I just read some more in a thread titled something like “2022 laser update“ or some such, and I have started realizing why there is so much laser related interest in GRBL over Marlin. I guess this is one reason why the interest in this new board is so high.
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That is the biggest functional difference, the other part would be the price, I would say. After that, the “firmware” is easier to edit.
I have a whole list really. Another thing I have not tested but I have found the accelerations and things are easier to test or perhaps they just work the way I expect. In reality the foundations of both are nearly the same, they borrow from each other. It is just GRBL does not have any of the Extruder or LCD overhead so it is fast less complicated. ( I don’t know if it has a delta kinematics section either…I need to look into that just to know).
I recently just found out that UGS supports Joystick. That has been one of my things I have wanted for a while!!! I need a board, LOL.
These fluidnc boards are very popular for laser engravers/cutters because they’re cheap, plus they’re very convenient to use
For a simple 2 axis plotter, you can get a board with 2 integrated drivers as cheap as 10-15$
An MKS TinyBee (5 driver slots) is 15-17$ without the drivers, hard to beat…
On the “convenience” side, having an integrated WebUI accessible through Wifi, where you can easily upload file, start and monitor jobs, is a pretty neat feature
Once you try it, it’s hard to go back to the old SD/USB/USB process…
Traditionally, this would require a secondary SBC (eg: raspberry pi) to achieve, or going with an high-end board like the RRF Wifi Duet (smoothieboard)
Here you get all those nice features for a fraction of the price…
Last but not least, it’s very easy to configure, no re-compiling or complicated stuff here, just fill-in the config file and restart/reload… done.
Again, this has been a feature mostly found on higher-end boards or firmware, like RRF or Klipper
Just to establish a baseline, the closest thing I can get with these features (no-compile configuration, web-ui, tmc drivers comaptible) would be an SKR board (1.4 or E3) , that’s 35-40$ without drivers, add 5 tmc2209 drivers 20$, an RRF Wifi board 10-15$
Thats 65-70$, and you’d still need to tinker a bit to install RRF, because it’s not officially supported…
An MKS TinyBee with 5 drivers is 30$ from China…
A Jackpot board is 60$ with the drivers (and it supports local businesses like V1 shop)
Love how the board is turning out.
Curious how prototypes/early versions are looking wired up and enclosed? Anyone have photos?
For some reason, I’m struggling to reach acceptance when it comes to the orientation/location of power. Hoping that seeing pics of actual wired setups will help.
When are more due in store?
So the hardware aspect is sorted and final now?
With 6 available driver porta i guess @jamiek will make the idex build work
Yes!
I believe so, we’ll see how the first 15 or so people feel about it.
OK, I have again signed up for the in-stock notification. This would be the first significant change to my LowRider 3 since getting it finalized way back. I’m hesitant 'cause “if it ain’t broke.” However, I have thought about the ramifications of adding a laser module.
Same boat. Was hoping it would be ready by the time i set up the newest LR3 but i already had an SKR for it. Now that I’m switching the Primo over to full time laser this really seems like a good fit since it can go so much faster with it.
Hey i am upgrading from cnc to lr3 because of it! I have went round and round and now doing it!! I dont have room for both.
@vicious1 just a tiny remark, there is a small typo in your description of the jackpot, esp23 board…
My goodness, I suck at typing.
I hope that phone gets on the charger soon!
