TehMaxwell
- Mar 21, 2015
- 14
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2015
- Messages
- 14
Hey all,
This is a quick question about the serial ports on the Arduino. But first some background information to put the idea into context.
I am looking ahead to next years A Level Project - this years was a Robotic Arm, see my introduction post for info on that! - and thinking about the option I have. Now one option I am extremely interested in is the idea of using GRBL to make a CNC Router capable of cutting Foam, Plywood and other materials. During research I almost dismissed the idea down to the fact that it would be too simple, to get good marks a project needs to incorporate electronics, programming and structural design. And as GRBL uses the Arduino and Stepper Drivers (Which are too much work for me to make) there would be no circuitry or programming needed to make a functional CNC Machine. I was about to dismiss the idea (much to my own disappointment) when my teacher asked me if there was anything I could add to it to make it more challenging. I hadn't really thought of it, but what I had researched was as simple as you like in terms of a CNC Router. No end stops. No LCD display. Just the raw driver and mechanical structure.
It occurred to me that our school laser cutters use some Memory to store the files that are sent to them, this is so that you can run the job multiple times without having to resend the file. This was a perfect extension for the project! Memory is something that is rarely delved into at A Level, as it involves a higher level of understanding about coding and SPI protocol in some cases. But I like a bit of research, so I started to obsessively research the idea in my spare time. It turns out due to the fact that GRBL takes up all of the Arduino's Memory you need to use two Arduinos to complete this idea. One to read from the memory and one to run GRBL. The data is sent over the Serial Ports.
Now this is where my question comes in! (Took me a while didn't it, I'm a sucker for a good story though.) I understand that you can use a Master Writer/Slave Reader Setup to send data across the Serial Ports. And that certain pins can be used to "bypass" the USB B serial connection on the Arduino. The problem I have is, if this is done, would GRBL still be able to interpret the data you were sending across or even read it? And if it can, how do you have to send it across for GRBL to accept the format? Can you just send the lines of G Code as separate data strings?
Hope you guys can help!
Sam
This is a quick question about the serial ports on the Arduino. But first some background information to put the idea into context.
I am looking ahead to next years A Level Project - this years was a Robotic Arm, see my introduction post for info on that! - and thinking about the option I have. Now one option I am extremely interested in is the idea of using GRBL to make a CNC Router capable of cutting Foam, Plywood and other materials. During research I almost dismissed the idea down to the fact that it would be too simple, to get good marks a project needs to incorporate electronics, programming and structural design. And as GRBL uses the Arduino and Stepper Drivers (Which are too much work for me to make) there would be no circuitry or programming needed to make a functional CNC Machine. I was about to dismiss the idea (much to my own disappointment) when my teacher asked me if there was anything I could add to it to make it more challenging. I hadn't really thought of it, but what I had researched was as simple as you like in terms of a CNC Router. No end stops. No LCD display. Just the raw driver and mechanical structure.
It occurred to me that our school laser cutters use some Memory to store the files that are sent to them, this is so that you can run the job multiple times without having to resend the file. This was a perfect extension for the project! Memory is something that is rarely delved into at A Level, as it involves a higher level of understanding about coding and SPI protocol in some cases. But I like a bit of research, so I started to obsessively research the idea in my spare time. It turns out due to the fact that GRBL takes up all of the Arduino's Memory you need to use two Arduinos to complete this idea. One to read from the memory and one to run GRBL. The data is sent over the Serial Ports.
Now this is where my question comes in! (Took me a while didn't it, I'm a sucker for a good story though.) I understand that you can use a Master Writer/Slave Reader Setup to send data across the Serial Ports. And that certain pins can be used to "bypass" the USB B serial connection on the Arduino. The problem I have is, if this is done, would GRBL still be able to interpret the data you were sending across or even read it? And if it can, how do you have to send it across for GRBL to accept the format? Can you just send the lines of G Code as separate data strings?
Hope you guys can help!
Sam