For those planning to do custom firmware on their BlackBox X32 or just want to have the factory shipped firmware as the ultimate backup, here is the standard procedure for backing up an ESP32 board: 1.). You need python installed. Follow the appropriate procedure for your client computer to install it. 2.) Install esptool via pip: Code: pip install esptool 3.) See if esptool can detect your controller: Code: esptool.py flash_id You should get a response similar to below: Code: esptool.py v4.4 Found 1 serial ports Serial port /dev/ttyUSB0 Connecting.............. Detecting chip type... Unsupported detection protocol, switching and trying again... Connecting..... Detecting chip type... ESP32 Chip is ESP32-D0WDQ6 (revision v1.0) Features: WiFi, BT, Dual Core, 240MHz, VRef calibration in efuse, Coding Scheme None Crystal is 40MHz MAC: xxx Uploading stub... Running stub... Stub running... Manufacturer: 5e Device: 4016 Detected flash size: 4MB Hard resetting via RTS pin... If esptool reports that the controller is in the wrong boot mode, try the following. Otherwise, skip to the next step. Put the X32 into download mode. To do this, hold down the MODE button and hit reset while continuing to hold down MODE. While still holding down MODE, execute the following from the client computer you have connected to your BB32's via USB: Code: esptool.py flash_id 4.) Take note of the Serial Port as you'll need it in this step. To do a full backup of your controller, execute the following (repeat the process for putting the X32 into download mode if you had to follow it above): Code: esptool.py --baud 115200 --port <SERIAL_PORT> read_flash 0x0 0x400000 BlackBox_X32_Backup.bin If you ever need to fallback to this firmware later, execute the following: Code: esptool.py --baud 115200 --port <SERIAL_PORT> write_flash 0x0 BlackBox_X32_Backup.bin Grbl_Esp32 firmwares can be found here: Grbl_Esp32/firmware at main · synman/Grbl_Esp32 FluidNC (basic) config.yaml can be found here: FluidNC/OB_BlackBox_X32.yaml at 4af173b928f6032263e434cb41de2b33d2fe0f43 · bdring/FluidNC
Also always available on git: History for grblhal-grbl3axis.bin - OpenBuilds/OpenBuilds-CONTROL If the Run/Flash jumper is in the Flash position (factory default) - autoreset is enabled - no need for the button sequence
Ah, thanks Peter! I don't use OpenBuilds-CONTROL and completely forgot it manages all of this. So, let's call this the "old school" approach
Standard tooling is good. But yeah, we are friendly enough to save people who forget to backup too. Latest is always best though as we'll be fixing bugs as we go along. If things go bad, grab latest CONTROL, and fresh flash from there
Adding '--before default_reset' might help? We use the standard nodemcu autoreset circuit that pulls down IO0 during flashing too.
at least from my pi, it is not a "card not present" transaction, LOL. I haven't tried to connect locally from my mac. Similar, but different for usb_reset too:
This is one sweet looking board. It is odd I can't get esptool to automatically toggle the boot mode. I thought for sure I was going to find this jumper in the wrong position.
Thanks! It was a challenging one to lay out - because the layout was inherited from older BlackBox that had a lot less going on it, ATmegas are smaller than ESP32s Have you tried from a Windows PC just as a sanity check - some linux drivers doesn't do the RTS/DTR thing perfectly timed
no, but I have swapped out my pi4 for a zotac pi225 running Debian 11.5. ... Same flash behavior on it, but it did solve another issue I was having with the FTDI driver and other devices.
esptool version? On windows we've not update the included binary in a while, still including esptool.py v2.6 - and it works
doh Code: pi@octopi-qbp:~ $ pip show esptool Name: esptool Version: 4.4 Summary: A serial utility to communicate & flash code to Espressif chips. Home-page: https://github.com/espressif/esptool/ Author: Fredrik Ahlberg (themadinventor) & Angus Gratton (projectgus) & Espressif Systems Author-email: License: GPLv2+ Location: /home/pi/.local/lib/python3.9/site-packages Requires: bitstring, ecdsa, reedsolo, pyserial, cryptography Required-by: I'll try a downgraded verion of it.
We're far behind, but have not had a need to update yet Almost doubt it but you never know... holding thumbs (oops thats a local saying)! (Holding Thumbs: This gesture, known as "holding thumbs" (Afrikaans "duim vashou") probably originated in Germanic countries as "thumb pressing" or in Dutch. It generally is used as a gesture of encouragement or solidarity, showing concern and wishing luck, much like some usages of the English-and-colonial "crossing fingers".)
so I tried again on the zotac pi-225 (it's tiny dual core intel celeron with usb-c) and esptool.py is reseting the port fine. There's something about that FTDI driver and the pi.
Checkout SOLVED ESP32: Wrong boot mode detected (0x13)! The chip needs to be in download mode. (ESPTOOL-455) · Issue #741 · espressif/esptool
