Warning
MillMage is in active development and in a prerelease state. Many operations and functions are not feature complete. Please report any unexpected behavior by searching for and reporting the issue or question in the MillMage Beta User Forum. Please include screenshots and as much detail as possible.
Beta Users: Finding Help
Find help and download the latest release candidate of MillMage in the MillMage Beta User Forum.
Users new to MillMage should follow the Getting Started guide.
Warning
This documentation is in active development and in a prerelease state. These documents are not complete and may include missing pages, broken links, and placeholders. Content is being updated as feedback is reviewed. Your patience is appreciated.
Basic Settings
The Basic Settings tab of Device Settings contains the most commonly used CNC settings.
Click any option in the image below to jump directly to the relevant section for that option, or scroll down for a full list of options and descriptions.
The Basic Settings tab of Device Settings
Working Size¶
The maximum X (Width) and Y (Height) travel for your machine.
These values do not affect the dimensions stored in your machine's firmware, or the size of your MillMage Workspace, which is instead determined by your Project Setup parameters.
Device Units¶
Determines the units of speed displayed in MillMage.
MillMage internally operates in millimeters, but can display in either millimeters or inches. Speeds can be represented as either units per second or units per minute.
MillMage automatically converts any existing values when you switch between units.
Origin¶
The location of your machine's Origin, or home. If this is set incorrectly, the orientation of your machine's output will be mirrored or inverted.
Z Probe¶
Enter the thickness of your machine's Z Probe plate in the Z Probe Offset field. MillMage will use this value to calculate and apply the necessary offset when you use the Probe Z button in the Move Window.
Other Options¶
Fast Whitespace Scan¶
This setting boosts your machine's travel speed through blank areas of an engraving, if the speed you set here is faster than your machine's engraving speed.
Note
Since Marlin treats G0 and G1 moves identically, this value is used to specify the speed for rapid moves. If you do not set this value, MillMage will use the same speed as the G1 moves.
Enable DTR Signal¶
This setting controls whether MillMage sends a Data Terminal Ready signal to the controller to start serial communication. Many programmable hobby-level controllers, including Arduino-based systems, use the DTR pin to reset the controller. If your machine's controller won't communicate, toggling this setting may help.
Enable 'Out of Bounds' warning¶
Enable this setting to have MillMage warn you if a job will cause your machine to travel out of bounds, as determined by the stock dimensions you enter in Project Setup.
S-value Max¶
This setting tells MillMage how to represent 100% spindle speed when creating GCode for your machine.
This value needs to match what your controller expects. MillMage will default to the most common value for the type of controller you selected when you created your device.
If you are directly connected to your machine, you can verify that the default value matches your controller's expectation by going to CNC Tools → Machine Settings and checking the Maximum spindle speed / $30 setting.
Baud Rate¶
This setting controls the speed at which MillMage attempts to communicate with your machine's controller.
MillMage defaults to 115,200 baud for GRBL controllers and 250,000 baud for Marlin controllers. Some Marlin controllers use 115,200 baud, and some GRBL controllers go as low as 9600 baud. If you are having trouble communicating with your controller and are certain the controller and firmware are supported, contact the manufacturer for the correct baud rate for the board, which may be different from the default value.
Network Port¶
Set network port used for IP (Ethernet) connections. The default of 23 is Telnet.
Transfer Mode¶
MillMage defaults to the Buffered Transfer mode for communication with GRBL devices. This is faster and more reliable than the Synchronous Transfer mode. However, there are a few devices that are incompatible with Buffered Transfer mode. These devices will stutter, stop, or even restart when buffered communication is selected. If you notice this happening, try switching the Transfer mode to Synchronous.
Enable Job Checklist¶
When this setting is enabled, MillMage will display a text box with a list of items whenever you Start a job. This is typically used as a reminder of things that need to be done before starting the job, such as turning on a dust extractor or putting on protective glasses.
To create a custom checklist, click the Edit button.
Video: Job Checklists
LightBurn Video
This video features our sister software, LightBurn. While there may be slight differences in appearance and layout, the demonstrated processes are similar in MillMage.
Troubleshooting¶
- If you aren't seeing a setting you expected to see, check which tab you're in and make sure it's applicable to your machine.
Related Topics¶
For more help using MillMage, please visit our forum to talk with MillMage staff and users, or email support.