If anyone is looking to run GRBL on their existing Mega and RAMPS, here is a project that I forked and setup the defaults to MPCNC settings. You may want to tweak the acceleration numbers as I used the settings that are in the beta firmware, but things are running OK over here…
1 Like
What would be the benefits of running GRBL? More in-tune with the Shapeoko folks?
Are there any drawbacks/things I would be giving up if I switched?
I’ve only tested the above code with Easel. I attempted to try Chilipeppr, but was unsuccessful. The only real advantage that I see is you aren’t bound to Estlcam, and are using firmware that is used with lasers, mills, and routers. Marlin is a 3D printer firmware and while based on GRBL, it is heavily modified for 3D printing.
1 Like
I should probably add that this should be considered beta.
How did you get this setup using easel? ive gone through the machine setup page but I can’t seem to get it to see my board. Do I use the X carve settings or the shapeoko? I’ve installed easel local and that hasn’t seemed to do anything but tell it not to have me download easel local again. im stuck
also, will this work with one of the full graphics displays that allted sells?
I do like the expanded gcode command set in grbl and I’m seeing some host software with Camera integration which is really cool. What I’d love to see is implementation of G68 and G69 codes to rotate an axis.
Still grbl is tight code made to run on a memory and io limited uno and cnc shield. Wouldn’t it be easier to add the functionality of grbl to marlin firmware? I plan to use my mpcnc with an extruder at some point so i don’t want to give up that ability.
I’ve just decided to build 2 separate controller buildouts. One for printing, which I’ll mostly be doing with mine. and one with grbl for using with easel, because I don’t need much more functionality than that.
Must the wireing for GRBL be changed?
endswitch for example.
Has anyone tried GRBLWeb?
http://xyzbots.com/grblweb.html
it provides some features like Octoprint.
mschrock,
How did you modify steps per mm? I change the defaults settings and the machine type but nothing changes at the machine. The instructions on Github reference a MPCNC build but there isnt one in the defaults.h file.
I’ve already got a big printer and I’ve used GRBL for a laser burner before. GRBL is nice and Chilipeppr is a great interface compared to what I was using for GRBL previously. I wish i saw GRBLweb before I got started today, I still might try it.
What am I missing to change the steps per mm?
Thanks,
Scott
PS, anyone seen a pendant hookup for GRBL?
I figured out how to edit the settings through the serial interface.
I’ve been thinking really hard about buying one of these, which will only run grbl, AFAIK.
Then on the pi, you could run bCNC, OctoPrint (if it works with grbl, IDK yet), or this simple web interface: GitHub - Protoneer/Raspberry-Pi-CNC: Web interface for controlling a GRBL via a Raspberry Pi
Yeah, I’m going to get one, and I’ll let you know how it goes mid-May when it finally arrives 
. My goal would be octoprint, hopefully without doing a large fork like the previous octoprint cnc stuff.
Hey guys,
I was having fits trying to cut things on my MPCNC from a Mac. I have the RAMPS 1.4 kit from @allted but it was not happy with router operations at all. It is very geared for 3D printing as already mentioned.
Since I have a nice Lulzbot 3D printer already, I bought this GRBL controller from Amazon, threw it on an Uno I had lying around and swapped it out for my Mega/RAMPS. NO CHANGES NEEDED to the wiring of the MPCNC, even with end stops. Just plug it into the GRBL shield just like the RAMPS 1.4 shield. My MPCNC runs great on it and best of all - WORKS GREAT WITH EASEL!!!
In Easel just set up the MPCNC (with a GRBL controller) as a Shapeoko 1 or 2. You can just select the 1000mm x 1000mm option in setup, then change the work area size to match your MPCNC (Mine is 1200mm x 690mm) in the current project. Easel will remember these settings if you are logged in. My plotting tests with a Sharpie from Easel + GRBL shield worked great the first time. The only tricky part is flashing GRBL 0.9 onto the shield, but just follow the GRBL instructions from Github in the readme file and every thing will be fine. In the meantime, here is a link to a video I posted of the MPCNC running GRBL controlled by Easel on a Mac.
I am printing router mounts for my Craftsman router today and looking to test carve a design tonight. Finally I have a CNC Router running from a Mac!
I use a router on a Mac. I run ramps.
Been a long time since I had a free Saturday morning to tinker in my garage with the MPCNC, but GRBL + Easel are working really well. Easel is free and for setup you just tell it that you are using a Shapeoko 1. http://easel.inventables.com/
I have added a modified dust collection system sucked by a cheap Buckethead vac from Home Depot on the MPCNC now. On my custom table, I 3D printed some swing arm mounts and undermounted the power supply and controller beneath the table. I wired up some light switches to an outlet box so I can control everything from the front. Eventually I am going to replace the switch box with small rocker switches and will add a display for GRBL on that control box.
Does Easel support Marlin based machines, or only GRBL?
Nice clean setup Michael. Any tips for hanging the power supply?
Bill - Easel only works with GRBL and Inventables’ own hardware, which is why I swapped out my RAMPS shield for the GRBL shield.
Scott - I mounted everything underneath the work table. The table frame is made from 2x4’s, so I 3D printed swing down mounts for the electronics and power supply. The swing down mounts are attached to the table frame with a screw for the pivot and held up on the other end by magnetic cabinet latches. This way I can swing down the mount to working on things. The table has two outlets on the rear of the machine fed by a single power cord. The 3 light switches on the front control the outlets (spindle/router, dust collection system, and electronics).
How has this setup stood the test of time? I’m thinking about going to GRBL as well… Thanks.
Hi, if your read my post, I have an GRBL running on ramps with the same Marlin wiring conections and all works ok. Test it.