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Controller for XYYZA

Discussion in 'CNC Mills/Routers' started by Allistar, Feb 5, 2021.

  1. Allistar

    Allistar New
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    Hi all,
    Can anyone recommend a controller that's GRBL compatible that can drive a LEAD1515 (with two Y steppers) with a rotary stepper as well? The controllers I've seen (BlackBox or XPro V5) can only control 4 steppers.

    Thanks,
    Allistar
     
  2. Giarc

    Giarc OpenBuilds Team
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    GRBL can not run four different axis at once. So if you want a rotary, you disconnect either the X or Y and use that driver to operate the rotary. This was the primary reason I built a stand alone CNC lathe. It is not difficult to do, you just need to change your steps/mm each time you switch. I would run it along the Y axis so only the X would need to be disconnected and the rotary axis could be longer.
     
  3. Peter Van Der Walt

    Peter Van Der Walt OpenBuilds Team
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    You swop the rotary into X or Y, and use Wrapping (video below)


    Super easy to connect/disconnect thanks to Xtension Connectors
     
    Giarc likes this.
  4. Rob Taylor

    Rob Taylor Master
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    Look into grblHAL and grbl_Esp32. Once you graduate past three basic axes, there's a lot less hand-holding and you'll have to work on your own electronics hardware. Luckily, doesn't seem particularly difficult with either of those. bCNC seems to have become a dedicated grblHAL sender, which is interesting. Getting 4-axis jobs out of CAM is another matter, though, that's the big thing to look into.
     
  5. Allistar

    Allistar New
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    Thanks, that's helpful. I'll use the driver of the X stepper to control the rotary. When I build it I'll get an extra stepper motor cable so changing it is easy.
     
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  6. JustinTime

    JustinTime Veteran
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    I use GRBL on my machine. I have two Y axis steppers. I have both drivers connected to the same Step and Direction pins on the Nano3. It works for me with no problems.

    Edit: Just dawned on me that you are talking about an integrated system where as I use separate drivers and Nano3. This handicap of GRBL made me go with the separate system in the first place.
     
    #6 JustinTime, Feb 6, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2021
  7. Allistar

    Allistar New
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    Thanks for the replies. The only reason I'm suggesting GRBL is because that seems to be the default for the OpenBuilds hardware and the XPRO V5. I can build my own drivers to control 5 steppers at once (my current CNC uses HobbyCNC drivers and LinuxCNC). For the low number of times I'll use a rotary axis I'll stick with 4 drivers and I'll switch the stepper's plug manually (and change the appropriate config).
     
    Peter Van Der Walt likes this.

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