Shapeoko2 Arduino/gShield Not responding

X-Carve Troubleshooting
1

Hello all!
Would love some help if you could.
Last week I started losing a few steps on cuts so I let it settle until we were back from vacation. Came back and I have been unable to get Easel to connect to the controller…
These are the things I’ve done:

  • Pulled out the arduino board and tried to connect via IDE all good there.
  • Figured I’d try to reflash the Board using Zach Kaplan’s loader. I attempted to load it with: inventables_grbl_09j_2015_07_17.hex using these instructions.
  • During one of the flashes I noticed it was losing connection. So I ordered a new Arduino Uno board. I ordered this one… https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GRTSV6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Arduino Uno R3 Microcontroller A000066
  • I flashed it with the same GRBL listed above. Still no go.

I realize I may be using the wrong combinations of things but I’m at a bit of a loss.
Any further information that you may need to help me get this running again, please ask! I’d really appreciate any help here!

Thanks!

2

Well… some updates.

  • I was able to get .8c, .9i, and .9g loaded on the Arduino.
  • I was able to connect to the new arduino with UGS. (it would constantly come up with an alarm because it doesn’t know where the head is. I don’t have limit switches).
  • Easel will identify that a machine is connected. The carve button is green. However, when I go into “machine” to update the settings for my machine (Shapeoko 2, arduino+Gshield, 500x500, other cutting head) it gets in a constant loop when it tries to update the settings.

I’m giving up for tonight. Any help anyone can offer, I’d love help.
Thanks.

3

I made sure that the arduino and the gshield are fully connected as well.
The power light on the gshield is on and when manually moving the gantry, the lights illuminate.

5

Thanks Phil! My baud rate is set to 115200 and port settings are good to go. I’m able to connect to the board in UGS.
I need to kill the bits for homing and soft limits. I’m struggling a bit on that.

Can someone confirm what the best grbl release is best for my Shapeoko2? I’d like to make sure that I have that appropriately squared away.

Also, I ordered a new gShield last night. After further testing, I was able to get Easel to identify the arduino but I wansn’t able to jog the spindle at all. I’m thinking that maybe the gShield is shot. It’s almost like a power surge may have popped them both. The power light on the gShield comes on, I get leds to light from manual manipulation of the gantry, but it doesn’t seem to be getting orders from the Ardiuno on when to move. I double checked that my polarity from the PSU was correct as well. Frustrating.

7

Thanks Phil. I’ll give it a shot.

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