Reprap Forums

[firmware] What is the difference between ISR and SIGNAL? (no replies)

mccoyn — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:22:54 -0800

I'm trying to get the 5D firmware working on my Arduino Duemilanova w/ATMega328. After I changed most the obvious things I uploaded it and ran it. When I watched it with a serial monitor I observed that it repeatedly reset itself, crashing during startup. I narrowed this down to the line that starts up the timer interrupt.

I compared the code in the 5D firmware to this tutorial: [www.avrfreaks.net]

The only major difference I saw was the function signature for the interrupt routine. So I changed the 5D firmware line,

SIGNAL(SIG_OUTPUT_COMPARE1A)

to,

ISR(TIMER1_COMPA_vect)

and it worked. Does anyone know why the SIGNAL code didn't work? Would the ISR version work on the Sanguino and the motherboard? If so, it would be convenient to permanently change this in the firmware.

Dear Santa..... (1 reply)

murd — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:47:12 -0800

Had a look at the Huntsman (formerly Ciba) Araldite Digitalis machine video here? [www.youtube.com]
Very, very impressive. The closest thing to true CAD-to-product rapid manufacturing yet. Works like the original UV photopolymerisation, but instead of one pinpoint of UV light, it can expose up to 40000 points simultaneously, so can produce at the order of thousands of times faster. And they've got it producing a tray of roses (with individual petals!) simultaneously to show off the speed and detail. Their site says they'll work out how much to charge for it compared to the opposition and start shipping it about now.

my DC motor not working with arduino. (1 reply)

Lukasz — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:03:38 -0800

Hi i am using the second generation electronics with arduino. I have tested my DC extruder motor with the test program and it works. When i upload the full firmware to my arduino and use the host program on my PC the extruder doesn't work. Everything else works. The the x-y-z no problem. The fan and the heater works. Will the extruder work even if the temperature is not high enough?
I heated the extruder up to 200 C and pressed the extrude button. I monitored the DC motor connections but there is no signal. I checked the arduino outputs 11 and 12 but there is no signal. Please help.

DC motor speed sensor, connection help. (no replies)

Lukasz — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:18:43 -0800

Hi. I am new in the reprap world. I can't wait to see my machine working.

I have problem with the DC extruder motor speed sensor. I am using the opto-sensor instead of the magnetic rotary encoder. The problem is I don't know where to plug it in. The electronics diagram doesn't include it.

I looked into the firmware pin assignment but none of the pins seems to be assigned to read the sensor.

Anyone using it? Is there extra software I have to type myself?

Will it work without it?

I will appreciate any help. I looked everywhere for it but unfortunately there is no information.

Printer mechanism positioning problems (3 replies)

kkannan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:01:54 -0800

Hi All,

I am building an XY table out of two old printer mechanisms and 3.5" in floppy drive as Z axis which is holding a pen right now. The electronics are arduino uploaded with reprap firmware 1.1 and stepper drivers are l297/298 combos.

This crazy contraption is working as a plotter and i could draw some pictures. The problem is, i don't have the specs for one of the printer head driving motor. It has got a 15 mm timing pulley attached to the belt and no word about step angle. I stuck a pen and tried to measure the angle by plotting 1000 step line and divide by inch to obtain the steps/in and came to the conclusion that it is 0.9 deg.

Here i discovered that 1000 steps forward and 1000 steps backward doesn't come to the same position. Each successive 1000 back and forth movement keeps shifting the start and stop positions to one side. I guess it is not missing the steps, because the distance between start and stop is consistent.

Here is the code snippet which moves 1000 steps forward and reverse the same amount once i click on the serial monitor in Arduino (alpha) IDE.

boolean done = false;
void loop(){
  if(!done){
  digitalWrite(7,HIGH);// Enable stepper motor
  digitalWrite(6,LOW); // Direction 

  for(int i = 0;i < 1000;i++){
      digitalWrite(5,HIGH); // step pulse
      delay(5);
      digitalWrite(5,LOW);  // step pulse
      delay(5);
  }

  digitalWrite(6,HIGH);    // reversing the direction
  delay(5);
  
  for(int i = 0;i < 1000;i++){
      digitalWrite(5,HIGH); // step pulse
      delay(5);
      digitalWrite(5,LOW);  // step pulse
      delay(5);
  }
  
  done = true;
  digitalWrite(7,LOW);     // disable motor
  }

I tried changing the board with same results. BTW i am using the unipolar motor as bipolar by using the half coil config. mechanisms are stacked one over the other and the bottom one driving a thick board to hold paper. Both motors are behaving the same way. But i have to mention that the mechanisms are shaky at various places.

