Lightburn material test fails a couple seconds after starting

LightBurn Hardware Compatibility GRBL
1

I just got the FoxAlien 40W diode laser for my Masuter 3s. I got the Lightburn trial and was trying to run the Material Test using the “Diode - Engrave test” preset. I checked the frame to make sure that was good. When I press Start, it moves and engraves “Interval” but then I get a GRBL error and it stops doing anything (even leaving the laser on).

I have the laptop connected via USB. The last few lines on the Lightburn console are:
Starting stream
Layer
<Run|MPos:247.600,188.650,-78.600|Bf:0,21|FS:5100,0|Ov:100,100,100|A:F>
<Run|MPos:228.950,184.900,-78.600|Bf:0,21|FS:505,0>
<Run|MPos:228.425,187.275,-78.600|Bf:0,28|FS:1452,2420|WCO:-109.600,-49.600,0.000>
<Run|MPos:228.900,184.775,-78.600|Bf:0,23|FS:1272,2120>
error:36
There are unused, leftover G-code words that aren’t used by any command in the block.
On or near line 0:
Job halted
Stream completed in 0:01

I saw the following requested on a few posts I saw while trying to search for help, so I ran the commands and captured the output.
$i
[VER:1.1h.20190825:]
[OPT:V,15,128]
Target buffer size found
ok

$$
$0=10
$1=25
$2=0
$3=0
$4=0
$5=0
$6=0
$10=3
$11=0.010
$12=0.002
$13=0
$20=0
$21=1
$22=1
$23=3
$24=100.000
$25=1000.000
$26=250
$27=3.000
$30=10000
$31=0
$32=0
$100=40.000
$101=40.000
$102=400.000
$110=5000.000
$111=5000.000
$112=5000.000
$120=300.000
$121=300.000
$122=300.000
$130=400.000
$131=400.000
$132=95.000
ok

$32=1
ok
M3
ok
M4
ok
M5
ok

What do I need to do to get this working correctly?

2

There is something in the GCode that the controller does not like, so we need to see the GCode.

Before running the project, enable Show all in the Console window. then run the project. With any luck, you will see the GCode program listed as it is sent to the controller.

If this works, and it fails with an Error 36, copy and paste the last 20 lines or so in a Reply. There is no need to copy the first lines of the program listing.

3

So I ran the material test 3 times in a row. All 3 failed, but this time not with the Error 36.

The first time it got all the way through engraving “Interval: 0.100 mm” before it failed. This is the last of the console output (with all enabled):
<Run|MPos:-35.200,6.575,0.000|Bf:0,18|FS:655,1092>
G1 X0.098Y0.025
G1 X0.137Y0.024
G1 X0.277Y0.052
G1 X0.193Y0.062
<Run|MPos:-35.475,5.500,0.000|Bf:0,18|FS:1114,0>
G1 Y0.086
G1 X-0.017Y0.172
G1 X-0.056Y0.112
G1 X-0.126Y0.083
G1 X-0.175Y0.028
G1 X-0.161Y-0.02
G1 X-0.113Y-0.061
G1 X-0.077Y-0.113
G1 X-0.054Y-0.175
G1 X-0.258Y0.043
G1 X0.046Y0.187
G1 X0.07Y0.148
G1 X0.098Y0.112
G1 X0.134Y0.084
G1 X0.165Y0.051
G1 X0.188Y0.017
G1 X0.181Y-0.014
G1 X0.143Y-0.044
G1 X0.108Y-0.067
G1 X0.075Y-0.081
G1 X0.05Y-0.1
G1 X0.032Y-0.124
G1 X0.01Y-0.118
error:2
Numeric value format is not valid or missing an expected value.
On or near line 0:
Job halted

