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Adding Your Machine

Consult Manufacturer Instructions

Always consult the documentation that came with your CNC machine, or the manufacturer's online resources, before beginning the device setup process. Some manufacturers provide settings bundles, importable device profiles, device drivers, or special setup instructions that are necessary to fully utilize their machines with MillMage.

CNC Machine Coordinate Requirements

In order to successfully use MillMage, your CNC machine must:

  • Use the Right-hand rule coordinate space, where the tool moves:
    • X axis: left (-), right (+)
    • Y axis: towards (-), away (+)
    • Z axis: down (-), up (+ towards z=0)
  • Set the Z axis machine coordinates to zero (0) when at the top of the Z-axis travel range. Movements of the Z axis down to toward the work occur in a negative machine coordinate space
  • Have a user-known machine zero (0, 0, 0) location

The first time you open MillMage after a new or clean installation, you'll be greeted by the Help and Notes window with information on your next steps, helpful tips, and program details. Read the notes and select OK to close the Help and Notes window.

Image of Help and Notes window

New users can dismiss the Compatibility Warning window by selecting OK.

MillMage v0.8-RC-1 delete legacy devices warning

Existing MillMage User?

Users testing early Beta and Release Candidate builds must delete and recreate all devices starting with version 0.8 build RC-1 to prevent failure and errors. Do not import existing device profiles created before v0.8 RC-1.

Add a CNC Machine to MillMage

The Devices window will automatically open next and will display an empty list of devices, along with options for creating a device profile at the bottom. You need to have at least one device profile created in order to use MillMage — if you close out of this window without creating one, you'll see a warning message with the option to go back and set up a device, have MillMage automatically create a dummy machine profile for you, or close out of the software.

Screenshot of empty Devices window

Device Setup Required Notice

Screenshot of Must Create Device warning message

Create a placeholder device if you don't yet have a CNC machine. Having a CNC machine present or connected is not required to use the design and machining operation tools in MillMage.

Need to Reopen the Devices Window?

Open the Devices window anytime by clicking on the Devices button found in the Job Control window, or by selecting CNC Tools → Manage Devices.

Highlighted Devices button in the Job Control window

  1. Create Manually

    Select Create Manually to launch the New Device Wizard.

    Highlighted Create Manually button in the Devices window

  2. Select Your Machine

    Select your CNC machine or controller from the list of devices displayed, or select Custom GCode if your machine is not yet listed and select Next to continue.

    Highlighted Custom GCode listing and Next button in the New Device Wizard

  3. Select Connection Type

    Select how you will connect your CNC machine to MillMage.

    Choose connection type between none, serial slash USB, or Ethernet slash TCP

    Most CNC users will use a USB cable and will choose Serial/USB as the connection type.

    Need to connect over the network?

    Choose Ethernet or WiFi/TCP if you will be accessing your CNC machine through a network connection and enter the device IP address to continue.

    Add device network address

    Select Next to continue.

  4. Update Device Information

    A column of machine options including naming, units of measure, and work dimensions

    1. Name Device

      Enter a name for your CNC machine.

    2. Select Device Units of Measure

      Select the units of measure your CNC machine firmware uses. This choice can be changed at any time in Device Settings.

      You can design projects in MillMage using both metric and imperial units, and can switch between them as desired.

    3. Enter CNC Machine Work Area

      Enter the CNC machine work area dimensions, in the units you selected. Refer to the documentation that came with your CNC machine if you're unsure of the correct dimensions. Update these values anytime in the Device Settings window.

    4. Set Machine Zero Location

      Pick one of four corners of the X and Y axis in the Machine Zero Location setting that corresponds to the physical location your CNC machine moves to when commanded to move to machine zero (0,0,0). Many GRBL users can pick the Front Left corner. Most Shapeoko & Carbide 3D CNC machine users should choose the Rear Right corner. If you are unsure of your machine zero 000 physical location, let MillMage try to automatically detect that for you. Jog your device before starting a project and adjust the Machine Zero setting any time in the Device Settings window. 

      Homing Location vs Project Zero

      It is important to choose the correct machine zero location as the position the tool is moved to when commanded to home, may not be at the 0,0,0 (X, Y, Z axis) coordinates. This is important, as MillMage needs to know the physical setup of your CNC machine to match the project/work coordinate space to your machine coordinate space and establish the (0,0,0) coordinate location within your machine's working area.

      Your machine homing and zero location will vary between CNC machine brands and models. Always refer to your CNC machine manufacturer's documentation to learn about the homing behavior of your specific device.

      Select Next to continue.

  5. Configure Communication Needs

    A column of options that include the type of GCode flavor, and additional optional variables

    1. Set GCode Flavor

      Change the GCode flavor to match the GCode variation required by the machine. Refer to your device documentation for details.

      Choosing A Compatible GCode Flavor

      Refer to your CNC manufacturer for details if you are unsure of your selection for GCode flavor.

      Operators unsure of their controller's GRBL flavor can choose GRBL in the drop down to continue & should send the $I command in the console window to verify their firmware type after finishing adding a device. Update the GCode flavor at any time in Device Settings.

      GCode Flavor Notes
      GRBL Many small (3018) & desktop-class CNC machines are likely GRBL-based. Compatible with FluidNC firmware
      GRBL M3 A legacy fork of GRBL for laser cutters and other CNC machines that supports PWM
      grblHAL STM32, ESP32, MSP, TMC, RP2040, Arduino Due controllers — Extended Options support may vary
      GRBL STM STM32-driven ARM devices
      Smoothieware Labs Feature — Known Issue: Press Stop after jogging to clear Busy status
      LinuxCNC Also compatible with Mach3/Mach4 and Masso firmware
      UCCNC UC100, UC300, UC300ETH, UC400ETH and AXBB-E controllers
      Duet/RRF RepRap Firmware
      Masso Users should review the Custom GCode blocks to make sure the defaults are correct
      Generic Choose Generic if you need to define the Custom GCode blocks by hand for a fully custom controller
      Mach3 & Mach4 Users should review the Custom GCode blocks to make sure the defaults are correct

      Labs Feature

      Labs features are new tools in development that we are couldn't wait get into the hands of our users. Please experiment with caution, and report any unexpected results on our forum.

    2. Optional Advanced Features

      Optionally update the remaining features as relevant. Most users will not need to change anything in the Basic tab. Advanced users can add device support for optional accessories and features in the Advanced tab. Refer to the documentation that came with your CNC machine if you're unsure of the correct selections. Change these settings anytime in the Device Settings window.

      Select Next to continue.

      Enabling Advanced Features and Customizations

      If you're an advanced MillMage or CNC machine operator, use Custom GCode to customize features in MillMage to better manage your machine, workflow, and support your hardware accessories and features.

      Update these advanced Custom GCode features after adding your machine by accessing them at Device Settings → Custom GCode.

      Screenshot of Advanced Custom GCode features

  6. Review the New Device Wizard summary and click Finish to finish adding a device to MillMage.

    USB-connected Machine Summary

    Networked Machine Summary

    A summary of the device with the name, connection type, work dimensions, and machine origin listed.

Set Default Device

If you have more than one device profile set up, you can mark a specific profile as your default device by selecting it in the list, then clicking Make Default → OK to finish. The default device name will be marked with an asterisk (*).

A list of devices with one entry, unmarked by an asterisk

A list of devices with one entry, marked by an asterisk to denote default device

Next Steps

← Previous: Installing MillMage Next: Project Setup Wizard: Beginners → Next: Project Setup: Advanced → MillMage User Interface Tour

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For more help using MillMage, please visit our forum to talk with MillMage staff and users, or email support.