1.6.0-Edge-1
Hi folks, happy to officially release our next Edge version, containing a number of features that will be coming to gSender in the coming months.
We’ve put in a lot of work so far to continue to build off the functionality and capabilities of the SLB and SLB-EXT and we’re happy to start to support these capabilities in gSender.
As the above shows, it’s been a huge effort so far and I think we’ve managed to tick off some long asked-for functionalities.
We plan to continue to iterate on Edge over the coming months with an official release into main during the new year. That said, as always we are excited to make some of these functionalities available to those brave few.
Features
Edge is up to date with (and actually slightly ahead) of gSender 1.5.6. On top of that:
grblHAL update support
We’ve had a firmware freeze on what firmware has shipped with the SLB and EXT since release of those boards. That said, internally we’re making strides for compatibility between sienciHAL and core grblHAL with the plan to release a new firmware version for both that’s up to date.
A large part of this update is plumbing related to supporting the new firmware version - where reports have changed, EEPROM values have shifted, and numerous new functionalities are added.
We’re using the reported version on connection to determine which actions to take where things have diverged.
There’s still work to be done, but the lions share of support work is implemented in this EDGE release and we’ve been using it extensively throughout development of the 4X8 and ATC addons. We hope it’s a seamless experience using gSender regardless of which grblHAL version you’re running.
- Config will remap to new EEPROM values where applicable
- Connection sends the correct $spindles vs $spindlesh command depending on firmware version
- Numerous new response parsers and updates
ATC and TC Support
With the official release of the ATC coming today, Edge contains most of the software features we’ve built out to support it, from better toolchange visualization, tool remapping, tool change timelines, and more.
I have personally been very involved in the ATC project, so I’m super excited for people to get to see how smooth this process is.
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Every new toolchange is now visualized in a separate colour for clearer distinction
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Tool timeline - view when toolchanges are happening and any other information. Indicates which tool you are currently using
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Tool remapping - closing the gap between CAM and sending, you can easily swap what tool number is sent for each tool before running.
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Tool table - view and probe, set offsets and nickname tool slots.
ATC specific:
- Load, unload, and save tools to slots using our ATCi specific macros
- Easily see what tool is currently loaded and its status (loaded, offrack, unprobed). Tool state persists between power cycles.
- Setup and configure your ATCi setup in gSender and apply it to your SD card at the click of a button
- Easily update ATCi macros with the template import tool, and see when you’re out of date in-app.
SD Card support
Both SLB variants have always technically supported SD card, but it’s been relatively undocumented. Edge contains a new SD card tool, letting the user interact with it over USB (FTP to come). Uploading is as easy as drag-and-drop, while running a file takes a single click. If the firmware reports SD card functionality, it’s mounted and the contents loaded on connection.
- Added parsers for $F and $F+ queries
- Mount SD card on connection if reported as available
- List files on connection if available
- Upload, run and delete files with a single click.
- Supports drag-and-drop and explorer upload
- USB only for now, FTP to come.
- Progress bar when running SD files to come
EEPROM tool
A new tab in config, EEPROM lets power users quickly find and change specific EEPROM values without having to sift through gSender specific settings. With this, we’re happy with the dual combo of Config and EEPROM, and have removed the deprecated legacy firmware tool from the application.
G-code Editor and Viewer
Long asked for, gSender Edge lets users view, edit and save loaded g-code files. It will also serve as a secondary indicator of job progress, showing which lines have been sent and received.
The editor is openable from the file information area. Syntax highlighting and other look/feel changes and functionality to come.
Better Rotary Visualization
We’ve fixed a number of visualization quirks on rotary files, making what’s shown much closer to the final product.
Before:
After:
Various
- M0/M1 will once again show comments related to the pause (also in 1.5.7)
- Keepout plugin support and related toggle.
- Config is now available in remote mode using the drop down menu.
- More accurate time estimation when overrides are used
- Console look/feel updates
- Auto reconnect over ethernet works again (also in 1.5.7)
- Various look/feel updates
- Various library updates
- Various bug fixes
Still to Come
- Updates to file loading and parsing to reduce memory usage
- SD card file running progress bars and visualization
- Other tools availability in remote mode
- Rotary file estimation tweaks
- New packaging system using ASAR to speed up load times
- More
Download
As always, gSender Edge is beta software, so do not partake if you are afraid that things might (and probably will) go wrong. You are able to have a separate gSender and gSender Edge installation.
We’re grateful to those early adopters who use Edge and contribute feedback and issues as we continue to polish it over the coming months and versions.
You can find our Edge releases on Github:
