Schematic for Velleman MK138 Temperature Controller Board

[Chris Muncy]

manual_mk138.pdf

Velleman MK138 Schematic

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Schematic for Velleman MK138 Temperature Controller Board

*IF* you use this board with the included thermister for a heated bed, you must short out R5 in order to get the temperatures up high enough to be effective.

[thosj]

What were the resistor changes for using this for the hot end?

And what change for using it with a heated bed? There might have been two resistor changes mentioned for heated bed, one with Velleman kit sensor, and one for the H-1 thermistor.

OH, and where can I buy one in the US? I can't even find one on eBay. I thought someone here mentioned SeeMeCNC was going to have them, but looks like not.

[mhackney]

You can get them here: Apogee Kits - I got one there several weeks ago and it looks like I need to order another.

To use this for the hot end you replace R5 with an 18K Ω resister.

I've been trying to get one to work with my homebrew nichrome hot bed but I blew it today. Not sure what resistor changes are needed with that. I was trying to use the stock thermister but I ordered some of the 4K thermsiters that comes with the H-1 (from Mouser #657-GC1396V-3-200).

cheers,
Michael

[thosj]

I think Andy Wander mentioned, on Yahoo, that IF USING the SeeMe thermistor, R6 should be replaced with a jumper wire. I don't remember what anyone might have said about using the Velleman kit sensor.

Anywhere, where to buy one of these? I have my hot end kit build with the R5 mod, now I need to build another one for a heated bed.

Tom

[mhackney]

Tom, I posted my source in the previous post - Apogee Kits. I ordered one 3 minutes before I made that post and they've already sent it USPS Priority. Good service.

Cheers,
Michael

[Chris Muncy]

As I replied to your other post Michael, R5 needs to be a short in order to get to the higher temps needed for a heated bed.

[@CiDG]

here is a link to the assembled kit I used instead of the DIY kit that was included with the H1.
http://www.apogeekits.com/thermostat_vm137.htm
Just pull R5 and replace with a 10-18 Ohm resistor. I used a 10 ohm and it gets hot -and fast! You have to be sure to set the temp knob on low and move the dial only slightly to set the temp. I only had to turn my dial a few degrees and the temp is super stable once it warms up (2-3 minutes max.)

[lynx74br]

I'm received one 4k thermistor and my I have 10k on R5, but the max temperature is 150 C.

Which resistor I have to reduce (R5 or R7) ???

Thanks,
lynx

[Chris Muncy]

I'm received one 4k thermistor and my I have 10k on R5, but the max temperature is 150 C.

Which resistor I have to reduce (R5 or R7) ???

Thanks,
lynx

You need to short R5 to get the higher temps.

[JTCUSTOMS]

This thread is kinda confusing.
You short out R5 to use the thermostat with the heated bed(this is clear)

And you replace R5 with 10-18K resistor for use with the hot end?
Then if you use the included thermistor from the H1 kit you have to go back and short out R6.(this is clear as mud)

[guanu]

I agree, theres too much mis-information in this thread and people are bound to break something... let me try to clear it up for you.

with the hot end, you change R5 to a 10-18k resistor... and you use the thermistor that came with the kit...

for a heated bed, this is where it gets a little strange since everyone makes a different type of bed, different materials, etc. I used 6.5' of 17ga nichrome wire under a sheet of 1/4" glass... I have R5 replaced with a 5k resistor and use the thermistor that came with velleman kit and I get my glass up to 200F and ABS sticks perfect on it covered with kapton tape. If I were to short R5, I'm sure something would break or the temp would get way too hot.... so what you need to do is test... start R5 with a higher ohm resistor, start the heating with the potentiometer all the way down, if it turns off, keep turning up the pot till you see what temp it gets to at max... if its not hot enough, lower R5 to less ohm, and repeat the heating to see where the board gets you... I did 3 iterations of changing R5, 15k, 10k, and when I tested 5k, with the pot at max I'm right at 200F, and thats where I wanted to be.. going straight to "shorting R5" can lead you into trouble and I do NOT suggest this to ANYONE!...

I hope this clears things up for you, its a game of what thermistor you use and changing R5 will alter the temp range it will go to.

any questions feel free to ask

Guanu

[lynx74br]

I'm received one 4k thermistor and my I have 10k on R5, but the max temperature is 150 C.
Which resistor I have to reduce (R5 or R7) ???

You need to short R5 to get the higher temps.

Hi Chris,

I did it, the temperature go to 230C near to the end of the pot. But the temperature read become unstable and the board can not maintain it regulated.

I'm working with a new hot end and 3mm Black ABS filament, it requires 230C to print correctly.

Maybe I have to change the R6 to become more precise. What I have to do?

Thanks,
lynx

[zaphod]

In an attempt to help clear up what resistors to change and how they impact the velleman MK138 controller, I offer this writeup.

Please let me know if I misinterpreted anything.

Thanks,
Mark

[drew]

Cool! Thanks Mark.

