SOLVED: How to send GRBL a ^X Reset in a Macro (yes, really)

LightBurn Software Questions
1

Haha! Figured it out…oh wait…is this already known?

Anyway, the ancient problem of how to reset a GRBL controller from a limit or E-stop condition using the LightBurn Macros capability CAN actually be done!

So, GRBL controller wants a Control-X, right? Well a control-X is in Hex 0x18 or for you decimal folks, 24. This is also known as the ASCII “CAN” or “Cancel” codepoint.

Well, in Windows, you can get it to produce that character from the keyboard by typing Alt-024 (hold down alt, then type 0, 2, 4 on the numeric keypad). Only problem is, LightBurn uses a windows (programming) control for the text entry that won’t let you do that. (Sadly, it’s probably just a single bit-flip for the-yes, lazy-programmers to change that property on the control, maybe a tiny bit of XAML).

But, since LightBurn WILL let you copy and paste into the macro window, I wondered whether LB would let me paste the needed character in, if only I could get it into the paste buffer.

So, first I tried Windows Charmap. But, since the 0x018 CAN character is non-printing, the fonts don’t typically have it (except maybe Courier) Charmap seems to think it doesn’t need to let me use the CAN character. FINE! :frowning:

Hmmmm…what application lets me edit BINARY files? Hmmmmm…

Oh right…Notepad++ !

I opened NotePad++, opened a new file, typed my ALT+024 and Voila, it produced
a black box with CAN inside…indicating the control code.

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I selected the single character, Control-C to copy, then back to LightBurn, open one of the Macros for editing, then Control-V to paste it in. LightBurn shows an empty box (like an unrecognized character :smile: ), but we now know it IS in there.

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Name the macro, save it, and guess what: IT WORKS!

As this is my first post, and maybe search in these forums isn’t my forte, maybe I missed someone had already solved this, and if so, sorry for a) my inability to find it, and b) that redundancy :smiley:

Cheers, everyone!

1 Like
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It’s possible that pushing the Stop button may serve the same function. Would you mind checking?

3

Just tried that, nope, still gives errors about blocked by the e-stop.

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However, a guy on FB who is one of the developers, says that STOP in v1.5 will issue the reset correctly. Supposedly they tried before but it didn’t work right. v1.5 doesn’t seem to be out quite yet, as mine sits at 1.4.05 with no updates pending.

So, there’s hope a real solution is in the works.

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This went to public beta recently so perhaps worth trying…

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Getting there! My system is still in the middle of integration work, so I’m only using fully released software. I’m sure v1.5 will be great when it’s finished testing, but keeping to one fewer potential reliability issue is best for me at this moment :smiley:

Thanks for letting me know about the public beta.

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Great post, thanks. I remember having discussed that situation before, I think I was also told that the stop button would do the same, but it didn’t work for me as well. It would be great if that is revised in 1.5 (I will have to check), but I also will copy the macro solution :slight_smile:
In LaserGRBL there is a button sending ctrl+x, but in LB it never worked for me. But I think I gave up on this topic back then :slight_smile:

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