Changes

== Maintenance ==

== Maintenance ==

10.14.2016 - Danny Blanchard: Cut and installed a temporary MDF board across the back of the machine to mount the power supplies, control board, PWM spindle speed controller, all with the aim to make moving the machine around easier (it will be getting a new home soon, and these loosely-attached components would likely have sustained some damage).  It was pointed out that with this backboard in place the ability to feed a large piece of material through the machine has been lost (a great observation that I hadn't considered: this will be changed).  Also, the E-stop switch was temporarily moved to inside the frame to aid in moving the machine, but also to giving it a non-dangling-by-the-wires mounting location.  I agree that it is not in an ideal location, but I believe that we can find a better, more-permanent solution when this machine gets moved to it's new location (or feel free to modify it now! : ).  The current location is not in danger of being crashed into by the spindle, as it is outside of the physical limits of where the gantry and spindle can reach.  I also discovered that some of the stepper motor wiring on one of the Y-axis motors was faulty and causing missed steps, and this may have been a contributing factor to the over-heating described by some members.  I also milled-down a portion of the wasteboard that was pulled up around one of the metal hold-down insert nuts. GRBL 0.9j has been re-loaded onto the Control board after some mis-communication on my part with another user, and the homing function has been enabled but the buggy EMI-susceptible hard limits disabled until I can get some .47uf capacitors installed.  After reading some input from other members, I think this machine is nearly ready to be put back into full operational status.  But before we do that, there are two things I'd love to see happen: 1. Get the hard limits working (I know they're not needed for every user, but they'll help in keeping the machine from getting out-of spec as quickly due to accidental crashes), and 2. Confirm that the machine is set up to work with a few different tool-chains without having to adjust GRBL settings.  Ideally it would be able use Universal G-code Sender or Chilipeppr with whatever CAM program you prefer (Fusion 360, Vetric, others?), but also use Inventables CAD/CAM/Sender Easel.  IMO, only having one system or the other would be a bummer.  As a last note, I'd like to thank everyone who has voiced their opinions on the changes to this machine: it has all been professional, helpful, and friendly: let's keep up the good work!  Thanks!

10.14.2016 - Danny Blanchard: Cut and installed a temporary MDF board across the back of the machine to mount the power supplies, control board, PWM spindle speed controller, all with the aim to make moving the machine around easier (it will be getting a new home soon, and these loosely-attached components would likely have sustained some damage).  It was pointed out that with this backboard in place the ability to feed a large piece of material through the machine has been lost (a great observation that I hadn't considered: this will be changed).  Also, the E-stop switch was temporarily moved to inside the frame to aid in moving the machine, but also to give it a non-dangling-by-the-wires mounting location.  I agree that it is not in an ideal location, but I believe that we can find a better, more-permanent solution when this machine gets moved to it's new location (or feel free to modify it now! : ).  The current location is not in danger of being crashed into by the spindle, as it is outside of the physical limits of where the gantry and spindle can reach.  I also discovered that some of the stepper motor wiring on one of the Y-axis motors was faulty and causing missed steps, and this may have been a contributing factor to the over-heating described by some members during the summer.  I also milled-down a portion of the wasteboard that was pulled up around one of the metal hold-down insert nuts. GRBL 0.9j has been re-loaded onto the Control board after some mis-communication on my part with another user, and the homing function has been enabled but the buggy EMI-susceptible hard limits are disabled until I can get some .47uf capacitors installed to absorb the noise.  After reading some input from other members, I think this machine is nearly ready to be put back into full operational status.  But before we do that, there are two things I'd love to see happen: 1. Get the hard limits working (I know they're not needed for every user, but they'll help in keeping the machine from getting out-of spec as quickly due to accidental crashes), and 2. Confirm that the machine is set up to work with a few different tool-chains without having to adjust GRBL settings.  Ideally it would be able use Universal G-code Sender or Chilipeppr with whatever CAM program you prefer (Fusion 360, Vetric, others?), but also use Inventables CAD/CAM/Sender Easel.  IMO, only having one system or the other would be a bummer.  As a last note, I'd like to thank everyone who has voiced their opinions on the changes to this machine: it has all been professional, helpful, and friendly: let's keep up the good work!  Thanks!

10.6.2016 - Danny Blanchard: Downloaded and compiled GRBL v0.9j onto the gShield/Uno.  Homing and hard limits now work (Pin 12 is now used for the Z-axis limit switch, as opposed to Pin 11 in v0.8c), although I'm still getting the occasional mid-project "Alarm: Hard Limit" that is likely due to excessive RF noise (I'll be attacking this next) from the spindle and other electronics.  The machine (by design) will not move until a homing cycle has been run (send "$H" via Universal G-Code Sender command line console).  Home position (X0 Y0 Z0) is located on the left side of the machine as you look at it, closest to the operator, and Z homes all the way to the up top.  After doing some settings debugging (acceleration, arc, limit direction inversions, feed/seek/homing rate adjustments) I was able to make some basic, yet exciting cuts.  First I generated a usable G-code using Fusion 360 and their "Generic GRBL" post-processor setting.  After some tweaking on the side of GRBL, I was able to get 2D and 3D Adaptive clearing (HSM stuff) working, as well as helical ramping/boring.

10.6.2016 - Danny Blanchard: Downloaded and compiled GRBL v0.9j onto the gShield/Uno.  Homing and hard limits now work (Pin 12 is now used for the Z-axis limit switch, as opposed to Pin 11 in v0.8c), although I'm still getting the occasional mid-project "Alarm: Hard Limit" that is likely due to excessive RF noise (I'll be attacking this next) from the spindle and other electronics.  The machine (by design) will not move until a homing cycle has been run (send "$H" via Universal G-Code Sender command line console).  Home position (X0 Y0 Z0) is located on the left side of the machine as you look at it, closest to the operator, and Z homes all the way to the up top.  After doing some settings debugging (acceleration, arc, limit direction inversions, feed/seek/homing rate adjustments) I was able to make some basic, yet exciting cuts.  First I generated a usable G-code using Fusion 360 and their "Generic GRBL" post-processor setting.  After some tweaking on the side of GRBL, I was able to get 2D and 3D Adaptive clearing (HSM stuff) working, as well as helical ramping/boring.