Help me make my great smoothie (ware)

Forum » Smoothie Firmware / General » Help me make my great smoothie (ware)

Started by:

singhm29
Date: 04 Aug 2016 04:45
Number of posts: 4

Summary:

Stupid title yes I know but a newcomer to programming firmware and having some issues despite the great documentation available on the site and forums. Current issues: Z axis steppers make a loud beep but do not move, End stops not bouncing back after contact, Not stepping the correct amount

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Help me make my great smoothie (ware)

singhm29 04 Aug 2016 04:45

Hey all,

Having a hard time getting things up and running on an Azteeg X5 Mini with SD5984 stepper drivers. Veered away from spending $400 on an upgrade path through the printer manufacturer after seeing how great smoothieware was and decided to take the plunge into adapting my printer to run off this. Totally up to learn the ins and outs of smoothieware so I can self service myself and help others but would really appreciate any expertise others can offer to get my printer up and running again

My issues

100mm step moves more like 400 steps in Y axis
What I have tried/observed
-the creators of my printer got the values im currently using in my config file from the leadscrew design and timing belts etc, things im not to sure about so I figured these would not change between Marlin and Smoothie

What I think is happening
-my steps per mm are wrong not exacly sure how to figure this out
-pretty sure this must be tailored to your printer and cant be left as default
-smoothieware doesnt know the size of my bed, I may not be reflecting it correctly in firmware

End stops not bouncing back after contact
What I have tried/observed
-the direction in which the steppers move is correct as they move toward the limit switches and make contact now
-when they make contact they bounce back and move right back to the limit switch keeping it compressed

What I think is happening
-because my steps per mm are not correct after contact is made the steppers do not rotate enough to stop compressing the limit switch

Z axis is not moving no matter what im setting the current to
What I have tried/observed
-it would initially move for a few steps then it would stop, now no matter what I set the current to they dont move
-changed between 0.5 to 2.0 amps using digipot
-reviewed the config file to turn down acceleration and anything else that might be playing a factor in how quickly this moves

What I think might be happening
-because my bed dimensions are not being correctly reflected when i send a command through pronterface for a step size of 1 in Z axis its trying to move 20 steps really quickly

My firmware

# Robot module configurations : general handling of movement G-codes and slicing into moves
default_feed_rate                            4000             # Default rate ( mm/minute ) for G1/G2/G3 moves
default_seek_rate                            4000             # Default rate ( mm/minute ) for G0 moves
mm_per_arc_segment                           0.5              # Arcs are cut into segments ( lines ), this is the length for these segments.  Smaller values mean more resolution, higher values mean faster computation
#mm_per_line_segment                          5                # Lines can be cut into segments ( not usefull with cartesian coordinates robots ).

# Arm solution configuration : Cartesian robot. Translates mm positions into stepper positions
alpha_steps_per_mm                           118.52               # Steps per mm for alpha stepper
beta_steps_per_mm                            118.52               # Steps per mm for beta stepper
gamma_steps_per_mm                           4031.5        # Steps per mm for gamma stepper

# Planner module configuration : Look-ahead and acceleration configuration
planner_queue_size                           32               # DO NOT CHANGE THIS UNLESS YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOUR ARE DOING
acceleration                                 1500             # Acceleration in mm/second/second.
#z_acceleration                              500              # Acceleration for Z only moves in mm/s^2, 0 disables it, disabled by default. DO NOT SET ON A DELTA
junction_deviation                           0.05             # Similar to the old "max_jerk", in millimeters, see : means being faster and have more jerk

# Stepper module configuration
microseconds_per_step_pulse                  1                # Duration of step pulses to stepper drivers, in microseconds
base_stepping_frequency                      100000           # Base frequency for stepping

