LCD not working

[Nylocke]

I have a RAMBo V1.2 (needed the static jumper mod, which is currently installed) with a smart controller and the LCD adapter. It's running the latest version of marlin. When I enabled the line for the LCD controller, the LCD doesn't turn on, and the hotend fan hooked up to FAN1 that's set to turn on when the hotend is above 50 toggles on and off in a random pattern. If I disconnect the LCD and turn the machine back on, it continues the fan toggling. If I switch which cable is connected where on the adapter, the backlight turns on but no text gets displayed, and the fan toggling behaves a bit differently. If I comment out the line for the controller, all the behavior stops, even if the LCD is still plugged in (which is good as far as my logic is concerned). Did ultimachine change the pin assignments or....? I prefer to keep the machines I use on Marlin but I'll try using Repetier when I have access to it next...

[Nylocke]

I tried Marlin last friday, still didn't work, but instead of toggling the fan, it toggled the z stepper. Me thinks the pin assignments are wrong?

[Nylocke]

Could someone please help me out here, I'm at a loss and its rather inconvenient that this LCD won't work despite what I try.

[mhackney]

Which version of Marlin? I've seen and experienced that Johann's version has some problems with the LCD controller. If this is the stock LCD then I'm not sure.

Can you post the pins.h file here for the version of Marlin you are using? I'll take a look at that and make sure its fine. Marlin is not so "RAMBo friendly".

[Eric]

Make sure you've changed the configuration to point at the right board. It doesn't matter how right pins.h is if that's wrong.

[Nylocke]

Ive tried both the latest version of Marlin and Repetier, neither worked. I set them both to 301, RAMBo. I even tried the config I use for my Ultimaker with RAMPS (with the RAMBo selected instead of course) and it still didn't work.

Code: Select all

/*****************************************************************
* Rambo Pin Assignments
******************************************************************/

#ifndef __AVR_ATmega2560__
#error Oops!  Make sure you have 'Arduino Mega 2560' selected from the 'Tools -> Boards' menu.
#endif

#define LARGE_FLASH true

#define X_STEP_PIN 37
#define X_DIR_PIN 48
#define X_MIN_PIN 12
#define X_MAX_PIN 24
#define X_ENABLE_PIN 29
#define X_MS1_PIN 40
#define X_MS2_PIN 41

#define Y_STEP_PIN 36
#define Y_DIR_PIN 49
#define Y_MIN_PIN 11
#define Y_MAX_PIN 23
#define Y_ENABLE_PIN 28
#define Y_MS1_PIN 69
#define Y_MS2_PIN 39

#define Z_STEP_PIN 35
#define Z_DIR_PIN 47
#define Z_MIN_PIN 10
#define Z_MAX_PIN 30
#define Z_ENABLE_PIN 27
#define Z_MS1_PIN 68
#define Z_MS2_PIN 67

#define HEATER_BED_PIN 3
#define TEMP_BED_PIN 2

#define HEATER_0_PIN  9
#define TEMP_0_PIN 0

#define HEATER_1_PIN 7
#define TEMP_1_PIN 1

#ifdef BARICUDA
#define HEATER_2_PIN 6
#else
#define HEATER_2_PIN -1
#endif
#define TEMP_2_PIN -1

#define E0_STEP_PIN         34
#define E0_DIR_PIN          43
#define E0_ENABLE_PIN       26
#define E0_MS1_PIN 65
#define E0_MS2_PIN 66

#define E1_STEP_PIN         33
#define E1_DIR_PIN          42
#define E1_ENABLE_PIN       25
#define E1_MS1_PIN 63
#define E1_MS2_PIN 64

#define DIGIPOTSS_PIN 38
#define DIGIPOT_CHANNELS {4,5,3,0,1} // X Y Z E0 E1 digipot channels to stepper driver mapping

#define SDPOWER            -1
#define SDSS               53
#define LED_PIN            13
#define FAN_PIN            8
#define PS_ON_PIN          4
#define KILL_PIN           -1 //80 with Smart Controller LCD
#define SUICIDE_PIN        -1  //PIN that has to be turned on right after start, to keep power flowing.

