[FAQ] Post installation steps to avoid first run common issues

[Paciente8159]

These steps are intended to prevent some common issues that may arise upon uploading µCNC firmware for the first time, or after a firmware upgrade:

For VSCode+PlatformIO users (recommended way of installing)

After uploading start by selecting the board UART port and opening the serial terminal to the board so you can send/receive commands to the board like shown in the image bellow:

For Arduino IDE users (not the recommended way of installing)

After uploading start by selecting the board UART port and open the Arduino Terminal Monitor

Initial messages and issues

Non volatile settings protection

Upon first install of µCNC and when opening the terminal you should see something similar to this:

error:7
$0=-0.26172
$2=255
$3=255
$4=255
$5=255
$6=255
$7=255
$10=254
$11=-22.40000
$12=-2023.42383
$13=255
$20=255
$21=255
$22=255
$23=255
$24=-0.43750
$25=-0.08984
$26=65285
$27=-2.00000
$30=64535
$31=65535
$32=255
$81=4294967665.2147483887
$100=-0.02246
$101=-0.02246
$110=-0.00818
$111=-0.00818
$112=-0.00818
$120=-0.43750
$121=-0.43750
$122=-0.43750
$130=-0.02246
$131=-0.02246
$132=-0.02246
Grbl 1.11 [uCNC v1.11.2 '$' for help]
[MSG:Settings error: $RST=* required]
[MSG:'$H'|'$X' to unlock]

Erro 7 indicates that there is an error with the nonvolatile settings that were loaded.
µCNC forces the user to (acknowledge) reset all settings if while trying to load the settings it detects the stored values are corrupted. This will be the default state after the initial installation. It can also happen after (re)uploading the firmware with some configurations that changes the settings format.

Has explained by the message [MSG:Settings error: $RST=* required] you need to type $RST=* in the terminal and hit enter.

The board will reply:

$RST=*
[MSG:Restoring defaults]
ok

You can then reset the board (reset button (hard reset) or send a Ctrl+X on the terminal (soft reset) and continue.

Q: I'm not being able to send the $RST= command. It keeps telling me that I need to reset the board first*
In that case you may have an Alarm condition (Emergency stop) that is permanently active. Please read the next section.

Control buttons (including Emergency stop)

If you get this message

[MSG:Check Emergency stop]
[MSG:Reset to continue]

It means your board Emergency Stop button is configured and was triggered (or is still active).
Even if you try to reset the board (reset button (hard reset) or send a Ctrl+X on the terminal (soft reset)
The board will respond this time with:
12:30:49.450 > Grbl 1.11 [uCNC v1.11.2 '$' for help]

Good to go??...not quite... as soon as you try to do something else you will get something like this:

[MSG:Reset to continue]
ok

This is an indicator that the Emergency Stop was triggered or is permanently active.
You can confirm by requesting a real time report status by sending a ? command.

The board will print the status report that should look something like this:
<Alarm|MPos:0.000,0.000,0.000|FS:0.000,0|Pn:R|WCO:0.000,0.000,0.000>

As indicated the board is in alarm mode. The Pn: part of the message indicates active pins and the R stands for Reset(Emergency Stop) pin.

You first need to configure the ESTOP pin. I recommend reading these 1 2 sections of the wiki

Make sure you also configure and wire all enabled control inputs (Safety door, Hold, Cycle start) and limit pins before trying to use the machine.