Ground Control Crash on launch

Software Ground Control
1

I’ve built my bolt frame, attached the hardware, built my temp sled, uploaded latest 1.19 firmware via arduino, and have installed ground control. last step is to calibrate.

And GC crashes on launch. Did some research, and saw that wiping the EEPROM helped someone. So I’ve I’ve wiped the EEPROM, and re-uploaded 1.19 Firmware. Same issue.

OK, let me try a fresh install. So I installed Arduino IDE and Ground Control on a separate laptop, same issue there.

I’ve confirmed with the Arduino IDE that I am getting good output on com3 and 57600.

Here’s the log

Connected on port COM3
PCB v1.1 Detected
error: EEPROM read fail. Using default settings.
Sent: $$
Grbl v1.00
ready
ok
Sent: B05
[Forward Calculating Position]
Message: Unable to find valid machine position for chain lengths 0.00, 0.00 . Please set the chains to a known length (Actions -> Set Chain Lengths)

$0=2438.40 (machine width, mm)
$1=1219.19995117 (machine height, mm)
$2=2978.39990234 (motor distance, mm)
$3=463.00000000 (motor height, mm)
$4=310.00000000 (sled width, mm)
$5=139.00000000 (sled height, mm)
$6=79.00000000 (sled cg, mm)
$7=1 (Kinematics Type 1=Quadrilateral, 2=Triangular)
$8=250.00000000 (rotation radius, mm)
$9=2000 (axis idle before detach, ms)
$10=0 (full length of chain, mm)
$11=1650 (calibration chain length, mm)
$12=8113.70019531 (main steps per revolution)
$13=63.50000000 (distance / rotation, mm)
$15=700 (max feed, mm/min)
$16=1 (Auto Z Axis, 1 = Yes)
$17=0 (auto spindle enable 1=servo, 2=relay_h, 3=relay_l)
$18=12.60000038 (max z axis RPM)
$19=3.17000007 (z axis distance / rotation)
$20=7560.00000000 (z axis steps per revolution)
$21=1300.00000000 (main Kp Pos)
$22=0.00000000 (main Ki Pos)
$23=34.00000000 (main Kd Pos)
$24=1.00000000 (main Pos proportional weight)
$25=5.00000000 (main Kp Velocity)
$26=0.00000000 (main Ki Velocity)
$27=0.27999999 (main Kd Velocity)
$28=1.00000000 (main Velocity proportional weight)
$29=0.00000000 (z axis Kp Pos)
$30=0.00000000 (z axis Ki Pos)
$31=34.00000000 (z axis Kd Pos)
$32=1.00000000 (z axis Pos proportional weight)

2

There’s an issue with v1.19 of GroundControl that can cause this. When the new groundcontrol.ini file is created, the section for propweightz in [Computed Settings] is not created.

The quick-and-dirty workaround is to add this line to groundcontrol.ini at the end of the [Computed Settings] section.
‘’’
propweightz = 1

‘’’

The groundcontrol.ini file will be in your home folder.

3 Likes
3

GC does not crash when USB is disconnected. It crashes as soon as I connect the USB. I was able to get the last python message by launching from the command line:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File “C:\Users\Bar\Git\GroundControl\main.py”, line 502, in
GroundControlApp().run()
File “C:\Python27\lib\site-packages\kivy\app.py”, line 828, in run
File “C:\Python27\lib\site-packages\kivy\base.py”, line 504, in runTouchApp
File “C:\Python27\lib\site-packages\kivy\core\window\window_sdl2.py”, line 663, in mainloop
File “C:\Python27\lib\site-packages\kivy\core\window\window_sdl2.py”, line 405, in _mainloop
File “C:\Python27\lib\site-packages\kivy\base.py”, line 339, in idle
File “C:\Python27\lib\site-packages\kivy\clock.py”, line 581, in tick
File “kivy_clock.pyx”, line 367, in kivy._clock.CyClockBase._process_events (kivy_clock.c:7700)
File “kivy_clock.pyx”, line 397, in kivy._clock.CyClockBase._process_events (kivy_clock.c:7577)
File “kivy_clock.pyx”, line 395, in kivy._clock.CyClockBase._process_events (kivy_clock.c:7498)
File “kivy_clock.pyx”, line 167, in kivy._clock.ClockEvent.tick (kivy_clock.c:3490)
File “C:\Users\Bar\Git\GroundControl\main.py”, line 341, in runPeriodically
self.receivedSetting(message)
File “C:\Users\Bar\Git\GroundControl\main.py”, line 301, in receivedSetting
maslowSettings.syncFirmwareKey(int(parameter), value, self.data)
File “C:\Users\Bar\Git\GroundControl\Settings\maslowSettings.py”, line 628, in syncFirmwareKey
File “C:\Python27\lib\site-packages\kivy\config.py”, line 474, in get
File “C:\Python27\lib\ConfigParser.py”, line 618, in get
ConfigParser.NoOptionError: No option ‘propweightz’ in section: ‘Computed Settings’
[7128] Failed to execute script main

4

thanks!

