Whether you are new here or have been around for a while, this page is an excellent resource to help you get the answers you need quickly. This page acts like an index or table of contents that will allow you to walk through various DIY CNC machining topics.
I don’t have a CNC machine yet where do I start.
1 – Click the link below to determine which CNC shield is right for your application.
Best Arduino CNC Shield – How to Select the Right One
I have a CNC machine but need help getting it setup.
1 – For a guide to setting up your Arduino based CNC controller, click the link below.
DIY CNC Controller: How to Setup Your Arduino & gShield
2 – To set the steps/mm in GRBL and to tune your machine travel, click the links below. If your machine doesn’t move as far or moves farther than expected, the following is a good place to start.
Part 1 – GRBL Settings 101: A How to Guide
Part 2 – GRBL Steps Per mm – How to Fine Tune Your Settings
3 – To get the most our of your machine and set the maximum travel speed of your axis, click the link below.
How to Set Your GRBL Feed Rate
4 – Once your machine is setup, run your first CNC program (gcode) usually with a .nc file extension. Click the link below.
I HAD SEARCHED IN THE NET FOR MY 2D PLOTTER STEPPER MOTOR ISSUE.IT WAS ONLY JOGGING AND CHIRPING.I AM A VERY BASIC FELLOW.AND A OCCASIONAL HOBBIEST IN ELECTRONICS
I GOT YOUR SITE
AFTER GOING THROUGH ROUGHLY YOUR GUIDENCE,I JUST CHANGED $101,102 VALUES AS PER YOUR CALCULATION.WOW THE STEPPER STARTED FUNCTIONING.
THANKYOU SOO MUCH
dackley@verizon.net is a valid email address that I’ve had since verizon was GTE.
I’d appreciate it if your “Enter your name & email address below…” would accept my valid email address.
Thanks
David Ackley
Hi David, I apologize for the trouble signing up for the email list. I verified you are currently subscribed. Let me know if you have any more issues.
Hi Tim is it possible to fit limit switches to the cnc Many Thanks Ian Smith
Hi Ian – Yes, it is possible to install limit switches. GRBL will support both normally open or normally closed limit switches. This is on my list of things to do. I just can seem to bring my CNC mill out of service to install them. Too many fun parts to build… 😉
I have almost no guidance and am trying to run a Techno 4′ x 8′ HD Router with only a handheld keypad. Slightly intimidating piece of machinery…This worked great with an ink pen!! Thanks
Greg, excellent, glad it worked for you!
Hi Tim,
I have checked tons of sites, but yours is the very best I’ve come across. Quick question to start with, would your setup work if you replaced cutter head with a laser module.
Thanks
Dave Baker
Dave, great question! I just picked up a 1 Watt laser that I am going to mount along side of the mill head. My plan is to use the Spindle Control pin from the Arduino through a mosfet to control the on/off of the laser. Stay tuned for more details. I expect this will work. I am planning to use GRBL Laser Mode. See details here.
hi tim
i just purchased a mophorn 1610 engraver cnc it works fine with the controller they sent with me but cannot get it to interface with computers i have a windows 10,a windows7,a windows xp (3pk) and last but not least a windows xp (2pk) the problem is getting Grbl to interface with the computers The cnc machine is running a cronomaker
board. any help would be appreciated
Hi Alan, I am not familiar with the Cronomaker. Have you tried downloading a copy of Universal Gcode Sender to your PC? You can use this to connect with the Arduino and stream gcode to the board.
Did you install the driver? I have the cronos board and have used it successfully with Lightburn, Candle, Laser grbl and Engraver Master.
Greetings Tim. I’m looking for recommendations for a stick font download. I downloaded the basic free version of StickFont but it doesn’t run on my windows ten.
is there an alternative you know of?
Good question, I recommend you try F-Engrave. See the link to download a copy. Be sure you scroll down the page to the download links. There are some ads at the top of the page that are confusing. You don’t want those.
http://www.scorchworks.com/Fengrave/fengrave.html
GRBL programında her şeyi ayarladım. Inkscape te hazırladığım çizim doğru olarak işleniliyor. Fakat işleme esnasında kesicinin iş resmi üzerinde gezinmesi simülasyonu bozuldu, işleme sırasında başlama noktasında kıpırdayıp duruyor, kesicinin iş üzerinde yürümesi gerçekleşmiyor. Nasıl düzelteceğimi bilemedim. Lütfen yardımcı olur musunuz ?..
Hi Unal, I had to translate the above… This is what I understand your question to be “I set everything in GRBL program. The drawing I prepared in Inkscape is being processed correctly. However, during the machining, the simulation of the cutter moving over the job picture is broken, it keeps moving at the starting point during the processing, the cutter does not walk on the work. I didn’t know how to fix it. Can you help me please” Will you email a copy of the .nc file to me and I will have a look? Tim@DIYMachining.com
I have many mill bits which I cannot identify. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I do utilize my 1906 Sheffield lath regularly however. I can provide pictures.
thanks
David
David, I would be happy to help as best I can. Feel free to email me at Tim@DIYMachinin.com
Love the GRB Setting Pocket guide, but it is for version v0.9. Is there an update out there for v1.1?
Mark, great question. No I do not have an updated pocket guide. It’s on the “To Do” list! 😉 You are not the first person to ask for one. I will need to move this task up the list…
Hi Tim,
How are you?
I just came across your website now… Thank you for taking the time to put this together. This is very helpful to me and many others.
I wanted to ask you questions with regards installing end stops into the following board, if you know how to do this?
https://www.robotics.org.za/GBRL-SHIELD?search=grbl
I am purely mechanical, so what I know about “electronics” is dangerous. Keep the “smoke inside”.
Anyway, thank you.
I hope to talk to you soon.
Regards,
Gary