Usage tips
GCode files can be dropped on the Program list or the "3D View" frame as well as opened via File > Open.
.drl (Excellon) and .plt (HPGL) can also be opened this way, they will be converted to GCode on load. Note that this functionality is experimental.
Excellon files will be converted to G81 canned cycle for drilling movements, this is only supported by grblHAL.
Jogging is via the cursor and <Page Up> and <Page Down> keys. Use <Shift> for faster feed rate or <Ctrl> for step jogging.
grblHAL has settings for feed rate and distance to use for these jog modes.
N-key rollower support is enabled meaning that all axes can be jogged simultaneously. Note that not all keyboards allows this, e.g. my laptop keyboard is limited to 2-key rollover.
Mouse wheel for zoom, zoom center at mouse pointer.
Right button click + drag for 3D rotate.
<Shift> + right button click + drag for panning.
<Space bar> for feed hold.
<Alt>+<R> for cycle start.
<Alt>+<S> for stop.
<Ctrl>+<H> for homing the machine.
<Ctrl>+<U> for unlocking the controller.
<Ctrl>+<Shift>+<R> for resetting the controller.
With NumLock enabled:
Numeric keypad <4> for decrementing jog step size.
Numeric keypad <6> for incrementing jog step size.
Numeric keypad <2> for decrementing jog feed rate when using the Jog flyout.
Numeric keypad <8> for incrementing jog feed rate when using the Jog flyout.
In Probing tab:
<Ctrl>+<Shift> to enable keyboard jogging. Note: keyboard jogging will be disabled again as soon as focus is given to an input field.
General:
Press <Alt> to see shortcuts available for menu entries and flyout buttons, the shortcut key will then be underlined. E.g. <Alt>+<J> will toggle visible status for the Jog flyout.
The DRO fields are editable when clicked on, enter the desired value and press <Enter> to confirm or click outside the DRO to cancel.
The Vectric Direct Output functionality can be used to load GCode programs into the sender when double-clicking on the file in Explorer.
To do that associate the filetype with AppLaunch.exe in the installation folder.
The easiest way to do that is double-clicking on a GCode file that is not associated with any program and follow this procedure:
Select Browse..., navigate to the installation folder and select AppLaunch.exe. Double-clickig the file will now open it in the sender, starting it if not already running.
Warning! Removing the association is not as easy - do not add this shortcut unless you really want this functionality.
When using Ethernet, you can make it the default by setting the port selection in app.config. In the Sender, go to Settings:App and press the Save setting button in the lower left corner. There will not be any visual feedback that it was saved but it will be. In order for this to work, you must first start the sender by using -port xxx.xxx.xxx.xxxx:23 or -port ws://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:80, where xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx is the IP address of your grblHAL board.
2020-05-09