Am i missing something obvious ?

Thanks
Kannan

(Running on Vista Home pre/arduino/arduino (Alpha)/ reprap 1.1

Reprap Nasa style - news link (2 replies)

stephen george — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:49:47 -0800

Reprap NASA style

[news.yahoo.com]

regards

stephen

Let's talk / Getting Started (no replies)

johnnyr — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:27:04 -0800

Hi guys, I am starting this thread so we can start getting printing.

I am Johnny Russell.
I live in South Pittsburg, Tennessee
I have a MakerBot.

I am not in Atlanta, but there is not a group forum set up closer to me.
I am printing my first Mendel for myself, and as soon as I can get it going I am putting it to work printing more.

cheap stepper motor controller (no replies)

james glanville — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:18:45 -0800

Hi, I'm not affiliated with the guy in any way, but I thought I'd recommend the following stepper controller:

[www.diycnc.co.uk]

Its not much more than 20 quid shipped anywhere, and I've found it excellent. It manages 1/8th stepping well, which I hope will improve the accuracy of my axes/extruder, and only gets slightly warm to the touch at 2.5A. While it suggests a higher voltage, it works fine at 12V at 10cm/sec on my heavy-axis darwin. Hope this helps someone,

James

Frage zu Gen3 Elektronik (1 reply)

Gogo — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:05:18 -0800

Hallo,

ich habe mir die Gen3- Elektronik wie sie von Makerbot angeboten wird angesehen.
Mir ist allerdings nicht klar geworden, ob man mit ihr direkt von SD-Card drucken kann wie bei der Elektronik von BfB.
Kann mir jemand Auskunft geben?

mfG Gogo

Edit "EMC Based RepStrap" wiki page (no replies)

casainho — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:27:24 -0800

Hello :-)

I would like to ask admins to edit the page: [www.reprap.org]

And put there at least a link for the information on page: [objects.reprap.org]

BrendanErwin started to wrote the EmcRepStrap but is not more interested on it. I already started to build my own EMCRepStrap and want to document it, to help others and myself.

Thank you.

Tracking algorithms and speed change. (6 replies)

grael — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:38:23 -0800

Hi,
I've been pretty quiet, occupied elsewhere for a while, but I'm back, and keen to get going again. For those who don't know, I decided at the beginning of this 2009 year to design up a new machine using an ST Microelectronics ARM 100 pin 72MHz microcontroller. I got 15 boards built, and they are useable after a few jumper placements to correct a bad edit I made designing the board.

The topic question,
At the moment, I've got an interrupt running 5 channels PWM, 5 channels servo motor or brushless ESC, and 4 on-board bipolar stepper motor drivers. (L298 with some feedback)
At the moment, I've got the steppers running as fast as possible without speed ramping, and with decent drive waveforms. I can (theoretically) bump the speed up to 16 x faster, but that wouldn't work without some speed ramping and other finessing. However, it promises some room for granularity in acceleration.

I haven't done any g-code parsing code yet, but I was thinking to convert each G-code as it comes, into a start to finish coordinate array in 4 axis. This processor has 20k RAM. I could be non economical and allow 4 bytes per axis per point stamp (16 bytes), but if I have a long, detailed move, then this translates to... say 256mm x 1/256mm accuracy, = 2^16 x 4 bytes x 4 axis. Nasty !

So, I think I'll have to calculate mostly on the fly, with a short lookahead buffer for speed profiling. That way, I can do coordinate calculations and acceleration, deceleration calcs in the main loop, with results available in the buffer, for the interrupt.

To complicate this, I'm still a relative C novice:S

Acceleration and Deceleration can be pre-calculated, assuming that the mechanical power and inertia at each axis is OK.

Have I got anything here really wrong ?

Any other things I've missed ?

