A small clear box that plugs into a Genmitsu controller's serial header and lets a phone jog the gantry, zero the bit and stream a job, with no laptop tied to the machine by USB.
The GGW-UART is a Wi-Fi bridge for Genmitsu's GRBL controllers. It connects to the board's serial (UART) header, joins the workshop's 2.4 GHz network, and hands control to the Genmitsu app on a phone. The laptop that used to sit beside the machine on a USB lead can stay in the house.
GRBL does not care where its G-code comes from. Candle over USB, an offline pad reading an SD card, or this module over Wi-Fi all feed the same serial stream to the same firmware. What the GGW-UART changes is the distance between the operator and that stream.
A typical evening on a 3018-PRO with the module fitted looks like this:
Owners tend to value that final step above the rest. Dust, noise and a laptop fan do not mix well, and a 3018 cutting maple at a cautious 400 to 600 mm/min can run for an hour on a detailed pocket. With the phone as the control surface, the computer stays clean and free for the next drawing.
The module is Genmitsu's own part, sized for Genmitsu boards. On a clone frame from another maker the serial header may use a different plug, so the compatibility list is the first thing to read.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | GGW-UART |
| Product type | Wireless control kit for GRBL-based Genmitsu routers |
| Wireless standard | 2.4 GHz radio, single band |
| Wi-Fi security | WPA2-PSK |
| Pairing extra | WPS |
| Antenna | One, internal |
| Control method | Smartphone app; remote monitoring |
| App functions | Jogging, G-code sending, milling database, multi-machine view |
| G-code handling | Long file names and commented G-code supported (app update) |
| Compatible machines | 3018-PRO, 3020-PRO MAX V2, 3030-PROVer MAX, 4040 Reno, 4040-PRO MAX |
| 4040-PRO | Compatible after a replacement mainboard |
| Included | GGW-UART module, 4-pin Dunbot cable, JTAG-Dunbot cable, SD card |
| Housing | Transparent |
| Weight | 0.06 kg |
| Maker's setup time | Under 5 minutes |
| Warranty | 1 year, manufacturer |
Genmitsu built the GGW-UART with small workshops in mind as well as single hobby benches. Each machine gets its own module, and the app lists them side by side. A shop with a 3018-PRO for engraving and a 4040 Reno for larger plywood signs can start and monitor both from one screen.
The app has grown since launch. Recent updates listed by Genmitsu add:
Remote monitoring is the other headline. The maker describes watching and controlling machines from anywhere, which in practice depends on the phone reaching the same network or a route into it. Treat it as a way to check a long pocket from the next room, not a reason to leave a spinning router unattended.
| Job | Why Wi-Fi helps | What still needs a person |
|---|---|---|
| Plywood sign, V-carve | Long run, no laptop in the dust | Clamp check before the first pass |
| Acrylic nameplate | Quick re-runs from the phone | Watching for melted chips |
| Two machines cutting at once | One screen for both | A hand near each stop button |
Where the module falls short is range and band. It is a single 2.4 GHz radio with one internal antenna, so a steel garage door between router and access point can weaken the link. A cheap 2.4 GHz extender near the bench usually settles it, and a link that drops mid-job is a reason to fall back to USB for long cuts until the signal is steady.
No soldering is involved, and the job is short. Two leads come in the box, a 4-pin Dunbot cable and a JTAG-Dunbot cable. Genmitsu's setup guide for the wireless controller names the one each board takes, so match the lead to the socket on your controller before powering up.
Check these before relying on it:
The 3018-PROVer V2 is not on the compatibility list. Owners of that machine use the PROVer V2 offline controller instead, and the Genmitsu 3018 range sets out which board each model carries.
Three ways exist to get G-code into a 3018 without a laptop parked beside it. The GGW-UART is the wireless one; offline pads read an SD card; and full board swaps such as the MKS DLC32 bring Wi-Fi and a screen together. Which one suits depends on the frame, the network and how often files change.
| Route | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| GGW-UART Wi-Fi module | Genmitsu owners who design on one machine and cut on another | Needs 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and a phone |
| Genmitsu offline module | Garages with no network, files on SD | Buttons only, no preview |
| MKS DLC32 V2 kit | Non-Genmitsu frames wanting Wi-Fi and a screen | A full controller swap and rewiring |
| USB with Candle or UGS | Learning, tuning, first cuts | Computer tied to the machine |
A sensible order for most owners:
Three checks come before ordering: the exact model name printed on the machine, that the network offers 2.4 GHz, and that the phone runs the Genmitsu app. With those settled, the module is a small part that changes how a 3018 fits into a house. The wider list of add-ons sits in 3018 upgrades.
One habit carries over from USB work whatever the link: keep a hand's reach from the machine during the first minute of every job. A phone screen can pause a feed, but the fastest stop on a 3018 is still a physical button on the bench.
No. It is a single-band 2.4 GHz module with WPA2-PSK security, so the router must offer a 2.4 GHz band.
It is not on Genmitsu's list for the GGW-UART. The PROVer V2 has its own offline controller instead.
Yes. Each machine needs its own module, and the Genmitsu app shows and controls them from one interface.
No. It sends and runs G-code; toolpaths still come from Easel, Carveco, Fusion 360 or similar.
A replacement mainboard. The module works on that machine only after the board is changed.