Quick GRBL setup guide for Windows (Arduino G-Code Interpreter)

26 Thoughts on “Quick GRBL setup guide for Windows (Arduino G-Code Interpreter)”

1. Mladen on 2013/02/25 at 3:59 pm said:

   I have an Arduino Uno, and i’m using the Sparkfun Easydriver boards to control my motors, Which pins on the arduino are used by the gcode sender/grbl software, i got everything set up just dont know which pins are for step and direction. Thank you

   Reply↓
   • Bert on 2013/02/25 at 6:44 pm said:

     Have a look at http://blog.protoneer.co.nz/grbl-arduino-g-code-processor-pin-layout/ . The pins you are interested are D2-D7 (D2-4 are the stepping pins and D5-7 are the direction pins for each axis). Don’t forget about the limit switches as they are life savers.. 😉

     Reply↓

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3. Deives on 2013/11/07 at 6:09 am said:

   Hello, I am using the system proposed by you to control my cnc laser homemade, but the machine is locking up halfway and the program has an error, what can be? I am using windows xp32b, could you help me?

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   • Bertus Kruger on 2013/11/10 at 4:25 pm said:

     Hi Deives,

     Can you tell me more about the error you are receiving and the setup you are running?

     thanks.

     Reply↓
4. gatien on 2014/03/10 at 10:55 pm said:

   Hi Bertus, very nice tutorial ! thanks for your help!
   here i have 2 that i liked:
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=107FGoYX1bg
   and
   http://www.civade.com/post/2011/06/15/piloter-une-CNC-avec-Arduino-GRBL-moteurs-pas-a-pas
   ..this one is written in french (sorry, i’m beginner AND french…it’s about the hard way to flash grbl)
   anyway i followed yours, and then used your update. about hardware i’m driving UNO, with easydriver motor controller from sparkfun and a 42BYGH408AA stepper motor (0.7A usually 12v but i run the test with 5v from my UNO)
   so everything might be right, and i feel the motor reacting when i use the command control. but the rotor don’t move outside. i tried with several stepper (even a 5v from old floppy drive), still the same. the stepper motor retailer (chinese…i leave there) told me something about frequency, but i didn’t catch a single word.
   have you got any clue? tips, or miracle for me?
   anyway thanks a lot, i started my mini cnc project because of you.
   Gas.

   Reply↓
   • Bertus Kruger on 2014/03/13 at 6:44 pm said:

     Hi Gatien,

     Thanks for the really nice video on how to use Sketch-up in your CNC workflow.

     I think your trouble is with the 5v power source. Easydriver motor controller drivers need more than 5V to work. The input voltage going into the stepper driver and the voltage that the stepper is rated is not the same measurement. Regards.

     Reply↓
5. Bertus Kruger on 2014/03/30 at 7:21 pm said:

   Hi. At this stage GRBl(g-Code enterpeter) does not support more than 3 axes. To extend the axes number above you 3 you will have to modify the code to allow this. Regards.

   Reply↓

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7. Safyan on 2014/06/08 at 3:43 am said:

   hello..i am having issues with the output.
   this is what i have done so far:
   1- downloaded hex file from https://github.com/grbl/grbl/downloads
   2- using Xloader, i have uploaded the hex file.
   3- downloaded grbl controller.
   Now when see the outputs from arduino uno pins, except pin 2,3,4 and 5, all pins are consistently high, while these 4 are consistently low.
   i need to know where i am making a mistake.
   The above mentioned steps are what exactly i have done not even a single thing different.
   Please help…
   Thanks

   Reply↓
   • Bertus Kruger on 2014/06/08 at 6:50 pm said:

     As per my previous can you confirm that GRBL is actually functioning? Might be worth sending me an picture of your setup.. info at protoneer dot co dot nz

     Reply↓
8. sofia on 2014/07/28 at 10:19 am said:

   hola!Bertus!he descargado todo tal cual lo menciona en la guia pero no se como configurar mi grbl. tengo motores de impresora de 12V,pasos 7,5°, no se las velocidades que debo poner (seria 48??) .
   Disculpa las molestias!saludos .

