I made a simple CAD model, programmed the tool paths, then used the Carbide 3D post process to generate the g-code. I saved this program to the FAT32 USB, then brought it over to the OB Interface. Once in the interface, it sees the program and is highlighted in green. When I attempt to run the program is where I am having issues.... The interface responds with "GRBL error, error code number 1, invalid G-code, no letter". Looking this error up, I find that it is "g-code words consist of a letter and a value. Letter was not found". Reviewing the G-code, I see that there are several movements where the "GXXXXX" value is not listed in the line number. I then add those values, try to run again, same error on the interface. Eventually, I give up and work on setting up the rest of the machine (calibrate the steps, make sure other areas are working, etc). Upon recommendation from someone in the Facebook group, I update the firmware for the Blackbox. I decide to try looking at the test g-code program in the computer dashboard. I get a NEW, fresh and unedited copy of the same program - it appears to work, there is a functioning preview of the toolpath, and I try to run the program here.... Program runs fine until it reach a tool change command. This is something that I expected to throw an alert so I remove all the tool change prompts (3x), run the program again... Runs without any issues. Program runs from start to finish without any hiccups. From here, I decide to run it on the machine and just let the steppers cycle as if the program were running. Once again, program runs without any issues. I try this once again but from the interface - Interface again throws the GRBL error code 1 and will not allow the program to run. Is there something that needs to be done with this interface in order to run programs? I am unsure of why it would work on one openbuilds platform but not the other. CAD program: Solidworks 2022 Post Processor: Hawkridge Systems Carbide 3D (GRBL post processor) - if you know of any other GRBL post processors for Solidworks please let me know, I would like more options than this one.
Is your Interface Firmware up to date? See docs:interface:firmware-update [OpenBuilds Documentation] There was a serial queue (CR/LF) bug that's been fixed since v1.46 - see firmware/CHANGELOG.txt at main · OpenBuilds/firmware
Its version 1.43 I thought this was updated yesterday when I updated everything via the computer dashboard, but I guess it wasn't.
Yes, that's a bit old. V1.43 dates back to Jan 18th 2021 (almost a year ago): See History for interface - OpenBuilds/firmware You should be on V1.51 Update instructions here: docs:interface:firmware-update [OpenBuilds Documentation]
I updated the firmware to V1.51 and it is still giving the same error. I tested this on a program that was successfully run from the computer software, so it is known to work - interface gives the same error. I also tried the stripped down version of the program with comments deleted, tool changes deleted - on this version it acts like it wants to run and goes into a percentage progress bar on the bottom of the screen, but never progresses at all.
The only code that I delete from this is N20, N205, and N485 (tool changes) and it was working fine with the computer dashboard. Doesn't work with interface though. Disregard the tooling choices, this program is just to make the axis respond not cut anything. % ( A HAWK RIDGE SYSTEMS POST PROCESSOR ) ( -------WWW.HAWKRIDGESYS.COM-------- ) ( [email protected] 877.266.4469 ) (POSTED DATE & TIME: 1-5-2022 - 12:23:07) (TOTAL MACHINE TIME:0 HRS. 4 MIN. 31 SEC.) (NUM TOOL TYPE DIAM RAD H D DESCRIPTION) (--- --------- ------ ----- --- --- -----------) (T12 FACE MILL 1.9685 