CD Rom CNC Plotter GCode Problem

Dear Forum Arduino members, I have constructed a CD Rom CNC Plotter by using 2 CD Rom stepper motors (sm15dd) and a servo motor (sg90), which are connected to Motor Shield V1.
I have watched many videos on this subject and I believe I did the mechanical part well.
When I test my system with the following code I approximately get a 50mmx50mm square.

#include <Servo.h>
#include <AccelStepper.h>
#include <AFMotor.h>

Servo penservo;

AF_Stepper motorX(20,1);
AF_Stepper motorY(20,2);

// Servo position for Up and Down 
const int MNSteps = 250;
const int penZUp = 170;
const int penZDown = 145;
int pos = penZUp; 

void setup() {

  //Put the pen
  penservo.attach(10);
  for (pos = penZUp; pos >= penZDown; pos -= 1) {
    penservo.write(pos);
    delay(15);
  }
  //Set motor speed
  motorX.setSpeed(100);
  motorY.setSpeed(100);
  //Draw a square
  motorX.step(MNSteps, FORWARD, MICROSTEP);
  motorY.step(MNSteps, FORWARD, MICROSTEP);
  motorX.step(MNSteps, BACKWARD, MICROSTEP);
  motorY.step(MNSteps, BACKWARD, MICROSTEP);
  //Raise the pen
  for (pos = penZDown; pos <= penZUp; pos += 1) {
    penservo.write(pos);
    delay(15);
  }
}

void loop() {
  /* */
}

However, when I use Inkscape 1.1.2 and Processing 3.5.3, I cannot draw the picture in the gcode. I have tried this with the gcodes supplied under the description sections of the youtube videos such as [1, 2, 3].

In this case, I am using the following cnc-code for Arduino.

#include <Servo.h>
#include <AFMotor.h>

#define LINE_BUFFER_LENGTH 512

char STEP = MICROSTEP; //MICROSTEP

// Servo position for Up and Down
const int penZUp = 170;
const int penZDown = 145;

// Servo on PWM pin 10
const int penServoPin = 10;

// Should be right for DVD steppers, but is not too important here
const int stepsPerRevolution = 20;

// create servo object to control a servo 
Servo penServo;

// Initialize steppers for X- and Y-axis using this Arduino pins for the L293D H-bridge
AF_Stepper myStepperY(stepsPerRevolution,1);
AF_Stepper myStepperX(stepsPerRevolution,2); 

/* Structures, global variables    */
struct point { 
  float x;
  float y;
  float z;
};

// Current position of plothead
struct point actuatorPos;

//  Drawing settings, should be OK
float StepInc = 1;
int StepDelay = 0;
int LineDelay = 0;
int penDelay = 50;

// Motor steps to go 1 millimeter.
// Use test sketch to go 100 steps. Measure the length of line. 
// Calculate steps per mm. Enter here.
float StepsPerMillimeterX = 100.0;
float StepsPerMillimeterY = 100.0;

// Drawing robot limits, in mm
// OK to start with. Could go up to 50 mm if calibrated well. 
float Xmin = 0;
float Xmax = 50;
float Ymin = 0;
float Ymax = 50;
float Zmin = 0;
float Zmax = 1;

float Xpos = Xmin;
float Ypos = Ymin;
float Zpos = Zmax;

// Set to true to get debug output.
boolean verbose = false;

//  Needs to interpret 
//  G1 for moving
//  G4 P300 (wait 150ms)
//  M300 S30 (pen down)
//  M300 S50 (pen up)
//  Discard anything with a (
//  Discard any other command!

