Software & Firmware

Firmware

The firmware I currently use is Marlin. It is commonly used for 3d printers but it turned out to work perfectly with rBot cnc. If you know some firmware that is better feel free to post it in the comments. I’m looking forward to get some new input because I don’t know that much about software.

You can download the firmware here.

Before you upload it to your Arduino Mega 2560 you need to do some modifications:

#define X_HOME_DIR -1

#define Y_HOME_DIR 1

#define Z_HOME_DIR -1

#define X_MAX_POS 750

#define X_MIN_POS 0

#define Y_MAX_POS 240

#define Y_MIN_POS 0

#define Z_MAX_POS 55

#define DEFAULT_AXIS_STEPS_PER_UNIT   {200,160,8571.43,760*1.1}

#define DEFAULT_MAX_FEEDRATE          {400, 400, 10, 20}

#define DEFAULT_MAX_ACCELERATION      {14000,14000,7000,10000}

#define DEFAULT_ACCELERATION          100

#define DEFAULT_RETRACT_ACCELERATION  2000

After you changed all that in the configuration.h file you can upload the firmware to the Arduino board.

Software

Right now I only work with handwritten g-code files. For that reason I use Repetier or Cura to send the g-codes to the Arduino. Same with the firmware – if any one has a better idea or any experience with something better in combination with an Arduino please post it in the comments.

Over the next months and weeks I’ll try lot of new software and firmware also working together with others. If I get some good results I’ll write it in my blog.