I got quite a few requests to add Arduino Mega 2560 / Ramps 1.4 support to Estlcam and finally found some time to port the firmware.
If anyone likes to give it a try it is version 9.016 on my homepage Estlcam.com.
At the moment it is "motion controller only" - so no limit switches and no spindle output.
Extruder 0 can be used as second X-axis.
And extruder 1 as second Y-axis.
Still highly experimental and may contain major bugs (but none that I'm aware of at the moment).
You should be able to restore the original sketch - the backup / restore function is not available for the Mega2560 at the moment.
Iād be happy to get some feedback - if you have any questions please let me know.
Looks good so far. The controller doesnāt seem to come to the front when I select it from the view menu. So I have to move my main window to control it. Not a huge deal.
I had to put the z axis into 1/4 stepping mode, jumpers shown in the attached picture.
Here are my settings also attached.
Great news Christian. Iāll be purchasing from you once the beast is built 100%. Really good software youāve got there, and such a great match up with the MPCNC, especially now youāre supporting the hardware directly.
Christian you ROCK!! Thank you for working on this. I have to travel for work this next week so I will not be able to test and help out but I will be watching this like a hawk.
@Ryan
I think this is important enough to pin this to the top if at all possible.
Great work. Works flawless. Settings 1/16 A4988 5 stepper driver 2A motors at 0.9 Amps
3200 steps per round
32mm/Round
60mm/s x y
1.25 mm
8.0mm/s z
Same little bug with machine control moves to background. Did my first run of my new MPCNC with estlcam on ramps. Drawing came out pretty nice. However, will switch to Uno to use touchplate and surface scanning feature.
Many thanks for this great piece of software, will order a license for sure soon.
Hm, grate work, but now Iām a little bit confusedā¦ I have finished the mechanics of my MPCNC and going to wire the steppers and end switchesā¦ Iāve had a look at the combination Marlin/Repetier-Host and I think, without having some additional plugins for CNC, like Z-probing, the capability of using a touch plate and zeroing of the axis, etc., this combination seem to be not the best solution. So I had a look on Estlcam, which looks much better for CNC control.
Now Iām struggling, because I think using a Mega2560 with Ramps 1.4 will be a little bit of overkill compared to the Arduino Uno, if you donāt use the graphical interface and advanced features of the Ramps 1.4ā¦ So I take a look on the CNC shield, I have in my lab, but I guess Estlcam is not compatible to use the CNC shield, which is GRBL compatible, without rewiringā¦
Anyway, I think Iāll go further with Estlcam, but Iām confused nowā¦ Shall I wait, until the Mega2560/Ramps 1.4 implementation gets stable and have at least all of the functions, the Uno provides or shall I take the lemon and use the Uno with an rewired CNC shield first and move on to the Ramps solution later on? @Christian: do you have a time frame, when you think, this Ramps solution will provide the same functionality compared to the Uno version?
The other thing, Iām a software engineer and living here in Germany near by Stuttgartā¦ Iām familiar with Arduino programming and a little bit with C# and .NET as well, Is there anything I can help with?
if you have an UNO with GRBL compatible shield you can use the āGRBLā pinout Estlcam offers.
The GRBL layout is fully functional including limit switches and probe input.
Be a bit careful though which GRBL version your shield is made for - the old one without PWM (use āGRBLā pinout) or the new one with PWM (use āGRBL PWMā pinout). If youāre not sure use āGRBL safeā which is somewhat limited but without risk of messing up controller pins.
Sorry, seems Iām having a long line this Monday morningā¦ Havenāt seen that there are GRBL compatible pin assignments for selectionā¦ Thanks for clarifyingā¦ It might be good to add a comment in Estlcam, that those are compatible with CNC shieldsā¦
Iām having the CNC shield V3, which I guess doesnāt support the PMW for the spindle and pin 11 is assigned to the Z limit switchā¦ But Iāll checkā¦
Yah, the GRBL should be the right one for CNC shield V3.00ā¦ So the end stops are as printed on the board and the probe input can be found as SCL on the I2C connector, and spindle control is an SpnEnā¦
Now, everything is clear for wiring the CNC shield to my MPCNCā¦
Just wanted to say thankās Christian!! Our MPCNC will be used solely as a cnc and not a printer, and we (people in our makerspace) didnāt really understand the control side of things too well and bought the kit that has the MEGA in it. We are currently trying to use Repetier, but from what Iāve read, your Estlcam is much more suited for our needs. We will be eagerly watching this thread and testing as best we can to give feedback that might help you make the best software possible.
Are you sure that A5 is wired to SCL? Just soldered additional pins on my Uno GBRL shield lolā¦
Edit: yeah, saw it on the pinout. Goes to K5 connector, but labling on pinout is upside down. So A5 should be SCL. Now i have to find an old shielded cable and two alligator clips. Still tooking for a alu touchplate like shown in the video. Maybe i can find someone to mill that for me. Cant do it by myself.
Yes, Iām sureā¦ The schematics and my measurement has confirmed that SCL is connected with A5 of the Arduinoā¦ But Iāll test that, once Iām finished wit wiringā¦
I am in the middle of building my second āsmallerā mpcnc. First one works beautifully but its all PLA and slightly larger than I need (takes up too much room in the garage). So I am planning on giving this a go when I get things all thrown together! Thank you so much man!
Neil
There is a button: āProgram Arduinoā. What happens then? Is it possible to Use Repetier sometimes and Estlcam at other times or does anything change that ālocksā to Estlcam?
Havenāt seen that there are GRBL compatible pin assignments for selectionā¦ Thanks for clarifyingā¦ It might be good to add a comment in Estlcam, that those are compatible with CNC shieldsā¦