OpenBuilds CONTROL Software

OpenBuilds CONTROL 1.0.295 is getting released today, and it, along with its earlier versions the last couple weeks, contain a bunch of cool new features! Find some of the major highlights below:

1) 3D Viewer now supports on the fly switching between Inch/mm Mode

Before, only the Gcode you loaded could switch the viewer. Now, the Viewer switches between mm/inch along with the DRO when you click the mm-mode/inch-mode tabs above the DRO.

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2) Ability to both Go To, and Set coordinates by typing into the DRO:

Click on the X,Y or Z digital read-out, and enter a new number. If you press [enter] the machine will jog to that position. If you press [shift+enter] the current position where the machine is, is set to the number entered. Useful for fixing Z zero or dialing in offsets for duplicating a workpiece and many other uses

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3) Jog Speed Slider:

Gone are the days of typing in a Jog speed, when Grbl anyway overruled you most of the time based on its Max-rate configuration. The number input field has now been replaced with an easy to use and easy to understand slider! This solves a couple different issues

• Allows Z to jog at a different rate than XY: In your Grbl Settings, Z Max Rate can be (and usually is) set lower. This now jogs at a "percentage" of the Grbl Max Rate - so effectively each axis speed is governed by its Max Rate value
• It is consistent with OpenBuilds Interface - we implemented the Percentage method there and had great feedback from beginners and pros alike as its easier to grasp and use.
• It is more accurate - because it knows what your Grbl settings dictate the maximum feedrate can be. Before you may have entered 5000mm/min, but Grbl has X Max travel set to 2500. You think you are jogging at 5000mm/min, but Grbl was governing the top speed to 2500 anyway. As its a percentage of the configured parameter, 50% really is 50% of the maximum configured for that axis.

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4) MacOS Big Sur support: Fully Signed and Notarized

Mac users can now install CONTROL easier than before, because the application and installer is now Signed and Notarized with proper Apple Certificates. No longer do you need to go and allow the application from Settings>Security - MacOS will only prompt you once whether you want to allow the application to open the first time you run it.

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5) Duplicate Key Checking for Keyboard shortcuts

CONTROL now checks if the key you are trying to assign as a Keyboard Shortcut or Macro shortcut is already in use :




and also in Macros editor:


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6) Actual Feedrate in Overrides

This little readout below the Feed Override Slider displays the current maximum actual feedrate the machine is moving it. This is a good number to note down if you use the Feed Override slider to tweak your cutting recipes, knowing how fast the machine is moving when the job is cutting at its best, will help you set up your toolpaths with better feedrates dialed in from the start.

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7) Ability to Backup and Restore your Grbl Settings

Allows you to export a copy of that meticulously tuned Grbl parameters for safe-keeping

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8) Javascript Macros, that can even start automatically.

Advanced tweaks, your own wizards, or clever macros that can do a little processing of their own. Your mind is the limit.

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9) Just a reminder how to switch between Inch and MM modes:

Not new, but something many people haven't noticed yet: Click the Tabs to switch between Inch/mm mode for jogging. GCODE files have their Mode set by your CAM however and overrides whatever this view is set to, because the GCODE contains its own G20 (inch) or G21 (mm ) Modal commands. The 3D view will however attempt to show it at the correct scale.

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10) Review the FULL changelog!

The detailed Change Log at OpenBuilds/OpenBuilds-CONTROL lists every little bugfix, new feature, and change made to CONTROL, so do keep an eye on it occationally ​

 

Enter dismisses it. Space starts and pauses jobs unless you've changed that in Customize Keyboard Shortcuts in the Wizards menu.

 

For all the hate the Job Complete window gets, i guess its just time to remove it. Next version

 

Can you print log it? Because I do find the information useful.

 

For sure. (; and will store it for use with Macros, got an idea for an Invoicing macro

 

I like the sound of that!

 

So the "job complete" popup is gone, and the data is stored in Localstorage (for future Macro use)



but also added a simple log under Wizards and Tools > Job Log

 

Nice!

 

it iconizes to the taskbar, just click the icon there to fullscreen it

 

Agreed, nearly impossible to be CONTROL related. Wiring most likely, or Grbl settings

 

What switches do you have?
Could also just be noise on the signals, are you using filtering?

 

Fair enough those are overkill and probably do need a massive pull-out distance

do include details like that when you ask about related problems would help avoid guesses based on assumptions of default components.

 

After a reboot, CONTROL sits waiting in the system tray. Launch it from either:

• Desktop icon
• Start menu
• System tray icon
• Integrations (OpenBuildsCAM, SketchuCam and (soon) Fabber)

Once its running in the background, any of the above launches the UI

 

Which is just another way to access the UI. Dont use this as your primary way either..

If the UI doesnt come up, try a different PC