I have an issue with the extruder: when I control it from the reprap console ( by pushing the "Extrude" button in the extruder tab), the extruder stepper starts and turns correctly. But when I press again to stop it, it keeps turning and the software freezes momentarily. The stepper eventually stops after 5-6 seconds and the software responds again, but after that it keeps stepping randomly at an average pace of about 1 step/sec. If I reset the extruder board, this parasitic movement stops but it starts again every time I re-use the extruder. Anyone has an idea about the cause or this problem? For info, I am using the Gen3 electronics and I have reproduced this problem with both the 2010-03-08 and the 2010-08-06 versions of the software (upgrading the firmware to the boards too). https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,67185#msg-67185 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:16:52 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,70588#msg-70588 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,70588#msg-70588 Lionel Reprappers Sat, 15 Jan 2011 06:48:50 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,70514#msg-70514 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,70514#msg-70514 brnrd Reprappers Fri, 14 Jan 2011 09:50:43 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,68969#msg-68969 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,68969#msg-68969 Lionel Reprappers Sat, 25 Dec 2010 08:19:06 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,68924#msg-68924 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,68924#msg-68924 hintss Reprappers Fri, 24 Dec 2010 00:34:17 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,67445#msg-67445 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,67445#msg-67445
I joined the grounds together and held my breath while powering the whole thing: no smoke, and the stepper is now behaving correctly. Thanks for your help!

Just as a remark, I don't think it is a good idea to power the motherboard and the extruder from two different sources. I understand that it makes it easier for programming the sanguino when the machine is not finished but it also makes it confusing and more noise prone. Maybe there is room for design here.]]> Lionel Reprappers Thu, 02 Dec 2010 11:54:37 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,67371#msg-67371 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,67371#msg-67371
The reprap host extrude button is working as well as it usually does; it doesnt do what you'd expect with the 5d code. I use gcdump to send gcodes manually for testing.]]> Wade Reprappers Wed, 01 Dec 2010 18:35:09 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,67357#msg-67357 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,67357#msg-67357 nophead Reprappers Wed, 01 Dec 2010 13:58:19 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,67350#msg-67350 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,67350#msg-67350 Do you think I can link both grounds together? I am not sure if that will be fine for the USB.]]> Lionel Reprappers Wed, 01 Dec 2010 12:28:43 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,67288#msg-67288 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,67288#msg-67288 nophead Reprappers Tue, 30 Nov 2010 14:31:14 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,67282#msg-67282 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,67282#msg-67282 - I added a shielded cable. The shield is connected to the extruder ground via the ground pin of port D10.
- I restarted the interface, and pushed the extrude button several times using several extrusion speeds.

Results:
- First of all, changing the value of the extrusion speed doesn't affect the speed of extrusion, it only affect the duration of the extrusion. So it shouldn't be called 'extrusion speed', unless I am missing something
- Second, I can still observe the random steps. A more careful observation showed me that this doesn't happen all the time though. Sometimes the stepper stops neatly and remains quiet, sometimes it doesnt and it keeps stepping randomly.

So I don;t think that it is due to noise, it must be something else. My guesses are that it may be a correction algorithm that goes mad if the stepper keeps moving after the signal is low, or there is a problem with the separate grounds of the motherboard and the extruder. Maybe I will use a commcon power supply and ground to make sure.

Any other suggestions?]]> Lionel Reprappers Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:15:29 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,67215#msg-67215 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,67215#msg-67215 You're right, the coils are not energised when the extruder board is resetted. And you're right again, It is a Mendel.
I will try to shield the cables or at least to shorten them and see what happens.]]> Lionel Reprappers Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:14:28 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,67210#msg-67210 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,67210#msg-67210
Wade]]> Wade Reprappers Mon, 29 Nov 2010 13:23:34 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,67185#msg-67185 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,67185,67185#msg-67185
Anyone has an idea about the cause or this problem?


For info, I am using the Gen3 electronics and I have reproduced this problem with both the 2010-03-08 and the 2010-08-06 versions of the software (upgrading the firmware to the boards too).]]> Lionel Reprappers Mon, 29 Nov 2010 06:48:06 -0500