Hi,
We are contacting SparkFun to get this resolved faster.
They should take this into priority now.
I didnāt hear anything out of them today. I have played around with this thing some more and I have it moving but Iām not yet sure if it is working properly. I think what I need to test it out is a project file, (Gcode), and see what happens. Something small like a name plate. I looked on the internet but I couldnāt find any gcode that I thought might do for testing. I tried the coaster example that comes with the Universal Gcode software but it is not cutting what the picture of the coaster shows. The coaster, of course, is a circle and this thing is not cutting a circle.
They replied me and claim that they didnāt get a reply from their last message on Friday. (email)
We will get this sorted, they will contact you soon.
Whatās happening exactly when you try the coaster ?
There are a couple of different GCode for this project since multiple tool passes are needed.
My favorite GCode maker is Cut2D but thatās not a free software.
vectric.com/products/cut2d/trial.html
When I talked to Ted in tech support the first time, he sent me a photo of the wiring for the Y-axis and told me if I had any problems to call him back and he would walk me through it. So when it didnāt seem to be working I phoned again. Bob told me that Ted was on the phone with another customer so I gave him my phone number and asked to have Ted call me back when he was done. I called back when I didnāt hear anything from him for 3 hours and I got a voice mail saying that they were closed for the day.
I just downloaded Cut2D trial version but it will take me a bit of time to figure out how to use it. I have never used a CNC beforeso I will have to look at all of the tutorials. Do you happen to have a small project in Gcode from Cut2D that I could try?
Thanks.
The GCode is blind about the type of Units used so here are two files that i just created. (mm / inch)
Itās a circle of 1" (25.4mm) in diameter cut on the line (on the actual 1" vector) with a deep of 1/8"
Note: I found the post-processor file HERE for the conversion on the GBRL Shapeoko
Circle 1in (all files).zip (6.5 KB)
ShapeokoPP.zip (1.7 KB)
Thanks DiaLFonZo, I tried your files, both the inches and the millimeters, but I am not getting a circle. I have attached a photo of the result I get. The one on the right is millimeters and the one on the left in inches.
Donāt know what is happening here. Maybe I am doing something wrong.
Can you take a look in the āUniversal Gcode Senderā for the settings ? Maybe do a PrintScreen of whatās shown there.
Settings / Firmware Settings / GRBL
Here is the location of the SparkFun settings
learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/st ā¦ he-stepoko
$0=10 (step pulse, usec)
$1=255 (step idle delay, msec)
$2=0 (step port invert mask:00000000)
$3=5 (dir port invert mask:00000101)
$4=0 (step enable invert, bool)
$5=0 (limit pins invert, bool)
$6=0 (probe pin invert, bool)
$10=255 (status report mask:11111111)
$11=0.020 (junction deviation, mm)
$12=0.010 (arc tolerance, mm)
$13=0 (report inches, bool)
$20=0 (soft limits, bool)
$21=0 (hard limits, bool)
$22=0 (homing cycle, bool)
$23=0 (homing dir invert mask:00000000)
$24=100.000 (homing feed, mm/min)
$25=1000.000 (homing seek, mm/min)
$26=25 (homing debounce, msec)
$27=5.000 (homing pull-off, mm)
$100=40.000 (x, step/mm)
$101=40.000 (y, step/mm)
$102=40.000 (z, step/mm)
$110=5000.000 (x max rate, mm/min)
$111=5000.000 (y max rate, mm/min)
$112=5000.000 (z max rate, mm/min)
$120=400.000 (x accel, mm/sec^2)
$121=400.000 (y accel, mm/sec^2)
$122=400.000 (z accel, mm/sec^2)
$130=425.000 (x max travel, mm)
$131=465.000 (y max travel, mm)
$132=80.000 (z max travel, mm)
Also, the file i sent include the Tool and Feedrate (speed) and might not be optimal for your setup.
You can do an Air Cut and look if the tool actually do a circle.
I checked the firmware settings and they are exactly as shown on the Shapeoko website.
The Z and X axis seem to be working but the Y-axis does not seem to be working properly. For example, if I upload the coaster example file or your** circle** file, the Z and X axis are moving ok but the Y-axis just barely moves (possibly 1/8 of an inch at best. If I go to Machine Control and set the Step to 1 inch and press the Y+ or Y- buttons, the motors seem to make a noise like it is moving but there is actually no movement at all on the gantry.
If I go to the command pane and type in** G91 G0 Y3** the motors make the same noise only for a longer period but there is no movement on the Y-axis at all. I think if I could figure out why the Y-axis is not working properly and fix that, it might start carving properly.
Double check your axis, maybe you have the Z mixed will the X or Y.
The Z should not move while cutting since it pierce material
The wiring of the X, Y and Z-axis is fine. Perhaps I did not explain correctly.
When the code is uploaded and the Send button is pressed, the Z-axis lowers the bit piercing the material. Then the Y-axis moves the bit left or right, depending on the code, and carves a channel about 1/8 of an inch deep. But where it should then move on the Y-axis,ā¦ no movement!
This look like āSkipping Stepsā on the X axis. While the stop switch deactivate the motor, are you able to move the X easily by hand ?
(you said two times Y in your last reply but i think you mean X)
If everything run free, you may want to look at the āCurrent Settingā for this axis:
Yes, I meant X-axis in the last post. It moves ok left and right on the X-axis but not on the Y-axis. If I switch off the E-switch, I can move it on all axis easily. I tried the ā03cutoutā file for the flame coaster example, and of course it is supposed to cut a circle, but I just get a straight line left and right. The frustration continues!
You said in your earlier post that the motor was doing āsoundsā which might be motor skipping.
That happen when the torque / current needed is too high for the controller. Try to play with the current settings as suggested.
The sound that I hear is a smooth sound like a hum, not like a chatter or anything like that.
Again, please try to adjust the current setting.
Itās very easy and you can crank it up (after un-powering the board) without issues.
Success!!!
I guess the current adjustment was the problem. I loaded in the flame coaster example and it cut the circle as it shows in the visual. I then loaded the engrave file and it cut the flame image. Thank you so much for the help.
One , hopefully final question if I may, ā¦
I downloaded the trial version of the Cut2D software but I didnāt want to purchase it if the machine was not working. Now that it is, I am thinking that I should purchase the full version but I wanted to ask you if Cut2D can create Gcode from a vector image? For example, If I wanted to make a sign, or a plaque and I created a vector image with a name & logo on it, can Cut2D create the Gcode to carve that plaque from the image?
Thanks again DiaLFonZo. You donāt know how much I appreciate your time and help. I am sure that I must have been frustrating you as well with all my posts.
Iāve never used such feature (from image) but might be possible looking at the specifications here:
For standard 2D drawing and creating layout i use DraftSight which is free:
You are not frustrating but be patient, it most of the time pay off.
Iāve been learning CNC myself a few years back so i know how it is.
Note: You will need the Post Processing files to output for the machine. Try the cricle to know if it does work.
I obviously have a great deal to learn,ā¦ Iām not sure what the Post Processing files are?
When you āOutputā the file from Vectric Cut2d you need to select which machine / driver you are using.
I found one for the Stepoko / GBRL that i linked earlier (grbl-has-not-finished-booting-t15290/60#p128310)
Those files just have to be dropped in the folder of the application once installed.
Once done, you will have the option to export for this machine.
I didnāt test that on my end so thatās why iām asking you to test the circle
Thanks. I just purchased Cut2D and downloaded it but I have not yet installed it. I may not get it installed today but when I do Iāll test the circle and let you know. I also downloaded DraftSight 2017 so, between Cut2D and DraftSight 2017, Iāll be busy reading for awhile.