0.0000 H12 D12 50MM 5FL FACE MILL) (T04 END MILL 0.6299 0.0000 H04 D04 16MM CRB 2FL 32 LOC) (T01 END MILL 0.2362 0.0000 H01 D01 6MM CRB 2FL 19 LOC) (OPERATION NAME: FACE MILL1) (50MM 5FL FACE MILL) N5 G20 N10 G90 N15 G91 G28 X0 Y0 Z0 N20 M6 T12 N25 M3 S3250 N30 G90 G0 X-2.0669 Y-.4921 Z1. N35 Z.1 N40 G1 Z-.05 F5. N45 X0. F202.325 N50 X4.25 F269.766 N55 X5.3327 N60 G2 Y-1.7579 I0 J-.6329 N65 G1 X4.25 N70 X0. N75 X-2.0669 F202.325 N80 G0 Z.1 N85 G0 Y-.4921 N90 Z.05 N95 G1 Z-.0875 F5. N100 X0. F202.325 N105 X4.25 F269.766 N110 X5.3327 N115 G2 Y-1.7579 I0 J-.6329 N120 G1 X4.25 N125 X0. N130 X-2.0669 F202.325 N135 G0 Z.1 N140 G0 Y-.4921 N145 Z.0125 N150 G1 Z-.125 F5. N155 X0. F202.325 N160 X4.25 F269.766 N165 X5.3327 N170 G2 Y-1.7579 I0 J-.6329 N175 G1 X4.25 N180 X0. N185 X-2.0669 F202.325 N190 G0 Z.1 N195 Z1. (OPERATION NAME: CONTOUR MILL1) (16MM CRB 2FL 32 LOC) ( A HAWK RIDGE SYSTEMS POST PROCESSOR ) ( -------WWW.HAWKRIDGESYS.COM-------- ) (CUTTER COMP: ON - TOOL CENTER ) N200 G91 G28 X0 Y0 Z0 N205 M6 T4 N210 M3 S4378 N215 G90 G0 X1.8173 Y.44 Z1. N220 Z-.025 N225 G1 Z-.44 F4.816 N230 X2.049 Y.2084 F14.448 N235 G3 X2.0935 Y.19 I.0445 J.0445 N240 G1 X4.44 F19.263 N245 Y-2.44 N250 X-.19 N255 Y.19 N260 X2.1565 N265 G3 X2.201 Y.2084 I0 J.063 N270 G1 X2.4327 Y.44 N275 G0 Z-.025 N280 G0 X1.8173 N285 Z-.34 N290 G1 Z-.71 F4.816 N295 X2.049 Y.2084 F14.448 N300 G3 X2.0935 Y.19 I.0445 J.0445 N305 G1 X4.44 F19.263 N310 Y-2.44 N315 X-.19 N320 Y.19 N325 X2.1565 N330 G3 X2.201 Y.2084 I0 J.063 N335 G1 X2.4327 Y.44 N340 G0 Z-.025 N345 G0 X1.8173 N350 Z-.61 N355 G1 Z-.98 F4.816 N360 X2.049 Y.2084 F14.448 N365 G3 X2.0935 Y.19 I.0445 J.0445 N370 G1 X4.44 F19.263 N375 Y-2.44 N380 X-.19 N385 Y.19 N390 X2.1565 N395 G3 X2.201 Y.2084 I0 J.063 N400 G1 X2.4327 Y.44 N405 G0 Z-.025 N410 G0 X1.8173 N415 Z-.88 N420 G1 Z-1.25 F4.816 N425 X2.049 Y.2084 F14.448 N430 G3 X2.0935 Y.19 I.0445 J.0445 N435 G1 X4.44 F19.263 N440 Y-2.44 N445 X-.19 N450 Y.19 N455 X2.1565 N460 G3 X2.201 Y.2084 I0 J.063 N465 G1 X2.4327 Y.44 N470 G0 Z-.025 N475 Z1. (OPERATION NAME: CONTOUR MILL2) (6MM CRB 2FL 19 LOC) ( A HAWK RIDGE SYSTEMS POST PROCESSOR ) ( -------WWW.HAWKRIDGESYS.COM-------- ) (CUTTER COMP: ON - TOOL CENTER ) N480 G91 G28 X0 Y0 Z0 N485 M6 T1 N490 M3 S12000 N495 G90 G0 X2.2404 Y-.8369 Z1. N500 Z-.025 N505 G1 Z-.2431 F16.2 N510 X2.1535 Y-.75 F48.6 N515 G3 X2.1368 Y-.7431 I-.0167 J-.0167 N520 G1 X.875 F64.8 N525 G3 Y-1.5069 I0 J-.3819 N530 G1 X3.375 N535 G3 Y-.7431 I0 J.3819 N540 G1 X2.1132 N545 G3 X2.0965 Y-.75 I0 J-.0236 N550 G1 X2.0096 Y-.8369 N555 G0 Z-.025 N560 G0 X2.2404 N565 Z-.1431 N570 G1 Z-.335 F16.2 N575 X2.1535 Y-.75 F48.6 N580 G3 X2.1368 Y-.7431 I-.0167 J-.0167 N585 G1 X.875 F64.8 N590 G3 Y-1.5069 I0 J-.3819 N595 G1 X3.375 N600 G3 Y-.7431 I0 J.3819 N605 G1 X2.1132 N610 G3 X2.0965 Y-.75 I0 J-.0236 N615 G1 X2.0096 Y-.8369 N620 G0 Z-.025 N625 G0 X2.2404 N630 Z-.235 N635 G1 Z-.4268 F16.2 N640 X2.1535 Y-.75 F48.6 N645 G3 X2.1368 Y-.7431 I-.0167 J-.0167 N650 G1 X.875 F64.8 N655 G3 Y-1.5069 I0 J-.3819 N660 G1 X3.375 N665 G3 Y-.7431 I0 J.3819 N670 G1 X2.1132 N675 G3 X2.0965 Y-.75 I0 J-.0236 N680 G1 X2.0096 Y-.8369 N685 G0 Z-.025 N690 G0 X2.2404 N695 Z-.3268 N700 G1 Z-.5187 F16.2 N705 X2.1535 Y-.75 F48.6 N710 G3 X2.1368 Y-.7431 I-.0167 J-.0167 N715 G1 X.875 F64.8 N720 G3 Y-1.5069 I0 J-.3819 N725 G1 X3.375 N730 G3 Y-.7431 I0 J.3819 N735 G1 X2.1132 N740 G3 X2.0965 Y-.75 I0 J-.0236 N745 G1 X2.0096 Y-.8369 N750 G0 Z-.025 N755 Z1. N760 M5 N765 M30
Yes, I also tried removing all comments and tool changes, leaving only the line numbers and the commands. Someone in a different CNC group pointed out that GRBL doesn't like line numbers, so I tried removing those in yet another test and Interface still would not run the program offline.
