[QUESTION] Support for current Creality Silent boards V4.2.x

[TzOk83]

Are there any plans for supporting the Creality Silent 32-bit boards, like v4.2.7?

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[luc-github]

what do you mean ?
#557 which link to #524 (comment)

[TzOk83]

What I mean is mainly the Wiki Page for that board doesn't exist, So I didn't know if it is possible to connect to it at all. #524 somehow answers my question, but official documentation/Wiki doesn't mention that boards at all, so I understand it is not officially tested/recommended.

[luc-github]

I do not have all boards - board for wiki is done by users sharing their configuration - if not in wiki, it just means no one did or share the configuration yet, it may not mean it is not possible, it is just not documented yet

[Legsmaniac]

@TzOk83 I'm using Creality 4.2.7 with ESP3D v3.0 so if you're wanting to know if the 4.2.7 board works with ESP3D then yes, it does.

[ketan]

@Legsmaniac — could you share how you connected the ESP to your 4.2.7 board? A pic will do just fine. I'm happy to share that on the wiki so it helps others.

Thanks.

[Legsmaniac]

Hi @ketan - No problem. The 4.2.2 board is identical to the 4.2.7 board in layout so the wiring is the same for either board. In fact, it could well apply to any mainboard that uses the CH340G UART chip. The photo below shows the position of this chip on the Creality boards, right next to the MicroUSB socket. I found it easiest to solder two small wires to the pins on the chip on the top of the board rather than the microscopic tracks on the back. I have circled in red where the required two pins are located.

As you can see from the schematic pinout of the CH2340G below, this shows the required Tx and Rx pins are pin 2 (Tx) and pin 3 (Rx)

Pin 2 goes to the Rx pin on the Arduino and pin 3 goes to the Tx pin on the Arduino. So for example, if using a Wemos D1 Mini, Pin 2 (Tx) of the CH340G chip will go to pin 21 (Rx) (GPIO3) of the D1 Mini and pin 3 (Rx) of the CH340G chip goes to pin 22 (Tx) (GPIO1) on the D1 Mini.

Obviously you'll need a soldering iron with a fine point and a steady hand but it's easier than you might think. After soldering two small wires to the chip, I then placed a small blob of hot-glue over the joints to ensure they won't accidentally get pulled off.
Hope this helps.

[fkemps]

Hi @Legsmaniac - flashed last night ESP32 with 3.0 and connected it to the CH340H.
Turned out the wire was too stiff and possibly pulled off RXD soldering pad from PCM :-(

Do you have the v4.2.2 schematics from the board? I want to measure connectivity from pin-2 and pin-3 to somewhere else on the PCB? Don't want to unscrew PCB and check on the back side, as I understood there's two PCB passthrough holes.

BTW. I configured "Marlin" and tried 115200, 230400 baud. Are those the correct config settings?

Thanks in advance,

[samirthegreat]

Jyers/Marlin#814

[Legsmaniac]

I didn't solder my wires to any pads. I soldered them directly to the legs of the IC.

There ARE two passthru holes but from memory, they are close to other fine tracks whereas on the back, the holes lead to two small pads you could use but even then, they are not as easy as soldering wires to the legs of the IC. The legs of the IC are much thicker and stronger than any pads. I really wouldn't attempt to solder wires with the board in situ inside the printer with all the wires in the way. Take a photo of the board and connections and remove the board completely. It's only held in with 4 screws and the wires are easy to take out and put back. Honestly, you'll be glad you did. I used tiny wires used for wire-wrapping. If you're still unsure, I have a spare board in the Man Cave somewhere I could take a photo of later.

And yes, Marlin and 115,200 baud.

[fkemps]

Hi Legsmaniac,

Initial soldering with flux went well but the used wire was too stiff and disconnected before I could hot-glue.
Replace with other wire but stiff wire could have damaged the soldering pad.

Because communication on ESP3D to printer logic is not working, I want to validate if TX/RX wiring is reaching logic on the PCB.
Hence the search where TX/R end up on other components to check connectivity.

NOTE: I just noticed on ESP32 board there are also TX0 / RX0.
What are the output pins ESP3D uses to communicate? (will try to read the code to figure out...)

Okay found following:
//which serial ESP use to communicate to printer (ESP32 has 3 serials available, ESP8266 only 2)
//USE_SERIAL_0 for ESP8266/32
//USE_SERIAL_1 for ESP8266/32
//USE_SERIAL_2 for ESP32 Only
#define ESP_SERIAL_OUTPUT USE_SERIAL_0. <=== using default SERIAL_0

In pins.h it is listed as -1 (default)
//Serial Pins
//-1 means use default pins of your board what ever the serial you choose
// * UART 0 possible options are (1, 3), (2, 3) or (15, 13) <======== Not sure what is selected and matching TX/RX on ESP32board
// * UART 1 allows only TX on 2 if UART 0 is not (2, 3)
#ifndef ESP_RX_PIN
#define ESP_RX_PIN -1
#endif //~ESP_RX_PIN
#ifndef ESP_TX_PIN
#define ESP_TX_PIN -1
#endif //~ESP_TX_PIN

[Legsmaniac]

OK, for starters, I can see you have wired TX to TX and RX to RX. This is incorrect.
You need to wire RX on the mainboard to TX on the ESP and TX on the mainboard to RX on the ESP.
Also, have you self-compiled? If so, can I assume you changed it to use TX2/RX2 on your ESP? Otherwise you need to be using TX0/RX0.

