v2.3.0

Technical Release

This release contains the technical foundations to keep making SmartBench smarter. 

This includes things like improved feedback handling, tracking of the machine code, more sophisticated handling of everyday procedures, and modules that will become the backbone of future features. 

UI Improvements

Change settings before resuming

You can now pause the job, and return to the Go Screen to change feeds and speeds before the job resumes. 

General UI updates

  • If there is an attempt made to drop feed override below what GRBL can handle, pause job and show dedicated feed override too low screen.

  • Updated text in pause info popups to show Cancel and Resume symbols (X and >), and remove a superfluous sentence about how to cancel a job.

  • Feed and speed override widgets now read live override information from the machine status.

Technical

These are the more technical changes that we have put into this release. While they are important for improving SmartBench, there’s definitely some programming jargon in this section!

Line number counting

  • Read in job line number from machine status

  • Dynamically add line numbers to file as it streams

  • Ensure that pre-existing line numbers are stripped from files when they are loaded

  • Throw error and show can't load screen if GCode file is longer 10 million lines

GRBL mode tracking

  • For every line in a job that is sent to the machine, track the mode, feed and speed. For every line that GRBL executes (detected from the line number in the machine status), discard the previously stored modes - this enables the console to more accurately track the job’s current state. 

Feeds and speeds

  • Add functions to adjust feeds and speeds by 10%.

  • Add functions to evaluate whether the machine’s feed rate is constant. 

Improved homing sequence 

  • Sequencing functions allow for flexible rework of the homing sequence.

  • Sequence is now separated from the screens, and can be called from anywhere in the code.

  • Optional functionality, including the option to calibrate and disable certain alarms, can be called as part of the homing sequence, if it is enabled.

Handling for spindle feedback

  • Option to select certain spindle types from the maintenance app is given only if the machine is compatible. 

  • Selecting certain spindle types in the maintenance app will cause machine settings to automatically update to communicate with them accordingly. 

  • Improved handling for recording spindle runtime is set up for future integration, but currently disabled. 

  • Screen created, translated, and proofed for handling loss of digital spindle feedback; waiting on backend for loss of digital spindle feedback.

General technical changes

  • new smartbench_is_busy() function checks that all buffers/streaming/pauses are empty/not running/not happening, confirming that SmartBench is truly idle

  • Optional end_dwell (blocking) argument added to the sequential streaming function

  • New class for handling feed optimization

  • Graphical container & widgets for enabling/disabling feed optimization

  • Change default max Y length setting (for bake functions) from 2502 to 2503

Integrated production tools

Patches

  • Patch for lag on test button press during load testing

  • Reduce minimum tuning temp by 5 degrees

UI improvements

  • Show threshold values on set threshold screen

  • Speed up recalibration + post calibration run sequence for final test operators to use in stall jig experiments

  • Additional settings button in factory screen

Technical notes

Git tag: v2.3.0

Official release name: Loz

Git commit: 92eb6b1


 

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