grblHAL has many extensions that may cause issues with some senders. As a workaround for these a compile time option has been added that disables extensions selectively.
Windows users may try my sender, binary releases can be found here. It has been written to complement grblHAL and has features such as proper keyboard jogging, automatic reconfiguration of DRO display for up to 6 axes, lathe mode including conversational G-Code generation, 3D rendering, macro support etc. etc.
NOTE: Arduino drivers has now been converted to Arduino libraries, installation and compilation procedure has been changed!
Latest build date is 20200923, see the changelog for details.
grblHAL is a no-compromise, high performance, low cost alternative to parallel-port-based motion control for CNC milling based on the Arduino version of grbl. It is mainly aimed at ARM processors (or other 32-bit MCUs) with ample amounts of RAM and flash (compared to AVR 328p) and requires a hardware driver to be functional. Currently drivers are available for 13 different processors all of which share the same core.
The driver interface (HAL) has entry points for extending the supported M-codes (adding user defined M-codes) as well as an entry point for the driver to execute G-code when Grbl is in idle or jog state. It also supports plugins for extensions, a growing number is already available.
HAL = Hardware Abstraction Layer
The controller is written in highly optimized C utilizing features of the supported processors to achieve precise timing and asynchronous operation. It is able to maintain up to 300kHz1 of stable, jitter free control pulses.
It accepts standards-compliant g-code and has been tested with the output of several CAM tools with no problems. Arcs, circles and helical motion are fully supported, as well as, all other primary g-code commands. Macro functions, variables, and some canned cycles are not supported, but we think GUIs can do a much better job at translating them into straight g-code anyhow.
Grbl includes full acceleration management with look ahead. That means the controller will look up to 16 motions into the future and plan its velocities ahead to deliver smooth acceleration and jerk-free cornering.
This is a port/rewrite of grbl 1.1f and should be compatible with GCode senders compliant with the specifications for that version. It should be possible to change default compile-time configurations if problems arise, eg. the default serial buffer sizes has been increased in some of the drivers provided.
1 Driver/processor dependent.
List of Supported G-Codes:
- Non-Modal Commands: G4, G10L2, G10L20, G28, G30, G28.1, G30.1, G53, G92, G92.1
- Additional Non-Modal Commands: G10L1*, G10L10*, G10L11*
- Motion Modes: G0, G1, G2, G3, G5, G38.2, G38.3, G38.4, G38.5, G80, G33*
- Canned cycles: G73, G81, G82, G83, G85, G86, G89, G98, G99
- Repetitive cycles: G76*
- Feed Rate Modes: G93, G94, G95*, G96*, G97*
- Unit Modes: G20, G21
- Scaling: G50, G51
- Lathe modes: G7*, G8*
- Distance Modes: G90, G91
- Arc IJK Distance Modes: G91.1
- Plane Select Modes: G17, G18, G19
- Tool Length Offset Modes: G43*, G43.1, G43.2*, G49
- Cutter Compensation Modes: G40
- Coordinate System Modes: G54, G55, G56, G57, G58, G59, G59.1, G59.2, G59.3
- Control Modes: G61
- Program Flow: M0, M1, M2, M30, M60
- Coolant Control: M7, M8, M9
- Spindle Control: M3, M4, M5
- Tool Change: M6* (Two modes possible: manual** - supports jogging, ATC), M61
- Switches: M49, M50, M51, M53
- Output control***: M62, M63, M64, M65, M66, M67, M68
- Valid Non-Command Words: A*, B*, C*, F, H*, I, J, K, L, N, P, Q*, R, S, T, X, Y, Z
* driver/configuration dependent.
** requires compatible GCode sender due to protocol extensions, new state and RT command.
*** number of outputs supported dependent on driver implementation.
2020-09-13