Orion upgrade questions

[GrayMatter]

Hi All!

I recently purchased a used Orion Delta printer. I plugged it in, connected it to my OctoPi server and ran a couple of test prints after calibrating the Z axis stops. The first cube came out great printing ABS at 230C. On the second test with same settings and different model, it stopped about 10 layers in with the decoupled error. Since then, I have not been able to get it to complete a PID calibration and the hot end won't get past 180ish.

Rather than troubleshoot the hot end issue right now (I'll save it for my other project), I figure now is as good of a time as any to install an E3D v6 that I picked up a wile back (plus I have some PETG that requires 265C temps). So I have a few questions for the group...
1 - What is the preferred way to mount the E3D? I've seen a few different printable mounts out there and just curious which one is easiest and works best.
2 - Since I have to make changes and reload the firmware to support the E3D, has anyone tried using the latest Repetier v1.0.3 firmware on the Orion?
3 - Any other "gotchas" I need to be concerned with?

Cheers!

[geneb]

If your Orion uses the older heating resistors (one on each "side" of the round heater block), there's no real gotchas with the firmware. However, if you have an Orion with the HE280 hot end that allows the Orion to auto-calibrate, you need to stick with the SeeMeCNC supplied firmware - the main Repetier branch doesn't have support for the accelerometer probe that the HE280 uses.

713maker.com makes a great mount that should work with the E3D.

g.

[GrayMatter]

If your Orion uses the older heating resistors (one on each "side" of the round heater block), there's no real gotchas with the firmware. However, if you have an Orion with the HE280 hot end that allows the Orion to auto-calibrate, you need to stick with the SeeMeCNC supplied firmware - the main Repetier branch doesn't have support for the accelerometer probe that the HE280 uses.

713maker.com makes a great mount that should work with the E3D.

g.

Thanks! I don't think it has the HE280, but I'll double check. Thanks for the suggestions about 713maker, their stuff looks awesome. I'll eventually have to get a mount from them.

Edit: I just checked out the pictures of the HE280 and I definitely don't have that. I have the older round one with two wires on each side. Do you happen to know what the resistance should be for when I get around to troubleshootting the old hot end?

[geneb]

If memory serves it's around 6.8 ohms as tested at the crimp points where the resistor leads are joined together.

If you upgrade to the HE280 hot end, you'll get auto-calibration. The HE280 has a sensor on the board that allows the whole hot end to be used as a Z probe. You can see what that upgrade process looks like here: https://seemecnc.dozuki.com/Guide/Orion ... 48?lang=en

Note that if you've got the older style hot end, you may also have the arms that use u-joints instead of ball and socket arms (and thus old style carriages). I would /highly/ recommend you go to the new arms and carriages - you'll actually have to if you go with the HE280. The update is worth it though.

g.

[GrayMatter]

Well, I tried loading Repetier 1.0.3 tonight. I used the online wizard with delta arm length and other values from the official SeeMeCNC firmware. After uploading, I found that the selector knob was reversed and significantly too sensitive. Not a big deal, I can work with that for now and fix it later. The major issue came when I selected home printer from the menu. Two motors went down and one went up a lot of grinding until I got to the power switch to turn it off.

Any thoughts or suggestions before I spend my weekend going through it line by line? Or should I just modify the official firmware to work with the E3D and call it good?

[GrayMatter]

If memory serves it's around 6.8 ohms as tested at the crimp points where the resistor leads are joined together.

If you upgrade to the HE280 hot end, you'll get auto-calibration. The HE280 has a sensor on the board that allows the whole hot end to be used as a Z probe. You can see what that upgrade process looks like here: https://seemecnc.dozuki.com/Guide/Orion ... 48?lang=en

Note that if you've got the older style hot end, you may also have the arms that use u-joints instead of ball and socket arms (and thus old style carriages). I would /highly/ recommend you go to the new arms and carriages - you'll actually have to if you go with the HE280. The update is worth it though.

g.

Thanks for that info! The previous owner upgraded to the ball and sockets so I’m good there but those plastic spring things are fragile. I broke one when I was cleaning it so I have to get some spares. I like the idea of the Z probe so I may save my E3D for another project.