Oh and those start/end of tape markers from 1970s has to go too, not supported by Grbl either. This really doesn't look like Grbl compatible post - line markers, line numbers, comment format, toolchanges in one file, etc - and thats maybe just the obvious ones. Didn't initially even notice it there, but right in line 1 of the file, that's already invalid. Won't get past the "%" Consider one of the more popular CAM options? : See docs:software:overview [OpenBuilds Documentation] Someone should tell Hawkridge Systems to actually read Home · gnea/grbl Wiki sometime (;
The strange thing is, it runs from the openbuilds computer dashboard by removing only the tool changes. Aside from that, the Hawkridge post-processor is the only thing I could find for generating g-code using Solidworks CAM. These are 3D objects that I plan to mill on a milling machine, so the 2D stuff wouldn't apply. From what I understand, the Hawkridge systems post is for the Shapokeo? I would use Fusion 360 (its still an option) but I would prefer to use Solidworks since I have invested in that CAD platform and would like to get full functionality from it.
On the PC side we do a lot more processing of known non-grbl mistakes. On Interface we don't have the resources to preprocess large files just because some post refuses to follow Grbl standards. Speak to Hawkridge and let them make it properly Grbl compatible. Split tools into seperate files, drop line numbers, make comments with semicolons instead of brackets, remove the 1970s Start and End of Tape markers. Let them see the Grbl wiki it says exactly what commands are supported, its not a secret
You could maybe try this persons Solidworks Post Processor for GRBL. I have never tried it myself because I went with the free Fusion 360, but it appears he got it working. GRBL Postprocessor for Solidworks – Restricted Ayerspace
Here is the test g-code using the ayerspace post processor - it looks like it is just the Hawk Ridge Systems post processer. % ( A HAWK RIDGE SYSTEMS POST PROCESSOR ) ( -------WWW.HAWKRIDGESYS.COM-------- ) ( [email protected] 877.266.4469 ) (POSTED DATE & TIME: 1-5-2022 - 22:01:30) (TOTAL MACHINE TIME:0 HRS. 4 MIN. 31 SEC.) (NUM TOOL TYPE DIAM RAD H D DESCRIPTION) (--- --------- ------ ----- --- --- -----------) (T12 FACE MILL 1.9685 0.0000 H12 D12 50MM 5FL FACE MILL) (T04 END MILL 0.6299 0.0000 H04 D04 16MM CRB 2FL 32 LOC) (T01 END MILL 0.2362 0.0000 H01 D01 6MM CRB 2FL 19 LOC) (OPERATION NAME: FACE MILL1) (50MM 5FL FACE MILL) N5 G20 N10 G90 N15 G91 G28 X0 Y0 Z0 N20 M6 T12 N25 M3 S3250 N30 G90 G0 X-2.0669 Y-.4921 Z1. N35 Z.1 N40 G1 Z-.05 F5. N45 X0. F202.325 N50 X4.25 F269.766 N55 X5.3327 N60 G2 Y-1.7579 I0 J-.6329 N65 G1 X4.25 N70 X0. N75 X-2.0669 F202.325 N80 G0 Z.1 N85 G0 Y-.4921 N90 Z.05 N95 G1 Z-.0875 F5. N100 X0. F202.325 N105 X4.25 F269.766 N110 X5.3327 N115 G2 Y-1.7579 I0 J-.6329 N120 G1 X4.25 N125 X0. N130 X-2.0669 F202.325 N135 G0 Z.1 N140 G0 Y-.4921 N145 Z.0125 N150 G1 Z-.125 F5. N155 