/**********************
 * void setup() - Initialisations
 ***********************/
void setup() {
  //  Setup
  
  Serial.begin( 9600 );
  
  penServo.attach(penServoPin);
  penServo.write(penZUp);
  delay(100);

  // Decrease if necessary
  myStepperX.setSpeed(600);
  myStepperY.setSpeed(600);

  //  Set & move to initial default position
  // TBD

  //  Notifications!!!
  Serial.println("Mini CNC Plotter alive and kicking!");
  Serial.print("X range is from ");
  Serial.print(Xmin);
  Serial.print(" to ");
  Serial.print(Xmax);
  Serial.println(" mm.");
  Serial.print("Y range is from ");
  Serial.print(Ymin);
  Serial.print(" to ");
  Serial.print(Ymax);
  Serial.println(" mm.");
}

/**********************
 * void loop() - Main loop
 ***********************/
void loop()
{
  
  delay(100);
  char line[ LINE_BUFFER_LENGTH ];
  char c;
  int lineIndex;
  bool lineIsComment, lineSemiColon;

  lineIndex = 0;
  lineSemiColon = false;
  lineIsComment = false;

  while (1) {

    // Serial reception - Mostly from Grbl, added semicolon support
    while ( Serial.available()>0 ) {
      c = Serial.read();
      if (( c == '\n') || (c == '\r') ) {             // End of line reached
        if ( lineIndex > 0 ) {                        // Line is complete. Then execute!
          line[ lineIndex ] = '\0';                   // Terminate string
          if (verbose) {
            Serial.print( "Received : ");
            Serial.println( line ); 
          }
          processIncomingLine( line, lineIndex );
          lineIndex = 0;
        }
        else { 
          // Empty or comment line. Skip block.
        }
        lineIsComment = false;
        lineSemiColon = false;
        Serial.println("ok");    
      }
      else {
        if ( (lineIsComment) || (lineSemiColon) ) {   // Throw away all comment characters
          if ( c == ')' )  lineIsComment = false;     // End of comment. Resume line.
        }
        else {
          if ( c <= ' ' ) {                           // Throw away whitepace and control characters
          }
          else if ( c == '/' ) {                    // Block delete not supported. Ignore character.
          }
          else if ( c == '(' ) {                    // Enable comments flag and ignore all characters until ')' or EOL.
            lineIsComment = true;
          }
          else if ( c == ';' ) {
            lineSemiColon = true;
          }
          else if ( lineIndex >= LINE_BUFFER_LENGTH-1 ) {
            Serial.println( "ERROR - lineBuffer overflow" );
            lineIsComment = false;
            lineSemiColon = false;
          }
          else if ( c >= 'a' && c <= 'z' ) {        // Upcase lowercase
            line[ lineIndex++ ] = c-'a'+'A';
          }
          else {
            line[ lineIndex++ ] = c;
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

void processIncomingLine( char* line, int charNB ) {
  int currentIndex = 0;
  char buffer[ 64 ];                                 // Hope that 64 is enough for 1 parameter
  struct point newPos;

  newPos.x = 0.0;
  newPos.y = 0.0;

  //  Needs to interpret 
  //  G1 for moving
  //  G4 P300 (wait 150ms)
  //  G1 X60 Y30
  //  G1 X30 Y50
  //  M300 S30 (pen down)
  //  M300 S50 (pen up)
  //  Discard anything with a (
  //  Discard any other command!

  while( currentIndex < charNB ) {
    switch ( line[ currentIndex++ ] ) {              // Select command, if any
    case 'U':
      penUp();
      break;
    case 'D':
      penDown();
      break;
    case 'G':
      buffer[0] = line[ currentIndex++ ];          // /!\ Dirty - Only works with 2 digit commands
      //      buffer[1] = line[ currentIndex++ ];
      //      buffer[2] = '\0';
      buffer[1] = '\0';

