Trying An Arduino With GRBL And UGS For A CNC Lathe Build 

Thanks for the kind words. That is just a name that my wife started to call the stuff that I made after getting laid off from my last job. I decided to stick with it. Just trying to share some ideas with others while I still can. Thanks for watching my videos .

Your not fooling us Michael Katt is your wife :)))

She doesn't do RU-vid, and is not that kind to me.

That would work . Thanks for watching.

Never found one to convert. Now that I used a Masso controller on my new router build with a rotary I really don't need this and probably will use it for something else like automating my tablesaw fence and elevation. Thanks for watching.

This is all new to me and with a little online research it is pretty straight forward. I can't wait to get back to building the lathe hardware. Thanks for watching.

You probably have an alarm state in your hardware but I am just guessing. Do a Google search. Thanks for watching.

I think it would be easy. You would need GRBL loaded on the arduino, the g code loader, and a cad cam program to generate the g code such as autodesk fusion 360.

I was able to draw up a hour glass shaped spindle and use the turning post processor and it created a x, y g code that first did roughing, and then a clean up cut in the simulator. I had a oversize stock so It did a lot of roughing so I will have to figure out that part yet. It looks like there will be some edits to commands that are not supported, but I just want the x, y outer profile for simple wood turnings. I have only played with Fusion for a short time and hope I can use the code. Once I get back to it and build the mechanical I will know for sure and make videos about the out come.

I don't think there is any way to do threading and some other operations like that using GRBL

I am just using x and y. The lathe is turned by a single speed motor that is on or off, and a simple on off router will do the cutting. The feed speed of the x and y are the only variables i will have to deal with. It will just be a simple spindle shaping that I plan on doing and will most likely have a lot to learn about fusion. If I cannot get that working, I will just use sheet cam that I use for my router and plasma table to cut the 2d profile with several different runs of g code to do the roughing. This project is just being done as a learning experience for me about trying to get away from purchasing another license for mach 3 to build a simple cnc lathe and I am sure there will be some hurdles to cross.

Well. I wish success in the implementation of this project

Both my machines use mach 3 and xp parallel port computers that are basically obsolete along with sheetcam for the g code. I know nothing about mach 4 or usb type of interfaces that are showing up lately. All you are basically sending step and direction signals to the motor drives. Mach 3 handles all the interpretation of the g code and adds accel and deceleration rates plus parameters for specialized g codes. You have to start by sizing your motors and drive type to match the loads you are moving and speeds requiired. I like to use servos for the closed loop feedback, but steppers are lower cost. I spent thousands of hours getting my plasma table designed and running .Grounding, noise, & the torch height control consumed much of it. I just saw a new controller by masso cnc that looks pretty cool. It looks like a easy way to get a machine up and running with plenty of i/o for around $500. I don't know how good they are, but they look interesting. CandCnc is a good place to get the torch height controler or even a full solution to drive a plasma table using Linux cnc. There also are some turn key plasma systems available for about what it costs to build one. I think your budget will determine what you can build and how big it can be. I am looking at arduino for this project for cost, but am finding it is limited in the operations it can execute and post processor availability. .

Thanks for the information. I am making a folder for all the Router CNC information. After seeing your videos it is so nice to have a solution for a building task to be completed. After the design process & CAM process go to your tool and let it go. File save for a later date. For those that would like to learn Fusion 360 I personally bought the course below. So far I still like it and recommend it. I am not all the way through. I have to say I am 53 and feel like a young kid trying to learn this. mikeandlauren.com/learnfusion360 Thanks again for the information. So funny how your Channel got its name to Funny.

www.delusionaldesignscnc.com this co has some examples of low cost plasma tables. Cost me about 8k to build my 4 x 5. They have a working 4 x 8 for that.