X0. F202.325 N160 X4.25 F269.766 N165 X5.3327 N170 G2 Y-1.7579 I0 J-.6329 N175 G1 X4.25 N180 X0. N185 X-2.0669 F202.325 N190 G0 Z.1 N195 Z1. (OPERATION NAME: CONTOUR MILL1) (16MM CRB 2FL 32 LOC) ( A HAWK RIDGE SYSTEMS POST PROCESSOR ) ( -------WWW.HAWKRIDGESYS.COM-------- ) (CUTTER COMP: ON - TOOL CENTER ) N200 G91 G28 X0 Y0 Z0 N205 M6 T4 N210 M3 S4378 N215 G90 G0 X1.8173 Y.44 Z1. N220 Z-.025 N225 G1 Z-.44 F4.816 N230 X2.049 Y.2084 F14.448 N235 G3 X2.0935 Y.19 I.0445 J.0445 N240 G1 X4.44 F19.263 N245 Y-2.44 N250 X-.19 N255 Y.19 N260 X2.1565 N265 G3 X2.201 Y.2084 I0 J.063 N270 G1 X2.4327 Y.44 N275 G0 Z-.025 N280 G0 X1.8173 N285 Z-.34 N290 G1 Z-.71 F4.816 N295 X2.049 Y.2084 F14.448 N300 G3 X2.0935 Y.19 I.0445 J.0445 N305 G1 X4.44 F19.263 N310 Y-2.44 N315 X-.19 N320 Y.19 N325 X2.1565 N330 G3 X2.201 Y.2084 I0 J.063 N335 G1 X2.4327 Y.44 N340 G0 Z-.025 N345 G0 X1.8173 N350 Z-.61 N355 G1 Z-.98 F4.816 N360 X2.049 Y.2084 F14.448 N365 G3 X2.0935 Y.19 I.0445 J.0445 N370 G1 X4.44 F19.263 N375 Y-2.44 N380 X-.19 N385 Y.19 N390 X2.1565 N395 G3 X2.201 Y.2084 I0 J.063 N400 G1 X2.4327 Y.44 N405 G0 Z-.025 N410 G0 X1.8173 N415 Z-.88 N420 G1 Z-1.25 F4.816 N425 X2.049 Y.2084 F14.448 N430 G3 X2.0935 Y.19 I.0445 J.0445 N435 G1 X4.44 F19.263 N440 Y-2.44 N445 X-.19 N450 Y.19 N455 X2.1565 N460 G3 X2.201 Y.2084 I0 J.063 N465 G1 X2.4327 Y.44 N470 G0 Z-.025 N475 Z1. (OPERATION NAME: CONTOUR MILL2) (6MM CRB 2FL 19 LOC) ( A HAWK RIDGE SYSTEMS POST PROCESSOR ) ( -------WWW.HAWKRIDGESYS.COM-------- ) (CUTTER COMP: ON - TOOL CENTER ) N480 G91 G28 X0 Y0 Z0 N485 M6 T1 N490 M3 S12000 N495 G90 G0 X2.2404 Y-.8369 Z1. N500 Z-.025 N505 G1 Z-.2431 F16.2 N510 X2.1535 Y-.75 F48.6 N515 G3 X2.1368 Y-.7431 I-.0167 J-.0167 N520 G1 X.875 F64.8 N525 G3 Y-1.5069 I0 J-.3819 N530 G1 X3.375 N535 G3 Y-.7431 I0 J.3819 N540 G1 X2.1132 N545 G3 X2.0965 Y-.75 I0 J-.0236 N550 G1 X2.0096 Y-.8369 N555 G0 Z-.025 N560 G0 X2.2404 N565 Z-.1431 N570 G1 Z-.335 F16.2 N575 X2.1535 Y-.75 F48.6 N580 G3 X2.1368 Y-.7431 I-.0167 J-.0167 N585 G1 X.875 F64.8 N590 G3 Y-1.5069 I0 J-.3819 N595 G1 X3.375 N600 G3 Y-.7431 I0 J.3819 N605 G1 X2.1132 N610 G3 X2.0965 Y-.75 I0 J-.0236 N615 G1 X2.0096 Y-.8369 N620 G0 Z-.025 N625 G0 X2.2404 N630 Z-.235 N635 G1 Z-.4268 F16.2 N640 X2.1535 Y-.75 F48.6 N645 G3 X2.1368 Y-.7431 I-.0167 J-.0167 N650 G1 X.875 F64.8 N655 G3 Y-1.5069 I0 J-.3819 N660 G1 X3.375 N665 G3 Y-.7431 I0 J.3819 N670 G1 X2.1132 N675 G3 X2.0965 Y-.75 I0 J-.0236 N680 G1 X2.0096 Y-.8369 N685 G0 Z-.025 N690 G0 X2.2404 N695 Z-.3268 N700 G1 Z-.5187 F16.2 N705 X2.1535 Y-.75 F48.6 N710 G3 X2.1368 Y-.7431 I-.0167 J-.0167 N715 G1 X.875 F64.8 N720 G3 Y-1.5069 I0 J-.3819 N725 G1 X3.375 N730 G3 Y-.7431 I0 J.3819 N735 G1 X2.1132 N740 G3 X2.0965 Y-.75 I0 J-.0236 N745 G1 X2.0096 Y-.8369 N750 G0 Z-.025 N755 Z1. N760 M5 N765 M30
Ha! Then either he wrote the Hawkridge post processor, or the "fruits of his labor" was him claiming as his own. Sorry that did not help you further. I do not have solidworks, so I couldn't look at it first.