      switch ( atoi( buffer ) ){                   // Select G command
      case 0:                                   // G00 & G01 - Movement or fast movement. Same here
      case 1:
        // /!\ Dirty - Suppose that X is before Y
        char* indexX = strchr( line+currentIndex, 'X' );  // Get X/Y position in the string (if any)
        char* indexY = strchr( line+currentIndex, 'Y' );
        if ( indexY <= 0 ) {
          newPos.x = atof( indexX + 1); 
          newPos.y = actuatorPos.y;
        }
        else if ( indexX <= 0 ) {
          newPos.y = atof( indexY + 1);
          newPos.x = actuatorPos.x;
        }
        else {
          newPos.y = atof( indexY + 1);
          *indexY = '\0';
          newPos.x = atof( indexX + 1);
        }
        drawLine(newPos.x, newPos.y );
        //        Serial.println("ok");
        actuatorPos.x = newPos.x;
        actuatorPos.y = newPos.y;
        break;
      }
      break;
    case 'M':
      buffer[0] = line[ currentIndex++ ];        // /!\ Dirty - Only works with 3 digit commands
      buffer[1] = line[ currentIndex++ ];
      buffer[2] = line[ currentIndex++ ];
      buffer[3] = '\0';
      switch ( atoi( buffer ) ){
      case 300:
        {
          char* indexS = strchr( line+currentIndex, 'S' );
          float Spos = atof( indexS + 1);
          //         Serial.println("ok"):
          if (Spos == 30) {
            penDown();
          }
          if (Spos == 50) {
            penUp();
          }
          break;
        }
      case 114:                                // M114 - Repport position
        Serial.print( "Absolute position : X = " );
        Serial.print( actuatorPos.x );
        Serial.print( "  -  Y = " );
        Serial.println( actuatorPos.y );
        break;
      default:
        Serial.print( "Command not recognized : M");
        Serial.println( buffer );
      }
    }
  }
}

/*********************************
 * Draw a line from (x0;y0) to (x1;y1). 
 * Bresenham algo from https://www.marginallyclever.com/blog/2013/08/how-to-build-an-2-axis-arduino-cnc-gcode-interpreter/
 * int (x1;y1) : Starting coordinates
 * int (x2;y2) : Ending coordinates
 **********************************/
void drawLine(float x1, float y1) {

  if (verbose)
  {
    Serial.print("fx1, fy1: ");
    Serial.print(x1);
    Serial.print(",");
    Serial.print(y1);
    Serial.println("");
  }

  //  Bring instructions within limits
  if (x1 >= Xmax) {
    x1 = Xmax;
  }
  if (x1 <= Xmin) {
    x1 = Xmin;
  }
  if (y1 >= Ymax) {
    y1 = Ymax;
  }
  if (y1 <= Ymin) {
    y1 = Ymin;
  }

  if (verbose)
  {
    Serial.print("Xpos, Ypos: ");
    Serial.print(Xpos);
    Serial.print(",");
    Serial.print(Ypos);
    Serial.println("");
  }

  if (verbose)
  {
    Serial.print("x1, y1: ");
    Serial.print(x1);
    Serial.print(",");
    Serial.print(y1);
    Serial.println("");
  }

  //  Convert coordinates to steps
  x1 = (int)(x1*StepsPerMillimeterX);
  y1 = (int)(y1*StepsPerMillimeterY);
  float x0 = Xpos;
  float y0 = Ypos;

  //  Let's find out the change for the coordinates
  long dx = abs(x1-x0);
  long dy = abs(y1-y0);
  int sx = x0<x1 ? StepInc : -StepInc;
  int sy = y0<y1 ? StepInc : -StepInc;

  long i;
  long over = 0;

  if (dx > dy) {
    for (i=0; i<dx; ++i) {
      myStepperX.onestep(sx,STEP);
      over+=dy;
      if (over>=dx) {
        over-=dx;
        myStepperY.onestep(sy,STEP);
      }
    delay(StepDelay);
    }
  }
  else {
    for (i=0; i<dy; ++i) {
      myStepperY.onestep(sy,STEP);
      over+=dx;
      if (over>=dy) {
        over-=dy;
        myStepperX.onestep(sx,STEP);
      }
      delay(StepDelay);
    }
  }

  if (verbose)
  {
    Serial.print("dx, dy:");
    Serial.print(dx);
    Serial.print(",");
    Serial.print(dy);
    Serial.println("");
  }

  if (verbose)
  {
    Serial.print("Going to (");
    Serial.print(x0);
    Serial.print(",");
    Serial.print(y0);
    Serial.println(")");
  }