I'm retired military as well in my second career and have. Even playing with these controls also. I just built a small, cheap cnc engraver that runs well with Fusion and is adriuo with grbl. As far as Mach 4, I used that to run my G0704 mill converted to cnc. In my control box I use a smooth stepper board which provides better control of the steppers but even better it provides a USB interface instead of the older parallel printer interface. The little machine I just put together is so nice because I can play with all the functions of my bigger mill inside on my desk. Still learning Fusion 360, I learned Autocad on I believe was version 10 in 1988. Principles are the same but oh how the inputs have evolved. I think learning these skills keeps an aging brain exercised. I did build a DRO for the mill before converting it to CNC using an ardunio controller with a wireless connection to a Galaxy handheld pad. Works great. I forget who's website I found the instructions on.

You hit it on the head. Keeps an aging brain exercised.

It will get messy when the panel goes in a enclosure with all the i/o wiring. Thanks for watching.

github.com/gnea/grbl/wiki/Connecting-Grbl

I didn't get that far. GRBL does not include all the lathe commands so it is limited to basic x and y paths. I know there are no threading functions either. I am just going to make a basic x, y configuration for my sheetcam program that I use for my router and plasma and try to use that when I get back to it. Sorry I can't help you. Thanks for watching.

Hey guys, so I've been playing with this same setup, but with .9j, fusion 360 and UGS, building a post processor for Fusion 360 just to be able to cut profiles into stock to create table legs, handles, etc.. nothing special. But if you're interested, let me know thru messaging, and I'll send you a link for where I'm at. But this is a simple X/Z setup. No Y Axis, and it's a bolt on CNC to an old wood I'm using for proof of concept.

@@DanRegalia I have a problem. I am using similar lathe codes in which post processor generates codes designating diameters but UGS and Arduino doesn't recognize it. I want to change it to radius recognition. Any Help please?

It is an arduino hooked to the drivers. Go to the GRBL wiki page and there is a pinout diagram showing the connection points.

Just do a web search for GRBL pinouts and you will see how they are wired. Once you load GRBL to the arduino you should be good to go. You will also need a gcode loader to feed the gcode to the arduino. The code and wiring can be found on github.com/gnea/grbl/wiki/Connecting-Grbl

:) :) :) Of course I searched on the internet how to connect GRBL and drivers,But I have not found a way to connect ENA - ENA + but thanks for helping me to keep looking :) I already have arduino + gbrl and all the programs necessary for the work of the engraver......

I just jumpered the enable pin on the arduino pin out to both drives and ran a ground back for the -. Both drives become active at the same time.

hello ... you seay me this .... I just jumpered the enable pin on the arduino pin out to both drives and ran a ground back for the -. Both drives become active at the same time. But I still do not understand,Maybe because of that, my English language is not good enough;) You want to say: 1. ENA+ pin from driver you are connect to arduino pin 8 ,stepper enable /disable........This is correct ? 2.ENA- pin you are connect to arduino ground 5V........This is correct ? github.com/grbl/grbl/wiki/Connecting-Grbl look pin 8 its that ENA+ pin ? Thanks for understanding and time off

The enable is basically for safety to shut the drives down quickly if there is a fault or the epo button is activated. That is how my drivers were wired. Just be sure to use the arduino gnd pin for all drive connections.

I can see what you mean. Everything went on hold for a couple of days once the Arduino arrived in the mail. It amazes me how low cost it is for a simple machine controller. It will just be a simple 2 axis system that I am trying to figure out if I should go with metal lathe type cutters or a small trim router that may give a cleaner cut and be adaptable to fluting in the future. Thanks for watching.

I just ordered one of those kits with all the sensors from Amazon, looks like I am headed deeper into the hole. Thanks for the link.

I downloaded it from the universal g code sender page. winder.github.io/ugs_website/download/ . There are 2 versions this one is the platform version that is at the bottom. I am not using experienced at using it and just getting started so I cannot offer accurate guidance. The 1 part I like about it is just click on the firmware drop down and a box pops up to let you see and modify the setup parameters for GRBL 1.1 . Thanks for watching.

Unemployed Redneck Hillbilly Creations thank you soo much for replying that quick. :)

Thanks for letting me know. Seems that others are using my videos without permission. I will see if RU-vid can help me. I submitted a copyright claim. Thanks for watching and thanks again for letting me know about that.

You're welcome!