I have been out of the tech for 5-6 years and have just unearthed my 2013 Mendel 90. As I am reconnecting it I need to get software, and perhaps hardware to make it work again. I am running Ubuntu 22.04 but installs of Printrun / Pronterface crash on launch, Slic3r fails to install and I suspect the world of SW and HW has moved considerably from where I saw it 6 years ago. Advice /opinions as to: 1. Reverting to an older version of Ubuntu on an old laptop. 2. Adding a local screen and controller to the printer ..... 3. Update the printer with a newer control board than the Melzi/Marlin [OEM] would be welcome ! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891576#msg-891576 Sat, 14 Mar 2026 02:01:08 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891756#msg-891756 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891756#msg-891756 Bill_of_the_North Mendel90 Sat, 21 Jan 2023 17:31:01 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891687#msg-891687 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891687#msg-891687
We live in Tenerife in the winter, so +23C ATM. -1C in the UK.]]> nophead Mendel90 Mon, 16 Jan 2023 14:07:16 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891685#msg-891685 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891685#msg-891685
It's winter here with -20C some nights so I have time to spare.]]> Bill_of_the_North Mendel90 Mon, 16 Jan 2023 08:58:28 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891683#msg-891683 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891683#msg-891683
A very low value could indicate the thermistor has been shorted to the heater as that blows up the input pin of the MCU.]]> nophead Mendel90 Mon, 16 Jan 2023 05:58:47 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891679#msg-891679 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891679#msg-891679
Measuring across the the input terminals for temp sense on all 3 boards confirms my suspicions. 2 boards have low resistance on the E-Temp compared to Bed temp. The 3rd board has unrepairable phsical damage yet temperature inputs are the same as the working Bed temp inputs of the other 2.

Thank you all for your time and thoughts. I'll be back with questions when I get the new boards setup !]]> Bill_of_the_North Mendel90 Sun, 15 Jan 2023 17:03:46 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891676#msg-891676 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891676#msg-891676
After a lot of reading, searching and shopping I've ordered a BigTreeTech Manta 8P with the companion CM1 RPi equivalent. According to Teaching tech it is closer to a Pi 3. The board ticks a lot of boxes in that it will run Marlin or Klipper, can also run octo print. Ethernet and other stuff is there too. Wiring looks a little easier than the Melzi board. On Amazon it was cheaper and faster delivery than a Melzi. The Smoothie options are not in stock anywhere ...:(

Whilst I await delivery I will try the VSCode autoBuild and learn something new !

Thanks for your thoughts and time.]]> Bill_of_the_North Mendel90 Sun, 15 Jan 2023 14:56:27 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891675#msg-891675 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891675#msg-891675
Since the E3D has more thermal mass than a J-Head perhaps the thermal runaway protection is a false alarm due it not heating as fast as expected. I don't use it most of my machines because it is a PIA. I prefer to live dangerously.]]> nophead Mendel90 Sun, 15 Jan 2023 11:24:50 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891673#msg-891673 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891673#msg-891673 Bill_of_the_North Mendel90 Sun, 15 Jan 2023 09:49:43 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891671#msg-891671 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891671#msg-891671 nophead Mendel90 Sun, 15 Jan 2023 06:24:31 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891666#msg-891666 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891666#msg-891666
echo:V86 stored settings retrieved (620 bytes; crc 4513)
echo:No SD card
Setting hotend temperature to 185 degrees Celsius.
Error:Heating failed, system stopped! Heater_ID: E0
Error:Heating failed, system stopped! Heater_ID: E0

The board swap fixed the immediate fail on startup but it now fails soon after I start heating the hotend. Verified that the thermistor value at the board connection was dropping as it heated up but Pronterface and the board did not report it.


I'm about to order a new Melzi board just to rule a board fault out. Curiously though newer 32bit boards are cheaper ..... worth switching ?]]> Bill_of_the_North Mendel90 Sat, 14 Jan 2023 14:26:08 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891665#msg-891665 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891665#msg-891665 nophead Mendel90 Sat, 14 Jan 2023 05:15:44 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891662#msg-891662 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891662#msg-891662
Connecting...
start
Printer is now online.
Marlin 2.0.9.3
echo: Last Updated: 2021-12-25 | Author: nophead
echo: Compiled: Jan 13 2023
echo: Free Memory: 12530 PlannerBufferBytes: 1152
echo:EEPROM version mismatch (EEPROM=? Marlin=V86)
echo:Hardcoded Default Settings Loaded
echo:No SD card

Getting closer now :)-D Innis & Gunn - here I come !]]> Bill_of_the_North Mendel90 Fri, 13 Jan 2023 18:11:19 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891660#msg-891660 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891660#msg-891660 Changed the thermistor in the E3D V6 Hotend as it seemed intermittent.
Recompiled and uploaded with "TEMP_SENSOR_0 5" as I believe that is the correct one as per E3D.
Double checked continuity to the board from terminals on on the Hotend assembly.
Using a hot air gun verified resistance change.