   Reply↓
   • Bertus Kruger on 2014/08/06 at 8:01 am said:

     Hi Sofia,

     My Spanish is not good at all, could you please translate re-ask your question in English?

     Reply↓
     • sofia on 2014/08/07 at 8:48 am said:

       hi!, How do i configure my GRBL?. I have stepper motor Em 257 and Em 462.I do not know what speed i put. Sorry for my English. regards.

       Reply↓
       • Bertus Kruger on 2014/08/08 at 8:34 am said:

         Have a look at http://blog.protoneer.co.nz/configuring-grbl-arduino-based-cnc-controller/
         Calibrating the machine takes time and its a set and test process. 😉

         Reply↓
9. Denis on 2015/02/20 at 8:43 pm said:

   Hello!
   I have Arduino UNO & cnc sheildv 3.0 with 4 axis
   I building cnc foam cutter, how to choose the firmware to 4 axes compatible with GRBL?

   Reply↓
   • Bertus Kruger on 2015/02/24 at 4:50 pm said:

     At this stage GRBl only supports 3 axes. But its planned to add more. The other option is to write your own software that implements the 4th axis.

     Reply↓
10. Rodney Edington on 2015/04/01 at 5:04 pm said:

    I’m very new to this CNC stuff and would like your help.
    I’m using your V3 shield and I’m starting to wire everything up and all of that looks straight forward but is there a way to use a probe with your shield??? If so how do I do it as I don’t see a pin for it.

    Thanks

    Rodney

    Reply↓
    • Bertus Kruger on 2015/04/11 at 7:08 am said:

      Hi Rodney, The V3 does not have the Probe specially exposed.(The next board to be released soon will have it) But if you look at the top right of the shield there is a 4x2pin header and one of them is labeled as SCL. That is the A5/Probe pin on the UNO.

      Reply↓
11. otaviosavietto on 2015/05/02 at 6:33 am said:

    Hi Bertus, I´m using UNO, grbl 0.9i and your board V3.
    Is there an updated pin map? I keep getting a ‘probe triggered’ error.
    Thanks!

    Reply↓
    • Bertus Kruger on 2015/05/02 at 7:08 am said:

      Hi. GRBL 0.9i has a small change in pin configuration(PWM spindle). Z-limit and Spindle enable pins swapped. But that should not affect the A5 probe pin. Are you using the the A5 pin or the SCL pin? What is your Probe setting($6)? If you are not using Probe you can set $6=1 and add a stronger Pull-up resistor to get rid of any noise.

      Reply↓
12. Gailen Jensen on 2015/07/03 at 8:04 am said:

    Hi Bertus. Here’s what I have and what;s going on. Windows Vista 32 bit, GRBL 0.9, Ver 3 CNC shield, clone “A” to “Y” axis, set VREF for .8a, 3.75 degree steppers on A4988 drivers per Pololou directions. What happens is the “A” & “Y” do not turn the same. They shudder and one may turn 3/4 turn, and then the other. “X” & “Z” will shudder and whine also. I’ve even reset GRBL for 96 steps per mm from the default, swapped motors, swapped drivers, still they shudder and whine and don’t turn the same. It was no different with GRBL 8. Any thoughts or ideas where I need to go next? If they turn for an extended period, they all run smooth but just on start and stop.

    Reply↓
    • Gailen Jensen on 2015/07/05 at 3:46 pm said:

      Hi Bertus.
      It looks like it was a bad driver.

      Reply↓
      • Bertus Kruger on 2015/07/07 at 3:56 pm said:

        Sorry for the late reply, but I am happy that you managed to get ti going. 😉

        Reply↓
13. GUEST on 2015/07/26 at 12:33 pm said:

    joystick feature in the future please

    Reply↓

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