Enable Z-axis Servo Functionality For GRBL | MI Inkscape Extension

Z-axis Servo For GRBL

Hello guys all of you have use GBRL firmware to build your CNC machine.

GRBL is the best and widely using firmware for DIY CNC Machines.

GRBL is works well when your CNC machine have Stepper motors on all three axis,

Like Stepper motor for X-axis, Y-axis & Z-axis in this case GRBL works fine without any doubt.

So what if you are building a pen plotter CNC machine or drawing machine which have a Servo motor on Z-axis to make pen UP & DOWN.

In this case you need two things

A GRBL firmware which supports functionality of Z-axis Servo motor.
A software to generate G-code which can able to generate code to run Servo of Z-axis

For first need here we have hack GRBL so we can attached a servo motor to GRBL CNC Shield this version of GRBL I called “MI GRBL”

click on the above link as soon as download complete copy the folder MIGRBL and past it at C:\Users\kccpc\Documents\Arduino\libraries

For our second need here is a Extension which can load in INKSCAPE software and easily easily to generate Z-axis servo friendly G-code.

Unzip the folder copy folder now go to

Inkscpae icon right click go to properties and click on open file location

now go to share > extension

past here the copied folder

Now open this folder copy all four file past then also in extension folder

G-code generating Extension is now added in Inkscape

There is not any dedicated pins for servo on shield, so the question raised where we have to connect a Z-axis servo motor at GRBL CNC shield

so first please take a look to the pin map of GRBL CNC shield

by referring above images we can know how to connect Servo with GRBL CNC Shield

Servo motor signal wire is connected with +Z pin on cnc shield, Servo motor +ve wire is connected with VCC of CNC shield (+5v dc), Servo motor -ve wire is connected with GND of CNC shield.

so by following all the instruction given here one can able to build a CNC with Zaxis servo for pen UP & DOWN movement.

Jose says:

15/06/2018 at 3:18 am

Hi, trnaks for your DIY.

I am using dvd stepper motors, and the same shield as you do.

The motors run at aprox. 0.24 Amp, 18º each step, 6 steps per milimeter.

Should I short the same pins you did for microstepping?

Thanks for your reply,

Jose

1. sandeep says:
  
  17/06/2018 at 11:55 pm
  
  No you no need to short any thing as you look in arduino code in some first couple of lines
  there is step = MICROSTEP (char STEP = MICROSTEP 😉
  it is already microstep