OpenBuilds CONTROL Software

Hello to everyone,
Is there a way to do a tool change when using the Openbuilds Control software? I have a C-Beam XL with a Makita router, and am using Fusion 360 for CAM. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

 

Thanks for the info.

 

I didn't know that was available, thank you.

 

Is there a way to adjust the laser power settings from the drop down? When selecting to turn the laser on at 5% its sending M3 S50 and 10% is sending M3 S100. Aren't those 50% and 100% power?

I'm manually entering in M3 S15 to get 15% power so I can see where the beam is for job alignment.

 

grbl defaults to a 0-1000 "spindle speed" option. You can set it to 0-100, 0-256 (its actual resolution), 8000-24000, or any other number you feel like, with the $30 and $31 parameters. gnea/grbl

CONTROL is likely assuming you haven't changed those settings, but I don't know if it actively pulls the grbl settings to calculate the UI dropdown values.

 

Nice. I was hoping so, it makes sense to do.

 

I currently have:

$30=255
$31=0

I should set $30 back to default of 1000 to achieve the correct %'s? I set it to 255 a while ago. I think I set it to that because what I read for it to work correctly with Vcarve and using the engraving tool with the laser.

What would be the advantage of 1000 vs 8000?

 

My control is up to date. I use Vcarve for my CAM. Would S-values be the same as the laser burn rate? I've been talking with someone over there about getting that set up properly in Vcarve.

 

I have been playing with the burn rate to achieve the results I'm shooting for but now I'm not sure if I should considering it might effect the control. I'n not sure how to ensure the CAD/CAM settings are close.

When you mention leaving the default at 1000 to help with the post sides are you referring to the post processor?

 

Peter,

So I was messing with the $30 numbers and a test file I have for different laser power setting (10% - 100%) and the lower I go with the $30 number the more powerful the power output seems to be. If I set to 1000 the laser will not start burning until around 30% to 40%. If I set it back to 255 it will start burning around 10% - 20%. I have the JTech 2.8w if that makes a difference. Does this scenario sound correct?

Your post earlier made it sound like this number shouldn't have an effect on power because its all calculated however I'm finding its making a difference. Am I doing something incorrectly?

 

$30 is max output. $31 is min. All you're doing by reducing $30 is shrinking the scale that grbl's working with. If you were sending S100 and it was 10% at $30=1000, now you're sending S100 and it's 40% at $30=255. If you'd sent S400 before, you'd have got the same result. It's all just scaling for your CAM convenience, not because it physically changes anything.

Are you typing the M3 S# lines into the serial send, or selecting them from the dropdown?

 

Thanks Rob. This makes perfect sense now. I didn't realize that $30 and $31 were like a sliding scale and by changing them your basically either adding or subtracting the amount of values you can work with. I have decided to stick with 255 just because I'm already familiar with the scale at that value.

I created a macro to achieve the power setting that would produce the faintest beam possible for laser alignment. So essentially I'm typing in the M3 S# into the serial send. I don't have my laptop in front of me for the exact value but I think its something like M3 S12 or 13. (1.2% or 1.3%)

 

I figured that would explain the mystery variation; had you looked at the dropdown between changes, you'd have seen the S numbers change for the % numbers.

Cool to do it as a macro though, I just slide the bCNC spindle slider as little as possible, haha. Gotcha. Usually S16 or something, maybe S21, At 0-1000 scaling.

 

Mark I am trying to use the open build with my 4 axis ox and when i set the code to define y axis mirror and define dual y axis the one motor will turn and the other does nothing. I am usin arduino uno with cnc shield. If i try motors individually they work i have installed grbl 1.1h
Thanks
Doug

 

A few gripe after a bad experience with openbuilds control software.
1. The pause, stop, and abort buttons.
I don't get the reason to have a stop button if there is a likelihood of missing steps. Isn't that the point of the abort button? I often use the pause button to.. pause and take a test measurement but if I hit stop and dont have an overpriced block of aluminum to re-zero, I'm left eyeballing and for most of my work that's just rubbish. At the very least, let us customize the toolbar! Think about it, we could add macro buttons, remove of disable buttons that we don't need or want! WHY IS STOP NEXT TO PAUSE!
2. keyboard controls.
Why does space START a file? I would only expect that to pause or unpause. If i'm in the middle of changing bits and have the file loaded, bumping the spacebar is going to be a bad day! Also can we PLEASE have a keyboard control on/off toggle? if its on IT ALWAYS moves x/y/z if its off it NEVER moves x/y/z none of this wheres the last place in the UI you clicked? Maybe it works, maybe not!
3. TOOL CHANGES
I know this is "in-progress" but none of you kit has tool changers, why would your software not support manual tool changes? PLEASE!!!!!!!

I appreciate the work you guys do but also don't be like Microsoft and release unfinished unfriendly/overly simple software!
Openbuilds software feels like its 94% of the way there can we please have the last 6%? I would even consider paying for it (assuming it had outstanding documentation)

Sorry about the angry rant. Please understand it's because I really want to like your software and its so close that it makes it that much more frustrating.

 

Is there a way to add CoreXY support to the firmware uploader at all?

 

Great! I'll do it that way. Does the standard GRBL 1.1 support servos or is there a special build for servo support?