Filament sensor (no replies)

Barney — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:34:31 -0800

My first contribution to the RepRap project: I've worked out a way to use the rotation sensor to measure the filament feed rate. This means you can sense when the pinch wheel is slipping, as well as using it for motor speed control. Details are in my blog:

Where can I find measured art for laser cut mendel parts? (no replies)

lineofdraw — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:42:09 -0800

I've looked over all the Mendel 3d files. Ive read and re read the assembly instructions.
Can anyone tell me where I can find the measured art or patterns for the "thin parts" and the "Thick Parts"?

The instructions clearly show the Mendel created parts being bolted together and then being bolted to laser cut or hand cut parts of flat material. I cant find the patterns for these flat parts anywhere.

Does anyone know where to look?

Suggestion for the Repstrap template stickers (no replies)

Tornadoboy — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:17:37 -0800

Hi, I just thought I'd throw this suggestion out there:

I noticed that the sticker templates for the Mcwire Repstrap don't have any center markings for the holes, it might make things a lot easier and accurate if there were little crosses marking the exact centers, especially with the larger holes where it is easy to misjudge where that is.

Thanks, keep up the great work!

Whoops, just looking through all the stickers and a lot of them do have centers, apparently the ones that really need to be accurate, but still it would be handy on all of them to keep things neat and tidy.

Repstrap materials question (no replies)

Tornadoboy — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:12:32 -0800

Hi everybody, here's a dumb question:

What's the thickness of the material for the repstrap stage platforms and bearing arms supposed to be? I can't seem to find it in the instructions anywhere, although I get the impression it's not critical but I thought I had better ask anyway, especially for the bearing arms where bolts might stick out too much.

motherboard v1.2 - Capacitor call-out discrepancy (4 replies)

ebrooks — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:45:29 -0800

At [reprap.org] and on the BOM it calls out 2 x 15 pF caps but printed on the board it says 22 pF. Does anyone know why the discrepancy and which one is correct? I am referring to C1 and C2.

Thanks,

Evan

Extruder Controller 2.2 problem (4 replies)

Jeff B — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:28:21 -0800

As some of you may have seen in the software forum that I am having some trouble with my pre assembled extruder controller from makerbot.

Heres the problem: I can not upload firmware on it at all no matter what timing I try with the reset button nothing works I always get this error:

avrdude: stk500_getsync(): not in sync: resp=0x48
avrdude: stk500_disable(): protocol error, expect=0x14, resp=0x48

I know this error means that the board isnt syncing with the Arduino Software and that.

I can use the same computer to do the firmware on the motherboard
I have selected the correct settings port, board, ive checked the port settings.
The board has no wires connected to it but the ttl cable

On the board itself when I hit the reset button should the debug led flash as it does on the motherboard?

Also R1 is missing theres balls of solder on the points but no solder, I read in the documentation that one extruder should have that, I only have one extruder. should I add a resistor there?

btw I do not have a programmer for burning a bootloader, as the board was supposed to ship with one.

TTL Wandler für Raprap Motherboard (6 replies)

Dani — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:19:30 -0800

Ist es möglich mit diesem TTL Wandler das Reprap Motherboard v1.2 anzusteuern?

[www.pollin.de]

Vielleicht kann mir jemand weiterhelfen.

Dani

PWM driver extruder problem (6 replies)

drummerboyx — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:47:00 -0800

Hello,
I have a PWM driver that I got from the makerbot store along with my generation 2 electronics. When I hook up the nicrome wire to it to see if it heats up, the ATX power supply shuts down before it heats up.

I have no clue whats happening.

Thanks,
Drummerboyx

Mendel Parts providers please join this list (1 reply)

lineofdraw — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:58:36 -0800

To everyone who wants to build a Mendel and everyone who can create the parts we need- I started this post as a resource for us all.

If you have the ability to make Mendel parts then please add your name or your business name to this post also, a link to your website ( where we can see pictures?) and and your preferred contact information. Please tell us what sort of parts you can make, your price and preferred method of payment.

If we all cooperate there will be thousands of Mendals across the globe!

Quebec (no replies)

lcomtois — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:38:55 -0800

Is there anyone in Quebec with a Reparap ?

