Download the GRBL version you want to flash onto the controller board from GitHub. It is the ZIP file you will need. Unzip it and remember where you put it. Download the Arduino IDE and install it (if you haven’t already got it). You will need the Windows App, not the online web editor. 3 axis laser engraver GRBL control board. Connection: USB (USB-CH340) Software: GRBL controller version 0.9 or 1.1, UniversalGcodeSender Master chip: atmel 328P (arduino nano) Stepper motor driver: A4988 Spindle drive chip: MOSFET, the highest 60V (recommendation within 48V, current:within 10A ).
Many versions of third party software (LightBurn, LaserWeb etc) require a more recent version of grbl to run on your EleksMaker Mana SE, if you want to get full capability (or in some cases use them at all).
The Mana SE is simply an ATmega 328p based CNC/Laser control board with Stepper Motor Control (step, direction & enable) on the standard Arduino CNC pins and Servo PWM/Laser PWM driven by D11 (standard hardware PWM pin), which can be easily updated to the latest version of grbl (NOTE: the bootloader will need to be reflashed to optiboot to create sufficient space for the latest grbl version). There are lots of instructional videos and on-line articles on how to reflash the bootloader on the supplied Arduino Nano clone that is part of the Mana SE (using another Nano or Uno) and on how to upload the latest version of grbl using the Arduino IDE (HINT: google is your friend).
You might also benefit from using better software and I would heartily recommend LightBurn (https://lightburnsoftware.com/pages/trial-version-try-before-you-buy) which provides a fully functional 30 day trial, and is very reasonably priced if you choose to buy. There are many benefits of using LightBurn software . . . the tools/features/functions are great . . . but most important is the seamless integration of CAD/CAM with direct control of your CNC/Laser machine which makes it very efficient and easy to use. This means that you can design with vectors, add text, import SVG and/or images (converted to vectors, if required) and burn or draw them on your EleksMaker machine all from within a single piece of software (and there are lots of tutorials on YouTube to help you learn how to use it) . . . gone are the days of struggling with converting objects or text to paths in InkScape (and no longer being able to edit them), multiple crashes in EleksCAM, exporting things to G-Code files and then transferring them with G-Code senders.
There are many reasons to upgrade to the latest version of grbl (compatibility with other software, performance, removed bugs etc), but for laser users the most relevant will be dynamic Laser Power / CNC Head Speed compensation (provided you have a laser with PWM/TTL control capability). This will significantly improve the quality of laser engraving and get rid of the dark areas/lines at the end of each move.
However, the standard version of grbl 1.1g does not support RC Servo functionality required for EleksDraw to support PEN UP/DOWN. Accordingly, I have created a modified ‘spindle_control.c’ for grbl 1.1 based on the current grbl 1.1g version, which provides full support for an RC Servo on Arduino Pin D11 (https://github.com/DWiskow/grbl1-1g-Servo). /sony-pcg-71811w-drivers-for-win7-free-download.html.
To use this, download the latest version of grbl (1.1g) from github and replace ‘spindle_control.c’ with the version provided in the above link. You will also need to select/modify SPINDLE_TCCRB_INIT_MASK in ‘cpu_map.h’ to select the appropriate (61Hz) servo frequency rate and, of course, select/modify VARIABLE_SPINDLE in ‘config.h’ (not forgetting to set coreXY if you have an EleksDraw) . . . all other required #define(s) are contained with the modified ‘spindle_control.c’. All lines of code that have been added to ‘spindle_control.c’ are marked with a comment in column 100 of their respective lines. Apart from these 31 new lines of code (and an additional SPINDLE_TCCRB_INIT_MASK in ‘cpu_map.h’), the rest of the grbl 1.1g source is unchanged.
The #define RC_SERVO_SHORT (15) and RC_SERVO_LONG (31), in the modified ‘spindle_control.c’, set the PWM duty cycle for the RC Servo to 1.03ms and 2.05ms respectively (these are recommended values for standard RC Servos). There is also a #define that allows the servo to be inverted if movement of the arm is in the wrong direction.
Grbl 1.1 Download Mac
NOTE: the added RC Servo functionality will only operate in ‘non laser’ ($32=0) mode and will be ignored if you have $32 set to 1 (however, the frequency SPINDLE_TCCRB_INIT_MASK set ‘cpu_map.h’ will still be 61Hz rather than the default 0.98kHz used by most diode laser PWM/TTL inputs). To use this functionality use G-Code M3 to turn on the RC Servo and G-Code M5 to turn off the servo. The amount the RC Servo moves is controlled with G-Code S commands in the range 0-255.
This section is for Windows based PCs, you can also just use the offline controller. Software for Apple Macs and Linux which do not have support for installing and running windows programs is available, but is not described here.
Step 1: Driver Installation
All files referenced should be on your SD card or mini CD, if there are any problems with accessing these you can download a full copy of it's contents of it from here.
The first step is to install the Windows Serial port driver, labeled CH340SER.exe. If you cannot find this file, you can download it again from this link. Please not that the file linked is stored in a compressed .zip file. To use, you must extract the full contents of the .zip to a designated folder, and then try running the file from there. Running files from the .zip directly will not work.
Once you have found CH340SER.exe, right click it and select 'Run as administrator' and authorize the programs to make changes to your computer. From there, just follow the installation process and you are done with this step.
Step 2: Software Installation
This is a free and open source program which talks to your PROVer (or other Grbl based routers) by a serial USB connection and provides a variety of functions. This guide refers to GrblcontrolCandle V1.1.7, referred from now on as just Candle.
Candle can also be downloaded for Windows and Linux from Here, but please keep in mind that operating instructions can be found Here as they are not included with the installer.
To install, just copy the entire contents of the directory to a folder on your computer, for example to a Program Files (x86)/grblControl directory (you will need administrator privileges for this) or anywhere else on your computer. Once copied create a shortcut to ‘Grblcontrol (Candle).exe’ and save it anywhere you wish.
To start Candle click on the shortcut or directly open the Grblcontrol (Candle).exe
Step 3: Configuring Candle
Connect your CNC via the USB cable and start Candle. Ideally you should see something like the screenshot below:
If, instead of 'Port Opened' you have a red Alarm state in the status box, this is actually good! The 3018 and 4030 PROVer is fitted with limit switches and by default has ‘Homing’ enabled. Until a Homing Cycle has been run it will be in an Alarm state as it has no idea where the spindle is and will accept very few commands. You can also get out of this state by clicking on the padlock icon in the Control section of Candle to unlock the machine.
If you are not seeing the above image, you may see the following image below:
If this is the case, then Candle was unable to automatically find your router. Simply select the Service/Settings option from the top menu and you should see the settings menu:
Check that the Baud: value is 115200, if not change it, then Click on the connection/Port dropdown menu and select the COM port your router is connected to, there should not be many so if necessary try them each in turn. Click on OK and you should see first screen shown above, if not select the next COM port and retry.
If all else fails check the USB cable connection to the router, as well as see if the Emergency Stop button is pressed (It shouldn't be) and retry.
Before proceeding any further, check some settings:
the Machine Information section set/check the following:
Rapid Speed should be set to 2000
Spindle Speed Min should be set to 0
Spindle Speed Max should be set to 10000
Laser Power Min Should be set at 0How to download koukou gurashi.
Laser Power Max Should be set at 10000
Grbl 1.1 Firmware Download
And hit OK. Your software is now configured and ready for use.
