cnc

[karoly]

Hi I am looking for good software to make and run a cnc using Arduino mega 2560 with a ramp 1.4 shield everyone else seems to just want to make 3D printers but I want to make a cnc/laser engraver my programing skills are not great used to the old dos finding it a bit tricky to get my head round c hope someone can help

[MeJasonT]

Hi Buddy,
this really is a piece of cake
Try looking at
Grbl Controller 3.0 | zapmaker
and
https://github.com/gerritv/Grbl-Panel/releases
https://sourceforge.net/projects/grblforramps14/

Im currently building a CNC Plasma Table and converting my old Miller to CNC.
this firmware and software GUI has been fantastic.

im using the arduino Uno, but it is possible to use the mega and ramps sheild
best of luck
Jason

[karoly]

thanks but I tried grblforramps14 and its full of errors and having a hard time trying to get it to compile let alone upload

[MeJasonT]

Hi Karoly,

sorry for the delay getting back to you, we had a little water get into the house during a flash flood. i have been trying to get my office back up and running so i can get back on the web and do some real work.

I hate it on forums when people just ignore others and don't offer assistance just criticism - for that reason i'm not 100% a forum fan. The programming sites tend to have a large number of individuals who are more interested in posing than being of any assistance. Begs the question why use a forum when they just want to show off.

hence to apology and yes i am going to help if you still need it.


How far have you managed to get.
I know the arduino ide keeps getting updated which causes many older class files to become outdated, sometimes you need to use an older arduino development environment to get the sketch files/hex uploaded properly.
when i get the chance i will load the code onto an atmega 2560 and see how far i get and will knock up an instruction sheet to explain what i did. i have a ramps board in the workshop i was going to use on my 3d printer so i can see if it all works as expected on completion.

I hope you are still getting stuck in with the good part of building the darn thing, at the end of the day retrofitting electronics is the easy bit.
best of look in your endeavours, i will get back to you as soon as.

[karoly]

thanks I am still trying to find good software that works I don't want to pay good money for programs that nearly works I have built my machine but the only thing I seem to get is jerky movement from the stepper motors do you have any idea where I might be going wrong

[MeJasonT]

What have you set your $100,$101,$102 steps/mm for x,y,z to.
I figure you are using GRBL
These are what i'm set up for - just to give you an idea

Elliot Milling machine June 2016

$0=10 (step pulse, usec)
$1=25 (step idle delay, msec)
$2=0 (step port invert mask:00000000)
$3=7 (dir port invert mask:00000111)
$4=0 (step enable invert, bool)
$5=0 (limit pins invert, bool)
$6=0 (probe pin invert, bool)
$10=3 (status report mask:00000011)
$11=0.010 (junction deviation, mm)
$12=0.002 (arc tolerance, mm)
$13=0 (report inches, bool)
$20=0 (soft limits, bool)
$21=1 (hard limits, bool)
$22=1 (homing cycle, bool)
$23=0 (homing dir invert mask:00000000)
$24=25.000 (homing feed, mm/min)
$25=500.000 (homing seek, mm/min)
$26=250 (homing debounce, msec)
$27=1.000 (homing pull-off, mm)
$100=4750 (x, step/mm)
$101=1500.000 (y, step/mm)
$102=50.000 (z, step/mm)
$110=500.000 (x max rate, mm/min)
$111=350 (y max rate, mm/min)
$112=500.000 (z max rate, mm/min)
$120=20.000 (x accel, mm/sec^2)
$121=20.000 (y accel, mm/sec^2)
$122=20.000 (z accel, mm/sec^2)
$130=330 (x max travel, mm)
$131=135 (y max travel, mm)
$132=80 (z max travel, mm)

you can find out by using a terminal program and sending $$ if you don't know of any other way
are the stepper drivers getting enough power

it might be a good idea for me to ask you to send a simple diagram of your setup
ie arduino mega & ramps, type of stepper drivers you are using, firmware you are using, front end you are using.
this should help me to model and test what you are doing.

cheers
Jason