at the ./configure sim,
don@ldwatson ~/git/linuxcnc/debian $ ./configure sim
unknown distribution: Peppermint-3
configuration may be wrong!
successfully configured for ‘sim-Peppermint-3’-‘sim’…
but it seems to have passed ok.
Here is the result of the dependency check
don@ldwatson ~/git/linuxcnc/debian $ cd ~/git/linuxcnc
don@ldwatson ~/git/linuxcnc $ dpkg-checkbuilddeps
dpkg-checkbuilddeps: Unmet build dependencies: debhelper (>= 6) libpth-dev dvipng tcl8.4-dev tk8.4-dev bwidget blt libxaw7-dev libncurses-dev libreadline-dev asciidoc (>= 8.5) source-highlight dblatex (>= 0.2.12) groff python-dev python-tk libglu1-mesa-dev libgl1-mesa-dev | libgl1-mesa-swx11-dev libgtk2.0-dev libgnomeprintui2.2-dev gettext autoconf libboost-python-dev texlive-lang-cyrillic
don@ldwatson ~/git/linuxcnc $
Hope this helps
take care
Don W
OK, let’s install the dependencies:
sudo apt-get install debhelper libpth-dev dvipng tcl8.4-dev tk8.4-dev bwidget blt libxaw7-dev libncurses-dev libreadline-dev asciidoc source-highlight dblatex groff python-dev python-tk libglu1-mesa-dev libgl1-mesa-dev libgtk2.0-dev libgnomeprintui2.2-dev gettext autoconf libboost-python-dev texlive-lang-cyrillic
Now let’s check for missing dependencies again … run:
cd ~/git/linuxcnc
then post the output (if any) from:
dpkg-checkbuilddeps
Hi Mark,
I have carried out your latest instruction.(I don’t think I’ve seen a larger programme)
The result
don@ldwatson ~ $ cd ~/git/linuxcnc
don@ldwatson ~/git/linuxcnc $ dpkg-checkbuilddeps
don@ldwatson ~/git/linuxcnc $
What now o wise one?
take care
Don W
OK, according to the instructions -
The tcl8.4 and tk8.4 packages are only needed to get the dependencies check working, they will conflict with the configure. Remove them again.
So uninstall them with:
sudo apt-get remove --purge tcl8.4-dev tk8.4-dev
Now to build linuxcnc:
cd ~/git/linuxcnc/src
then
./autogen.sh
then
./configure --enable-simulator
then
make
Now if that all went well, the instructions say to add rip-environment to your $PATH … but I’ not 100% sure where it is, so can you run:
sudo updatedb
then post the output from:
locate rip-environment
BTW, here’s the instructions we are following:
http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Build_A_Simulator_Manually
Hi Mark,
Carried out instructions down to ‘make’. After make it went as follows, I have included some lines before ‘make’.
checking for sys/wait.h that is POSIX.1 compatible… yes
checking for semtimedop… yes
checking for sincos function… yes
checking for __sincos… no
checking for tcl… tclConfig.sh not found, trying tcl.h and libs.
If it doesn’t work try running ./configure --with-tclConfig=
checking tcl.h usability… no
checking tcl.h presence… no
checking for tcl.h… no
checking for library containing Tcl_Init… no
configure: error: tcl lib not found
don@ldwatson ~/git/linuxcnc/src $ make
Makefile:55: Makefile.inc: No such file or directory
Makefile:66: *** Makefile.inc must specify RTPREFIX and other variables. Stop.
don@ldwatson ~/git/linuxcnc/src $
Whats next ?
take care
Don W
How odd … they tell you to remove tcl8.4-dev tk8.4-dev … then the app immediately says it needs them to compile :
I’m going to assume they meant the 8.4 versions would conflict with the 8.5 versions (that may be installed in Ubuntu 12.04 by default, but aren’t in Peppermint 3) … so let’s see what happens if we install the 8.5 versions:
sudo apt-get install tcl8.5-dev tk8.5-dev
Now to build linuxcnc:
cd ~/git/linuxcnc/src
then
./autogen.sh
then
./configure --enable-simulator
then
make
Now if that all went well, the instructions say to add rip-environment to your $PATH … but I’ not 100% sure where it is, so can you run:
sudo updatedb
then post the output from:
locate rip-environment
Hi Mark,
It seems to have worked ok, and this is what we now have
don@ldwatson ~/git/linuxcnc/src $ locate rip-environment
/home/don/git/linuxcnc/scripts/rip-environment
/home/don/git/linuxcnc/scripts/rip-environment.in
don@ldwatson ~/git/linuxcnc/src $
take care
Don W
OK then … to add /home/don/git/linuxcnc/scripts/rip-environment to your PATH … open a terminal and run:
gedit /.bashrc
add a new line at the bottom that reads:-
export PATH=$PATH:/home/don/git/linuxcnc/scripts/rip-environment
SAVE the file … then log off/on (or reboot).
