Extrude in MatterControl doesn't work, causes hang [SOLVED]

[rhoded]

I am just starting to calibrate my Rostock Max V2 and I think I've fixed my thermistor after a breakage. Besides following the instructions, I have noticed that I cannot control the extruder with the MatterControl software. I can move the hot end around and preheat both bed and nozzle but when I click Extrude plus or minus, with or without filament loaded, nothing happens. Also, when I do this, the program's communication with the printer stops. After trying to use the extruder, I cannot move nor send preheating commands to the printer. Is this normal behavior or is something wrong with the firmware or my extruder motor? How can I debug this? Thanks for any help. In case it matters, I am on Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite. Please let me know if you require more information.

[rhoded]

I can now confirm that I have followed the instructions in the manual up until the point where I am instructed to extrude using the button in MatterControl. Something must be up if the motor isn't running. How do I check the cables and connections?

[Captain Starfish]

Maybe install Repetier Host and see if it has the same issue - it'll at least let you know whether or not it's an MC problem.

[rhoded]

Hey Captain Starfish, thanks for the tip! It looks like it's a problem with my printer :/ I used Repetier-Host and it works to move the hot end and set the temperature of the heating elements but I still can't get the extruder to move. Has anyone done this before? How should I test connectors and is there an easy way to test the extruder motor? I was thinking of just cutting the wires and doing a multimeter test on my leads. That way I can tell if there is anything wrong with the wires. If there is something wrong with them, I'll re-solder everything back together and it should work. If it isn't the connections, perhaps my motor is fried. It never ever worked, so I am wondering if it could have been dead from the start.

P.S. Is there a way I can check the output of the RAMBO board? What should each pin look like on an "extrude" or "retract?"

[Xenocrates]

I would start by attaching a motion stepper to the extruder port, and seeing if it's the rambo (shouldn't be, but if it , s, Ultimachine will repair it pretty cheap). If it's not, confirm you have the wires matched properly from end to end, and check the wires for continuity. That's really simple if you don't know how. Start with an LED and a coin cell. set the coin cell and LED to each pair. If it lights (so long as the coin cell will normally light it), then that wiring pair is working at least a little. Once you've checked that, then plug the stepper into a motion port, and if it moves when you home it, then it's either a SW or a hardware issue, that is, again, a job for Ultimachine and a new flash of firmware.

Or now that I think about it, perhaps you have the current set incorrectly. What are your current settings?

[Captain Starfish]

Oooh.

The newer versions of the Repetier firmware have a safety interlock in them where they will not extrude until the hot-end reaches a certain temperature. 180º or something?

[Eaglezsoar]

Captain that is an excellent point and one I keep forgetting, thanks for the reminder!

[rhoded]

Thanks for the suggestions. I just now re-soldered the wires that I soldered before in case they were the cause of the issue (took a couple minutes so I thought whatever). Then I waited for the hot end to get up to 190°C. When I clicked extrude, it still doesn't do anything, so I don't think it is the temperature. I will try the fixes you suggest, Xenocrates, including making sure those solders are good. I saw that a green wire had become trapped and squished between melamine pieces so I should definitely solder around it or at least check its conductivity.

Which settings should I be looking for? I also had the alternate stepper motors (the ones without the locking connector) and I had to make a change in the firmware for it to work, do I need to change more there? Thanks for the help and will update soon.

[rhoded]

OK guys, really sorry to say this but as I was debugging, I saw that that the extruder motor was plugged into the wrong input, just like the manual said NOT to do. Thanks so much for the help and I apologize for my idiocy :-S

[Eaglezsoar]

OK guys, really sorry to say this but as I was debugging, I saw that that the extruder motor was plugged into the wrong input, just like the manual said NOT to do. Thanks so much for the help and I apologize for my idiocy :-S

It can be a bitch to be human and make mistakes.
Glad you got it fixed!

[Captain Starfish]

Fantastic, rhoded, glad to hear you got it going again. If a simple cockup like that makes you an idiot, though... welcome to the club