LaserGRBL the software
LaserGRBL is an open-source software that runs on Windows, Linux and macOS. It is a tool for controlling laser cutters with a G-Code Sender or GRBL Controller.
It can run on Raspberry Pi, Odroid C2, Banana Pi M1/M2 and other single-board computers. The best thing is that you can install it on your computer without paying any cost.
The purpose of LaserGRBL is to facilitate the use of the CNC machine as a laser cutter or engraver. Using this software allows you to generate gcode files quickly and easily without having to write code manually.
Downloading and installing LaserGRBL is easy.
The process of installing LaserGRBL on Windows 10 is quite simple. First, you will need to visit the official website: https://lasergrbl.com/. Once there, click on Download.
In the pop-up window that appears, select your operating system (Windows, Mac OS X or Linux). After that, you will have to choose the latest version of LaserGRBL. At the time of writing this article, this is version 4.9.4.
After selecting your operating system and clicking on Download File, wait for the browser to download the file to your computer’s hard disk (an icon should appear in the taskbar). Once the download is complete, double-click on it to extract the contents into a folder called ‘LaserGRBL’.
Once you have finished downloading the file, you must open it and double-click on it. This will start the installation process. You will be asked whether you want to install GRBL on your hard disk and other options. After installing GRBL, click ‘Run’ to start the programme.
Connecting and configuring LaserGRBL
The following instructions will help you connect the LaserGRBL software to your laser plotter.
- Connect the USB cable from your computer to the laser plotter.
- Open LaserGRBL and find the COM port corresponding to your laser plotter. If you do not know which one it is, try each one until you find the right one!
- Set the transmission speed to 115200 and select “Connect”.
The LaserGRBL configuration menu allows you to change the settings of the laser engraver. From this menu you can set the software to work with your machine and operating system. The configuration of grbl can be accessed from the menu by clicking Configure. Once in this window, several options are available:
- Import manufacturer’s parameters: You can import a file containing the manufacturer’s parameters for setting up the machine. This file is usually provided by the manufacturer or possibly downloaded from its website.
- Manual parameter setting: It is also possible to set all parameters manually if you do not have a file provided by the manufacturer.
First jobs with LaserGRBL software
If you want to start working with LaserGRBL, it is best to start with a file that you know works. First, select the Open file item from the File menu. Then select the folder with the file to be opened and open the file. LaserGRBL can use bmp, png and svg files. A window will open to edit the selected image. You can add text, change colours or draw shapes on the image if desired.
Once we have finished editing the image, we can set the machine parameters for laser processing: material thickness and movement speed, which depend on the type of material used and the size of the project. From this same menu we can join several machining operations together if we wish. For example, we can first cut out our shape from a piece of material, then engrave it with a text and finally cut out another shape (but we will have to set each operation separately). At the end we can decide whether or not to save the generated gcode (the code used by laser cutters) or to execute it immediately!
Conclusion
If you are looking for a good and reliable software package to help you cut wood, LaserGRBL is an excellent choice. It is easy to use and offers some powerful features that make it a good option for both novices and experts. The main strength of LaserGRBL is its ease of use. The interface is clean and intuitive and the documentation makes it easy to learn how the programme works. It also offers some powerful functions that many other software packages do not have: it can read G-Code files from other programmes, such as Carbide Create or Corel Draw; it can draw several lines at once; it can be used with both Mac and PC).