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Arduino CNC Shield Instructions

1) The document provides instructions for setting up an Arduino CNC shield, including checking power polarity and stepper driver orientation, loading GRBL firmware onto the Arduino, testing each stepper driver individually, and adjusting current limits for the stepper drivers. 2) Key steps include visually checking solder points, loading GRBL onto the Arduino as a library, testing each axis by sending G-code commands, and adjusting reference voltages on the A4988 and DRV8825 stepper drivers. 3) Jumpers are used to configure the 4th axis, microstepping resolution, and active-high or active-low end stop triggers as supported by GRBL. Wiring motors simply requires

Uploaded by

Галин Вълков
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© © All Rights Reserved
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1K views

Arduino CNC Shield Instructions

1) The document provides instructions for setting up an Arduino CNC shield, including checking power polarity and stepper driver orientation, loading GRBL firmware onto the Arduino, testing each stepper driver individually, and adjusting current limits for the stepper drivers. 2) Key steps include visually checking solder points, loading GRBL onto the Arduino as a library, testing each axis by sending G-code commands, and adjusting reference voltages on the A4988 and DRV8825 stepper drivers. 3) Jumpers are used to configure the 4th axis, microstepping resolution, and active-high or active-low end stop triggers as supported by GRBL. Wiring motors simply requires

Uploaded by

Галин Вълков
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Arduino CNC Shield Instructions

First Run
Important things to consider before you begin:

1) Double check the power input polarity (“+” and “-“)

2) Be aware of the orientation of stepper drivers. Please note the potentiometer (pot) on A4988
and DRV8825 are at the opposite side

Pre-flight Checklist
1. Do a visual check of all soldered points on the new board

2. Plug the shield into an Arduino board and load the GRBL Firmware following the steps
bellow:

• Download the GRBL source code. Download here


• Unzip the download and you’ll have a folder called "grbl-master"
• Launch the Arduino IDE. (Please make sure you are using the most recent version of the
Arduino IDE.)
• Load GRBL into the Arduino IDE as a Library. (Click the "Sketch" drop-down menu,
then navigate to "Include Library", and select "Add .ZIP Library")
• IMPORTANT: Select the "Grbl" folder inside the "grbl-master" folder, which only
contains the source files and an example directory. (If you accidently select the .zip file
or the wrong folder, you will need to navigate to your Arduino library, delete the mistake,
and re-do this step.)
• Open the "GrblUpload" Arduino example. (Click the "file" down-down menu, navigate to
"Examples->Grbl", and select "GrblUpload")
• Compile and upload GRBL to your Arduino. (1. Connect your Arduino Uno to your
computer. 2. Make sure your board is set to the Arduino Uno in the "Tool->Board" menu
and the serial port is selected correctly in "Tool->Serial Port". 3. Click the "Upload" and
GRBL should compile and flash to your Arduino! Note: flashing with a programmer also
works by using the "Upload Using Programmer" menu command.)

3. Open up a serial connection to the Arduino board and check if GRBL is running. (We use
Universal G-code sender to connect to GRBL)

4. A4988 stepper drivers need adjustment for reference voltage. We will cover that in detail later.

5. Testing each stepper controller socket individually is critical.

• Make sure the external high voltage power is not powered-up or connected
• Connect a stepper motor to the stepper controller socket you want to test. This is very
important because the Pololu Stepper drivers are designed to ramp up the current until it
reaches the needed current to run. Without a stepper motor connected there will be
nothing to consume the current and you can end up damaging the stepper driver if it over-
heats in the process.
• Next, install the stepper motor driver ensuring that the enable pin on the driver aligns
with the enable pin on the shield.
• Connect the external power to the shield, making sure you connect the power up the right
way. If not connected correctly you can cause damage to the shield, stepper motor drivers
and Arduino board.
• Send a g-Code to the Axis you are testing. The stepper motor should move if everything
is working. (GCode Example : “G1 X5? or “G1 X0? or “G1 Y5?)
• Repeat the above process with each axis using the same stepper driver.(Testing with one
driver reduces the risk of damaging multiple stepper drivers at the same time.)

6. After all the above have been checked connect all the drivers and power up the system.

Current Limit (Reference Voltage) Adjustment for Stepper


Driver
A4988 sold by Zyltech, Rs=0.1 ohm. Thus the max current is Vref/0.4

Vref (Reference Voltage) is measured using a multimeter at the points shown at right

Drv 8825 sold by Zyltech. Max current = Vref x 2

Reference voltage is adjusted with a small screwdriver at the point indicated with the white
arrow in the picture to the right. We suggest adjusting the reference voltage in small increments -
no more than a quarter turn at a time. For a starting point, you may set the max current to 1A. If
the motor over heats, reduce the Vref. If the motor does not move or miss steps, increase the
Vref.
Jumper Settings
Jumpers are used to configure the 4th Axis, Micro stepping and endstop configuration.

4th Axis Configuration


Using two jumpers the 4th axis can be configured to clone the X or Y or Z axis. It can also run as
an individual axis by using Digital Pin 12 for Stepping signal and Digital Pin 13 as direction
signal. (GRBL only supports 3 axis’s at the moment)

Clone X-axis to the Clone Y-Axis to the Clone Z-Axis to the Use D12 and D13 to
4th stepper driver 4th stepper driver 4th stepper driver drive the 4th stepper
(marked as A) (marked as A) (marked as A) driver (marked as A)

Configuring Micro Stepping for Each Axis


*In the tables below high indicates that a jumper is inserted and low indicates that no jumper is
inserted.

Pololu A4988 Stepper Driver configuration:


MS0 MS1 MS2 Microstep Resolution
Low Low Low Full step
High Low Low Half step
Low High Low Quarter step
High High Low Eighth step
High High High Sixteenth step

Pololu DRV8825 Stepper Driver configuration:


MODE0 MODE1 MODE2 Microstep Resolution
Low Low Low Full step
High Low Low Half step
Low High Low 1/4 step
High High Low 1/8 step
Low Low High 1/16 step
High Low High 1/32 step
Low High High 1/32 step
High High High 1/32 step

By default GRBL is configured to


trigger an alert if an end-stop goes
low (becomes grounded.) This
has been debated and some
people have requested to have
active high end-stops. The
jumpers in the picture above End-stop switches are standard “always open”
provide options for both. The left switches. An end-stop is activated when the
image indicates the connection end-stop pin connects to ground (when setup
required to run with the default with default GRBL settings.)
GRBL setting. (This Jumper was
only introduced in Version 3.02)
End Stop Configuration
The end stop switches that come with the ZYLtech kit have three wires. Such end stops are easy
to use, monitor and install, especially compared to the bare mechanical switches. However, the
CNC shield only provides 2 PIN headers in contrast to the RAMPS shield. There are two ways to
install the end stops:
Wiring of Motors
Wiring ZYLtech Nema 17 stepper motors is simple. Plug in the connectors to the headers for
each axis. If a motor turns the incorrect direction, simply rotate the plug 180 degrees.

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