Using Marlin on PrintrBoard as a 4-axis CNC controller for a foam cutter

[Schalk Heunis]

Hi H4H'ers

Been thinking about using Marlin on PrintrBoard as a 4-axis CNC controller for a foam cutter we are busy building.  The way the 4-axis machine work is that there are two y-axes and two z-axes.  The software that generates the foam cutting gcode, spit out things like:

G1 X5 Y6 Z7 A8

So X and Y is two motors and the one side and Z and A the other side.

Is there any reason why this will be an issue for Marlin?  I intend to replace the A's in the gcode file to E's as a quick hack.

Is this a bad idea?  Better alternative around?

S

[poubelle...@hotmail.fr]

Hi Skullkey,

I'm planing to do the exact thing as you, how did it work out for you? I want to build a cnc foam cutter with 4 axis , I'm thinking about arduino mega 

[Schalk Heunis]

Hi

We ended up using a Smoothie Board, but had to add code to handle extruder end-stops for homing.

Works like a charm!

There is no reason the same could not work using Marlin - I just had access to the Smoothie Board and wanted to get into SmoothieWare a bit - IMHO SmoothieWare code is really well written, very modular and easy to extend.

We generate the gcode using profili2 and turns out you can rename the Gcode axes in profili2 to X, Y, Z, E.  Other gcode is generated using a custom written plugin for qcad.

I am planning a post with some plans and code soon on www.house4hack.co.za

S

On Mon, Apr 6, 2015 at 10:19 AM, <poubelle...@hotmail.fr> wrote:

Hi Skullkey,

I'm planing to do the exact thing as you, how did it work out for you? I want to build a cnc foam cutter with 4 axis , I'm thinking about arduino mega 

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[poubelle...@hotmail.fr]

Hi !

thanks for your answer. So I'm thinking about Marlin or Repetier for the firware, Adruino mega 2560, ramps1.4 and DRV8825 for the drivers, do you see any problems with this? 

I have no idea how to implement endstops for the A axis! . Are you aware of any piece of code that would ba available on internet for free?

I'll keep looking at your website, Thanks!

[Schalk Heunis]

Hi

Can't see any problem at all!

Not aware of anything existing.  Note that as a minimum, you only have to implement the end-stop code for homing, not for limiting travel.  So as a starting point, look at how they handle homing for the other axes - most likely you could just insert some code here ...

S

[Gert van den Berg]

You can get along without an endstop, it does complicate the initial setup though...

You can use G92 to set in the current position use G0 / G1 to move to the start position.

You want to set Profili to generate G-code using absolute co-ordinates, relative accumulates errors.