# Stepper module pins ( ports, and pin numbers, appending "!" to the number will invert a pin )
alpha_step_pin                               2.1              # Pin for alpha stepper step signal
alpha_dir_pin                                0.11             # Pin for alpha stepper direction
alpha_en_pin                                 0.10            # Pin for alpha enable pin
alpha_current                                1.5              # X stepper motor current
x_axis_max_speed                             9900              # mm/min was 30000
alpha_max_rate                               9900             # mm/min actuator max speed was 30000

beta_step_pin                                2.2              # Pin for beta stepper step signal
beta_dir_pin                                 0.20             # Pin for beta stepper direction
beta_en_pin                                  0.19            # Pin for beta enable
beta_current                                 1.68              # Y stepper motor current
y_axis_max_speed                             9900            # mm/min
beta_max_rate                                9900          # mm/min actuator max speed

gamma_step_pin                               2.3              # Pin for gamma stepper step signal
gamma_dir_pin                                0.22             # Pin for gamma stepper direction
gamma_en_pin                                 0.21            # Pin for gamma enable
gamma_current                                1.68             # Z stepper motor current
z_axis_max_speed                             300              # mm/min
gamma_max_rate                               300.0            # mm/min actuator max speed

# Serial communications configuration ( baud rate default to 9600 if undefined )
uart0.baud_rate                              115200           # Baud rate for the default hardware serial port
second_usb_serial_enable                     false            # This enables a second usb serial port (to have both pronterface and a terminal connected)

#msd_disable                                 false            # disable the MSD (USB SDCARD) when set to true
#leds_disable                                true             # disable using leds after config loaded
#dfu_enable                                  false            # for linux developers, set to true to enable DFU
#watchdog_timeout                            10               # watchdog timeout in seconds, default is 10, set to 0 to disable the watchdog

## Extruder module configuration
extruder.hotend.enable                          true             # Whether to activate the extruder module at all. All configuration is ignored if false
extruder.hotend.steps_per_mm                    140              # Steps per mm for extruder stepper
extruder.hotend.default_feed_rate               600              # Default rate ( mm/minute ) for moves where only the extruder moves
extruder.hotend.acceleration                    500              # Acceleration for the stepper motor mm/sec²
extruder.hotend.max_speed                       50               # mm/s

extruder.hotend.step_pin                        2.0              # Pin for extruder step signal
extruder.hotend.dir_pin                         0.5              # Pin for extruder dir signal
extruder.hotend.en_pin                          0.4              # Pin for extruder enable signal

delta_current                                1.5              # Extruder stepper motor current

# Laser module configuration
laser_module_enable                          false            # Whether to activate the laser module at all. All configuration is
                                                              # ignored if false.
#laser_module_pin                             2.5             # this pin will be PWMed to control the laser. Only P2.0 - P2.5, P1.18, P1.20, P1.21, P1.23, P1.24, P1.26, P3.25, P3.26
                                                              # can be used since laser requires hardware PWM
#laser_module_maximum_power                   1.0             # this is the maximum duty cycle that will be applied to the laser
#laser_module_minimum_power                   0.0             # This is a value just below the minimum duty cycle that keeps the laser
                                                              # active without actually burning.
#laser_module_default_power                   0.8             # This is the default laser power that will be used for cuts if a power has not been specified.  The value is a scale between
                                                              # the maximum and minimum power levels specified above
#laser_module_pwm_period                      20              # this sets the pwm frequency as the period in microseconds

# Hotend temperature control configuration
temperature_control.hotend.enable            true             # Whether to activate this ( "hotend" ) module at all. All configuration is ignored if false.
temperature_control.hotend.thermistor_pin    0.24             # Pin for the thermistor to read
temperature_control.hotend.heater_pin        2.5              # Pin that controls the heater
#temperature_control.hotend.thermistor        EPCOS100K        # see 
#temperature_control.hotend.beta             4066             # or set the beta value
temperature_control.hotend.rt_curve          19.0,98700,180,1120,235,460

temperature_control.hotend.set_m_code        104              #
temperature_control.hotend.set_and_wait_m_code 109            #
temperature_control.hotend.designator        T                #
#temperature_control.hotend.max_temp         300              # Set maximum temperature - Will prevent heating above 300 by default
#temperature_control.hotend.min_temp         0                # Set minimum temperature - Will prevent heating below 0 by default

temperature_control.hotend.p_factor          49.2            #ran 8/2/2016 to 210
temperature_control.hotend.i_factor          5.005            #
temperature_control.hotend.d_factor          121               #

temperature_control.bed.enable               false            #
temperature_control.bed.thermistor_pin       0.23             #
temperature_control.bed.heater_pin           2.7              #
temperature_control.bed.thermistor           EPCOS100K    # see 
#temperature_control.bed.beta                4066             # or set the beta value

temperature_control.bed.set_m_code           140              #
temperature_control.bed.set_and_wait_m_code  190              #
temperature_control.bed.designator           B                #

