Anyone know what kind of software I need to send gcode to the new shapeoko3? i want to have it all setup before it arrives, but with a custom driver will a grbl gcode sender work? Im extremely new to this, is grbl the only kind of sender? I want to run the shapeoko off a raspberry pi2, and i finally have the pi up and running, it was a huge learning curve. Now i just need to know what software to install on it. Thanks for all your help in advance.
Hello, most people who use the Raspberry Pi use it as the JSON server and send the file from a laptop in the network using Chillipeppr. I am not sure if you are able to send Gcode direct from raspberry Pi , I am not sure if it can send the commands fast enough.
If it runs grbl, I think you can hook the machine up to a pi and run the SPJS on it (that’s what I do currently) and be fine. Only thing is you will need a different machine for running ChiliPeppr on. Also, that let’s your pi run without X so it helps the performance of SPJS quite a bit.
i have a pi2. and i wont have network access. but i cant have my laptop tied up the whole time either. so i want to use usb to xfer from laptop to pi. but the shapeoko3 will run gbrl you think?
oh… i have no idea. I’m not familiar with SO3.
If you just want to take an exported gcode file and ship it to your machine without a gui and stuff… just send the file, there are plenty of command line based senders. I think grbl even has one they distribute that is a python script. It all depends on what you want to do. There are other gcode senders that run locally on linux. I am just partial to running ChiliPeppr in a browser. But everyone has their own requirements. I’ve been after John to make a version of ChiliPeppr you can run offline, but so far, he’s not liking that idea. I’ll keep working on him 
you’ve got lots of options… here is a list of stuff you could choose from: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Communication_/_Control
GRBL is a Gcode enterprter that runs on the G Shield. You then use something like G Code sender ( or Chillipeppr) to send the G code to the interpreter ( or shield). If I understood you correct you want to use the PI to send the G code to the shield. As said the only thing I know is that people use the PI as a server (JSON) that would be in your shop, connected over USB to the machine. You would be in the house and connect to the PI over the network and send the code that way to the machine.
… just found this : http://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=35652&p=308411 … not sure if this works
@Frank_Graffagnino has the right idea. I am designing my work in aspire, and I can export my gcode straight from the Aspire program. My wissue is how to get the code to my shapeoko without tying my laptop up. i want to be able to be doing my next designs while the cnc is running.
get a cheap chromebox or something to keep in the garage to run chilipeppr on! but you can also just run a utility directly on the pi to ship over the gcode. there is a ton of options in that link i sent.
@Frank_Graffagnino I have internet at home, but its not an expense i can afford at work, so cp is sadly not an option for me. I have installed UniversialGcodeSender.
UGS is kind of heavy… java stuff is all kinda heavy. Grblcontroller might be a bit lighter. I think there are few others.
List of programs here: Shapeoko CNC Router, Rigid, Accurate, Reliable, and Affordable
The SO3 will include an option to use Carbide 3D’s Carbide Motion Control program (presumably runs on Windows or Mac OS X), but the board is running Grbl 0.9 and any program which will communicate w/ Grbl will work.
Ok. Good so I just need a grbl sender. Which I’ve set up and hope works. Time will tell now
I was using UGS and switched to GRBL Controller. I found GRBL to be a good move forward. UGS was heavy and would crash a lot.
i’ve found the same thing @Lisa_Rodgers . It’s a real shame that Java apps are so friggin heavy. The world needs to get back to simple and light apps when we don’t need giant sandboxed apps from a marketplace and permissions … stuff.