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My spindle isn’t being turned on/off by my Shapeoko’s arduino anymore, it will only work by plugging/unplugging. I’ve tried both UGS and Easel. I’m not sure if this is related, but I used to hear a “click” every time I plugged the machine into my computer (once Arduino received power) and this no longer happens, not sure if that’s just because I’m using the latest GRBL, and I don’t remember when this changed!
I’ve checked all of the wiring, but I haven’t lifted the Gshield, and everything appears to be tight. M03 and M05 commands basically don’t do anything. I don’t have the spindle hooked up through my e-stop so that’s not the problem.
The only customization on my machine is that I’ve got coolant powered by a solenoid.
It looks like my spindle is connected to D12, I just found the info that D11 and D12 switched on the newest version of GRBL, so I just need to move the pin? I don’t currently have limit switches, so there was nothing ever in D11.
@LarryM If a simple relay is being used to turn the spindle on/off, is there any advantage to leaving VARIABLE_SPINDLE enabled?
@BrigetteBorders You just need a high/low signal for your relay. The VARIABLE_SPINDLE option allows for the controller to change the RPMs on certain spindles. By disabling it, you’d be back on pin 12 with a simple M3 for on and M5 for off. I’d be concerned about accidental sending a PWM signal (really fast on/off) to your relay if you don’t use your max spindle speed (s12000). Let’s say your default for your CAM was 9000rpm. That’d be a 75% on 25% off cycle on your relay which is not made for that switching that fast.
It is a compile time option, main advantage is that a casual user doesn’t have to learn how to build and load grbl into their machine.
If it is set when the software is distributed then the manufacturer doesn’t have to maintain two different versions of the firmware and doesn’t have to deal with different pinouts of the hardware.
The heavy hitters will set up a custom grbl anyway, but the people who “just want to carve” don’t have to mess with the low level stuff. For them, one size fits all,
Hmmm…I think I understand all of this, trouble is I’m more than a casual hardware user, but the software eludes me a bit. I’m using the Inventables 24V quiet cut spindle and I have it controlled on a relay found on their site as well. Previously, I could change the spindle speed both in the software and on a physical knob. I honestly don’t mind the knob, I’ve been using routers for 15 years so I can adjust by sound, but it would be nice if I could also adjust in the software.
The Quiet cut spindle is 48 volts, unless you are talking about one of the original X-carves spindles from long ago which didn’t require a relay but had a very large failure rate. It just used the Inventables power supply board to handle 24 volt PWM.
With the 48 volt Quiet Cut spindle there is a relay and speed controller (does have a potentiometer for varying the speed) that was not included with any of the kits, but was a add on feature.
Before you encountered the problem, did you have RPM control via G-code, or just on/off control of the spindle by G-code and spindle speed via the control knob?
I definitely wouldn’t have done anything custom in GRBL, but I assume I followed instructions from Inventables and Shapeoko pretty exactly. I would love to learn how to compile a new version! Thank you so much for your help and patience.
So in this case I shouldn’t change any wiring?
I won’t be home until tomorrow evening to test, however.
@BrigetteBorders Did you use xLoader to upload a .hex file or did you use the Arduino IDE to upload the “grbl upload” example?
Like Larry said, if you know how you want it to work, getting there is not difficult with your being familiar with the machine. The code change is trivial and you could be walked through it if you want the learning part. Otherwise, It’d be pretty easy for one of us to share a modified HEX file.