[zaphod]

If my understanding of the Velleman MK138 was correct, then check out this chart I created which identifies the R5 and R6 values you need to achieve a desired MIN/MAX temperature settings (only valid for the Spectrum Control's GC1396V-3-200 thermistor). (The only real checking I did was to compare the computed values against one data point from my particular machine: R5=10k R6=56k and they were pretty much spot on.) I don't want to provide misinformation so your comments are appreciated.

[Extrude3D]

This thread is kinda confusing.
You short out R5 to use the thermostat with the heated bed(this is clear)

And you replace R5 with 10-18K resistor for use with the hot end?
Then if you use the included thermistor from the H1 kit you have to go back and short out R6.(this is clear as mud)

I agree, can someone provide an explanation in ENGLISH?

[zaphod]

I attempted to make it clear in my two posts.

In my opinion, Never short R5. If you do and then you set the pot to its max setting, the thermistor runs wide open, so I would never short R5.

If you use the thermistor I identified in my previous post, then use the R5 and R6 values from the chart I posted to achieve the temperature range you desire. I threw down my gauntlet saying 'I'm right ain't I?' and no one has yet agreed nor disagreed with my post. I'm sure it is only a matter of time

[lynx74br]

I attempted to make it clear in my two posts.

In my opinion, Never short R5. If you do and then you set the pot to its max setting, the thermistor runs wide open, so I would never short R5.

If you use the thermistor I identified in my previous post, then use the R5 and R6 values from the chart I posted to achieve the temperature range you desire. I threw down my gauntlet saying 'I'm right ain't I?' and no one has yet agreed nor disagreed with my post. I'm sure it is only a matter of time

Hi Mark,

It's happening with me, I shorted the R5 and the reading become unreal near to the end of the pot (around 230ºC with 10k on R5).

So, I have to use 12k & 100k on R5 & R6 to get 160 ~ 280 ºC, right?

Many thanks,
lynx

[Leeway]

I shorted R5 with a jumper on two of these and both quit working after a few hours.
I would tend to agree that some resistor value would be better than a full throttle short.

[zaphod]

Lynx wrote:

Hi Mark,

It's happening with me, I shorted the R5 and the reading become unreal near to the end of the pot (around 230ºC with 10k on R5).

So, I have to use 12k & 100k on R5 & R6 to get 160 ~ 280 ºC, right?

Many thanks,
lynx

Yes, they look pretty good. I don't have the intermediary values like 280 ºC so there is a little interpolation there.

I'm wondering if you have some other issue, though, going on. With my stock 56K R6 and my 10K R5, my extruder nicely goes to above 280 ºC (which is too hot for me actually) at its max setting and seems rather stable. I'm not sure why your system would be erratic and topping off at 230 ºC.

[lynx74br]

Lynx wrote:

Hi Mark,

It's happening with me, I shorted the R5 and the reading become unreal near to the end of the pot (around 230ºC with 10k on R5).

So, I have to use 12k & 100k on R5 & R6 to get 160 ~ 280 ºC, right?

Many thanks,
lynx

Yes, they look pretty good. I don't have the intermediary values like 280 ºC so there is a little interpolation there.

I'm wondering if you have some other issue, though, going on. With my stock 56K R6 and my 10K R5, my extruder nicely goes to above 280 ºC (which is too hot for me actually) at its max setting and seems rather stable. I'm not sure why your system would be erratic and topping off at 230 ºC.

I tried using 100k thermistor with the stock 56k on R6 and 10k on R6, the temperature do not go more than 210ºC. So, I short the R5 and the temperature do go more than 230ºC.

I will try with the 4k thermistor and 10k on R6.

Thanks,
lynx

[charles]

The goal is to adjust the value near 200 ° C.

[charles]

The video shows a test I did with the changing MK138 (resistor R5) to 10K. According to the electronic manual SeeMecnc H1.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmIlubEb8F8[/youtube]

[thosj]

This thread has been dead for a while, but I have a problem with my Vellman's (Vellmen?). I have one built per instructions for hot end. When I turn it on, apply 12vdc to the input, the red led comes on, the relay clicks. Checking continuity, COM/NC changes to open, COM/NO changes to closed, as it should. However, shouldn't I then have 12vdc across COM/NO, now closed? I have no voltage anywhere other than the in terminals. Well, probably 12vdc somewhere, but not on the relay output, and the hot end sits cold. If I hook up the hot end straight to 12vdc, it heats up, so it ain't the resistors, it's the output of the Vellman.

Actually, I have one Vellman built for a Phebe1, too, and it does the same, click, red led, no voltage at the relay either way across, COM/NC/NO, in any configuration. Man, I have everything ready to print and I can't get the hot end to go. What am I misunderstanding here?

[mhackney]

Given that you have 2 Vellemans with the same "problem" I suspect an operator error or mis assembly (no offense, it would just be strange to have 2 defective units). If you hear the relay click, you should be getting voltage out if voltage is coming in to it. Did you measure the voltage coming into the relay?