After I started using T2Laser with GRBL 1.1 inside, my son an daughter asked me and what is now with Benbox pen plotter? Yes it was good question, because Benbox not working with this GRBL firmware. If want to use it than avery time we need to write different firmwares to arduino nano again and again.
It made me think 😊 and after some time I found solution T2Laser as all in one software.
Here is my new video how it works. This drawing on video was imported from DXF.
How I made this:
Looked around in the internet and found GRBL pinout for Z axis: D7 = direction Z axis, D4 = step pulse Z axis
Found some small board with Atmega328p (it is one dead minimOSD from RC fun time) and program it as servo controller from button or input signal: D0 input from our arduino nano D4 pin (we need only direction pulse); D11 output to servo (D11 is PWM output). You can of course use any other Arduino, which is available and use inputs and outputs what You like
Set CNC mode in settings. When we press CNC mode T2 asks about cut depth there I setted 10mm for example.
Thats all and all is working, only with little mistakes:
1. When we set cut depth there we can see note: top of material is Z0. If I understand correctly its mean all G codes must be with negative Z milimeters (cutting down), but there all are positive values. For pen plotter sure is nice, because it pushing up a pen.
2. When drawing is started and ended pen is not pushed up, it draw a line across drawing. There we need to add some G code strings at start and the end of Gcode: G01 Z10 , for example.
3. G Code not wait for Z axis movement, because it do XYZ movement simultaneously. We can see that G code does not contain separate strings G01 Z0, G01 Z10 or G01 Z0, G01 Z-10.
If someone know, how to make this Gcode correctly, let me know.
It is also interesting what post processor uses GRBL1.1. I have tested many types when save toolpath in Vectric Aspire software these not work.
Edited later: there is the new arduino sketch file, what
works brilliant. Now arduino use both Arduino Nano output pins: Direction D7 and Steps D4. The poroblem is that for GRBL we can't use only Direction pin for Z axis (and not only) direction change. It is because if previously there was adress G01 Z05 and then G01 X10 Y15 (without Z move) 5V impulse on DIR pin changes! It is tested on many GRBL type softwares and everywhere the reaction is the same.
