Xtool Ecu Configuration

0 views

Skip to first unread message

Carlito Austin

unread,

Aug 3, 2024, 3:59:55 PM8/3/24

to calnekebul

If you need to control xTool D1 through LightBurn, download the official release of the LightBurn software. LightBurn is third-party software, and therefore Makeblock Co., Ltd. shall bear no responsibility for any loss caused due to the operation of LightBurn.

The firmware of xTool D1 has been tested in detail by Makeblock Co., Ltd, but incompatibility with the software or hardware may still occur. If errors occur due to incompatibility, you can contact our after-sales service for technical support.

Make sure that you start to configure xTool D1 in this way instead of choosing Import Prefs from the menu. If you choose Import Prefs, the original configuration is overridden.

The center point of the cross-shaped light beams is the start point for framing. You can move the laser head to place the center point in the position where you want to start engraving.

To use the rotary attachment, you need to fit cylindrical spacer blocks to the supports of xTool D1. Use the cylindrical spacer blocks supplied by Makeblock. Fit the cylindrical spacer blocks as follows:

Currently, the firmware supports only some functions of the rotary attachment. Start From can be set only to Current Position. Settings on the Move tab are not available.

2. The start position is set to Current Position by default in the configuration file. The Transfer mode is set to Buffered by default. Do not change the transfer mode.

4. Currently, you can switch between Laserbox basic and LightBurn after turning on the power switch of xTool D1. To switch between Laserbox basic and LightBurn, you need to power off xTool D1 and then power on it again.

5. To use LightBurn to control xTool D1, you need to set the Scanning Offset Adjust parameters to ensure the engraving performance. These parameters are set by default in the xTool_D1_Prefs configuration file. If you have imported the configuration file, you don't need to set those parameters.

If you need to control xTool D1 Pro through LightBurn, download the official release of the LightBurn software. LightBurn is the third-party software, and therefore Makeblock Co., Ltd. shall bear no responsibility for any loss caused due to the operation of LightBurn.

The firmware of xTool D1 Pro has been tested in detail by Makeblock Co., Ltd, but incompatibility with the software or hardware may still occur. You can contact our after-sales service for technical support if errors occur due to incompatibility.

Make sure that you start to configure xTool D1 Pro in this way instead of choosing Import Prefs from the menu. If you choose Import Prefs, the original configuration is overridden.

Most GCode-based lasers are pre-configured to work with LightBurn, but if you have a less common machine like a Shapeoko, EleksMaker, X-Carve, or Acro system, you might need to make some simple changes to get the most from LightBurn.

GRBL firmware was originally designed for CNC machines and 3D printers, with laser support added more recently. It is highly configurable, and this is both a blessing and a curse. The "standard" way a CNC machine is configured is somewhat different from the way laser machines often are. Luckily this is easy to change, and easy to switch from one to the other.

More recent versions of GRBL (1.1f and up) support two laser-oriented features. The first is Laser Mode, enabled by setting $32=1 in the firmware settings. Laser mode eliminates the pauses that happen when changing power output, because GRBL knows it's controlling a laser which reacts instantly, instead of waiting for a spindle to change RPM.

The second is a feature called variable power mode, or the M4 command. In this mode, GRBL adjusts the laser power as the machine speeds up and slows down, making for very consistent cutting and marking. Older versions of GRBL do not have this feature, and simply run the laser at a constant power output for the duration of a cut. Since the machine needs to slow down to take sharp corners, this means corners get over-burnt, while long straight lines end up lighter. This also has the benefit that when the laser comes to a complete stop, the beam turns off (zero speed equals zero power), meaning that pausing a job automatically turns off the laser. This is not always true with other versions of GRBL.

If you aren't already running GRBL 1.1f (or later) on your controller, we highly recommend it for laser use. If this isn't an option, that's ok, but your results won't be as good, and pausing the laser runs the risk of leaving the beam on and ruining the job.

Many GRBL based machines allow the settings of the machine to be easily exported or viewed. For advanced configuration like adding limit switches, updating firmware, or setting up a new controller, you'll need to interact with these values. You can do this in LightBurn by using the Console window or the Machine Settings window to copy, update, or reset your machine settings.

