No Communication Between ESP32 and GRBL STM32

[chaight]

Hi, I built a CNC router using the GRBL32 V1.0 controller 2 years ago, it has worked awesome since! Thank you so much for such a cheap but capable controller. However, it has been unused for 4 months in my garage, and I went to use it today and the ESP32 screen didn't seem to communicate with the controller board (I tapped top left button, no communication, and status was "??") I checked the board and a lot of the connectors were rusty! Only the ones that had current moving through them, which makes sense. I spent the day remaking all my cable harnesses and cleaning the rust off the pins, but the ESP32/screen still doesn't communicate with the GRBL board. How would I troubleshoot this? I modified the firmware and I don't think I have the .bin file, so I have avoided reflashing for now. What other checks can I do?

[HTheatre]

Hi chaight,

What is the BIN file for ? For the STM-32 is a HEX one and for the ESP-32, you can compile the firmware from ARDUINO IDE.

For your issue, check you didn't inverted the Rx and Tx connctions when you secured the wiring. Remember Tx must be connected to Rx, and Rx to Tx.

Moreover, if you upgraded to the new TFT firmware (with icons), check you changed the Grbl board version for the 1 in config.h file.

See ya,

[chaight]

Hey HTheatre, I meant HEX file sorry. I tried swapping Rx and Tx and still no communication, I'll try new wires today. I haven't changed TFT firmware at all, both boards are running the same code as when they worked.

Will follow up.

[chaight]

With the boards perfectly connected as far as I can tell, still no communication. What order of things should I try? I will flash a new STM32 and try it tonight. If it helps debug, some of the weird things ive seen are the green LED randomly flashing, relay randomly flickering, all motors randomly moving in the same direction, even the red power LED flicker as if somethings drawing its power or dropping the voltage. Very strange, maybe if the connectors rusted something else corroded too...

[HTheatre]

Hi chaight,

Yes, indeed a very strange issue. Do these oddities you noted appear even if you do not connect the Grbl adapter board (the one where the ESP-32 is plugged) to the Grbl board (the main board where the STM-32 is plugged)?

See ya,

[chaight]

Just reflashed another STM32 and it seems to be working fine! Only thing is my program got interrupted accouple times by a hard limit error, even though endstops weren't being touched. I assume due to noise induced into the wiring but I didn't change the wiring too much...

[HTheatre]

Hi chaight,

Only thing is my program got interrupted accouple times by a hard limit error, even though endstops weren't being touched. I assume due to noise induced into the wiring but I didn't change the wiring too much...

I confirm this is surely that.

See ya,

[Sophia78]

Hi, I built a CNC router using the GRBL32 V1.0 controller 2 years ago, it has worked awesome since! Thank you so much for such a cheap but capable controller. However, it has been unused for 4 months in my garage, and I went to use it today and the ESP32 screen didn't seem to communicate with the controller board (I tapped top left button, no communication, and status was "??") I checked the board and a lot of the connectors were rusty! Only the ones that had current moving through them, which makes sense. I spent the day remaking all my cable harnesses and cleaning the rust off the pins, but the ESP32/screen still doesn't communicate with the GRBL board. How would I troubleshoot this? I modified the firmware and I don't think I have the .bin file, so I have avoided reflashing for now. What other checks can I do?

Hi Friend, Thank you very much for giving such nice information.youtube vanced apk

[reis.bey]

How can i test GRBL board 1.5 if its faulty becouse i dont have 0 volts on my blue pill and output pins to TFT esp32
TFT is working if i connect to pc for flashing when do i connect to GRBL nothing happens not even light is flashing.
renewed all my connecting cables
i can messure 24V on input of GRBL
btw ESP-32 comes from you HTheatre can it be conflict between GRBL and ESP-32 do i have to move to version GRBL v2.

btw my motors are not connected could thatt be the issue (i dont think so)

version 1 worked perfect when i try to update to v1.5 er is no life on my TFT

[HTheatre]

Hi reis.bey,

I am sorry all this is probably my fault. You reflashed this the easier method I gave to you? If it is the case I gave you the wrong link. I forgot you are under v.1.5 Grbl board.
For these boards, the last TFT firmware version is here.
This is the same TFT firmware version, except I changed the Grbl board version which is use with, in the config.h file.
So now, all shoud be work fine again, but with the last available TFT firmware version.

Sorry again,

See ya,