Gctrl
What is Gctrl
Gctrl is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) program for use with GRBL. Gctrl is code that is meant to run on the software called "Processing". Gctrl provides control options for jogging and sending gcode.
Requirements
How to Get Gctrl
You can get Gctrl by going to the link and downloading the zip file (by clicking "ZIP"), then extracting its contents to a folder of your choosing
Modify Gctrl code for Easier Connection with Arduino on Windows
- Open the Gctrl folder
- Edit the Gctrl code as follows:
// select and modify the appropriate line for your operating system
// leave as null to use interactive port (press 'p' in the program)
//String portname = null;
//String portname = Serial.list()[0]; // Mac OS X
//String portname = "/dev/ttyUSB0"; // Linux
String portname = "COM6"; // Windows
Modify Gctrl code for Easier Connection with Arduino on Linux
- Open the Gctrl folder
- Open gctrl.pde in gedit
- Change a part of the code as annotated in the following:
Serial port = null; //change starts
String portname = "/dev/ttyACM0"; // Linux, Arduino Uno
//change ends
boolean streaming = false;
How to Run Gctrl
- Navigate to the Processing folder
- Open and run Processing, setting the sketchbook folder as the folder in which the gctrl folder exists
- In Processing, open gctrl using File>Sketchbook>
- Connect the Arduino Uno to the computer via USB cable
- In Processing, run gctrl using Sketch>Run
- Now the Gctrl GUI window should pop up
- Note: For certain functions of gctrl, press and hold down the key for the popup windows to populate.