  //  Delay before any next lines are submitted
  delay(LineDelay);
  //  Update the positions
  Xpos = x1;
  Ypos = y1;
}

// Raises pen
void penUp() {
  penServo.write(penZUp);
  delay(penDelay);
  Zpos=Zmax;
  digitalWrite(15, LOW);
    digitalWrite(16, HIGH);
  if (verbose) {
    Serial.println("Pen up!");
  }
}

// Lowers pen
void penDown() {
  penServo.write(penZDown);
  delay(penDelay);
  Zpos=Zmin;
  digitalWrite(15, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(16, LOW);
  if (verbose) {
    Serial.println("Pen down.");
  } 
}

And, the following code is for Processing.

import java.awt.event.KeyEvent;
import javax.swing.JOptionPane;
import processing.serial.*;

Serial port = null;

// select and modify the appropriate line for your operating system
// leave as null to use interactive port (press 'p' in the program)
String portname = null;
//String portname = Serial.list()[0]; // Mac OS X
//String portname = "/dev/ttyUSB0"; // Linux
//String portname = "COM6"; // Windows

boolean streaming = false;
float speed = 0.001;
String[] gcode;
int i = 0;

void openSerialPort()
{
  if (portname == null) return;
  if (port != null) port.stop();
  
  port = new Serial(this, portname, 9600);
  
  port.bufferUntil('\n');
}

void selectSerialPort()
{
  String result = (String) JOptionPane.showInputDialog(frame,
    "Select the serial port that corresponds to your Arduino board.",
    "Select serial port",
    JOptionPane.QUESTION_MESSAGE,
    null,
    Serial.list(),
    0);
    
  if (result != null) {
    portname = result;
    openSerialPort();
  }
}

void setup()
{
  size(500, 250);
  openSerialPort();
}

void draw()
{
  background(0);  
  fill(255);
  int y = 24, dy = 12;
  text("INSTRUCTIONS", 12, y); y += dy;
  text("p: select serial port", 12, y); y += dy;
  text("1: set speed to 0.001 inches (1 mil) per jog", 12, y); y += dy;
  text("2: set speed to 0.010 inches (10 mil) per jog", 12, y); y += dy;
  text("3: set speed to 0.100 inches (100 mil) per jog", 12, y); y += dy;
  text("arrow keys: jog in x-y plane", 12, y); y += dy;
  text("page up & page down: jog in z axis", 12, y); y += dy;
  text("$: display grbl settings", 12, y); y+= dy;
  text("h: go home", 12, y); y += dy;
  text("0: zero machine (set home to the current location)", 12, y); y += dy;
  text("g: stream a g-code file", 12, y); y += dy;
  text("x: stop streaming g-code (this is NOT immediate)", 12, y); y += dy;
  y = height - dy;
  text("current jog speed: " + speed + " inches per step", 12, y); y -= dy;
  text("current serial port: " + portname, 12, y); y -= dy;
}

void keyPressed()
{
  if (key == '1') speed = 0.001;
  if (key == '2') speed = 0.01;
  if (key == '3') speed = 0.1;
  
  if (!streaming) {
    if (keyCode == LEFT) port.write("G91\nG20\nG00 X-" + speed + " Y0.000 Z0.000\n");
    if (keyCode == RIGHT) port.write("G91\nG20\nG00 X" + speed + " Y0.000 Z0.000\n");
    if (keyCode == UP) port.write("G91\nG20\nG00 X0.000 Y" + speed + " Z0.000\n");
    if (keyCode == DOWN) port.write("G91\nG20\nG00 X0.000 Y-" + speed + " Z0.000\n");
    if (keyCode == KeyEvent.VK_PAGE_UP) port.write("G91\nG20\nG00 X0.000 Y0.000 Z" + speed + "\n");
    if (keyCode == KeyEvent.VK_PAGE_DOWN) port.write("G91\nG20\nG00 X0.000 Y0.000 Z-" + speed + "\n");
    if (key == 'h') port.write("G90\nG20\nG00 X0.000 Y0.000 Z0.000\n");
    if (key == 'v') port.write("$0=75\n$1=74\n$2=75\n");
    //if (key == 'v') port.write("$0=100\n$1=74\n$2=75\n");
    if (key == 's') port.write("$3=10\n");
    if (key == 'e') port.write("$16=1\n");
    if (key == 'd') port.write("$16=0\n");
    if (key == '0') openSerialPort();
    if (key == 'p') selectSerialPort();
    if (key == '$') port.write("$$\n");
  }
  