4 Likes
5

Sorry!! I’m trying to figure out why this is happening right now!

4 Likes
6

The only .ini file I find in the groundcontrol directory structure is “old.ini” in the GroundControl directory. And this file contains the values

[Computed Settings]
distperrot = 63.5
kpposmain = 1300
kpposz = 1300
kiposmain = 0
kiposz = 0
kdposmain = 34
kdposz = 34
propweightmain = 1
propweightz = 1
distperrotrightchaintolerance = 63.5
kpvmain = 5
kpvz = 5
kivmain = 0
kivz = 0
kdvmain = 0.28
kdvz = 0.28
chainoversprocketcomputed = 2
fpwmcomputed = 3
kinematicstypecomputed = 2
distperrotleftchaintolerance = 63.5

[Maslow Settings]
bedheight = 1219.2
openfile = C:\Users\Bar\Downloads\cnc-013.nc
motoroffsety = 3124.2
sledwidth = 310
zaxissafeheight = 5
bedwidth = 2438.4
comport =
macro1_title = Macro 1
sledheight = 139
macro2 =
macro1 =
zaxis = 0
sledcg = 79
macro2_title = Macro 2
colorscheme = Light
zdistperrot = 3.17
motorspacingx = 3124.2

[Advanced Settings]
rotationradius = 3124.2
zencodersteps = 7560.0
kiv = 0
gearteeth = 10
spindleautomate = 0
chainsagcorrection = 0
chainpitch = 6.35
maxfeedrate = 700
enablepospidvalues = 0
rightchaintolerance = 0
enablevpidvalues = 0
chainlength = 3360
chainoversprocket = Bottom
fpwm = 490Hz
kdpos = 34
encodersteps = 8113.73
truncate = 0
homex = 0.0
homey = 0.0
kinematicstype = Triangular
kipos = 0
kdv = 0.28
digits = 4
kppos = 1300
kpv = 5
propweight = 1
leftchaintolerance = 0

[Ground Control Settings]
zoomout = pagedown
centercanvasonresize = 0
zoomin = pageup
validextensions = .nc, .ngc, .text, .gcode

7

the ini should be at %UserProfile%\groundcontrol.ini

8

This worked for me, Thanks everyone!

3 Likes
9

To be clear, I am having the same problem as listed above. I had no response when first trying to calibrate the machine, and then must have gotten the ports right. Plugged usb back in and gears moved a little bit.and then crashed.

I found the “old ini” file like above but the “propweightz=1” value was already listed.
Maybe I have to look somewhere else to find the
“%UserProfile%\groundcontrol.ini” ?

I am thankful for any help.

10

Are you running the 1.20 release of FW and GC now? It was released this 23 hours ago and the fix is in there.

1 Like
11

Thanks, I wasn’t and just updated the GC but I can’t seem to get the updated FW to the arduino. I read that there are no changes in the 1.20 FW but updated to keep numbers consistent. I have played with calibration all day, I am a wood shop teacher and have a little bit of time, and finally got to the part in calibration where you extend the left chain to the right gear. Immediately, lost connectivity, meaning the GC doesn’t respond to the chain tightening and measurement part. This is fun and quirky, and am making incremental progress. Any ideas.

12

and

does not add up for me. Can you elaborate?

13

I am making progress, but have been in the process of calibrating and measuring the chains. I think I am making progress, but my edge is definitely being pushed. I can’t seem to send the updated fw to the arduino. Maybe you give me a pointer. Also, during measurement of the chains, left chain wrapped around gear, don’t know if I broke the motor? (thus the warning). It still turns, but only one or two turns and stops now. It doesn’t measure the whole chain. and the centering process doesn’t do much of anything.
Thank you for your thoughtful help.

14

Try running Actions → Test Motors / Encoders to test everything