I spent a lot of time a year or so ago looking for a solidworks post for grbl for someone and only found the one above. Quite a few people move their designs from solidworks to Fusion to do the cam, but of course that gets expensive if you are using it commercially (Fusion is free for hobby users though). Alex.
If the OP wants to get into it, surely Solidworks has some documentation on how to edit their post processors? Take the almost working one, and fix the mistakes that make it less than perfectly Grbl compatible? Might be worth your time to do it - none of us can really assist, as we don't have Solidworks on hand. But you do? Other CAMs has nice docs: Vectric provides Post Processor Editing and Fusion has Autodesk CAM Post Processor Documentation for example
If you search the forum for "solidworks" you will see that this has come up several times (including the link below), several posts have links to possibly useful resources - the one below includes a link to a programme for editing solidworks post processors and a couple of other solidworks/grbl post processors. SolidWorks CAM with BlackBox/GRBL1.1 Alex.
Solidworks CAM has a universal post generator - without trying the application I am assuming it is a universal post processor generator of some type. At this point I have no idea how to use it, but its a promising lead. I can definitely appreciate the suggestion to make the design in Solidworks then transfer it to Fusion 360. I would be needing the commercial license, so the yearly subscription does come into consideration - also, I have had the Fusion subscription in the past and there is an HSMworks CAM add-in so that Fusion 360 CAM can be used on Solidworks. It is a great setup...but I have to dig in my heels a bit and consider that I paid dearly to have Solidworks and I don't want that expense to be in vain. I chose to go with Solidworks for many reasons, and I would like to be able to utilize their CAM package (that I also pay dearly for) and get my moneys worth out of the setup. With that said, its looking more and more like I will need to try developing my own post-processor. I guess I can use Fusion's CAM until it's complete, so all is not lost...yet.
One would expect for Solidworks's pricetag they should help with posts for something as popular as Grbl - betting there are far more Grbl users in the world than many of the other posts they include. Might be worth an email to their support team, they might have one on file
You would think - Honestly, as much as I like Solidworks, that is going to be their Achilles heel - focusing too much on large businesses with commercial equipment than to grow their smaller "maker" customer base - who can and will grow into their large customers given proper support.
I agree and disagree to some extent. Solidworks did roll out a Solidworks for Makers package last year where you can use SW professional for $9.99/month - but again, you're limited in areas such as simulation, CAM, and whatever else is paywalled/tier-walled. I do agree in the sense that SW needs a gut check with the pace of which it is willing to accept change and the rigidity of its pricing model - the one thing that SW really has working for it is the fact that the software is yours once you buy it. With the subscription you have tech support and perpetual upgrades, which are also nice. SW and F360 aren't really a good comparison though - I would put SW and Inventor next to each other. In fact, I think Inventor's yearly subscription is nearly the same price as a SW Premium yearly maintenance subscription (probably a deliberate move). I can't really comment to Inventor's capabilities and offerings since I haven't had the luxury of working anywhere that used it, but I have had many colleagues that swear by it.
For anyone who finds this thread in the search for a Solidworks post-processor... So far, none of the SW GRBL post-processors have worked. After speaking with the SW reseller, I found that there are really only 4 options: 1. Continue to search for an already compiled SW GRBL post-processor 2. Write my own post processor using the Universal Post Generator (UPG) 3. Pay the SW reseller to write a post processor for me (under $1000 with 1 year of changes) 4. Use Fusion 360 for CAM For those interested in Option #2, here are links to the UPG and a video to get started - the rest is one you. UPG Download: Universal Post Generator | CAMWorks (For those who are wondering, Solidworks CAM and CAMworks are one and the same) Video overview of the UPG: The UPG seems more complicated than it really is, I may/may not post updates if I develop my own - if I do, they will be here in this thread.
