I am stuck dead in the water. I don’t blame anyone for my problems but I am really discouraged about how to overcome these problems so I can get the machine up and running. Is Windows 10 just too old to use for this software? Is there any software that I could use that works on Windows 10? Do I need to buy a newer computer? I would love answers to these questions. I wanted to buy one of these Makermade Maslow CNC machines for years now and I am just so discouraged that I have these problems and no guidance on how to overcome these problems. Sorry for whining
any advice?
Or, better yet could people tell me what computers and software they are using so I can try to copy that?
I run a classic controller with webcontrol or makerverse and I periodically use a M2 (v1) controller (the one that overheats if not cooled properly) for testing with a raspberry pi 3B single board computer and I have found that to be very reliable. Since it appears you have an M2, makerverse is your only option and it will work on a raspberry pi 3B or better. I’ve run it on a pi zero W, but it is not recommended. The complication is that you still need a computer to load the web page the makerverse server (raspberry pi) provides and you have to upload your gcode over the network. You gain stability with the shorter usb cable because the raspberry pi can sit right next to the controller. You can also add a status light so you know what it thinks it is doing if you feel so inclined.
There are install and setup guides on this forum as well as instructions within the makerverse site for how to set it up. Please check the wiki, or the makerverse site or the makerverse github.
I look forward to reading about other people’s setups. I have never used Raspberry Pi before so I am hoping to keep “new things” to a minimum if and where possible but if the raspberry pi setup is what is most common then that tells me it has the largest knowledge base if I have questions or problems
I look forward to reading about people’s windows setups if others would be kind enough to post their setups!
@bikeshelters.org Like @Orob I run a classic controller with Webcontrol on a Raspberry Pi (used his notes here on the forum to get it set up), and I have not had any issues. I had no previous experience (absolutely none!) with RPi’s and found the instructions very easy and simple to follow. From there I can open a browser on any device, put in the IP address of the RPi in, and I am up on WebControl running the machine. Now with you being on an M2, I understand you are relegated to Makerverse, but I am sure it is very much the same. From there, it doesn’t matter if you are running win10, Vista, MacOS, Linux, or even Apple iOS, as long as you have internet access and a browser, you are off and running.
Unfortunately, makerverse software does not seem to function reliably on Windows 10 we high appears to be my primary problem. Adding Raspberry Pi to a Windows 10 computer running makerverse would continue my problems of COM ports disappearing and general unreliability of makerverse.
It appears that my overall problem is that Windows 10 operating system is simply not compatible with makerverse and that I’ll need to use newer operating system. I’d still like to hear more about what setup folks are using for their M2’s though!
I think you may be misunderstanding how the RPi is used. Essentially, the RPi is the computer that runs it’s own OS. On that OS, you would set up Makerverse as a server that you would access via wifi. This will run everything for you. On your win10 machine (or any other device that is on that same wifi network that has a web browser - Chrome, IE {yeesh}, Firefox, etc.) you would just provide the inputs needed for the RPi to run Makerverse and the machine during a cut. yhour win10 machine would be like going to yahoo, or here to the maslow forums, or amazon, and interacting with it through the browser. There should be no need for you to update your OS to something newer.
If I am not mistaken, unless you are running a Linux system, a Mac, or some sort of tablet device that is not Microsoft, Windows 10 IS THE MOST CURRENT OS that is on the market. Now I know there have been version updates to win10, which you should be getting through the normal windows updates. Maybe that is what you are referencing by saying a newer OS. I would think that @MakerMadeCNC would be wanting to ensure their Makerverse is absolutely compatible with win10 as it is one of the most prevalent OS’s on the market. Maybe @zaneclaes can speak more to your compatibility issues as I want to say he was involved in the creation, or at least the release of Makerverse.
I may be completely wrong in my views of win10 and being the most current OS, and if I am, please, someone let me know, as I would really not want to spread bad information. I can only speak to what I know. I had issues with my PC and Surface tablet running the classic Mega controller and WebControl. I bit the bullet and jumped onto the RPi path very timidly as I knew nothing of that world. After following the guides here on the forums on how to set it up, and realizing how easy it was, I have had ZERO issues in getting my machine up and running. Even after shutting the RPi down and turning all power off on the Maslow for a little over 3 months, I turned everything back on, set up a cut, and off it went. No COM port issues, no calibration issues, nothing…it just started cutting and was spot on to what I wanted. I haven’t looked back and I am sold that this is the route to go and highly recommend it. I still use the Surface tablet to control the machine, but it is through a web browser. I even had the tablet die because I kept the power unplugged for too long, and the machine kept going…because it was being run by the RPi. The tablet is just the interface for me to tell the RPi what to do.
