auto-leveling processing

[cmstein]

I believe an auto-level implementation in FlatCAM would be very useful. The auto-level routine can prepends the G-Ccode with the probing commands (and segment x and y sizes) and then adjusts the G-Code with the offsets that it found.

Thanks

[Brian]

humm, not convinced as the bed will/can change height or warp just be looking at it, so you would need to probe the bed and output new G-Code for every board (expected), and again if you want to produce another of the same board ten minutes later to adjust for any changes in bed level. you will not be (less) able to spit out 20 G-Code files and process them the next day?

I personally dont see the need. I use a laser and a spindle with FlatCAM, the laser has approx +-0.5mm usable focal point and the spindle I just set to -z_cut to 2.0mm for a 1.5mm board when doing holes and the board cutout. I also use 19mm MDF waste board which is (starts off) flat and very stable, not prone to warp.

In 3D printing (I use marlin) the printer firmware holds the height map from the probed bed and adjusts the G-Code on the fly. but then +-0.1mm does make a difference and will affect layer adhesion and part quality

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Although thinking about it there may be a need if isolating with v-bits then +-0.1mm does matter, so there may be a need for auto-leveling. But I have also seen sprung bits to adjust for height as needed

http://cnc-aid.com/floating-floating-head-spring-loaded-engraving-tool/

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Sorry and you have already considered all of this!!

Thanks for all the good work

[Mehmet Sutas]

I believe this should be handled in the firmware as it is in 3d printers. Otherwise the gcodes would be machine specific which I personally do not prefer.

[Ganesh Hexatrik]

Yeh, autoleveling can not be usefull in FlatCAM as 1. This is a mechanical issue which is field variable from Job to Job. 2. Almost all GRBL Tools have Autolevel inbuilt and so many other stand alone auto leveller programs are available.

Thank you

[Martin Mavrov]

Can’t it use the approach that pcbprobe uses? Prepend g-code routine that probes the board and stores the result in g-code variables, and then parametrize g-code commands with the variable values. You don’t have to have the height level map available during g-code generation to do that.

[Marius Stanciu]

Work in progress on this in FlatCAM beta.

Already added the UI and finished also the generation of the probing GCode file.
Also added a mini GRBL GCode Sender which will control a GRBL controller and send directly the probing data collecting the resulting detected heights (there is no other way for GRBL controllers).