# Switch module for fan control
switch.fan.enable                            true             #
switch.fan.input_on_command                  M106             #
switch.fan.input_off_command                 M107             #
switch.fan.output_pin                        1.25              #

switch.misc.enable                           false            #
switch.misc.input_on_command                 M42              #
switch.misc.input_off_command                M43              #
switch.misc.output_pin                       0.26              #

# automatically toggle a switch at a specified temperature. Different ones of these may be defined to monitor different temperatures and switch different swithxes
# useful to turn on a fan or water pump to cool the hotend
#temperatureswitch.hotend.enable                true             #
#temperatureswitch.hotend.designator          T                # first character of the temperature control designator to use as the temperature sensor to monitor
#temperatureswitch.hotend.switch              misc             # select which switch to use, matches the name of the defined switch
#temperatureswitch.hotend.threshold_temp      60.0             # temperature to turn on (if rising) or off the switch
#temperatureswitch.hotend.heatup_poll         15               # poll heatup at 15 sec intervals
#temperatureswitch.hotend.cooldown_poll       60               # poll cooldown at 60 sec intervals

# filament out detector
#filament_detector.enable                     true             #
#filament_detector.encoder_pin                0.26             # must be interrupt enabled pin (0.26, 0.27, 0.28)
#filament_detector.seconds_per_check          2                # may need to be longer
#filament_detector.pulses_per_mm              1 .0             # will need to be tuned
#filament_detector.bulge_pin                  0.27             # optional bulge detector switch and/or manual suspend

# Switch module for spindle control
#switch.spindle.enable                        false            #

# Endstops
endstops_enable                              true             # the endstop module is enabled by default and can be disabled here
#corexy_homing                               false            # set to true if homing on a hbit or corexy
alpha_min_endstop                            1.24!^            # X add a ! to invert if endstop is NO connected to ground
#alpha_max_endstop                           1.24^            #
alpha_homing_direction                       home_to_min      # or set to home_to_max and set alpha_max
alpha_min                                    0                # this gets loaded after homing when home_to_min is set
alpha_max                                    600              # this gets loaded after homing when home_to_max is set
#beta_min_endstop                            1.26^            # Y
beta_max_endstop                             1.26!^            # //this is one to use for this case
beta_homing_direction                        home_to_max       # changed from home to min
beta_min                                     0                #
beta_max                                     600               #
gamma_min_endstop                            1.28!^            # Z
#gamma_max_endstop                           1.28^            #
gamma_homing_direction                       home_to_min      #
gamma_min                                    0                #
gamma_max                                    600               #

alpha_max_travel                             600               # max travel in mm for alpha/X axis when homing changed from 500
beta_max_travel                              600               # max travel in mm for beta/Y axis when homing
gamma_max_travel                             600               # max travel in mm for gamma/Z axis when homing

# optional enable limit switches, actions will stop if any enabled limit switch is triggered
#alpha_limit_enable                          false            # set to true to enable X min and max limit switches
#beta_limit_enable                           false            # set to true to enable Y min and max limit switches
#gamma_limit_enable                          false            # set to true to enable Z min and max limit switches
#move_to_origin_after_home                   false            # move XY to 0,0 after homing

#probe endstop
#probe_pin                                   1.29             # optional pin for probe

alpha_fast_homing_rate_mm_s                  50               # feedrates in mm/second
beta_fast_homing_rate_mm_s                   50               # "
gamma_fast_homing_rate_mm_s                  4                # "
alpha_slow_homing_rate_mm_s                  25               # "
beta_slow_homing_rate_mm_s                   25               # "
gamma_slow_homing_rate_mm_s                  2                # "

alpha_homing_retract_mm                      5                # distance in mm
beta_homing_retract_mm                       5                # "
gamma_homing_retract_mm                      1                # "

#endstop_debounce_count                       100              # uncomment if you get noise on your endstops, default is 100

