Very frustrated but not giving up (firmware question)

[jestah]

Hi guys,

I am sad to say that this kit has been one of the biggest anti climaxes I have had in a long time...

I ordered this kit in hopes to have it shipped, landed and assembled in time to give a presentation to the CEO of our company to try to add it to our product range (I am a CNC router tech at a large woodwork machinery importer).

After waiting twice the expected delivery time (which I paid extra for) the package arrived WET! I know this is no fault of Seemecnc but did not help my frustration levels as it required me to wait an extra week for all my parts to dry out. I am still not sure that the swelling of the mdf parts are affecting my build but the seemecnc team was helpful and has offered replacement for anything unusable. I was also happy to try to make the wet parts work before going down the replacement path as I just want to be printing asap!

I feel I have strong building skills (I build and service commercial cnc routers for a day job and by night tinker with hobby cnc, electronics, high end carbon downhill skateboards) but I have found building the rostock far harder than I expected. The current instructions do not match the parts I was shipped, steps are not set out in the best order and like most I found the documentation SHOCKING. As a new user I would really like to stress the docs NEED to be updated as there are several points that required me to unassembled what I had done to file down sharp edges of the tslot that were catching on the belt, why not mention to feed the limit wires when the tslot is not yet installed, etc.

What about making a few sticky thread in this sub-forum to keep a collection of tips and tricks near the top as I think its unfair to expect new builder to trawl post after post looking for tips they don't know they need? I do also understand how hard good documentation can be to create and happy to help where I can.

So after many more than the 8 hours assembly I was expecting I have basic movement, homing, a working hotend and a heater bed but now need some help with the software and firmware.

I am new to this 3d printer stuff so could someone please tell me what the most current firmware I should be running for my rostock max (very recent kit running a rambo 1.1 and LCD addon)

I have tried downloading those on the seemecnc downloads page but when ever I try to upload to my rambo I get a timeout error in the Arduino program. I have seen a few post that seem to suggest to make mods somewhere to allow it to reload the firmware on the board but can't find the full details on how.

Any way keen to help, keen to get this thing ripping out prints and while I am at the moment very frustrated (mostly due to missing my meeting with our CEO) still impressed by the kit so far.

[geneb]

What manual did you use to build the machine?

For instructions on downloading and installing a firmware update, see page 133 here:
http://www.geneb.org/rostock-max/Rostoc ... -Guide.pdf

If you got wet parts, I'd spend some effort kicking the living crap out of the shipping company that delivered it to you. Also understand that once wet, melamine is about as useful as wetted & dried out cardboard.

I would be surprised if you ever got that machine calibrated - there's no way it could be made square with swelled parts. Hell, I'm surprised you got it assembled at all.

Had you checked the Official Docs forum, you would have seen that the 2nd edition of the assembly guide has been published continuously as a draft for the last three weeks or so. It's currently complete up to and including the calibration process.

g.

[jestah]

Wow.... so I wish I had been told about that version of the instructions with the paper work that came with the kit....

Once again showing the need for a new builders sticky as that pdf would have solved a lot of issues!

Yes I have wet parts but being in NZ I did not want to wait an other 3 weeks for replacement parts so gave it a go with what I had. I droped all of the mdf parts under a very heavy dry stack of board to help keep things flat. finger crossed that it has worked out.

Can any one help me with the firmware I should be loading onto the card or a link to help me decide what one to use. Should I be using the Repetier or Marlin firmware

[geneb]

You should only use the Repetier firmware, specifically the version in the SeeMeCNC github repository.

g.

[jestah]

ok tried to update that last night but every time I uploaded the files as in the seemecnc video my upload would fail with time out errors. I am at work at the moment but will upload a screen grab when

I was hoping the firmware upgrade might help the clunkyness of the movement on my rostock but now wondering if my issues are due to wood parts being water damaged.

