Has anyone been succesful in connecting to a BlackBox x32 using a Macbook? I have a USB-C to USB-B cable that plugs into both the MacBook and the BlackBox, I have loaded the Silicon Labs VPC driver. The port shows up in the CONTROL software. I have verified that port can be seen by the Macbook, but I get this exception. I have rebooted the macbook a bunch, reinstalled the driver multiple times. I am running Sonoma 14.2.1 OSX [13:10:09] [ connect ] PORT INFO: Port is now open: /dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART - Attempting to detect Firmware [13:10:09] [ connect ] Checking for firmware on /dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART [13:10:09] [ connect ] Detecting Firmware: Method 1 (Autoreset) [13:10:09] [ connect ] Detecting Firmware: Method 2 (Ctrl+X) [13:10:10] [ connect ] Detecting Firmware: Method 3 (others that are not supported) [13:10:13] [ connect ] ERROR!: No supported firmware detected - See docs:blackbox:faq-usb-connection-failed [OpenBuilds Documentation] for more details. Closing port /dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART [13:10:13] [ disconnect ] PORT INFO: Port closed Thanks in advance
Installed a windows 10 virtual machine on my MacBook today and got it talking to the BlackBox x32 using the same cable as I tried with the Mac. I downloaded the latest VPC client from Silicon Labs for the Mac but it didn’t seem to connect properly. Once I installed the Windows version of the driver in the VM the Control software was able to identify the Black Box on COM3. Still could not connect with the MacBook. if I turn WiFi on for the BlackBox will it be available for me to connect to via the MacBook to upload files or maintain the configuration?
Yes, sounded like some kind of Mac/Driver issue. One thing you can try is to move the Run/Flash jumper under the top cover to the Run position (disables autoreset, which prevents firmware updates, but may bypass Mac/driver issue - still a test, never had to do that before, but worth a shot) Yes with Wifi set up you don't need USB
Also please checkout Community - Silicon Labs and make sure you have the correct driver version Unable to see it on Wifi: Make sure Mac and BlackBox are on the same network (subnet) and that the Mac firewall allows CONTROL to access the network
I removed the Run/Flash jumper but it still didnt work. I suspect that the system extension on Sonoma is not getting loaded properly causing the issue to occur.
I uninstalled the VPC driver again this morning and reinstalled. I can see the BlackBox listed under the USB section of the System info now (I couldnt before). But the Control still doesnt connect up to the BlackBox.
Might be that? Might be better to ask your IT/Apple guy, but googling that for you "No User Consent" Shown for Driver Install - Apple Community and No User Consent - Apple Community
As soon as the installation flagged that it needed approval - I went into the System Settings | Security and Privacy panel and approved the request. No more than 15 seconds between the message showing up and the approval
Thus the second link in my reply too. Though just googling that for you sadly we are not the Apple Helpdesk
Good evening. FWIW, I’m using a 2022 MacBook Pro 14”, OpenBuilds Control, and BlackBox32. No issues. I never had to install any additional software or drivers, and didn’t have to change any jumpers. That probably doesn’t help fix your issue, but just helping to rule out the question of whether BB32 “works with MacBook”. Thx, rink.
I think there are 2 problems: The Silicon Labs VPC system extension seems to have been broken under Mac Sonoma based on some recent support what version of OSX are you running? I am on Sonoma 14.2.1
Good morning. Yes, I’m running the same, Sonoma 14.2.1. And mine is a 2021, not 2022. I purchased it in 22. M1Pro chip, 32 GB. I have the Parallels Windows emulator installed, but I don’t use it for this purpose. I just run OB Control directly on the Mac.
Awaiting your confirmation on this question also earlier which was another request to review the even earlier message where we also provided the link Still no confirmation if that helped Also, Have a read through the Driver's release notes too https://www.silabs.com/documents/public/release-notes/Mac_OSX_VCP_Driver_Release_Notes.txt which mentions: Mount the DMG file and double click on Silicon Labs VCP Driver. On MacOS 10.13 and later, the installation of the driver may be blocked. To unblock, open the System Preferences Security & Privacy pane and unblock the system extension. See Apple Technical Note TN2459 "User-Approved Kernel Extension Loading" for more information. Technical Note TN2459: User-Approved Kernel Extension Loading
I reviewed all of the links that you posted and confirmed that my machine is configured like they suggested. I even disabled the System Integrity Protection (SIP) as per one of the articles. dov@Dovs-MacBook-Air ~ % csrutil status System Integrity Protection status: disabled. The difference between my situation and the other guy that posted may be that my laptop never had an earlier version of Mac OS on it - it was always Sonoma which is after the changes that were made for High Sierra. In the Kernel doc you referenced - it mentioned that once you have something approved it will be grandfathered in for future updates. When I run the Windows VM on my Macbook, it is able to connect to the BlackBox x32 thru the same cable that fails under Mac OS. Somehow Windows knows how to handle the hardware better than the Mac does. I configured the Wifi on the BlackBox while I was connected thru the virtual machine and it worked for awhile until I restarted the blackbox but now I cant see it when I scan for the network. When I check back thru the VM, I can see the GRBL settings for my Wifi but it doesn't look like it connected properly. Bottom line I am still stuck where I was on Sunday
Thanks for confirming. Speak to your Mac guy, its definately a permissions issue per that screenshot you provided, so just not sure how to provide permission (not a Mac user) - they always look cool, but overly complicated in an effort to appear user friendly (but still unix under the covers) Otherwise, Craigslist for a throwaway Windows PC - much better idea around the dust and vibrations and mess of the CNC than an expensive Mac anyway
Will the OpenBuilds Interface device solve the problem? Not sure how I could adjust the configuration parameters for my machine set up though
Yes it will make the machine standalone. Has a more limited Grbl settings editor too (Tools and Utils Menu) But I mean getting the Mac to load the driver shouldn't be that hard. To someone that knows it better (;
I created a discussion thread on the SiLabs forum - Community - Silicon Labs Hopefully someone there can help. Fingers crossed
I believe my MacBook may have been Monterey previously. I installed the Windows emulator (Parallels v19) under that OS. I've since upgraded to Sonoma (whenever Apple pushed it out). But, as I said before, I don't use that Windows emulator for running the CNC with the BB32, so that never comes into play, the Windows emulator is irrelevant. I simply run the OpenBuilds Control app directly on the MacBook and have had no problems with that whatsoever. Nothing extra needed. I just downloaded the Mac version of OB Control from OB's website, installed it, and I was off and running. I don’t understand why you need a Silicon Labs VPC in between the MacBook and the BB32? And it’s probably obvious, but just in case….In OB Control, it is important to select the correct connection in the drop-down menu before clicking "connect". The one starting with "FTDI".
I removed the Silicon Labs driver I installed and rebooted. The screen shot from my Control only shows the usbserial-0001 interface, which doesnt work. The System Report shows the device being recognized. When I had the SiLabs driver installed I would see a different interface listed in the CONTROL software (SLAB_USBtoUART) which also did not connect properly
Yes it does. I think that information is stored in a protected database as part of the configuration. Deleting the driver did not clean that up