The second time it only got about as far as engraving “Int” (in Interval) before it failed:
G1 X-0.263
<Run|MPos:-40.650,5.575,0.000|Bf:0,21|FS:4407,0|WCO:-109.600,-49.600,0.000>
<Run|MPos:-61.000,1.475,0.000|Bf:0,21|FS:1423,0|Ov:100,100,100|A:F>
G1 Y1.183
G1 X-0.008Y0.176
G1 X-0.023Y0.125
<Run|MPos:-63.075,3.750,0.000|Bf:0,28|FS:552,920>
G1 X-0.043Y0.089
G1 X-0.066Y0.07
G1 X-0.085Y0.045
<Run|MPos:-62.750,1.050,0.000|Bf:0,40|FS:192,0>
G1 X-0.099Y0.015
G1 X-0.157Y-0.034
G1 X-0.134Y-0.1
G1 X-0.053Y-0.082
G1 X-0.039Y-0.112
G1 X-0.023Y-0.142
G1 X-0.007Y-0.171
<Run|MPos:-62.050,2.925,0.000|Bf:0,40|FS:1056,1761>
G1 Y-1.062
G1 X-0.264
G0 X2.256Y0.294
G1 X0.038Y-0.291
G1 X-0.106Y-0.022
G1 X-0.093Y-0.007
G1 X-0.128Y0.014
G1 X-0.095Y0.043
G1 X-0.067Y0.066
G1 X-0.044Y0.083
G1 X-0.014Y0.059
G1 X-0.011Y0.085
G1 X-0.006Y0.11
G1 Y0.135
G1 Y1.119
G1 X-0.195
G1 Y0.256
G1 X0.193
G1 Y0.482
G1 X0.263Y0.198
G1 Y-0.68
G1 X0.265
G1 Y-0.256
G1 X-0.265
error:1
G-code words consist of a letter and a value. Letter was not found.
On or near line 0:
Job halted

The third time it also only got a few letter into “Interval” before it failed:
G1 Y-1.195
G1 X-0.263
<Run|MPos:-63.825,0.950,0.000|Bf:0,21|FS:3672,0|Ov:100,100,100|A:F>
<Run|MPos:-84.600,-3.250,0.000|Bf:0,21|FS:2158,0>
G1 Y1.183
G1 X-0.008Y0.176
<Run|MPos:-88.725,-1.600,0.000|Bf:0,28|FS:372,620>
G1 X-0.023Y0.125
G1 X-0.043Y0.089
G1 X-0.066Y0.07
<Run|MPos:-88.700,-4.075,0.000|Bf:0,29|FS:740,0>
G1 X-0.085Y0.045
G1 X-0.099Y0.015
G1 X-0.157Y-0.034
G1 X-0.134Y-0.1
<Run|MPos:-87.725,-2.375,0.000|Bf:0,27|FS:870,1449>
G1 X-0.053Y-0.082
G1 X-0.039Y-0.112
G1 X-0.023Y-0.142
G1 X-0.007Y-0.171
G1 Y-1.062
G1 X-0.264
G0 X2.256Y0.294
G1 X0.038Y-0.291
G1 X-0.106Y-0.022
G1 X-0.093Y-0.007
G1 X-0.128Y0.014
G1 X-0.095Y0.043
G1 X-0.067Y0.066
G1 X-0.044Y0.083
G1 X-0.014Y0.059
G1 X-0.011Y0.085
G1 X-0.006Y0.11
G1 Y0.135
G1 Y1.119
G1 X-0.195
G1 Y0.256
error:2
Numeric value format is not valid or missing an expected value.
On or near line 0:
Job halted

4

What you see is what is sent to the controller. What you do not see is what the controller receives.

The code looks okay, so that implies a communication problem via USB. Try replacing the USB cable with another. I recommend purchasing a quality shielded USB cable with ferrites, paying as much as you can afford. The cables supplied with the machines are usually junk.

5

Thanks for the help. I’m actually using a good shielded cable already with ferrite blocks at each end.

It turns out the problem was I had the offline controller plugged in and based on the console output from before and when I unplugged it this morning, it sends a constant stream of Idle messages when it’s not doing anything (which I didn’t realize before) and the mixing of the two message inputs is what was causing the problem. With that unplugged it is running smoothly.

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