Once again I would like to point out this water damage was NO fault of seemecnc, they packed the parts well and I am overall happy with the service. My only issues have been the lack of clear instructions in one place for new builders like my self to find. I followed the links in the paper work that came with the printer (to the seemecnc website) and never knew of the latest instructions until today. Mods, how about a new builders stick and link that from the downloads page on the seemecnc website as I feel this is the most logical place most new builders will look for instructions. IMHO this would have save me a lot of stress, given me a far smoother build and I am sure looking at the new doc would have avoided a lot of frustration.

I am sure that once I am printing I will look back at my frustrations and chuckle but right now I still a little cranky (manly due really wanting to print some plastic core, carbon skinned downhill race skateboard trucks for a race in a weeks time!

STOKED with the fast help from the boards and hope once I have some skills with my rostock I will be able to help others too!


What steps can I take to trouble shoot this issue or get the latest firmware onto the rambo.

Is there a way to download the files from the board and check that maybe the latest firmware was already installed?

[Polygonhell]

Define clunky movement.

FWIW it's my understanding that the latest board come with repetier installed.

If your getting timeouts, make sure you have the correct board type selected in the arduino IDE, the correct com port selected and you don't have any other software connected to that comm port when trying to download. If that doesn't work, I'd try a different USB cable.

[jestah]

clunky when it gets out to the edge of the build area. It looks a little like maybe my arms are extending a bit far and maybe its because its because I may not have a well aligned machine.

I will go over the new build instructions and redo all off my physical settings and eliminate build issues from the what if list.

I have already check I have the correct board loaded, the same com port as is displayed in the device manager and shut down any other programs that may be connected to the rostock. I will take a spare usb cable home tonight and test that but I can connect to it in repetier host and update setting from that.

[cambo3d]

did you set the correct baud rate also, for your usb com port.?

Also, I would have filed a insurance claim with ups for a damaged item.

[jestah]

did you set the correct baud rate also, for your usb com port.?

Also, I would have filed a insurance claim with ups for a damaged item.

Where do I find the Baurd rate for the usb com port? I have found the usb bits per second rate that is set at 9600

Here is the time out error I am getting :

I think I am going to take peoples advice and give up trying to fix the wet parts, to be honest I did not want to have to wait or bother with insurance as I have found it often takes A LONG TIME to get it sorted. I was hoping that by pressing all of my parts under a heavy dry stack of mdf it would draw out any water while keeping things flat.

Oh well....

[foshon]

Near the top of the tab titled "Configuration.h". This setting must match the baud rate set in Repetier host or the two will not understand one another. Changing this is not going affect your ability to upload firmware. The usb baud rate you are talking about is only for serial communications between your computer and the board while uploading or serial monitoring. This issue has been discussed before IIRC, I think one suggestion was to try a version of Arduino between 1 and whichever you have now. You can go earlier then 1 but you will have to rename the ".ino" to ".pde".

[geneb]

Just FYI, the baud rate at which the Arduino IDE communictates with the ATMega controller on the RAMBo during the firmware update process has _nothing_ to do with the baud rate at which the RAMBo uses when in normal use.

g.

[cambo3d]

did you set the correct baud rate also, for your usb com port.?

Also, I would have filed a insurance claim with ups for a damaged item.

Where do I find the Baurd rate for the usb com port? I have found the usb bits per second rate that is set at 9600

Here is the time out error I am getting :

timeout.PNG

I think I am going to take peoples advice and give up trying to fix the wet parts, to be honest I did not want to have to wait or bother with insurance as I have found it often takes A LONG TIME to get it sorted. I was hoping that by pressing all of my parts under a heavy dry stack of mdf it would draw out any water while keeping things flat.

Oh well....

go to device settings on your computer find the com port that your using and change the baud rate to match settings in arduino. others say it might not matter but one less thing to worry about later.

I do an insurance claim, and start fresh. The max kit isnt perfect as it is, let alone wet.

[geneb]

Not only does it not matter, there's literally no point in the activity at all. The poor guy has enough going on without sending him on a wild goose chase.

g.