#ifdef ULTRA_LCD
  #define KILL_PIN 80
  #ifdef NEWPANEL
   //arduino pin which triggers an piezzo beeper
    #define BEEPER 79      // Beeper on AUX-4
    #define LCD_PINS_RS 70
    #define LCD_PINS_ENABLE 71
    #define LCD_PINS_D4 72
    #define LCD_PINS_D5 73
    #define LCD_PINS_D6 74
    #define LCD_PINS_D7 75

    //buttons are directly attached using AUX-2
    #define BTN_EN1 76
    #define BTN_EN2 77
    #define BTN_ENC 78  //the click

    #define BLEN_C 2
    #define BLEN_B 1
    #define BLEN_A 0

    #define SDCARDDETECT 81    // Ramps does not use this port

    //encoder rotation values
    #define encrot0 0
    #define encrot1 2
    #define encrot2 3
    #define encrot3 1
  #else //old style panel with shift register
    //arduino pin witch triggers an piezzo beeper
    #define BEEPER 33    No Beeper added
    //buttons are attached to a shift register
    // Not wired this yet
    // #define SHIFT_CLK 38
    // #define SHIFT_LD 42
    // #define SHIFT_OUT 40
    // #define SHIFT_EN 17

    #define LCD_PINS_RS 75
    #define LCD_PINS_ENABLE 17
    #define LCD_PINS_D4 23
    #define LCD_PINS_D5 25
    #define LCD_PINS_D6 27
    #define LCD_PINS_D7 29

    //encoder rotation values
    #define encrot0 0
    #define encrot1 2
    #define encrot2 3
    #define encrot3 1

    //bits in the shift register that carry the buttons for:
    // left up center down right red
    #define BL_LE 7
    #define BL_UP 6
    #define BL_MI 5
    #define BL_DW 4
    #define BL_RI 3
    #define BL_ST 2
    #define BLEN_B 1
    #define BLEN_A 0
  #endif
#endif //ULTRA_LCD

[mhackney]

Ok, that pins.h looks fine. The fact that you can't get it to work in Repetier bothers me. Has this LCD display ever worked for you? Did you make the connector cable adapter yourself or is it one of the newer pre-made connectors?

Also, get a magnifying glass and look at the back of the display very carefully - looking for little solder bridges that are short circuiting it. I had this exact problem with one of these displays last year. If yours worked properly at one point, this is probably not the problem. But, if it has never worked, it is worth checking.

[geneb]

Cold or poor solder joints will cause this problem as well. I ran into this at MRRF with a machine I fixed for someone. All the solder joints needed to be re-flowed on the LCD adapter board.

g.

[Nylocke]

Already tested all those variables, it's using an adapter I soldered together myself from Ultimachine, and I checked it for solder bridges. The LCD works with my ultimaker flawlessly, only problem is with the RAMBo. I'm completely baffled why it won't work. With Marlin it toggles the hotend heat sink fan, and with Repetier it toggles power to the z motor

[mhackney]

Ok, that really sounds like a short somewhere then. Did you check the RAMBo itself for shorts and cold solder joints?

[Nylocke]

No I haven't, I can't check until tomorrow though. The board runs fine, runs all the motors and everything, printed things fine, only has issues when I enable the LCD in the firmware, even if the LCD is unplugged.

[vedat]

I think this issue isn’t with your code. Your code has certain issue no doubt but the symptoms of this problem point to a hardware issue. It is better if you look at the connections that you’ve made with the LCD. First check if they are correct, then check if they are connected properly. Having a multi-meter can come in handy here. Also, as mentioned earlier, do check for all the solders on the board, there might be short circuiting somewhere or some IC not working properly.

[Nylocke]

I should have posted about my solution, I fixed the issue. I emailed Ultimachine, and they responded to tell me I should make sure I had all the Arduino add ons for RAMBo so it recognizes the extra pins. Just had to drop the files into my Arduino folder, works great now (was uploading as Arduino MEGA 2560, it has different pin assignments than the RAMBo by a small amount).

[grimmindustries]

I'm having a different problem with my LCD than the original poster.
When I turn my Rostock Max on the screen comes on and the start up info appears, then the nozzle and bed readings appear, after a few seconds it looses all of the text but still appears to be active(still glowing.) Then I begin to smell Ozone very quickly and I shut it off.
Any ideas?