The Machine Settings window provides you with a formatted table with the parameters labeled. You can also export these settings to a file for later restoration, like we did in our GRBL flashing guide.

In the Console, enter $$ to have the controller return the machine's configuration. This will show the settings in plain text, requiring more familiarity with what each command means but allowing you to view the configuration directly, without any chance of mislabeling based on custom vendor configurations.

Shapeoko machines typically use GRBL 1.1f, as do newer X-Carve and some other systems, but as they are designed as CNC machines, they are typically configured for negative workspace coordinates. LightBurn doesn't directly support negative workspace coordinates, but you can use a Shapeoko in LightBurn with a workspace offset. Please see the directions in Negative Coordinate Machines for directions to set a workspace offset, clear the offset to use the machine in CNC mode, and create macros to switch modes quickly.

You can set these commands up as macro buttons in the LightBurn console window. Enter the first command into a macro and call it "Use Laser", and enter the second command into a different macro and call it "Use CNC". When you want to use your laser, click the "Use Laser" macro button, and when you're done and want to switch back to CNC, click the "Use CNC" button.

After setting this, you will also need to make sure your machine is reporting coordinates relative to this workspace origin, instead of the absolute machine zero. Do this by entering $10=0 in the console.

X-Carve machines sold prior to January 2018 generally run an older flavor of GRBL (1.0c) which does not support the variable power (M4) command, meaning you'll need to use the GRBL-M3 device in LightBurn. Machines sold after that date use GRBL 1.1f, and will work with the standard GRBL device in LightBurn if the following settings commands are entered in the console:

In LightBurn, when you first connect to the machine the console will typically show a 'hello' message from the controller. For Smoothieware boards it is just "Smoothie". For GRBL, it will be "GRBL 1.1f [$ for help]" or similar - this tells you it's GRBL, and which version. Machines using GRBL 1.1f or later will support the M4 variable power command, and just use the "GRBL" driver in LightBurn. GRBL 1.1e or older (GRBL 1.0, GRBL 0.9, etc) must use the GRBL-M3 device in LightBurn.

LightBurn expects positive workspace coordinates. If your machine is configured to use negative workspace coordinates, you can set a workspace offset to enable compatibility with LightBurn. If you are switching between LightBurn and CNC software that expects a negative coordinate system, you can clear the workspace offset. You can also set macros to toggle between the two modes.

In the console, enter G10 L2 P1 X-WIDTH Y-HEIGHT and hit Enter. Replace WIDTH and HEIGHT with the actual X and Y travel distances of your machine. Set your machine to use workspace coordinates with the $10=0 command.

In the console, enter G10 L2 P1 X0 Y0. This is generally only required if switching between using your machine as a laser (with an offset) and as a CNC machine in software that expects negative coordinates.

You'll need to know the total distance your machine can travel in both axis. For a Shapeoko XXL, for example, it's 812 mm in X and Y. For a 1000 mm 2nd Generation X-Carve, it's 750 mm in X and Y - note the difference between overall size and travel distance. By applying a workspace offset that is the size of your machine area, you can shift the offset to the opposite corner, like this:

If you enable a workspace offset, you will also need to make GRBL report its location relative to this shifted origin, instead of in "machine space", by setting $10=0. Some systems, like Easel or Carbide Motion, may need a different value, so it's a good idea to make a note of the existing setting.

Some systems have their origin in the center of the workspace. To confirm that this is the case, after homing your machine enter G0 X0 Y0 in the console and press Enter. This command says "rapid move to coordinate 0,0". If your machine travels to the center of the workspace, it's configured for a center origin.

A center origin machine requires a workspace offset similar to what's described in Negative Coordinate Machines, but the offset should be half the travel distance. For instance, a machine with a travel distance of 500 mm x 500 mm and a center origin would require G10 L2 P1 X-250 Y-250.

We do not currently (as of LightBurn 1.5) support uploading GCode to the xTool family of lasers via Wi-Fi. The upload mechanism is significantly different from the currently supported methods, and that development hasn't yet been completed. Thank you for understanding.