Getting started with SKR 3 EZ - no USB communications

[jkuusama]

So, I have a SKR 3 EZ board, 723 variant, with Trinamic 5160 drivers. I want to try grblHAL on my machine with this board (because of the jerk acceleration). I use the web builder with minimum options (for now). The firmware gets generated ok, and flashing via memory card behaves normally, the file gets renamed etc. I am expecting a USB serial port to appear, but this doesn't happen. What am I missing?

I think the Native USB is the right choice, but I've tried the virtual UART option also. I know the board and its USB port works, as I can run Marlin on it.

[terjeio]

This is a driver issue? Ping @dresco

[dresco]

Hi @jkuusama

Can confirm Native USB is the right choice. Just to check your web builder options, are you selecting the BTT SKR 3 H723 (bootloader) board option? The bootloader variant is necessary if flashing from memory card...

[jkuusama]

That’s it, thank you! Somehow that option didn’t occur to me, as I interpreted that option as “bootloader included” and I don’t need a bootloader with sd card, since the board already has one. :-) (facepalm) Off topic: Now I’m going to spend the next week learning grblHAL, writing notes etc. The build-in help is great! Is that available as an off-line reference? (I guess not, as I haven’t found it – or then there is a link missing on the wiki). If not, I’m going to copy at least parts of it for my own use as a reference. Is this something of a more general interest? I like to give back to the community, and there is a subtle difference of writing something just for me and writing something for the world. From: Jon Escombe ***@***.***> Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2025 11:02 AM To: grblHAL/core ***@***.***> Cc: Juha Kuusama, LitePlacer Inc ***@***.***>; Mention ***@***.***> Subject: Re: [grblHAL/core] Getting started with SKR 3 EZ - no USB communications (Discussion #774) Hi @jkuusama<https://github.com/jkuusama> Can confirm Native USB is the right choice. Just to check your web builder options, are you selecting the BTT SKR 3 H723 (bootloader) board option? The bootloader variant is necessary if flashing from memory card... — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#774 (comment)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABDYRZRIYKIGV32SWBQZUND3IIG7XAVCNFSM6AAAAACBMAG33OVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTGNZUGI2DOOA>. You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.******@***.***>>

[whmountains]

Hey @jkuusama, may I recommend you keep a tab open with config.h for convenient searching? It's the best documentation of all the options which I've found so far.

I've also learned a lot by using gSender and watching what it sends in the console when I do various operations like jogging and starting the spindle. This has helped me as I am am writing my own software to send gcode. (I am building something that is not exactly a CNC machine.)

Lastly, the SainSmart grbl 1.1 quick reference has been invaluable.

If you were to somehow combine these resources into one, it would be incredibly helpful to a someone like me who is just learning the platform. Perhaps something like the SainSmart reference updated for grblHAL, combined with some gcode examples to show how the commands can be used.

BTW I see you're the creator of LitePlacer. That's so cool! I remember researching it when I was trying to come up with a way to make PCBs at home. Unfortunately I couldn't afford it at the time and then China assembly got really cheap, but I've always wanted to have a capability like that.

[jkuusama]

Yeah, that's me. Than you for the pointers!