Smoothie firmware
Since version 3.25, LaserGRBL can control a main board flashed with smoothieware.
You can find more information about using laser with smoothieware here .
Smoothieware can be used in two ways to control a laser :
- Using G1/G2/G3 command
- Using M3/M5 command
With G command, the power must be set by using the Shift parameter. Values goes from 0 ( 0% ) to 1 ( 100% ).
Example : G1 X20 S0.3 : Go to X=20 and set the power to 30%.
With M command, the power must be also set by using the Shift parameter. Values goes from 0 ( 0% ) to 1 ( 100% ).
Example : M3 S0.6 : Switch on laser and set power to 60%.
In the smoothieware config file, it is necessary to define two sections:
- a section for the laser
- and a "switch" section
The laser section look like this ( SKR 1.3 board exemple, LaserPWM on servo pin) :
laser_module_enable true # false
laser_module_pin 2.0 # this pin will be PWMed to control the laser. Only P2.0 - P2.5
# can be used since laser requires hardware PWM
laser_module_max_power 1 # this is the maximum duty cycle that will be applied to the laser
laser_module_tickle_power 0 # this duty cycle will be used for travel moves to keep the laser
# active without actually burning
laser_module_pwm_period 20 # this sets the pwm frequency as the period in microseconds
The "Switch" section look like this ( SKR 1.3 board exemple, LaserPWM on servo pin) :
switch.laser.enable true # False or true
switch.laser.input_on_command M3 # M-code
switch.laser.input_off_command M5 # M-code
switch.laser.output_pin 2.0 # Pin
switch.laser.output_type hwpwm # PWM output settable with S parameter in the input_on_comand
switch.laser.max_pwm 255 # Set max pwm for the pin default is 255
switch.laser.pwm_period_ms 1 # Set max pwm for the pin default is 255
switch.laser.startup_state false
You can find an example here : config.txt