Once you’ve logged off and on again, you should be able to start linuxcnc with:
/home/don/git/linuxcnc/scripts/linuxcnc
The reason I highlighted "should* is because there seems a little confusion on the 2 pages of the linuxcnc wik on how exactly it should be startedi:
http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Build_A_Simulator_Manually
and
http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Installing_LinuxCNC
If that doesn’t start it … send the output from:
ls -a ~/git/linuxcnc/scripts
and
ls -a ~/git/linuxcnc/scripts/rip-environment
Hi Mark,
Carried out the latest set of instructions and everything looks good ;D
Thanks for all your help,great karma
take care
Don W
PS I will be back when I figure the best way to use this programme 
Glad to hear it … I’ve been meaning to take a look at that myself, having a history in CNC.
Let me know if you’d like to add it to your menu instead of having to start it through the terminal.
Hi Mark,
At first use it seems very good. I wanted it as it should convert the Gcodes to run a gantry router.
I think you can use Inkscape (free) to convert your drawing to Gcode (with the Gcode extensions), then convert the gcode in linuxcnc (free) to control the 3 axes on the gantry router.
I first need to build the gantry router
take care
Don W
PS I will let you know what happens
Good luck, and yeah please keep me informed how it goes, or any problems … this has peaked my interest
As you’ve probably looked into this more than I, any ideas how you’re going to interface the stepper motors with the PC ?
Hi Mark,
I had a look at some of the Axis progs. and looks an interesting (even long term) project.
I would like to add it to my Menu, it looks like something I will be dipping into on a regular basis.
In the File Manager I have /home/don and a list of Folders, one folder is Git and when I open that I get linuxcnc Folder, when I open that I get the following
My first inspiration was this build in Australia www.hamrx8…com/CNC-Router-Project
This is a brilliant site for information on this machine.
I have some way to go to find out how it all works but I will get there.
I believe you you plan the design you wish to cut, convert it to Gcode, use linuxcnc to output the code to a PCB unit that sends the instruction to the stepper motors.
take care
Don W
PS If you could get this prog. onto the Menu I would be greatful.
You’ll have to leave the “git” directory (and contents) where it is … that actually contains the application.
(well actually we could move it somewhere else if you want … but we’ll have to adjust the $PATH and maybe permissions)
To create a menu item … open a terminal and run:
gedit ~/.local/share/applications/linuxcnc.desktop
When gedit opens a blank file, make it read:-
[Desktop Entry]
Name=LinuxCNC
Comment=CNC Simulator
Icon=/home/don/git/linuxcnc/linuxcncicon.png
Exec=/home/don/git/linuxcnc/scripts/linuxcnc
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=GTK;GNOME;Application;Utility;
SAVE the file, and close gedit.
It should now be in the menu @ menu>Accessories>LinuxCNC
Let me know if it works or not.
Also let me know if you’d like to HIDE the “git” directory.
I take it you meant this page (your link is broken):
He’s not being half hearted about it is he ? … looks like sommat by Bridgeport or Churchill
Hi Mark,
I have completed the instructions and all is as you said. ;D
I think the git (directory) can stay where it is at the moment, thank you.
Yes the guy is very enthusiastic, and is producing something that is of excellent quality.
There are plenty of builds on YouTube, I have spent some time looking, and there are plenty of ‘machines’ ? on Ebay.
Thanks for all your work it is well appreciated.
take care
Don W
PS I will keep you up to date with my progress, and will no doubt be asking for assistance again.
Hello - trying to install linuxcnc on Ubuntu 12.04 following instructions on Getting LinuxCNC (Section 7.2 Installing on Ubuntu precise). Getting unmet dependencies. Tried your instruction in reply #3 above. Got as far as “git clone git://git.linuxcnc.org/git/linuxcnc.git linuxcnc” when it fails with Connection timed out. Has the git address changed? The annoying thing is that I got it working 12 months ago (after 3 failed attempts with the official distribution, then using a later Ubuntu, then rtai timing). Worked fine for all that time - then I got a grub error. Tried to restore from a Clonezilla copy but that fails to boot! Is there a way to get linuxCNC working on a current version of Ubuntu?