- Serial functions contained quite a few modulo operations that would
be executed with high frequency when streaming. AVR processors are very
slow when operating these. In one test on the Arduino forums, it showed
about a 15x slow down compared to a simple if-then statement. -
Clarified some variable names and types and comments.
- Update grbl version and settings version to automatically reset
eeprom. FYI, this will reset your grbl settings. - Saved
3*BLOCK_BUFFER_SIZE doubles in static memory by removing obsolete
variables: speed_x, speed_y, and speed_z. - Increased buffer size
conservatively to 18 from 16. (Probably can do 20). - Removed expensive!
modulo operator from block indexing function. Reduces significant
computational overhead. - Re-organized some sqrt() calls to be more
efficient during time critical planning cases, rather than non-time
critical. - Minor bug fix in planner max junction velocity logic. -
Simplified arc logic and removed need to multiply for CW or CCW
direction.
- Significant improvements in the planner. Removed or reordered
repetitive and expensive calculations by order of importance:
recalculating unchanged blocks, trig functions [sin(), cos(), tan()],
sqrt(), divides, and multiplications. Blocks long enough for nominal
speed to be guaranteed to be reached ignored by planner. Done by
introducing two uint8_t flags per block. Reduced computational overhead
by an order of magnitude. - Arc motion generation completely
re-written and optimized. Now runs with acceleration planner. Removed
all but one trig function (atan2) from initialization. Streamlined
computations. Segment target locations generated by vector
transformation and small angle approximation. Arc path correction
implemented for accumulated error of approximation and single precision
calculation of Arduino. Bug fix in message passing.
No changes in functionality. Path vectors moved from ring buffer to
local planner static variables to save 3*(BUFFER_SIZE - 1) doubles in
memory. Detailed comments. Really need to stop micro-updating. Should be
the last until a planner optimization (ala Jens Geisler) has been
completed.
Reverse planner was over-writing the initial/buffer tail entry speed,
which reset the forward planner and caused it to lose track of its
speed. Should now accelerate into short linear segments much nicer now.
Beta pre-processor script used to clean and streamline g-code for
streaming and converts G02/03 arcs into linear segments. Allows for full
acceleration support if the pre-processed g-code is then streamed to
grill, sans G02/03 arcs. Added a simple example streaming script for
Python users.
- Junction jerk now re-defined as junction_deviation. The distance from
the junction to the edge of a circle tangent to both previous and
current path lines. The circle radii is used to compute the maximum
junction velocity by centripetal acceleration. More robust and
simplified way to compute jerk. - Fixed bugs related to entry and exit
factors. They were computed based on the current nominal speeds but not
when computing exit factors for neighboring blocks. Removed factors and
replaced with entry speeds only. Factors now only computed for stepper
trapezoid rate conversions. - Misc: Added min(), next_block_index,
prev_block_index functions for clarity.
Comments, block delete characters, and blank lines are no longer passed
to the gcode parser and should free up some memory by ignoring these
characters. Gcode parser now expects clean gcode only. There was a bug
if there were block deletes or comments not in the first character (i.e.
spindle on/off for proofing geode without turning it on, or a NXX
followed by a comment). This should fix it by bypassing the problem.
Left a commented line for easily turning on and off block deletes for a
later feature, if desired.
Comments, block delete characters, and blank lines are no longer passed
to the gcode parser and should free up some memory by ignoring these
characters. Gcode parser now expects clean gcode only. There was a bug
if there were block deletes or comments not in the first character (i.e.
spindle on/off for proofing geode without turning it on, or a NXX
followed by a comment). This should fix it by bypassing the problem.
Left a commented line for easily turning on and off block deletes for a
later feature, if desired.
Sonny J