Stupid Q. How can I copy my FW out of my Max?

[Av8r RC]

I've always been very marginal with the code side of stuff. So hopefully someone can help me out with what must be an easy thing to do....


I would like to copy the firmware that currently resides inside of my RAMBO board.


I was printing the other day and my "X" tower started acting funny. So I want to plug my "X" motor into the unused extruder drive on my board in hopes to determine, if my motor is bad or the "X" drive on my board is bad. I am certain that it is not the g-code because this issue started happening when I went to print a second copy of a part I just got done printing.

Also since you most likely know what "you're" doing. lol Where would I go in the configuration files to change the "X" drive to the "E1" drive. I'm sure I could eventually find it. But you will probably save me a few hours of frustration.

Thank You! I greatly appreciate it!

[Outsider]

when I built mine, I thought I had a problem with the y tower motor. I just disconnected the Y belt from the skate and then swapped the connectors for the y tower and the extruder on the RAMBO. I turned the system on and brought the head up to temp. I could then hit the "EXTRUDE" button in MatterControl. This was a quick test to check my Y motor. It worked fine. I then changed everything back the way it was.

[Eric]

I've always been very marginal with the code side of stuff. So hopefully someone can help me out with what must be an easy thing to do....


I would like to copy the firmware that currently resides inside of my RAMBO board.


I was printing the other day and my "X" tower started acting funny. So I want to plug my "X" motor into the unused extruder drive on my board in hopes to determine, if my motor is bad or the "X" drive on my board is bad. I am certain that it is not the g-code because this issue started happening when I went to print a second copy of a part I just got done printing.

While it's technically possible to copy the binary copy of the firmware (there is no source on your board, only the compiled binary) off the rambo and restore it later, it's probably not a practical route for you.
If you really want to pursue it, research the options for the command-line utility "avrdude.exe" (it's part of the Arduino editor download, probably somewehre under the hardware directory). And learn about how the arduino lays out memory. And figure it out on some other arduino-based board, because you're bound to screw up the first few tries.

What most people do is preserve the source code that they originally wrote the firmware with. That way they can repeat the same operation at a later date to restore the same copy of the firmware.

[Av8r RC]

Outsider,
The motor does move and commands seem to do as it's told ie: home or rapid to _. It's just that halfway thru that first layer something happens and the "X" drive misbehaves.

Thank you for the suggestion though!



Erik,
Ewww! Ok that's way over my head. lol

I guess I'll just copy my eeprom settings and reload the fw I have and hope everything still works the same way and I didn't forget some stupid minor setting. I just know that there have been a lot of revisions to parts that make up the max since mine was assembled ie: newer arms, skates, etc. And I'm sure some geometries have changed. I just didn't want to be up S creek without a paddle. It's been sooooo long since I've done anything with fw.



It is possible to "remap" the "X" drive commands to "E1", right?

[Eric]

The question has come up before, so I found an old thread for you: http://forum.seemecnc.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=6666
His instructions are for swapping the Z and the E1 inputs. Change that to use the X defines and X numbers instead of Z for your case.

So yes, fairly simple changes to "pins.h" and "configuration.h" should get you what you want.

[Av8r RC]

Awesome, Thanks Eric!

I will look into that.

Thank You!!!

[Av8r RC]

Ok...

Apparently it was actually my "Y" drive not my "X" drive.

I swapped the paths around in the FW. And I get movements in all axis'.

BUT my "Y" is now moving the wrong direction when Homing.


Should I swap the wires around? Or is there a setting I need to change?


Thanks for your help Eric! I really appreciate it!!

[Eric]

Direction can be changed either via wiring or configuration. Look for INVERT_Y_DIR in configuration.h

I'd do the wiring fix if the wiring to the connector isn't the same as for X and Z steppers.

[Av8r RC]

Thanks Eric.

For some reason the FW I dl'd off the seemecnc site had INVERT_Y_DIR set as false. But X and Z were set to true.....

My towers all move the correct direction now. I test ran the 1st layer of the part this started on and it looked like it ran fine.

Heating up the build plate now to test it out. Fingers crossed!


Thanks again Eric! I'll update if it's a success or not.

[Av8r RC]

Success!!!!!

I've now printed two more of the same part.


THANKS again Eric!!!