Serial connection to HC-06 bluetooth module on Duet 2 board
-
At the moment I use an Android app which provides full XYZ control (including the use of a touchpad to move in the XY plane) of a CNC machine (in fact it provides nearly everything offered by the web interface and/or the PanelDue). The app outputs a bluetooth signal which is picked up by an HC-06 bluetooth module which connects into my cnc control board, a Woodpecker 3.4.
The wired connection from the HC-06 onto the control board consists 0f +ve, -ve, Tx and Rx. Exactly as supplied via the PanelDue connection on the Duet 2 board.
The app provides standard G commands to drive the steppers.
Would this HC-06 bluetooth module work with the Duet 2 board?
-
@nikki-m possibly. does the HC-06 expect any setup commands over the serial before streaming the gcodes or is it all done over blutooth (or works with no setup?)
-
@t3p3tony Unfortunately, I don't know. When the bluetooth module connects, there is 2-way communications, initiated by the bluetooth module. See attached pic. Gcodes for movement are issued without needing any response.
-
@nikki-m which app is that on Android?
-
@t3p3tony , "G-code2Grbl".
I have been using it, via bluetooth, for some time on my smaller cnc machine, and found it to be excellent.
If this were to work on the Duet, it would mean a wireless device which moves the spindle, runs jobs, and runs macros.
-
@nikki-m interesting. is the Bluetooth instead of Wifi they key benefit for you or is it the UI of the Grbl app vs DWC on a phone for CNC?
Edited to say I will get an HC-06 to try out
-
@t3p3tony, I am still at the waiting stage for the arrival of my killerbee, otherwise I would test this out myself.
My main interest lies in the bluetooth connection, because if this works it will be a much cheaper alternative to the PanelDue or a pendant, at a cost of around £5 (plus a couple of connectors).
The app itself is free, and offers way more control and features, and can be used on an Android smartphone or tablet. It can control the cnc both with up/down/left/right buttons, and also with a really useful touchpad control. My limit of understanding is that the app is 'grbl1.1-compliant'. I'm not sure whether the Duet meets this requiement.
As I said earlier, I have successfully used it on my CNC3018 for a while and find it really easy to use.
