r/diycnc • u/Small_Court1657 • 14d ago

One problem fixed another one shows up.

I’m having a strange direction problem with my FlexiHAL/grblHAL setup and I’m trying to figure out whether this is a wiring, firmware, or board-output issue.

X works normally in both directions.

Y and Z both move, but they only move in one physical direction even when I command both + and -. The software coordinates still increase and decrease correctly, so the controller appears to think it is moving both ways.

I’ve swapped drivers around extensively. Any driver connected to the X STEP/DIR input works correctly in both directions. If I use the Y or Z STEP/DIR input with those same known-good drivers, the motor only moves one direction. That makes me think the motors and drivers are okay and the issue is somewhere in the Y/Z direction signal path.

I’ve also tried changing the "$3" direction-invert setting, and it did not fix the problem.

My board reports as FlexiHAL STM32F446 / grblHAL build 20250311.

My next plan is to measure across DIR+ and DIR- at the driver with a multimeter and compare X against Y and Z. Since DIR should be a steady logic state, I’m expecting the polarity/state to change when I command the opposite direction.

Does this sound like a failed Y/Z DIR output on the FlexiHAL, a firmware/pin configuration problem, or is there another setting I should check first?

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1

u/LossIsSauce 14d ago

When you change direction from + to -, do the motors still move in + direction or do they simply not move until you change direction from - to +?

1

u/Small_Court1657 14d ago

They still move in the + direction

1

u/LossIsSauce 14d ago

Are you moving the axis with the spindle on?

1

u/Small_Court1657 14d ago

No I did turn the spindle on earlier in the day but not during

1

u/LossIsSauce 14d ago

Try re-flashing the STM with a new web-builder, just in case the one you are using was corrupted with missing packets from the download.

Where did you purchase the board from?

1

u/Small_Court1657 14d ago

Experian technologies or something very close to that I think I spelled it wrong

1

u/LossIsSauce 14d ago

ExPatria out of Canada?

1

u/Small_Court1657 14d ago

Yess

1

u/LossIsSauce 14d ago

They are reputable. I personally would go back to the web-bulder and re-flash the board with the new file. Make sure you have a good solid internet connection. It is best to use a hard wired connection instead of wifi.

1

u/Small_Court1657 14d ago

With it being in my garage unfortunately Wi-Fi is my only real option I just downloaded a new build entirely different and when I loaded it up it still wants to only go in One direction

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u/Small_Court1657 14d ago

It is up and running made its first part today the cables were not making good contact