ChiliPeppr Auto Level works but not in Inches - SO3 by woodworkerbob » Fri

CAD & CAM Tool Chain ChiliPeppr
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ChiliPeppr Auto Level works but not in Inches - SO3

by woodworkerbob » Fri Mar 18, 2016 2:32 pm

Using the auto level of http://chilipeppr.com/imania (a newer version of the grbl workspace). Got the auto level function to work with a limit switch providing the “contact” signal (non-conductive probe) in MILLIMETERS. Yea I rejoiced. Now I can go forth and cut out that design on a slightly warped but pretty board.

However the design was in inches. I set everything up in inches, did a test probe within Auto Level, which worked successfully. Did the run and got a “probe failure”. I then noticed that the Units displayed in the widget on the right had changed from Inches to Millimeters. This would explain the probe failure.

In the set up panel for Auto Level, a Max Negative Z must be specified. The probe must be triggered before that Max Negative Z value is hit otherwise a probe error occurs. In Millimeters my Max Negative Z value is -1. In Inches that value is -.1.

So here’s what I think happens. ChiliPeppr issues the G38.2 Z-.1 F.3 command after issuing a G21 (go to millimeters). The probe was not triggered before -0.1 was encountered and a probe failure was issued.

I can not be certain because I haven’t figured out how to get a detailed transcript of G code.

Any help with getting a detailed transcript?
Any other Luddite, besides me, using inches and wanted to do Auto Level? Been successful?

Here’s hoping.
Bob

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The inch question has come up much in the past, but we haven’t had any volunteers to get inch support added. It’s probably not much extra work, but it would take the community to get it added. Sorry. The other choice would be to possibly export your Gcode as mm from your Cam app.

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Maybe we just check for inch at the beginning (the gcode or manual specify pop up) and then change all the values to mm by multiplying by 25.4. Then everything in the workspace and controller is done in mm.

An example JavaScript gcode scaler:

http://www.unfocusedbrain.com/projects/2009/js-g-code/translate.html

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Thanks for the info.

I can migrate my designs to mm. Sorry I can’t help, but haven’t learned a new programming language since Python was introduced.

Minor suggestion, put a note in the Auto Level description saying: “Currently designs in inches are not supported.” Might prevent future frustration.