"HOLD" stopping the gcode program MULTIPLE times

gSender ❓ Question
1

Newbie here. Just got a Genmitsu 4040-Pro Max and using Vectric VCarve Desktop to design. I installed gSender and have tried to run 3 different gcode files. Each time I am getting the “HOLD” notification and the job does not run correctly with gSender. NOTE: I ran the same project file in Candle and it worked flawlessly. I prefer to use gSender and the UI is much nicer. I’m working in Inches in both the design software and in gSender settings. Both the CNC machine and software are grbl setup. I did research possible causes for the “HOLD” stoppages in gSender but, it’s still happens. Here’s what I found as possible causes for “HOLD” and what I have tried:

1. Shop Vac causing static electricity and affecting the CNC controller. - I have a bare copper static ground wire wrapped around the vacuum hose and to a grounded connection. However, the “HOLD” fault still happens with the shop vac on or off.

2. Router power cord causing EMI. I moved the router power cord away from the Z-axis control wiring before the wiring block that Z-axis plugs in to. - No change

3. Plugged the router into a separate power circuit. - No change

4. Plugged the Controller into a separate power circuit - No change

5. Plugged Controller into a Jackery Portable Power unit. - No change

  1. In Windows, I disabled the low-power option for the USB ports. - No change

7. I purchased a shorter 3’ Tripp Lite Shielded USB A/B cable to eliminate the USB provided cable as a possible source. - No change

AFTER all the above, I simply ran the same gCode in Candle and it worked!

As mentioned before I would prefer to run gSender but am stuck getting it work work.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

2

@BR945 Welcome to the group, Bob.

What post processor are you using in VCarve?

3

My post processor is: grbl (inch) (*.gcode) and my gSender was also set for inch.

4

@BR945 Can you post one of the gcode files?

5

In your connection widget, does it show you as connected with grbl or grblHAL? If it says grblHAL, make sure you have your fallback frmware in config set to grbl and reconnect - if it now shows grbl, you should not have any issues.

6

The connection widget does show me connected as grbl and the fallback is also grbl.

Now here is more info since yesterday…

The first time I ran gSender I noticed that I couldn’t use the upper right buttons, I’ll call them, “Go To Corners” or the Park button, as they were all greyed out. I thought this odd because I have limit switches on my CNC and can initiate Homing. During that time, all attempts to run gcode files resulted in multiple HOLD errors (and a ton of frustration). Last evening I started everything up again and decided to run the same gcode file again but, “in air” and at safe height with no material on the bed and the router & vac both on. This time, when gSender loaded, the Go To Corners and Park were active! I ran the SAME file in air and NO ERRORS. This morning, I put material down and ran the job. When gSender loaded, Go To and Park were active. SUCCESS! It ran with ZERO errors. I have NO CLUE what happened or why. But I will call this a “Win”.