First, a little backstory. Having successfully built and tested my MPCNC, I decided I wanted a software controller similar to the Mach series of controllers instead of using programs like Repetier. Looking around, I was unable to find anything for Marlin. I noticed that an open source option called UGS (Universal GCODE Sender) was compatible with the grbl firmware so I attempted to flash grbl to my RAMBo to no avail. Realizing that the RAMBo was unsupported I did some digging around and was finally able to get some motion out of it by modifying the pin mapping but the motion was choppy and unusable. In the end, I gave up with grbl since I could not get it to run on my board.
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Now, I am looking for one of two things; either a CNC control program that supports Marlin, or a variation of grbl that works with the RAMBo. Having researched this for a few days, I’ve come up with nothing so I’m hoping someone here could assist me!
I have no idea how I missed CNCjs… I’ll give it a shot but I think this is exactly what I’m looking for, thank you!!
As for why I mentioned Mach, I only mentioned it as an example of the kind of software I was looking for as I wasn’t entirely sure of the correct terminology to use. Reason being there’s the “control” like on Haas machines, I’ve seen the boards (RAMBo, RAMPS, Arduino, etc.) called “controllers,” and the various firmware’s be called “controller software.” CNC has a lot of terms I’m not familiar with yet
More along the lines of why not repetier? Our control software just manually moves the machines, lets you issue commands manually, and serves the code one line at a time from your file. Typically there are no features. I am not trying to be a punk just trying to figure out why.
(I am messing with other programs now, this is why I am so interested)
This is superficial, the boards have a command buffer, serves no purpose. This would show what is being sent to the buffer, but why?
again buffer, The lcd shows this but I am not sure if it is real time or buffered. Still not that useful. If you want to restart your code for some reason you would back up not use the exact line you were on.
I do this in CAM, Re-zeroing is different and can be done from any program G92…
Everyone thinks they want one, but the actual purpose is very limited. More useful on the lowrider but on an MPCNC just move it by hand then you do not even need to re-zero.
Non 3d printer gcode doesn’t really have the information to display a model, only the path of the tool itself. 3d printer gcodes can kind of show it because there is information for the extruder itself and when it turns on and off.
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You can try chilipeppr for Marlin, but you have to be online at all times. Has 3d view of all the axes and other cam stuff.
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I use bCNC, but it doesn’t work on Marlin at this time.
I’ve been using OctoPrint set up with macros for zeroing, resetting to nominal sizes, probing for Z reference, time lapse videos, etc. A couple key add-ons and it becomes a very nice interface to the machine with all the tools that Mach has, minus the multiple reference planes (which I’ve never found a need for). I understand CNCjs does similar things, but the last I looked it still seemed early days for it.
