gnea/grbl
Grbl
grbl is a CNC machine control system that translates G-code into precise hardware pulses to drive motors and tools for automated fabrication. It functions as a motion controller that manages the translation of standard commands into physical movement through asynchronous operation.
The system includes a motion planning optimizer that calculates acceleration and deceleration curves using a look-ahead buffer to ensure fluid cornering and jerk-free movement. It features a dedicated laser engraving workflow that dynamically scales laser power based on movement speed to maintain consistent energy delivery.
The project covers a broad range of operational capabilities, including tool calibration via probing and customizable homing cycles, and hardware safety through the enforcement of soft limits and safety park routines. It provides real-time machine status reporting, spindle speed control, and the ability to override feed rates during job execution. System configurations and coordinate offsets are maintained across power cycles using non-volatile memory.
Features
- CNC Machine Controllers - Translates G-code into precise hardware pulses to drive motors and tools for automated fabrication.
- G-Code Interpreters - Interprets a subset of the LinuxCNC G-code standard to control three-axis CNC machines with linear and arc motions.
- Look-Ahead Trajectory Planning - Examines upcoming moves in a look-ahead buffer to compute smooth acceleration and deceleration curves.
- Look-Ahead Acceleration Planners - Examines up to 16 future moves to compute smooth velocity profiles for eliminating jerky transitions and delivering jitter-free acceleration.
- Homing Cycles - Runs a configurable homing cycle that searches for limit switches to establish a known machine origin.
- Real-Time Feed Rate Overrides - Provides real-time feed rate and spindle speed overrides during active job execution with sub-millisecond response.
- Safety Parking Routines - Runs homing cycles, checks soft limits, parks at safety doors, and stores coordinates for reliable unattended operation.
- Tool Probing Calibrations - Executes straight-probe G-code commands to measure workpiece position and set tool length offsets.
- Motion Planning Interrupts - Generates precise stepper motor pulses directly from hardware timer interrupts for real-time motion control.
- Embedded G-Code Firmware - Provides embedded real-time firmware that parses G-code and drives CNC and laser engraving hardware.
- Trapezoidal Velocity Profilers - Implements trapezoidal velocity profiling for smooth acceleration and deceleration in CNC motion control.
- Machine Status Reporters - Outputs structured status reports and numeric error codes with unique prefixes for GUIs to parse machine state.
- G-Code Syntax Validators - Simulates program execution without moving the machine to validate G-code syntax and detect potential errors.
- EEPROM Coordinate Persistence - Saves work coordinate systems and predefined positions to EEPROM so they survive power cycles.
- Feed-Rate-Proportional Laser Power Scaling - Scales laser output proportionally to current feed rate for consistent energy delivery during acceleration and deceleration.
- Velocity-Proportional Laser Power Scaling - Scales laser output with travel speed during continuous moves to prevent burnt corners on low-acceleration machines.
- Laser Engraving Workflows - Dynamically scales laser power with movement speed to maintain consistent energy delivery during engraving.
- Continuous Motion Laser Modes - Moves continuously through consecutive G1/G2/G3 moves while scaling laser power with travel speed to prevent burnt corners.
- Cutting-Move Laser Activations - Activates the laser exclusively during G1, G2, or G3 motions and disables it during rapid moves and probe cycles.
- In-Motion Power Updates - Updates laser power instantaneously across consecutive G-code moves without stopping the machine for spindle speed changes.
- Laser Power Mode Toggles - Switches between constant and dynamic laser power modes to match cutting or engraving requirements without pausing motion.
- Manual Jogging Controls - Moves axes independently of the G-code parser using low-latency jogging commands for manual control.
- Non-Volatile Setting Persistence - Persists coordinate offsets and system configurations to EEPROM for state retention across power cycles.
- Structured Status Reporters - Reports structured status and error codes for GUI parsing and supports live feed rate overrides.
- Soft Limit Enforcers - Enforces soft limits, safety park routines, and homing cycles for reliable unattended CNC operation.
Star history
How this analysis was created: This summary and feature list are AI-generated from collected project material and can contain mistakes. Stars, license and language are imported from GitHub. Inclusion does not mean that we have tested or audited this project. Check the source documentation for any feature you depend on. Learn more on our About page.
