So I posted the below question to facebook and got a response saying that arduino based controllers are not powerful enough to process G2/G3 codes. Do you guys feel the BB is powerful enough? I'm working with SolidCAM to get a Post Processor created and they want to know if my machine can use G2/G3.

"Aspire Gcode question - Why doesn't the post processor for Grbl use G2 and G3 codes for arcs? It would create fewer lines of code, smaller files, and easier processing. Just curious if anyone knows."

 

Yeah the Grbl wiki says it supports it. But based on the comment that the controllers aren't physically powerful I was just curious what you guys had to say on the subject.

 

Also, does the BB and Openbuilds Control software support an M0 code that could possibly be used for tool changes?

 

Awesome, thank you!

 

Not sure if this is the right place to post this...

I picked up a BB a couple weeks ago to replace my TinyG controller for an SWM3D R7 machine which is similar to the Lead1010. I did a temporary wire up and eveything worked fine to get through a couple of homing cycles. I then decided to make a few changes to the cart the machine is on and relocate the controller out of the way. Wired it back up...had a little trouble with one of the Y motors not working properly (wobbled rather rotate und unhappy sound)...and tripped the Y2 driver alarm (!)..redid the connection at the controller and the motor started working fine for a few seconds. Now the Y2 driver alarm trips after moving a mm or two. I swapped the Y1 & Y2 connections at the BB and no change. Cycling the power clears the ! until attempting another move. Can anyone suggest some additional troubleshooting to try? What is the repair/replacement procedure if it is a bad driver? Replace the muscle board?

On another note - my X and Z motors are heating up (too hot to hold comfortably) despite not moving. I do not recall this being an issue with the TinyG controller.

Thanks,

Don

 

Turning down the current pots seems to have solved the problem. Thanks Peter! I'm sure I'll be back with some other user related errors.

 

Just a quick note to say thanks for designing and producing these control boxes. After running my modified OX on a TinyG then an Arduino Nano with TB6600 drivers, I wired in a BlackBox last weekend after blowing a stepper driver. This BlackBox has turned my sometimes flaky hobby machine into something I can use for regular production. After tuning the current pots I spent ~4 hours cutting some letters for craft projects for a neighbor and it worked flawlessly. I ordered another one for my upcoming build and have thrown my Arduino and discrete drivers into the spare parts bin. Cheers to the Openbuilds crew, you make good stuff!

 

+1!

 

Since these use a 24v power supply, will they power 4 NEMA 23 High Torque stepper motors or is this limited to the standard NEMA 23 stepper motors? I will be receiving my Black Box in 3 days and am currently using the High Torque Models but have the smaller ones if needed.

 

Thanks for the info Sharmstr!

 

Hi, I’m shiny new here.
I got in but I got the “there are no more codes left - please check back later”
I’m assuming they’re all gone or should I really check back later?
Oh yea, this in regards to the hot ghost box

 

I would like to thank Mark and all his crew for, not only the Black Box and all the great products I have purchased from them, but also for the EXCELLENT support! I had a problem with my new Black Box that caused it to short out and when I contacted support, they got back to me with a couple hours. After all the reviewing (a few hours worth), they are sending me a replacement Muscle Board!
Again, thank you Openbuilds!

 

I can’t do it on my iPhone can I? It’s gotta be a pc/laptop?

 

Hi I recently purchased a blackbox motion controller, we have 3 axis with 4 stepper motors (X, Y, Z, and Y2), and would like to use the servo functionality as well. Are we safe to flash the "2 axes + servo" onto the motion controller?

 

Hi Peter, can you explain further how to Setzero in WCS? What GCode command do I need to send in order to home the Z axis?

My current process is, send $H, it will hit the limit switches, back off, then hit the limit switches at a slower speed, then back off and it is homed.

What would the process look like for the homing process for the new controller firmware?

 

Interesting, so I git cloned cprezzi/grbl-servo repo, I want to home all 3 axis at the same time so I modified config.h to
#define HOMING_CYCLE_0 ((1<<X_AXIS)|(1<<Y_AXIS))|(1<<Z_AXIS))
#define HOMING_CYCLE_1 0

Loaded GRBL library into Arduino IDE and compiled it. Before I hit the upload button, I want to make sure what I have done is correct so far?

 

Hi Peter,

Thanks for the reply. I made the changes and things are working. However there is one issue.

So the range of travel for our rig is 1000mm in X, 1000mm in Y, 1000mm in Z
Before using the stock firmware, when we send $H, the axis would be zero'ed, and if we specify 5mm pull off, the current machine position would be set to -5,-5,-5, and we can travel from [-5,-5,-5] to [-999, -999, -999]
However after using the stock firmware, when we send $H, the current machine position would be set to [995, 995, 995], and we can travel from [995, 995, 995] to [5,5,5], and the software limit wouldn't work (I can jog it until it hits the limit switch) How can we change the firmware so that it replicates the original behavior (because we don't want to change the existing software)

EDIT:
So turns out I set HOMING_FORCE_POSITIVE_SPACE by mistake, all good, thanks for the tips!

 

Is it possible for the fourth axis to be unslaved? I'm building a CNC lathe attachment. I only need X and Z. Version 2 will have a tool changer. Ideally, Y would be height compensation and A would be a tool changer. I can figure out how to write the Post code for that, but I'm not sure how to GRBL-ify it.