Hey guys, I’ve patched a version of GRBL to work with RAMPS and Sanguinololu boards. It is not the latest version but it supports probing and works wonderfully with bCNC (haven’t tested Chilipeppr yet).
It is a derivation of http://sourceforge.net/projects/grblforramps14/, thanks must go to the original author ArSi. My version fixed the pinouts for the endstops & probe, and added Sanguinololu support.
I hope it helps save some otherwise-trashed-out boards!
So the pinout in this firmware is directly compatible with ramps1.4 boards?
Yes, but please look at the notes in the readme. Most relevant difference with mainstream GRBL is that Z endstop is ignored (software limit as well). Instead the Z endstop pin is the probe. I hope that is ok for your setup! 
I have the probe parallel connected to the endstop switch. So if the probe won’t sense anything, the endstop will still stop it before plunging the mill into the table. But I guess that is the same thing.
One more question though: Are all endstop pins connected to the ramps1.4 endstop-header? Because with the original gbrl-for-ramps that i tried, the endstop pins moved to the header that is normally used by the display-lcd.
Yes, they have been forwarded to the labeled endstop pins
@Carlos_GS I have been trying your patched firmware for.the last few days, but i couldn’t get it to work. When i use the ramps1.4 “test” code, my motors work fine.
Any idea what could be wrong?
Hmmm… maybe the EEPROM has garbage values that GRBL tries to read as correct. Can you run the EEPROM Clear" code and then test GRBL again? ( https://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/EEPROMClear )
I tried the eeprom clear. There is some improvement on the serial monitor. I get some position info back during startup.
But still no movement from the steppers.
@Carlos_GS I use chilipeppr to control the cnc/ramps. If i select the tinyg connection-mode, i get some movement on the y axis. The others still nothing.
The other option is gbrl-mode. I tried with both…
That’s odd! Do you mind trying out bCNC? ( https://github.com/vlachoudis/bCNC ) I’ve so far only tested the mod with that host software
@Carlos_GS i tried bcnc but same thing. No movement. Drivers get warm fast and some hissing noise coming from the drivers or motors.
Could you give a try to the Marlin firmware and see if there are any issues?
Yes i will do that. I’ll keep you posted…
@Carlos_GS i have tried marlin and that works (with pronterface). Sadly marlin is not compatible with chilipeppr.
I know, that is why GRBL is needed xD That is very odd, are you sure the GRBLforCyclone source is being compiled correctly?
Also, are you making any changes to it? If so, please try a fresh copy ( https://github.com/carlosgs/grblForCyclone/archive/grblForCyclone.zip ) and install it after erasing the EEPROM again.
Please post here any warnings in the compilation process.
@Carlos_GS i just compiled it in the arduino IDE. No errors. Only changes i made where the steps per mm, since I just use threaded rods for every axis.
I’ll try a fresh copy next and get back to you. Thanks.
@Carlos_GS i have tried a fresh copy of the grbl for cyclone. But it doesn’t do anything. Atleast no movement and no serial startup output.
OK thanks for trying that out.
I’ll do the same thing when I get back home with the downloaded repo (maybe I messed up something when pushing the changes to github). Sorry for the inconvenience.
No need for a “sorry”. I’m glad you’re helping me.
So I’ve just tried it in my RAMPS 1.4 board. I have erased the EEPROM & compiled/installed GRBL from that .zip: everything seems to work just fine.
I have no idea what can be different in your setup that makes Marlin work but not this version of GRBL 
@Carlos_GS what version of arduino are you using to upload the firmware? Maybe it uses different libraries?
Also, do i need to change anything in the firmware, to get it to work? I.e. board type?