On gSender, you may have noticed that the main way to control the spindle is through the built-in buttons and sliders in the Spindle/Laser tab.
However there are two other ways to tell your spindle to spin up to a certain speed, change rotation direction and stop.
Console
In the past, you may have used the Console to reset your firmware settings to default values. You can also use the Console to enter spindle g-code commands, getting the same functionality as the buttons in the Spindle/Laser tab.
M3 – Spins up the spindle to the last programmed RPM, counterclockwise
M3 SXXXX – Spins up the spindle to XXXX RPM, counterclockwise
M4 – Spins up the spindle to the last programmed RPM, clockwise
M5 – Turns off the spindle
Although this is a relatively simple process, it is also tedious to type in each command each time you need it. Our preferred way to execute spindle commands is through programmed events, also known as Automations.
Automations
You can find automations at Config, at the left side bar.
These Automations will occur at specified instances – specifically when you start, pause, resume and stop the job. Currently, gSender will not stop the spindle when the job pauses, nor start up the spindle when the job resumes. Therefore, we recommend inputting the following set of commands for peace of mind:
Pause
M5 Stops the spindle when you pause the job
Resume
M3 Spins up the spindle to the previous programmed RPM, counterclockwise
G4 P5 Gives 5 second dwell time for the spindle to get to speed
To put these into effect, set the toggles to “Enabled”, and then press “Save Event.”
For a more in-depth explanation about Automations, also known as Start/Stop g-code or Program Events, please see this article on the gSender resources page.