Mendel Machined Extruder Parts Kit (Extruder Version 2.0) (3 replies)

reifsnyderb — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:17:49 -0800

Hello,

If there is enough interest, I am willing to make a parts kit for the version 2.0 of the thermoplastic extruder. [http]

I will price the parts as follows:

$5.00 PTFE insulator
$10.00 Brass barrel/nozzle combination with a 0.5mm orifice

$2.50 shipping/handling to anywhere in the Continental US or Canada
$15.00 shipping/handling to other international locations

The total cost of a kit, for the US and Canada, will be $12.50.

In order to initially tool-up the machines to produce these kits I must request that there be at least 10 people interested in purchasing a kit as most of the cost incurred is in tooling up the machine. (I may have one person interested in purchasing a lot of 5 kits, at this time.)

If there is enough interest, I will be willing to make the plastic parts, for the extruder, as well.

Regards,

Brian

Mendel Teile zu verkaufen (2 replies)

Pinco — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:13:48 -0800

Hallo,

ich habe einen kompletten Satz "gedruckte" Mendel Teile und würde sie verkaufen.
Preis: 100€ plus Vesand

Wer hat Interesse?

Mendel Parts (5 replies)

Pinco — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:14:30 -0800

Complete kitt of reprap-made mendel-parts fore sale!!!!!!
Price: 100€ + shipping

Please let me know if someone is interested!

Stepper Motor Help (6 replies)

Antonio Garcia — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:17:38 -0800

Hello,

I'm trying to build a 3-axis CNC milling machine using an Arduino and three RepRap Stepper Motor Driver boards (v2.3).

I've got the stepper motors to work, but I can't seem to produce an Arduino sketch that has control over the stepper motors with sufficient granularity. Basically, I can't seem to be able to get the stepper motors to turn a single step. The steppers are rated at 200 steps per revolution, but it seems to take somewhere around 460 "steps" (as done by the code fragment below) to execute a complete turn.

void do_step(byte step_pin)
{
  digitalWrite(step_pin, HIGH);
  delayMicroseconds(5);
  digitalWrite(step_pin, LOW);
}

Any advice for what I'm doing incorrectly?

Many thanks.

Arduino firmware submission (1 reply)

stephen george — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:50:05 -0800

Guys,

The latest version of the firmware does not work on Gen2.
(When I say latest I mean the one that the web page currently send you to.)

It's too big. (even with Sarguino turned off).
The attached hacked version has a bug fix added and uses #ifdef to bring the compile size down to fit on the arduino.
Basically you choose whether you have stepper or a DC motor on the extruder rather than an automatic if statement. As a result there is less code.

(Note only tested the DC version - I don't have a posh extruder running yet. If someone could test it that would be great)

I now have a working reprap. Well it moves in z,y,x tells me the correct temperature and runs the extruder and fan.

All disclaimers.

regards

Stephen George

Hacked version tested on:

Ubuntu 9.04
Arduino v17 compiler
Gen2 electronics
Arduino Diecimila
v1.2 stepper drivers
v2.0 temperature sensor (non thermal couple)
v2.1 Opto enstop
v1.2 Arduino breakout sheild
v1.1 PWM Driver
v1.1 DC Motor driver

Forum for Melbourne user group (no replies)

Oscar Fox — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:43:49 -0800

Hi, I would like you to setup a new user group for Melbourne Australia if you would.

Melbourne User Group.

Thanks

Parts Buy in (1 reply)

Oscar Fox — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:20:27 -0800

Hi everyone,

The Australian RepRap groups seem to be losing a bit of momentum lately, I think this may be due to the lack of parts here in Oz.

I have looked at sourcing all the metal parts from the U.S and am inquiring to see how many people would be interested in a kit.

The kit contains:

1 brass nozzle with a 0.4mm orifice
1 brass heater barrel
1 PTFE thermal break
1 steel drive screw
2 brass half-bearings for the drive screw
2 nuts for the steel drive screw

I am currently waiting for the pricing to bring in a bulk lot and will let anyone interested know

Please reply if your interested.

Part Buy in (1 reply)

Oscar Fox — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:19:12 -0800

Extruder Parts Buy in (1 reply)

Oscar Fox — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:19:58 -0800