I hope this helps you some more in your issues in getting your M2 up and running. I’m sorry I can’t be more specific in the Makerverse set up as I don’t use it. but from what I have read here on the forums, the RPi would work essentially the same, and you wouldn’t have any COM port issues or other interference from other software/devices as Makerverse would be the only thing you have running on it.
I’ll second that. Perhaps my mention of the raspberry pi was not very clear how it function, but @c00nphrog just gave a very good descriptive overview of how it works. I installed makerverse on my raspberry pi via ssh and it just works when I choose to use it.
I agree with both of you! I have never used Raspberry Pi before and I do not have much understanding of what it is or what it does.
I believe it would be in my best interest to setup my M2 using a Windows OS computer that is compatible with makerverse (something newer than Windows 10 I am guessing).
If I were to embark on buying and installing Raspberry Pi setup I would be learning even more new things and I think it is best if I keep my variables to a minimum
I am hoping someone with a Windows based computer set up with M2 and Makerverse sees this and responds so I can learn what setup they are using (computer/processor, what OS, what version of makerverse and how they have it configured, etc)
thank you so much to all of you who have responded by the way!
There is nothing newer than Windows 10 in Microsoft land. There is an unreleased “Windows 11” in early testing, but it will require new hardware for many as it depends on features (improved virtualization and a security coprocessor) that are not available on a lot of current hardware. Contact your seller and ask about your problems, it’s unlikely they related to W10.
COM4 port (and other ports at random times) working fine and then suddenly disappearing is a very well known, well documented problem with Windows 10 operating system.
May I ask what Windows operating systems others are using successfully with the M2 and makerverse software? All I am trying to do here is get this machine up and running. Obviously I am not a Windows operating system expert and it shows. I will buy whatever I need to get this machine up and running but I would like to know what others are using successfully so I have an idea what to go out and buy
Thank you Mooselake for your reply, much appreciated, thank you everyone sincerely!
I am stuck between a rock and a hard place! I am also experiencing this frustrating and mysterious problem of operating the M2 CNC machine using Makerverse software where my COM4 port connection suddenly disappears. I have not yet completed basic calibration because of this mysterious and frustrating problem. As the attached screenshot shows, many many many people all around the world are seeing this problem with Windows 10 with COM ports suddenly disappearing…Makerverse seems to like COM4 port on my setup because it does function in any other COM port besides 4, so…when COM4 port suddenly disappeared which is was caused my machine to go crazy it now seems, I was unable to restart the computer and get COM4 port to show back up as an option to connect to…and Makerverse on my computer doesn’t function when connected to any other COM port…ay yay yay!!!
I appreciate any and all advice on what to do. I do not blame Makermade or any of you for these problems, I am VERY THANKFUL for all of your kind and generous advice on how to get this M2 machine and Makerverse software up and running. What computers and OS are you folks using to run your M2 machines? I would rather just go out and buy something and copy what is proven to work
thank you Mr. Lang for clearing up a question I had about Windows 10
My experience is that the com ports move rather than disappear. Most of my windows CNC machine sessions start with seeking out the current port name (other than lightburn which, interestingly, just finds it) as a habit. It doesn’t help that the laptop has 3 usb ports to pick from
we calibrated the M2 machine using another laptop and successfully calibrated the machine. In the process, I learned that the “soft limit” error messages were what causes the Makerverse calibration process to crash / stall out. I didn’t know that previously! Sooooo, that means that each time the calibration menus crash / stall out I need to fully exit the Makerverse calibration menus and “X” out of the soft limit error messages THEN go back into Makerverse calibration menus and pick up where I left off…I am thinking somebody out there will be very happy I am writing this.
Also, Joel at Makermade said to click the red CLOSE session button on Makerverse BEFORE “X” -ing out of Makerverse which matches what othere here have said, this is what was causing the Windows 10 operating system to not display COM4 port when I logged back into the Makerverse software which someone here mentioned. Again, this will be very helpful to somebody I am guessing
Lastly, because we accomplished calibration of the M2 machine using another Windows 10 laptop, I have not yet re-connected the Windows 10 desktop computer I was using previously, I will do this tomorrow and report back my experiences. I expect COM port connection problems but because the machine is now calibrated and ready to have a file loaded, I believe once I get connected to a COM port that I should be able to do a test program. I have never used Easel software before so i am watching all those videos this evening so I can install it tomorrow and run a simple test project with router turned OFF and see if the M2 sled goes through the motions without destroying itself.