It seems you have already discovered this for yourself so hopefully you have it working now? Remember to swap the TX/RX on the ESP.

[Legsmaniac]

EDIT
I just enlarged the images, looks like you DO have the RX to TX and TX to RX, apologies.
In which case then yes, you need to use TX/RX 0 or compile to use Serial 2

[fkemps]

I do compile the code myself and did NOT select Serial 2, so that would be the default matching TX0/RX0.

Let me figure out how to specify Serial 2, recompile and flash (OTA) ;-)
Hint how to set Serial 2 would be appreciated though.

[Legsmaniac]

Hint how to set Serial 2 would be appreciated though.

#define ESP_SERIAL_OUTPUT USE_SERIAL_2

#ifndef ESP_RX_PIN
#define ESP_RX_PIN 16
#endif //~ESP_RX_PIN
#ifndef ESP_TX_PIN
#define ESP_TX_PIN 17
#endif //~ESP_TX_PIN

[fkemps]

Recompiled, flashed...........WORKING!

You've another Alpha tester with Ender 3 v2 purchased last week.

Thanks Legsmaniac

[Legsmaniac]

Excellent! You're welcome. Glad to have helped and glad you have it working.
ESP3D V3 is pretty cool. I've created my own panels to control my WLED lights and Sonoff amongst other things.

[ketan]

You can always change your code on the ESP to change the tx and rx pins.

…

On Wed, Mar 31, 2021, 21:01 Legsmaniac ***@***.***> wrote: OK, for starters, I can see you have wired TX to TX and RX to RX. This is incorrect. You need to wire RX on the mainboard to TX on the ESP and TX on the mainboard to RX on the ESP. Also, have you self-compiled? If so, can I assume you changed it to use TX2/RX2 on your ESP? Otherwise you need to be using TX0/RX0. It seems you have already discovered this for yourself so hopefully you have it working now? Remember to swap the TX/RX on the ESP. — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#592 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAACSZXROFIA5WO72QURZSLTGM547ANCNFSM4YZDM7FQ> .

[ketan]

Did you use any voltage converter/resistor divider. I know esp32 are 3.3v and don't work with 5v. But I read somewhere that this board uses 5v, but it's unclear if that's actually true.

[fkemps]

The ESP32 board comes with both 5V and 3.3V option.

I took the 3.3V from the unused connector left of the display connector. Using it as well for my led strip mounted very neat and tidy without any visual wires (besides the switch top left) and reduced printing capabilities.

[ketan]

Were the RX/TX pins from ESP connected directly to the UART chip on ender3?

[fkemps]

Yes, on pins 2, 3 as shown in the first picture from Legsmaniac.
Using SERIAL_2 for 2nd UART on ESP32.

[Legsmaniac]

Some of my Custom Panels......

😁

[Legsmaniac]

The diagram isn't wrong and is the same as I posted up above.
And if you look at the photos fkemp posted just below mine shows the wiring correctly.

I don't know what you've done but hey, it's working. Finally. 🙄

[tino-q]

I swapped the wires and it worked!, you should check your wiring, maybe its inverted and you dont know!

[tino-q]

For future reference: 4.2.2 Board (With usb to serial ch340g chip) and Nodemcu v3 esp8266 users this is the wiring that got me working.

[Legsmaniac]

you should check your wiring, maybe its inverted and you dont know!

🤣🤣🤣 My wiring is absolutely correct, thank you.
Maybe you realised you changed something in platformio.ini and are too embarrassed to admit?
Maybe you altered something in the ESP code and you just don't know?
Maybe we'll never know but the fact of the matter is, you finally got it working. Somehow. You still haven't confirmed how. 🤔
So subject closed. Happy printing. 😀

[miroan81]

I have esp32cam board where tx and rx is reversed/ not correctly marked by a factory. Maybe you had the same problem

[irebane]

I am sorry. I know this is the really wrong place but i decide to ask anyway. Have 4.2.2 board with CH3 chip made RX/TX mod described here to run Octopi with Pi3 but serial connection won't open. I tried to use both serial ports on the Pi but nothing... also tried switching the RX and TX wires no connection. I theory i know it should work but it doesn't.... mb i am missing something. Sorry again for wrong place to ask, but that is the only place i have seen this mod. Thank you!

[Legsmaniac]

The Rx/Tx on board (Soft Serial) is different to the Rx/Tx via USB (Hard Serial). The Pi is expecting Hard Serial communication from a USB port, this is why it's not working. The Octopi software would need to be changed to communicate with Soft Serial. Or else use the USB port or connect to the USB pins, not the chip as described here. That is intended for this project only.

[irebane]

The Rx/Tx on board (Soft Serial) is different to the Rx/Tx via USB (Hard Serial).
That is intended for this project only.

Thank you very much for clarification. At least now i know where to dig. Again sorry for asking it here.

[Becbinzen]

Hello,
Legsmaniac, can you please share us your all software configuration for V4.2.7 board ?

[miroan81]

One question guys. I'm about to connect esp32 to 4.2.2 board, from where do you take 5V to supply esp?
Can ble port safely provide enough current for esp32 to run? I guess we need about 200-300mA for esp alone
Thanks

[fkemps]

Hi Miron81,

I used the free 5V pin on the PCB.
See red/black wire on top of the last photo from my post of 31 Mar 2021.

[miroan81]

Thanks, I was in doubt if those traces can handle that much current but if it works for you almost a year later I think I'll be fine then.
Thanks again!