Projects / Industrial automation and embedded control
STM32/GRBL-based CNC controller for an industrial machine: four STEP/DIR axes, limit and emergency inputs, relay outputs and service circuits.
The task was to develop an electronic controller for a machine with four controlled axes, limit sensors, emergency inputs, wheelset-rotation control and additional service functions. Part of the control and G-code preparation logic had to be moved to an external controller.
A specialized CNC controller for an industrial machine was prepared. The compact STM32 board combines axis control, input processing, peripheral connection and operation with GRBL-compatible control software.
Engineering context
The controller had to be part of a real machine, not a generic educational CNC board.
In addition to axes, the machine needed limit switches, emergency buttons, edge-search sensor, cooling and relay circuits.
Typical CNC logic had to be adapted to specific mechanics with four independent feeds and real equipment signals.
GRBL compatibility and later tuning capability were important for integration and maintenance.
Work done
STM32 controller circuitry.
STEP/DIR interfaces for four axes.
Inputs for limit sensors, emergency and control signals.
Relay outputs and service circuits.
Integration work around GRBL firmware for STM32.
Hardware preparation for connection to the machine and further tuning.
Details
The project used GRBL-compatible logic for STM32. This gave a recognizable motion-control base, but it had to be adapted to the specific inputs, axes and peripheral signals of the machine.
The work included adapting a ported STM32 GRBL base for four axes and the target machine task, while identifying and correcting many practical integration problems.
The controller processes not only movement commands, but also real machine signals: limit switches, emergency inputs, service circuits and relay outputs. These details are what separate the project from a simple CNC development board.
The board was prepared as part of a larger machine-control system, with hardware interfaces, firmware direction and service access chosen for later tuning during integration with the mechanics and operator software.
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