Print from SD card using Polygonhell's firmware

[DaGroundZero]

I've got everything up and running, but I can't seem to get my Rostock to print from the SD card. Can someone point me to a post talking about how to do it? I've searched the forum, but I'm not finding anything.

thanks,
Shawn

[dsnettleton]

You have to load the files onto the SD card from Repetier Host after slicing. Click the SD card icon in the toolbar. You can add folders/files. It's all pretty straightforward, actually, The only thing is filenames have to be in 8.3 format (think MS-DOS). So it's a bit awkward cramming titles into that space. Once you've added the file, you can disconnect your printer, navigate to the SD card menu on your LCD screen, and click "Print File."

[Jimustanguitar]

You can also load them straight to the SD card using the card-reader on most laptops. Use short filenames and 3-letter extensions. Then you have to mount the card (menu option on the LCD) before the new files will show up and can be printed.

Loading straight to the SD card is a little quicker than loading the card through USB using Repetier, but either one will accomplish the same end result. It's just a matter of preference.

[JohnStack]

Just one thing you might be missing - there is a mount option under SD card. If you pull the card in and out while the machine is running, you might have to mount it / dismount. These should be in sync with your activities.

When powered up, the card (when present) is mounted automatically.

[Polygonhell]

Loading straight to the SD card is a little quicker than loading the card through USB using Repetier

Like 2 orders of magnitude faster...
You're much better off loading the file onto the SD card with a computer then mounting it after inserting it into the printer, I've seen it take over an hour to copy a very complex model to the SDCard via repetier host. Copying the same file via PC takes seconds.

[DaGroundZero]

Thanks everyone. I will give it a try.

[foshon]

Make sure your loading the gcode file and not the stl. I screwed with it for days before I figured that out.

[DaGroundZero]

Good call foshon. I was doing that a few days, until I figured it wouldn't slice it then print it.

I've loaded up by mounting the SD card on my laptop. I moved it over to the SD card slot and mounted the card. I was able to go to the print file option and find my file called fsm.gco. I selected it, and navigated back to the main menu. I saw the bottom start counting up. I think it was "printing.... %" It went to 100% and went away. I waited for a bit, and nothing happened. Temps didn't go up nor did the arms move at all.


I manually selected the preheat ABS setting and have that warming up to see if anything happens when the printer hits printing temp.

What should I expect or did I miss something?

Thx

[ApacheXMD]

Good call foshon. I was doing that a few days, until I figured it wouldn't slice it then print it.

I've loaded up by mounting the SD card on my laptop. I moved it over to the SD card slot and mounted the card. I was able to go to the print file option and find my file called fsm.gco. I selected it, and navigated back to the main menu. I saw the bottom start counting up. I think it was "printing.... %" It went to 100% and went away. I waited for a bit, and nothing happened. Temps didn't go up nor did the arms move at all.


I manually selected the preheat ABS setting and have that warming up to see if anything happens when the printer hits printing temp.

What should I expect or did I miss something?

Thx

Immediately after selecting the file to print, the hot end and heated bed should have begun to heat up.

Does the gcode you picked work ok in Repetier Host via USB?

[Polygonhell]

Good call foshon. I was doing that a few days, until I figured it wouldn't slice it then print it.

I've loaded up by mounting the SD card on my laptop. I moved it over to the SD card slot and mounted the card. I was able to go to the print file option and find my file called fsm.gco. I selected it, and navigated back to the main menu. I saw the bottom start counting up. I think it was "printing.... %" It went to 100% and went away. I waited for a bit, and nothing happened. Temps didn't go up nor did the arms move at all.


I manually selected the preheat ABS setting and have that warming up to see if anything happens when the printer hits printing temp.

What should I expect or did I miss something?

Thx

There was a bug that did exactly this (now fixed) in one of the older versions.
I'm currently recommending people use John's firmware, I will still maintain mine, but it's configured for my printer and my Max is getting less and less stock, so you'll have to make more changes in configuration.h.

[DaGroundZero]

No. Nothing happens after it counts up. It does print fine via the usb tho.


.Does anyone happen to have a link to the most up to date version of John's software settings?

[Jimustanguitar]

you might have to mount it / dismount. These should be in sync with your activities.

Life is too short to "eject safely"

In all seriousness though, what is the practical purpose of the unmount feature?

[Jimustanguitar]

Does anyone happen to have a link to the most up to date version of John's software settings?

Download.seemecnc.com should have what you're looking for. RepetierMax is what it's called on Github.

[Broose]

No. Nothing happens after it counts up. It does print fine via the usb tho.


.Does anyone happen to have a link to the most up to date version of John's software settings?

I don't have the link to John's Firmware, but I had the exact same problem with Polygonhell's .81 firmware and the problem went away with .82. Are you running .81?
https://github.com/polygonhell/Repetier-Firmware

[cpunches]

you might have to mount it / dismount. These should be in sync with your activities.

Life is too short to "eject safely"

In all seriousness though, what is the practical purpose of the unmount feature?

Typically, mounting/unmounting filesystems is to ensure that all writes have an opportunity to complete. Bad things can happen if directory structures and or file-allocation tables get corrupted.

[Polygonhell]

FWIW on the arduino side the unmount is mostly useless, the buffers between the chip and the SDCard are so small that short of pulling the card out while it actually claims to be writing there won't be an issue.
On the computer side it's a very different story.

[dbarrans]

Does the RAMBo ever write to the SD card anyway? Why would it?

- dan

[Polygonhell]

Does the RAMBo ever write to the SD card anyway? Why would it?

- dan

It does if you use one of the host programs to copy files to the SD card, wich is incredibly slow anyway.

[dbarrans]

Right. Forgot about that.

- dan

[DaGroundZero]

I will check on the version when I get home, but will upgrade if a newer one is available.

Thx all

[DaGroundZero]

I have downloaded the updated seemecnc repetier firmware from github. Will I have to recallibrate my machine after updating the firmware? I expect I will need to adjust the firmware settings as my Z height and ect. unless it pulls from the printer EEPROM values?

[dsnettleton]

Your configuration settings should be the same as what you used with Polygonhell's firmware. But you're right that most of the important settings will still be stored in your EEPROM. There are some settings that require both, I think, but I can't remember which ones. So I would just go through Configuration.h like you did before. You can use your previous version as a reference.

[DaGroundZero]

thanks

[Polygonhell]

The only setting that HAS to match in both the EEPROM and the firmware is the steps/mm for X Y and Z axis.
Note it's calculated in the Firmware from the belt pitch and pulley tooth count.

[Eaglezsoar]

I have downloaded the updated seemecnc repetier firmware from github. Will I have to recallibrate my machine after updating the firmware? I expect I will need to adjust the firmware settings as my Z height and ect. unless it pulls from the printer EEPROM values?

Did you resolve your SD card not printing with the updated firmware?
Did you have to recalibrate all the various areas of your printer?