  if (!streaming && key == 'g') {
    gcode = null; i = 0;
    File file = null; 
    println("Loading file...");
    selectInput("Select a file to process:", "fileSelected", file);
  }
  
  if (key == 'x') streaming = false;
}

void fileSelected(File selection) {
  if (selection == null) {
    println("Window was closed or the user hit cancel.");
  } else {
    println("User selected " + selection.getAbsolutePath());
    gcode = loadStrings(selection.getAbsolutePath());
    if (gcode == null) return;
    streaming = true;
    stream();
  }
}

void stream()
{
  if (!streaming) return;
  
  while (true) {
    if (i == gcode.length) {
      streaming = false;
      return;
    }
    
    if (gcode[i].trim().length() == 0) i++;
    else break;
  }
  
  println(gcode[i]);
  port.write(gcode[i] + '\n');
  i++;
}

void serialEvent(Serial p)
{
  String s = p.readStringUntil('\n');
  println(s.trim());
  
  if (s.trim().startsWith("ok")) stream();
  if (s.trim().startsWith("error")) stream(); // XXX: really?
}

I could not make it work with properly with the gcode. The system is working after launching the gcode but it draws an inappropriate picture. What do you think the problem can be?

Thank you.
bkarpuz

References

[1] LoopLinks - How to Make DIY Mini CNC Plotter from Old CD-DVD Writers using Arduino and L293d motor shield

[2] Hardware Boy - Mini cnc machine / How to make G-code file from text and image / part 4

[3] Mr Innovative - # 28BYJ-48 Stepper Motor + Arduino + L293D Motor Shield + processing setup test run

If you get 50mm with 250 steps, wouldn't that be more like 5 steps per mm? If you measure your square more carefully you can get a more exact value for steps per mm.

Do you get any motion at all?

1 Like

You are not actually using G-Code.
For that you would have to at the very least install GRBL and use a G-CODE sender such as UGS or similar.

Some G-CODE senders have the ability to simply import pictures and turn that into the requisite G-CODE.

Here I mostly use LASERGRBL as my sender to GRBL 1.1F or 1.1H that has been installed on the Arduino.

Search the forum for GRBL and you will find it comes up on a regular basis and is also the reason I added CNC to the category.

1 Like

@johnwasser Thank you for your reply. Now, I measured and saw that the square I draw is actually about 37mm with 250 steps. I missed the part you have quoted. Now, I will update that part but I am sure that is not the main problem. When I use this code I get an exact square.


But when I send the gcode by Processing, I get movements but they are not appropriate.

I have also checked with Pronterface program and I figured out that
±x and ±y buttons of the program are not working properly with my CD Rom Plotter.

This made me think on it a lot and I came to the conclusion that my USB port have problems. I will try the procedure on a different computer at work.

Thank you.
bkarpuz

USB 1, 2, 3 available here and all work as intended.

However under windows you may have to
(1) Turn OFF any power saving employed by a USB port.
(2) Turn OFF hibernation or similar.
(3) EXCLUDE certain programs from your antivirus (or similar)
(4) AVOID any cloud based storage / usage for these types of task.

1 Like

After a few tries, I could not succeed. Then, I switched to CNC Shield, and everything worked fine here with GRBL and Universal G-Code Sender.

1 Like

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