Hey everyone, I was wondering if anyone knew how to use python to prompt Grbl for its current position (x,y,z)? The goal is to send all my g-code via python (can already do that with existing codes), and I want to periodically prompt GRBL for its current position, then write these to a file such that in the .txt file you would have an large matrix of all your [ x | y | z ].
Just send "?" See gnea/grbl - the grbl interface is described in great detail for developers on the Wiki
Real-time status reports... I've been trying to get this to work for days (and reading) with no success. When I send "?" at the command prompt of Openbuilds Control, I get no response (see questionmark.gif). I've tried all 3 options in setting $10. I've read the entire gnea/grbl which mentions: When a ? character is sent to Grbl (no additional line feed or carriage return character required), it will immediately respond with something like <Idle|MPos:0.000,0.000,0.000|FS:0.0,0> to report its state and current position. but like I said this doesn't work for me. Also mentioned is scenarios where grbl will not respond to the ? request, none of which apply to me I think. I've tried resetting and rebooting blackbox. Does "?" not work when sent from the Openbuilds Control prompt? Here's the result of sending "$$": [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $0=10 ;Step pulse time, microseconds [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $1=255 ;Step idle delay, milliseconds [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $2=0 ;Step pulse invert, mask [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $3=5 ;Step direction invert, mask [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $4=1 ;Invert step enable pin, boolean [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $5=0 ;Invert limit pins, boolean [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $6=0 ;Invert probe pin, boolean [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $10=2 ;Status report options, mask [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $11=0.020 ;Junction deviation, millimeters [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $12=0.002 ;Arc tolerance, millimeters [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $13=0 ;Report in inches, boolean [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $20=0 ;Soft limits enable, boolean [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $21=1 ;Hard limits enable, boolean [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $22=1 ;Homing cycle enable, boolean [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $23=3 ;Homing direction invert, mask [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $24=50.000 ;Homing locate feed rate, mm/min [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $25=7000.000 ;Homing search seek rate, mm/min [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $26=15 ;Homing switch debounce delay, milliseconds [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $27=1.000 ;Homing switch pull-off distance, millimeters [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $30=255 ;Maximum spindle speed, RPM [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $31=0 ;Minimum spindle speed, RPM [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $32=0 ;Laser-mode enable, boolean [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $100=26.667 ;X-axis steps per millimeter [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $101=26.667 ;Y-axis steps per millimeter [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $102=199.100 ;Z-axis steps per millimeter [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $110=30000.000 ;X-axis maximum rate, mm/min [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $111=30000.000 ;Y-axis maximum rate, mm/min [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $112=2500.000 ;Z-axis maximum rate, mm/min [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $120=450.000 ;X-axis acceleration, mm/sec^2 [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $121=450.000 ;Y-axis acceleration, mm/sec^2 [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $122=150.000 ;Z-axis acceleration, mm/sec^2 [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $130=2000.000 ;X-axis maximum travel, millimeters [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $131=1000.000 ;Y-axis maximum travel, millimeters [18:41:49] [ $$ ] $132=100.000 ;Z-axis maximum travel, millimeters [18:41:49] [ $$ ] ok
CONTROL already sends "?" every 200ms, receives it, parses the data, and updates the UI for you. It uses that data internally (no log, imagine how that log would look with a line every 200ms, you'd miss the actual items you want to log) Only if you write your own software would you be sending it, receiving the reply, and then doing with that data what you want CONTROL is already a full host
Yes I know. I'm trying to figure out how to write the current position to file when a button is pushed. I've been looking into using the javascript option of macro to do this but don't know what I'm doing. Thanks again Peter.
Js doesnt have file access. You'd have to do this outside control so you are in the loop and can control the sequence of events.
why are you writing code when bCNC can already do this? vlachoudis/bCNC I bound some F keys to the 'record rapid' and 'record motion' functions so the recorded Gcode is easy to create and read. then I jog around with the camera and record points, I have digitized several model airplane plans this way. I run the Gcode through a program that converts it to dxf, then load that into Sketchup for further processing.
Thanks David the swarfer! I've downloaded bCNC and played around with it some. I'm not looking to generate gcode, instead I'd like to use the machine for measurement purposes (specifically to digitize 2D patterns/templates). I think the closest thing I've been able to do with bCNC is using Probe>Probe>Record>POINT. Then I'm able to File>Save and save as a text file. Is there any way to just record the X and Y positions? If not I could just strip out all the G codes with another step. Thanks! wolfgang
ok, I did not see the text file output, it has many options (-: you will have to process the file after saving since I think it will always save the axis words and so on
