Hello, I am just finished building a 40 x 60 screw driven WorkBee CNC machine. I went with the High Torque GRBL bundle. I went with the High Torque NEMA 23 stepper motors and the Stepper Driver Adapter Modules. I also have the 1.5KW 110V Water Cooled Spindle and VFD. The hardware that I am using for control is the Arduino UNO and the CNC shield. I went with the GRBL instead of Mach3 because I felt that the Mach3 was older and wasn't updateable. I am having a few problems. I tried to install the recommended software but I wasn't able to. I ended up using the Open Builds Cam and Control. I was hoping to control the VFD through the hardware and software that I am using. How would I connect the VFD to the circuit board? I have limit switches connected but when I turn on the spindle the alarm goes off. I do have the shielded wires grounded so I don't think that electrical interference is the problem. Would I be able to connect a XYZ touch probe? I know that the hardware for control is inexpensive. Would it be better if I used different control hardware? What would you recommend? Thanks in advance Peter
Openbuilds Blackbox has the required 0-10v output to control a VFD and also better EMI immunity. CNC Shields (particularly the knockoffs) offer little more than sadness Refer to start [OpenBuilds Documentation] Read through the BlackBox documentation first, then look at the price. Then it will make more sense to you
Sadly, your supplier most likely sold you an obsolete Chinese clone of a Protoneer CNC shield version 3.0. The pin mapping was for GRBL 0.8 for those boards. Protoneer came out with newer versions of their board that are designed for GRBL 1.1 but did not release the source files which is why low end Chinese companies still make and sell the obsolete version 3.0. The truly mysterious thing is why your supplier didn't just supply the current Protoneer board. It is only $14.95 for a genuine one. If you read here gnea/grbl, you will see the spindle pin has been moved which may be what is giving you troubles with that.
Even the geniune ones lack decent drivers (reprap style breakouts severely limits the current capabilities due to reduced thermal management). It never was meant to run big CNCs. It was meant for small pen plotters etc running off Nema14-17s.
Thanks for the advice. If I was to use the Black Box would I still use the Stepper Driver Adapter Modules? would there be any other choices other than the Black Box? Cheers Peter
No you won't need them, BlackBox has EVERYTHING you need, built in Watch for the 1010 and 1050: for the 1510:
Since I have them would there be any advantage to using them? Are the same modules built into the black box? Cheers Peter
a) BlackBox does not cater to external drivers b) The drivers on the BlackBox is perfectly matched to our typical machine types and motors
No and no. You have two basic choices here: 1. Arduino + (4) https://www.amazon.com/STEPPERONLINE-1-0-4-2A-20-50VDC-Micro-step-Resolutions/dp/B06Y5VPSFN/ + a relay system + a lot of complicated wiring and configuration. 2. A BlackBox. What you have does not have the power needed to run the high torque steppers properly.
Hello again, I have everything hooked up and working well. I am just working on some final details that I could get a little help with. Adjusting the stepper driver current. I have read a few different things on this. Do I need to test and adjust the current? One thing I read that it is fine from the factory. Everything appears to be working fine. I don't want to mess with the settings and cause some future problems. If I do need to adjust is there any videos on this topic? Thanks for all of your help. Cheers Peter
Looks like you went with the BB. In that case, current adjustment procedures are in the docs: docs:blackbox:currentadjustment [OpenBuilds Documentation]
Thanks for the response I am just wondering as the black boxes come from the factory set. how important is it to adjust them? Are there any videos showing how? Cheers Peter
Hello, I have a couple of quick questions. I am using Vectric Aspire Software. After a project is done on Vectric and I want to save it and send it to my Black Box I save it in the Post Processor under the file Grbl (mm) (*.gcode). Is that the one to use for the Black Box or is there a better one? There is a lot to choose from. I also have the XYZ Touch Probe Plus. I am using my I Phone to jog the machine. Which works extremely Well! am I able to set the auto zero from my phone? I now set things in the right spot and go to my computer to start the zero process. Thanks in advance. Cheers Peter
Yes, mobile also has same Setzero buttons, and same dropdown menu next to the DROs Re Vectric, see docs:software:vectric [OpenBuilds Documentation]
