LCD screen white boxes

[[email protected]]

Im using Arduino 1.5.2 and using the Repetier firmware
I have uploaded to my board and the lcd screen just shows white boxes
do i have to change anything in the program to get it to work?
i have seen other posts on this but no solution

[jesse]

I'm having the same problem after following GeneB's lcd-installation-guide.

It looks like the contrast and brightness are turned all the way up.

It may be working but I'm just not able to see it.

[Broose]

Mine worked fine with Polygonhell's Repetier 0.81 firmware. No mods needed for LCD.

Had make changes to step resolution for 16 step micro stepping instead of 8, though. Forgot to change extruder steps/mm at first, which made for some knarly prints.

B

[jesse]

Mine worked fine with Polygonhell's Repetier 0.81 firmware.

What did you do to get the firmware on the arduino?

https://github.com/polygonhell/Repetier-Firmware

[Eaglezsoar]

Link to Arduino software
http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Software

Link to Repetier Firmware from Polygonhell that is known to work with the Rostock Max and LCD display
https://github.com/polygonhell/Repetier-Firmware
Be sure to use the master link NOT the development.


May I suggest that these posts contain the version of Arduino board that is being used, and the version of
Arduino firmware. It makes it easier to solve problems when this type of data is included.
Carl

[jesse]

Thanks Carl, eventually I found the .PDE file in polygonhell firmware. At first I thought it was non-arduino c code.

The program throws an error that the Arduino SDK must be version 1 or higher. I tried arduino 1.5.2 and still have the white blocks.

Do you know if the master supports the LCD by default?

Does it need to be modified using these instructions: http://reprap.org/wiki/RamboLCD?

Do all arduino SDKs need to be updated to support the new pins? The folder structure in 1.5.2 isn't the same as earlier versions.

I saw a branch called LCD the github page. Is that the correct firmware?

[cambo3d]

use version 1.03, mhackney says he used it and it worked. Also looking back in his thread he used halopends repetier version originally. I wonder if that's the problem???

could someone please post the working repetier firmware with lcd, for me to troubleshoot.

[mhackney]

I switched to Polygonhells because it supported the LCD and SD card and Halopends did not (at least at the time). I have so many changes in mine 0 including fixes for the blown thermistor input in pins.h - that make it non-standard and not a good starting place.

BUT, I just compiled and uploaded the Polygonhell firmware, made the edits for 16 micorosteps and tested my LCD, it works fine. So it should be a good place to start.

[Polygonhell]

The firmware on my github should just work with the LCD, assuming that the new adapters are wired the same way as the old conversion instructions.
i have no way to verify that.
I've only used arduino 1.03, when 1.5 shipped I was out of town, and I won't be in a position to verify anything until next week.
I do know if you swap the connectors over on the display you just get a screen full of white squares.

[Eaglezsoar]

Now I'm confused. I thought the Arduino 1.5.2 was for the DUE board. The lastest version that I see for the Rambo or Ramps is version 1.0.4
As far as what firmware to use for the LCD, everyone on this forum who stated that they had the LCD working is using the Repetier Master version
from Polygonhell that I have posted the link to. The LCD should work with that firmware without any changes to the firmware, if it is not then
the problem has to be related to the LCD board or the wiring going to it. IMO everyone is trying to blame the firmware and there are just too many
folks out there that have everything working with the firmware that I posted the links to. I am beginning to think that they released a batch of bad
LCD boards. What makes this so darn hard to troubleshoot is that very few people have a known good LCD board to swap with the non-working one.
Carl

[jesse]

use version 1.03, mhackney says he used it and it worked. Also looking back in his thread he used halopends repetier version originally. I wonder if that's the problem???

could someone please post the working repetier firmware with lcd, for me to troubleshoot.

Just tried Arduino 1.0.3 with this: https://github.com/polygonhell/Repetier-Firmware (branch: master)

I changed "arduino-1.0.3\hardware\arduino\variants\mega\pins_arduino.h" to http://www.mediafire.com/view/?0m1zt8o8cqwpm1t (12512 bytes) which was posted in another thread.

The upload goes through but the screen is still showing white blocks.

Does the RAMBo need to have anything plugged in besides USB and the screen to get the screen to work?

I'm going to recheck the wiring and possibly write an arduino program that tests just the smart LCD.

[Polygonhell]

There is no need to change the pins_arduino.h file, it should just work.
The only things likely to prevent the LCD from working are bad wiring and if the pins have changed with the new adapter (which I don't have).

[cambo3d]

There is no need to change the pins_arduino.h file, it should just work.
The only things likely to prevent the LCD from working are bad wiring and if the pins have changed with the new adapter (which I don't have).

I verified the pins havent changed from the pinout on the lcd installation instructions.

[jesse]

I made the wiring harness from the tutorial and rechecked the wiring for continuity and for correct pin mapping.

It was correct when I tested it. Putting the pins_arduino.h back to original didn't fix the problem.

Also, I found a tiny screw next to the SD card slot that controls the screen contrast.

Lowering the contrast didn't fix my screen but may help others that's their only problem.

I'll post an arduino test program for the smart LCD if I can get one working.

[cambo3d]

I made the wiring harness from the tutorial and rechecked the wiring for continuity and for correct pin mapping.

It was correct when I tested it. Putting the pins_arduino.h back to original didn't fix the problem.

Also, I found a tiny screw next to the SD card slot that controls the screen contrast.

Lowering the contrast didn't fix my screen but may help others that's their only problem.

I'll post an arduino test program for the smart LCD if I can get one working.

yeah a self test feature would be great.

[jesse]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/SSpo6sp.jpg[/img]

I also noticed that the reset button doesn't trigger a reset like the RAMBo board.

Please post an image if you have a similar problem so we can make debug process.

[jesse]

Here's the test program. Would appreciate if someone with a working LCD could run it on their mega

Code: Select all

// include the library code:
#include <LiquidCrystal.h>

// initialize the library with the numbers of the interface pins
LiquidCrystal lcd(28, 29, 65, 66, 79, 67);

void setup() {
  // set up the LCD's number of columns and rows: 
  lcd.begin(20, 4);
  // Print a message to the LCD.
  lcd.print("hello, world!");
}

void loop() {
  // set the cursor to column 0, line 1
  // (note: line 1 is the second row, since counting begins with 0):
  lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
  // print the number of seconds since reset:
  lcd.print(millis()/1000);
}

You can run it by opening arduino, going to file, examples, liquid crystal, picking any of the examples, and changing the size from 16x2 to 20x4 and updating the pins as shown above.

Upload the program the same way was you upload your firmware.

[Ross_Customs]

I had a similar problem on a known good unit (Built one week prior @ MRRF with SeeMeCNC present)
The harness uses standard IDC connector ribbon cables and the PCB http://shop.seemecnc.com/LCD-to-RAMBo-a ... 2RAMBO.htm

OS: Fedora 17
Rambo firmware pulled off github, https://github.com/johnoly99/Marlin-for ... x-ramboLCD on Sunday, 24th Mar 2013.
Flashed onto the Rambo using Arduino 1.0.1 (It's in Fedora 17's package manager.)

Yellow blocked screen and noth happened with the LCD reset switch.

I could still talk to it via Repetier, however...

Code: Select all

G28 ; Home axes
G01 Z20 X0 Y0 F5000

only took the extruder down about halfway.

Once I got my winblows laptop power brick (From work on monday ) with Arduino 0023 and the firmware Johno had at the MRRF build event...

Flashed that onto the Rambo and I was back to a fully functional machine.