[jestah]

ok... managed a full rebuild and the new instructions helped a LOT! I can not stress enough how these instructions NEED to be the ones linked on the see me downloads page and the ones new kits are point people to as it will save many other builders getting as pissed off as I am.

So I will put in a claim for new wood parts with USPS as its clear I will never get my towers vertical and square as after a day of trying I still have a slight angle to them so think its due to slightly warped parts. Oh well such is life.....

While I wait for replacements I will push ahead and see if I can at least print something. I'm going to forget about flashing the firmware for now and move on to tuning my PID settings and have run into the next road block...

In the settings page I can not find the Bed P setting and the other settings do not seem to match up with what is in the instructions. Does this kit hate me?!

so what do you guys think I should do?

[cambo3d]

something isn't right with your repetier host, why do you have two "bed pid d values"

[jestah]

something isn't right with your repetier host, why do you have two "bed pid d values"

Why do I have two bed PID D values.... your asking the guy who has not yet managed to get a test print up and running! I have no idea why it has two of the same value so I will wipe it off my computer and install it again......

I'm not giving up but my frustration levels are not getting any better

This is a long shot but are there any Kiwis in the Auckland area willing to give me a hand getting this thing running? Or any one over seas willing to take a phone call from New Zealand?

[cambo3d]

let me rephrase that ...


its weird you have two bed pid d values.

[JohnStack]

I assume that can happen if someone has dual entries in the config.h.

I would blast it or go to github and copy in the text for the config.h over what you have.

Dude, don't give up. All of us have bled a bit. Everyone here is 100% willing to help.

There is an FAQ in the works on top of Geneb's excellent instructions....

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/10ZPEUB ... qGKx0ysIyI

[jestah]

Dude, don't give up. All of us have bled a bit. Everyone here is 100% willing to help.

The quick help and support on the boards has been amazing but please don't think I am even close to giving up! I'm cranky but only because I am inching to print something.

I can fully understand the HUGE task of putting together a kit like this and hope when I have it working, get my head around a new controller, Arduino and delta style cnc I will be able to give back to the community!

Massive thanks to every one for the help and encouragement !!!

[jestah]

Hi guys....

Trying an other computer to connect to Repetier host gives me the right settings in the EPROM page .... WIN FOR ME!!!!

Making progress but still not able to upload firmware to my Rambo.... Fail for me.... (*^%$%$#&%^$


I need to change my PRINTER_RADIUS as my head sits a little high and I am keen to get the last of the calibration sorted ( I can't get each tower home screw perfect but the head is within 0.05-0.1mm so I can live with that for now but is this still to much error? Each time I tweak one the others go slightly out)

make sure you have the correct board type selected in the arduino IDE, the correct com port selected and you don't have any other software connected to that comm port when trying to download. If that doesn't work, I'd try a different USB cable.

Correct board time, check....

Correct com port, Check....

Repetier not connected, check....

Different USB cable, check....

I will try to find an older copy of Arduino to run but find it strange that the seemecnc vid says to use the latest so that should not be the issue....

Still no luck

[jestah]

Did not work with Arduino V1.0.1 on a different computer.... left it to upload for well over 5 mins and not even a time out error

HELLLLPPPPPPP ?!?!?!!??

[foshon]

Try a version of Arduino that is before version 1 (22,23). Rename Repetier.ino to Repetier.pde and see if it will upload. Please let us know if this works.

[geneb]

AFAIK, it won't work - Repetier requires a version of the Arduino IDE greater than 1.0.

I'd try a different USB port and see if that works. You may simply have a dodgy board - it does happen.

g.

[jestah]

AFAIK, it won't work - Repetier requires a version of the Arduino IDE greater than 1.0.

I'd try a different USB port and see if that works. You may simply have a dodgy board - it does happen.

g.

nope... no luck....

I did find this and might give burning a new boot loader a go

http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=163152.0

or do you guys think I should just send the board back to seemecnc?

[geneb]

I would contact SeeMeCNC directly about the issue.

g.