I discovered through all of this that it was the calibration process not understanding where “HOME” was located was the reason the sled ran up into the chains and upper crossbar and destroyed itself…the calibration process is massively confusing for first timers because the icons and words used on Makerverse software do not always make sense but I expect there will be better newer videos of setting up these newer M2 machines on Windows 10 systems
Easel software does not want to connect to the M2 Machine…I entered in default values in the machine set up and the M2 control board turns on (I hear the high pitched whine although it is intermitten OFF / ON) but the Easel software pop up message says “connecting” and that message never goes away. I tell ya…it is so many mysterious and downright frustrating obstacles in getting this M2 CNC machine up and running
I will search this forum for Easel connectivity and set up issues
I am trying to run a test file with router turned OFF and I cannot seem to figure that out with the instructions included on thumbdrive. what is the process?
The Maslow and M2 do not connect directly to the Easel software. Easel was created by the company Inventables which makes the X-Carve line of CNC machines, and will only connect to that line for direct control for cutting projects. They have created a Maslow Post Processor (which turns your project and how you have set up your cuts into GCode the Maslow/M2 understands). I know there is a post on the forums here that does give specific instructions, but I want to say you go to the advance machine settings and select the option to download the GCode. From there, you open that GCode file in Makerverse and control and start the cut from there. MAKERVERSE is your control software, so which ever design and setup software you use (often called CAD/CAM software) you will always need that to create GCode files that you will load into Makerverse to tell the machine what it needs to do to cut out your design. I have very much simplified the process, but that is it in a nut shell. I know there are numerous posts on here on using Easel (and other software packages) to create GCode and start cutting.
I am quickly learning that the M2 version CNC is extremely different than the previous versions and that none of the setup or software(s) and set up instructions carry over
what I am truly missing here is instructions for the M2 CNC machine. The included thumbdrive instructions that came with the M2 CNC kit are an older (much older) 1.06 version of Makerverse and the videos and written instructions do not match the latest 1.12 version of Makerverse. And this is my biggest problem. I am relying on watching the various Youtube Maslow and M2 videos but nothing matches up because everyone is either using a different computer (Apple or Raspberry Pi) or is using the older Maslow or Maslow upgrade kits which used Groundcontrol and Easel…the M2 as I am now understanding ONLY functions properly with Makerverse…
So here is my 1st question:
#1: where are the instructions for importing a drawing file into Makerverse so I can do a test run with router turned OFF?
#2: do I need to generate GCode using Easel software for EVERY project drawing file I want to cut out on the M2 CNC machine? Is that what I will need to use Easel software for?
#3: my lack of knowledge and experience shows greatly BUT I have overcome every obstacle to get to the point where machine is calibrated and ready for it’s test runs so I have faithfully read and followed all the instructions and advice from all of you and Joel at Makermade thus far (thank you!) and I understand the M2 is a new machine and that set up documentation and videos just aren’t created yet but will be. But what exactly does Makerverse do and not do in regards to the M2 machine? Do I need any other 3rd party software or is Makerverse enough to cut out vector format drawing files on the M2 CNC machine? I am having a tough time understanding what exactly the software is supposed to do. Could someone clarify? I know this entire thread will be very helpful to other people including myself which is why I ask
I am very thankful for your response and everyone’s response! Thank you sincerely!
#1. I don’t know that there are instructions for that, just don’t turn on the router and make sure your bit won’t drag if the router is off. You could pull out the router and put in a marker instead… #2 yes. maslow runs on gcode, so you have to generate gcode for it to move. #3 you are getting there. Makerverse is a gcode sender program. it takes a gcode file and sends line by line to your maslow M2. If you want to make gcode, you need a CAM program that takes a drawing file and converts it to gcode. If you want to make a drawing, you need a drawing program that takes mouse input to make a drawing. There is a wiki entry call the maslow manual that attempts to explain this also, and provides a limited list of links for some of the various options.
“#2 yes. maslow runs on gcode, so you have to generate gcode for it to move.”
so, the purpose of Easel software is merely and only to convert vector drawn file into G-Code / CNC machine tool cutting pathway instructions which is then downloaded and saved to my computer so that Makerverse can take over (upload that G-Code file into Makerverse) and help the Makermade M2 CNC machine to begin cutting the project?