# optional Z probe
zprobe.enable                                false           # set to true to enable a zprobe
zprobe.probe_pin                             1.29!^          # pin probe is attached to if NC remove the !
zprobe.slow_feedrate                         5               # mm/sec probe feed rate
#zprobe.debounce_count                       100             # set if noisy
zprobe.fast_feedrate                         100             # move feedrate mm/sec
zprobe.probe_height                          5               # how much above bed to start probe

# associated with zprobe the leveling strategy to use
#leveling-strategy.three-point-leveling.enable         true        # a leveling strategy that probes three points to define a plane and keeps the Z parallel to that plane
#leveling-strategy.three-point-leveling.point1         100.0,0.0   # the first probe point (x,y) optional may be defined with M557
#leveling-strategy.three-point-leveling.point2         200.0,200.0 # the second probe point (x,y)
#leveling-strategy.three-point-leveling.point3         0.0,200.0   # the third probe point (x,y)
#leveling-strategy.three-point-leveling.home_first     true        # home the XY axis before probing
#leveling-strategy.three-point-leveling.tolerance      0.03        # the probe tolerance in mm, anything less that this will be ignored, default is 0.03mm
#leveling-strategy.three-point-leveling.probe_offsets  0,0,0       # the probe offsets from nozzle, must be x,y,z, default is no offset
#leveling-strategy.three-point-leveling.save_plane     false       # set to true to allow the bed plane to be saved with M500 default is false

# kill button (used to be called pause) maybe assigned to a different pin, set to the onboard pin by default
kill_button_enable                           true             # set to true to enable a kill button
kill_button_pin                              2.12             # kill button pin. default is same as pause button 2.12 (2.11 is another good choice)

# Panel 
panel.enable                                 false             # set to true to enable the panel code

# Example viki2 config for an azteeg mini V2 with IDC cable
panel.lcd                                    viki2             # set type of panel
panel.spi_channel                            0                 # set spi channel to use P0_18,P0_15 MOSI,SCLK
panel.spi_cs_pin                             0.16              # set spi chip select
panel.encoder_a_pin                          3.25!^            # encoder pin
panel.encoder_b_pin                          3.26!^            # encoder pin
panel.click_button_pin                       2.11!^            # click button
panel.a0_pin                                 2.6               # st7565 needs an a0
panel.contrast                               8                 # override contrast setting (default is 9) miniViki (4 or lower)
#panel.encoder_resolution                    4                 # override number of clicks to move 1 item (default is 4)
#panel.button_pause_pin                      1.30^             # kill/pause set one of these for the auxilliary button on viki2
#panel.back_button_pin                       1.30!^            # back button recommended to use this on EXP1
panel.buzz_pin                               0.25              # pin for buzzer on EXP2
panel.red_led_pin                            2.8               # pin for red led on viki2 on EXP1
panel.blue_led_pin                           4.29              # pin for blue led on viki2 on EXP1
panel.external_sd                            true              # set to true if there is an extrernal sdcard on the panel
panel.external_sd.spi_channel                0                 # set spi channel the sdcard is on
panel.external_sd.spi_cs_pin                 1.23              # set spi chip select for the sdcard
panel.external_sd.sdcd_pin                   1.31!^            # sd detect signal (set to nc if no sdcard detect)
panel.menu_offset                            1                 # some panels will need 1 here

panel.alpha_jog_feedrate                     6000              # x jogging feedrate in mm/min
panel.beta_jog_feedrate                      6000              # y jogging feedrate in mm/min
panel.gamma_jog_feedrate                     200               # z jogging feedrate in mm/min

panel.hotend_temperature                     185               # temp to set hotend when preheat is selected
panel.bed_temperature                        60                # temp to set bed when preheat is selected

# Example of a custom menu entry, which will show up in the Custom entry.
# NOTE _ gets converted to space in the menu and commands, | is used to separate multiple commands
custom_menu.power_on.enable                true              #
custom_menu.power_on.name                  Power_on          #
custom_menu.power_on.command               M80               #

custom_menu.power_off.enable               true              #
custom_menu.power_off.name                 Power_off         #
custom_menu.power_off.command              M81               #

# network settings
network.enable                               false            # enable the ethernet network services
network.webserver.enable                     true             # enable the webserver
network.telnet.enable                        true             # enable the telnet server
network.plan9.enable                         true             # enable the plan9 network filesystem
network.ip_address                           auto             # the IP address
#network.ip_mask                             255.255.255.0    # the ip mask
#network.ip_gateway                          192.168.3.1      # the gateway address

