Hello fellow dust makers, I am currently trying to help a friend of mine who owns a Xcarve saw about a year old. I currently use a DIY CNC saw the I build using a SmoothStepper Controller using Mach3 software. I only give details of mine because we are both doing identical router cuts but mine has no problems but his stops and random times and then ask if you are happy with the cut. Both use Vcarve pro for creating our toolpaths but of course we use tool design for our machines. He has done everything suggested by inventables but moving wiring and separating the different power units and even just last week they sent him a new controller board. His computer has the sleep mode disabled and really at a loss. I had seen the BlackBox available and reading through the specs thought of my friend Xcarve problem and this might be the fix he needs. His machine seems to stop more often when doing a longer cuts, say 4 to 5 hrs. They finally told him the Easel does not do well with large Gcode files. My questions are as follows: 1. Can one use Mach3 software on the BlackBox controller? 2. Can the OpenBuilds control software handle very large Gcode files without stopping? 3. Reading seems like I read where you can import from Vcarve. 4. Some of the cuts we are doing are 3D (stl) files made into toolpaths which are some of the large the large 4 to 5 hrs cuts. Does the OpenBuild controller software have any know issues with these large toolpaths. 5. Is the OpenBuild controller software basically the same as Mach3, and will one just import Gcode (toolpaths) from Vcarve? Any help will be mucho appreciated. I don't want him to buy the BlackBox and it does the same thing with stopping. Example - the same Toolpath saved one for Mach3 (TXT) and then saved Xcarve/Easel (Gcode), Mine cut just fine and his this last week ran to 94% then stopped, then he tried again same Gcode and quit at 3%, then again 12%, then one last try made it to 47%. Now this example is from last week but this has happened on every long cut attempted. My suggestion was Gas and a Match! Thanks, Tim
No, BlackBox runs Grbl, Grbl is the same as Mach3 (takes gcode, converts it to step signals, etc) - the UI is just a frontend of what Mach actiually does. You can use ANY GRBL host (openbuildscontrol, ugs, cncjs, bcnc, and many more - same applies to his original controller too, try different hosts) Depends (on the PC) - again, many options, if it doesn't, try one of the others. bCNC is super lean and does great with big files Runs on standard Grbl, so all the standard Grbl post processors and Grbl compatible CAM toolchains still apply Depends on the PC - as answered before, many other options exist too Yes Checkout the docs and videos Documentation: OpenBuilds BlackBox 4X Documentation Video:
My suggestion here is firstly - Eliminate EMI sources - Try different PC - Try different host applications (UGS2, CNCjs, bCNC, etc) - Sleep mode disabled, yes, but what about USB Selective Suspend (You have to dig in for that setting) : OpenBuilds BlackBox 4X Documentation and disabling usb selective suspend (Laptop has an extra setting for DC (Battery mode) which needs the command line) Before spending the money. As they sent him a new board already, it makes me more suspect of this environment though
Hello Peter, thanks so very much for your response like a dummy I forgot to tell you my operating system duh hehe. We have used to computers one notebook older machine but running Windows 10 home and brand new desktop running 10 pro. We have made sure no EMI source, but we did not know about the USB suspend so that's where I am going to head with him and also look at the software controllers. I will give you updates. Again thanks for your help, Tim
Hello again Peter, just wanted to give you an update on working to solve the stopping of my friends Xcarve machine. Since we had already accomplished your list of things to check I help him disable the USB suspend function. I had him disable and reboot then had him run the 3D cut he had tried before and seems problem solved. It was a 8hr 36min cut and never stopped!!! He will do another cut tomorrow but this seems to have fixed his problem. He still went ahead and ordered the OpenBuilds BlackBox. He was so grateful and wants to get away from Easel clutches . I personally want to say thanks again for help and you will probably hear from me again in a few months when we install your new controller. A million thanks, Tim
