Snokid...I have watched this and tried to translate it to the xPro but I am not finding a VREF test point on the board. I checked the schematics and did find A and BVREF which are pins 12 and 13 respectively on the driver chip and if I read the schematics correctly, it's going to the current limiting pot but doesn't show what solder point it is. I was able to ID the ground easy enough but that still leaves 2 points and the other issue is how tight it is in there and I don't want to slip and short anything out (wife already isn't happy with the bill)

after watching the video again I figured I could do this by reading the current going to the drive just to find out that my cheesy POS meter doesn't read amps

suggestions?

 

you measure the vref from one of the solder tabs on the pot, can't remember which pad, but you won't damage anything if you test from ground to each pad.

here's what spark concepts says about setting the current...
Motor current set too low If motor current is set too low the motors will stall at speed, or even refuse to turn. Turn the motor current trimpot up (clockwise) until you get reliable motor operation.
Motor current set too high If motor current is too high the stepper driver chips will go into thermal cycling, turning on and off slowly or even very rapidly. Back off the current until this stops.


I have done it both ways, both work....
but if you want to do it without a meter set the trim pot to the mid point, then go from there....
warning....
you should have heatsinks....
If you set the current too high it might not show up till you run a longer gcode thru it.... I found this out the hard way. short gcode worked no problems then I cut a longer file and it went into thermo.....

hope this helps....
Bob

 

ok thanks for the info...I will try setting it tonight from the solder pad. I do have a new meter coming though..you have to love amazon!

 

Thanks Mark, Looks like they will be helping me out!

 

Thanks I'll give it a try.

 

Hi, I'm having a problem with the limit switches on the XPro. I'm trying to set up the X and Y axes so that when the X or Y axis switch is tripped it will stop travel along that axis to avoid collisions with the end of travel. I have multi-metered my setup and the X-Axis limit pin (the one directly next to <X> MOTOR pin B1) does get connected to ground when I hit the X Axis limit switch. Travel along X and Y axes remains unchanged though. Any ideas on what is going on?

Also, does anyone have details on what the behavior of the board is when tripping a limit switch? I don't know if the board disables all travel in that axis, disables only travel towards the switch, or just stops but doesn't disable motion. The Wiki information about the limit switches doesn't describe their behavior: 2. Connecting CNC xPRO · Spark-Concepts/xPRO Wiki · GitHub

 

Hello,

I have a CNC xPRO Driver (version 2) which was pre-loaded with GRBL version 0.9g. I am currently working on a project which requires me to alter the GRBL source code, however I only have the
source code for GRBL version 0.9j. I have tried compiling this source code via Arduino IDE (using the instructions outlined on the webpage Compiling Grbl · grbl/grbl Wiki · GitHub) but got the error messages
"avrdude: stk500_paged_write(): (a)protocol error, expect = 0x14, resp = 0x00" and "avrdude: stk500_cmd(): programmer is out of sync"

I then tried using ATMEL Studio to compile the source code (again using the instructions outlined on the webpage Compiling Grbl · grbl/grbl Wiki · GitHub), then uploaded the hex file using Xloader, however I kept getting the error message "upload failed".

I also have the precompiled hex file for version 0.9i and when I uploaded it to the board (via Xloader), I still got the error message "upload failed". I do not have this issue when I reload the 0.9g hex file.

I was wondering whether anyone either had or could provide me a link to the source code for GRBL 0.9g, or knew why the board would not accept later versions of the GRBL code being uploaded to it?

Thank you.

 

has anyone redone the grbl code so the xpro could be coupled with an lcd display via the SDA SCL pins? or is it even possible?

 

Does anyone know how the limit switches work? I've hooked it up so the limit switch pin gets connected to ground when the limit switch is clicked, as described in the hookup instructions, but the XPro motion is unimpeded by the limit switch connecting.

 

I've run into an issue with my xPRO (v2 version).

When I initially set it up I connected using a 24V 400W LED power supply and communicated with it using a USB cable. Worked fine.

Later I picked up an XBee format bluetooth module which uses the same RN-42 module that Spark-Concepts' BlueBee uses. With that I can communicate with the xPRO but can't drive the steppers attached to it. I hear some sound like they are trying to move, I can't turn them by hand, but no actual movement. However if I instead connect using USB things work fine.

I verified that I am getting 24V into the xPRO.

Has anyone seen this before and/or can offer some things I should look at? I am hoping to reduce the number of wires behind my machine.

 

This is interesting.. I am Using this board on 4 HT motors purchased from O.B. I haven't had any issues that I can tell. One small thing is that my "Y" axis, since it has two motors, it runs a Little noisy but still works fine. I have the controller mounted in a project box with are large fan to keep it cool. Are you suggesting I will have a failure soon using this board on these HT motors? Wish I had know this before I paired them up.

 

Mike I sent you and email at the address provided. I got an automated response saying mailbox is full... Thanks.. Alan

 

Ok... Thanks Mike. I would be interested in beta testing. I have the v2 board for my build and I did realize when I bought it I would have reduced torque but was ok with it anticipating that I would not need the full torque of the HT motors. here is a picture of my build.. let me know what you would like me to do. I enjoy the O.B. site alot and enjoy the services they provide. Talk to you soon... Alan Ball

 

Hi Mike, I sent you a conversation request.

Rob

 

Digger, I have a bunch of older 430 Watt AT PSU that I would like to use that have 20 pin connectors. The 12V rail on this PSU has 20A. I can't use the plug to connect to the board but if I cut all the wires and bundle all the yellow wires and black wires and connect to the 2 post side of the board (Opposite 24 pin connector) for 12V in (20A) that should work. I know i have to add a resistor to one of the red 5V wires to fool the PSU into thinking it has a load plus I have to isolate the Blue wire as the power switch. All other wires can be cut short and stowed off to the side. Can you see any other challenges I should look out for?

 

Thanks Michael, that helps but have a few more questions... SO, I plan use this board with the (3) NEMA17 motors that came with the bundle. At 1.68A apiece that makes 12V a little over 5A for max motor demand thru the connector. I plan to setup the push button switches/probe & emergency shut off switch and limit switches using the boards input power source ( I presume its 5V from the connector) into a small box off to the side of the cnc plate machine.That leaves the remaining wire to be cut short or available to be used for something else. Do you see any problems with me using the extra wire from the PSU for either 5V or 12V fans within the control box and or using them in a relay for lights or vacuum on/off switches?

 

Using warm water allows the pores to

 

I have an Xpro v3 board , nearing the end of my oxmetal build and excited to get things running I have been held up buy problems and wondering if anyone has had anything similar regarding the cloned y axis stop working randomly, I have switch the y and clone motors and it changes to the different motor so suspect it maybe a setting or something to do with the board ...
any help appreciated so I can move on to the next step ! Thanks

 

Will the
CNC XPRO CONTROLLER V3 Will it mill in 3 D
ATB Chris

 

Here is a sketchup model for the X-Pro that I made:
X-Pro Sketchup 3D model
Hope you find it useful....

 

Has anyone upgraded to GRBL 1.x with V2 board? If so what is your experience. What changes / impacts are there to the board pinouts or otherwise?

 

@Michael thanks for your tip about the GRBL hard limits! Setting the hard limit $21 setting to 1 made the limit switches stop the system. Thanks a lot!

 

In the description on the openbuilds store the cnc xpro v3 states: "Laser Cutter With XY, Auto Focus, and Rotary Attachment". Has anyone actually done this and are willing to share their setup? I am really interested in making my c-beam model a dual purpose CNC/laser machine. Any replies would be great!