# Azteeg specific settings do not change
currentcontrol_module_enable                 true            #
digipot_max_current                          2.0             # max current
digipot_factor                               113.5           # factor for converting current to digipot value

Information about my printer from Marlin

                Bed size: 600mmx600mmx600mm
                Steps per unit
                    X118.52
                    Y118.52
                    Z4031.5
                    E1757.27
                Max feedrates (mm/s)
                    X165.00
                    Y165.00
                    Z5.00
                Max acceleration (mm/s2)
                    X9000
                    Y9000
                    Z100
                    E10000
                Acceleration
                    Acceleration 1500
                    Retraction acceleration 1500

                Min feedrate (mm/s)
                    0
                Min travel feedrate (mm/s)
                    0
                Minimum segment time (ms)
                    20000
                Maximum XY jerk (mm/s)
                    15.00
                Maxium Z jerk (mm/s)
                    0.4
                Maximum E jerk (mm/s)
0

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Unfold Help me make my great smoothie (ware) by

singhm29, 04 Aug 2016 04:45

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Re: Help me make my great smoothie (ware)

arthurwolf 05 Aug 2016 09:37

Hey.

A quick answer to your questions.

About the steps per mm you have two solutions :

Either use a calculator like http://prusaprinters.org/calculator/
Or do a rule of three : move 100mm, measure how much it actually moves, and apply the ratio between the two to your steps per mm

About your Z problem :

Don't set current to an arbitrary value, just set it to the right rated value for your motor.
Try uncommenting your z_acceleration ( remove the # ) and setting it to 100
Also try moving your Z at a slow speed for example by sending G1 Z100 F100

Tell us if that helps.

Cheers.

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Unfold Re: Help me make my great smoothie (ware) by

arthurwolf, 05 Aug 2016 09:37

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Re: Help me make my great smoothie (ware)

singhm29 06 Aug 2016 00:51

Quick answers are still helpful answers!

So I figured out the steps per mm situation, turns out the values from the previous marlin setup were based on 1/32 microstepping and I was running in 1/8.

For the Z axis I should add a few extra comments.
I am wiring two 1.68A Nema 17s to them in parallel which is how it was done from my printer manufacturer with an earlier Azteeg X5 and SD8825 configuration. Both Y and Z were paired and driven off one driver for each axis. The reason I chose the 2.0A instead of what they were exactly rated for was to give a larger amount of current for both steppers to split.

This setup actually works perfectly fine for the Y axis which has two steppers in parallel with one coil pair reversed so that they run in opposite directions, I havent been having stalls or lack of movement with that configuration on the X5 mini.

The only difference with the Z axis is that they are in parallel without any swapped wires.

When I ran G1 Z100 F100
-with a single stepper motor connected at 1.5A it ran for 55 seconds before stopping (this might make sense since my bed is 600mm tall)

Hitting S3Ds jog 10mm command
-with both motors in parallel at 1.5A they rotated a few degrees then just buzzed
-with both motors in parallel at 2.0A they both moved but with alot of grinding noise

What really puzzles me is why my Y-axis works but my Z-axis does not, the Y axis is belt driven and the Z-axis is using lead screws but I am running two external steppers just so I can observe them easily right now and they are not performing at all similarly.

Thanks for pointing me in a good direction for tests I was definitely thinking my Z axis connection was faulty but I'd like to dig deeper and see if its a setting issue. Any other ideas would be much appreciated

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Unfold Re: Help me make my great smoothie (ware) by

singhm29, 06 Aug 2016 00:51

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Re: Help me make my great smoothie (ware)

Courcirc8 26 Aug 2016 20:36

-You might trigger the over-current protection by connecting 2 motors in parallel. Look at the nFault pin to see if this happens.
I don't know how this feature is implemented on the A5984, but it might monitor the PWM duty-cycle, which should be quite low with 2 2ohms motors in parallel. It might also monitor the VDS of the MOD when they are ON, which will give about the same result.
- You might also have an incorrect motor wiring (Ok, you probably have triple-checked it ;) )
Good luck
CC8

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Unfold Re: Help me make my great smoothie (ware) by

Courcirc8, 26 Aug 2016 20:36

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