Send GCode to GRBL with Python

Currently using a machine, I was able to send GRBL code to Arduino through the classical USB cord. I found more interesting to put it with a wireless connection.

To perform this wireless connection, I added between the Arduino and my computer … a Raspberry Zero WH !

I know it exists others alternatives definitely more friendly than that will follow like CNCjs. So, feel to have a look at them.

If you want to know how to remotely configure and access to your Raspberry, you can follow this guide.

To know how to setup a virtual environment with Python, follow this one. You will have to install pyserial package on your virtual environment to be able to send the commands to the Arduino.

pip install pyserial

Then I use this code to send the GCode lines one by one.

#!/usr/bin/python3
"""
Simple GCode streaming script
"""
import argparse
import time

from tqdm import tqdm

import serial


PARSER = argparse.ArgumentParser(
    description='Basic GCode sender tool.')
PARSER.add_argument('-p', '--port', help='USB port name', required=True)
PARSER.add_argument('-f', '--file', help='GCode file name', required=True)
PARSER.add_argument(
    '-v', '--verbose',
    help='Shows GCode line while sending, 0: false, other integer: true',
    type=int, required=False)
PARSER.add_argument('-r', '--repetition', help='Number of GCode repetition',
                    type=int, required=True)
ARGS = PARSER.parse_args()

START_TIME = time.time()

# show values
print("USB Port: %s" % ARGS.port)
print("Gcode file: %s" % ARGS.file)
print("Verbosity: %s" % ARGS.verbose)
print("Repetition: %s" % ARGS.repetition)


def remove_comment(string):
    """Remove comments from GCode if any"""
    if string.find(';') == -1:
        return string
    return string[:string.index(';')]


def file_len(fname):
    """Counts lines in GCode source file"""
    counter = None
    with open(fname) as file:
        for counter, value in enumerate(file):
            pass
    return counter + 1


LENGTH_FILE = file_len(ARGS.file)
# print('length: ' + str(lenght))
# Open serial port
# s = serial.Serial('/dev/ttyACM0',115200)
SERIAL_CONNECTION = serial.Serial(ARGS.port, 115200)
print('Opening Serial Port')

# Open g-code file
# f = open('/media/UNTITLED/shoulder.g','r');
GCODE_FILE = open(ARGS.file, 'r')
print('Opening GCode File')

# Hit enter a few times to wake up
SERIAL_CONNECTION.write(str.encode("\r\n\r\n"))
time.sleep(2)  # Wait for initialization
SERIAL_CONNECTION.flushInput()  # Flush startup text in serial input
print('Sending GCode')

# Stream g-code

if ARGS.verbose:
    for line in GCODE_FILE:
        cmd_gcode = remove_comment(line)
        cmd_gcode = cmd_gcode.strip()  # Strip all EOL characters for streaming
        if (cmd_gcode.isspace() is False and len(cmd_gcode) > 0):
            print('Sending: ' + cmd_gcode)
            SERIAL_CONNECTION.write(cmd_gcode.encode() +
                                    str.encode('\n'))  # Send g-code block
            # Wait for response with carriage return
            grbl_out = SERIAL_CONNECTION.readline()
            print(grbl_out.strip().decode("utf-8"))
    SERIAL_CONNECTION.write(str.encode('G0X0Y0Z0') + str.encode('\n'))
    print("--- %s seconds ---" % int(time.time() - START_TIME))

else:
    for x in range(1, ARGS.repetition + 1):
        for line in tqdm(GCODE_FILE, total=LENGTH_FILE,
                         unit='line', desc='Stage ' + str(x)):
            cmd_gcode = remove_comment(line)
            cmd_gcode = cmd_gcode.strip()  # Strip all EOL characters
            if (cmd_gcode.isspace() is False and len(cmd_gcode) > 0):
                SERIAL_CONNECTION.write(cmd_gcode.encode() +
                                        str.encode('\n'))  # Send g-code block
                # Wait for response with carriage return
                grbl_out = SERIAL_CONNECTION.readline()
                # print(grbl_out.strip().decode("utf-8"))
        GCODE_FILE.seek(0)
    SERIAL_CONNECTION.write(str.encode('G0X0Y0Z0') + str.encode('\n'))


# Wait here until printing is finished to close serial port and file.
input("  Press <Enter> to exit.")

# Close file and serial port
GCODE_FILE.close()
SERIAL_CONNECTION.close()

The code source is inspired by : https://github.com/bborncr/gcodesender.py

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