Still get the same error ! Beginning to suspect these lines are reporting something .....

echo:EEPROM version mismatch (EEPROM=? Marlin=V86)
echo:Hardcoded Default Settings Loaded

I am going to try another board to see if the eeprom error follows ....]]> Bill_of_the_North Mendel90 Fri, 13 Jan 2023 16:07:06 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891647#msg-891647 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891647#msg-891647
Firstly what do you have the set as the hotend thermistor?
keyword TEMP_SENSOR_0

I believe these old machine used a type 1..

What did you set for MOTHEBOARD ?
I believe those old machines have a BOARD_MELZI

Also unplug the hotend thermistor, does the max temp error change ?

check resistance across the hotend thermistor cable pins while unplugged, it should read around 100k in a 25C room.
A shorted thermistor will give a Error:MAXTEMP]]> Dust Mendel90 Thu, 12 Jan 2023 23:45:49 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891644#msg-891644 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891644#msg-891644
Which brings me to this problem to solve !

Connecting...
start
Printer is now online.
Marlin 2.0.9.3
echo: Last Updated: 2021-12-25 | Author: nophead
echo: Compiled: Jan 12 2023
echo: Free Memory: 12530 PlannerBufferBytes: 1152
echo:EEPROM version mismatch (EEPROM=? Marlin=V86)
echo:Hardcoded Default Settings Loaded
Error:MAXTEMP triggered, system stopped! Heater_ID: E0
Error:MAXTEMP triggered, system stopped! Heater_ID: E0

echo:Err: MAXTEMP
Error:Printer halted. kill() called!
Error:Printer halted. kill() called!

//action:poweroff

I'll now chase a possible thermistor, wiring or config problem ...... but at least I'm closer than Monday !]]> Bill_of_the_North Mendel90 Thu, 12 Jan 2023 16:09:29 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891633#msg-891633 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891633#msg-891633
IIRC it was just a matter of downloading VSC, installing some plugins and then using the Marlin autobuild.]]> nophead Mendel90 Thu, 12 Jan 2023 05:35:36 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891616#msg-891616 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891616#msg-891616 I have now managed to get a boot loader installed. Currently trying to compile the updated marlin with a borrowed Windows machine. Maybe I should look at the visual code method, but I am not a programmer nor familiar with VSC. Will need to search out how that is done !]]> Bill_of_the_North Mendel90 Wed, 11 Jan 2023 12:28:54 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891590#msg-891590 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891590#msg-891590
The recent version of Marlin I put on Github comes with support for Melzi with 1284p. I compiled it with Visual Studio Code using the Auto Build Marlin extension as that is the recommended way of doing it nowadays but it says it can still be compiled with Arduino. I didn't need to install any libraries.]]> nophead Mendel90 Mon, 09 Jan 2023 05:57:45 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891586#msg-891586 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891586#msg-891586
As I try to refresh the software toolchain I now have Pronterface running under Ubuntu 22.04 ! Python issues !

Connection to printer is the issue now. I have permissions set properly and the on board UART is reporting. It will not connect regardless of baud rate. I suspect I need to reprogam the board.
I've installed the Arduino IDE but can't find the 'Melzi W/ AT mega1284p ' board in the libraries, or actually find the libraries to download. When trying to upload to the board it times out. It seems I am missing something {or a lot of things}.

Again any suggestions are welcome]]> Bill_of_the_North Mendel90 Sat, 07 Jan 2023 16:01:25 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891576#msg-891576 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,891576,891576#msg-891576
Advice /opinions as to:
1. Reverting to an older version of Ubuntu on an old laptop.
2. Adding a local screen and controller to the printer .....
3. Update the printer with a newer control board than the Melzi/Marlin [OEM]

would be welcome !]]> Bill_of_the_North Mendel90 Fri, 06 Jan 2023 10:36:10 -0500