Documentation sucks!

My big problems now are documentation such as a list of commands for pronterface.py and a manual for Skeinforge. I googled skeinforge manual and found some but get access denied messeges. The calibration instructions say change this, adjust that etc. but don't tell where these settings can be found, there are like 30 buttons in the slicing menu. Plus it would be nice to know how to control things from the pronterface command line box, I can find bits and pieces, or should I say bits and bobs for the UK, like enter MXXX to do this, but everthing is scattered all over the place! Instructions say things like drive the extruder forward xx milimeters, but don't give a command. Please help a drowning noob, how did everyone else figure this out?
Thanks
Dave

Pronterface gcode commands? See [reprap.org]
Use Slic3r [slic3r.org] rather than Skeinforge to get going, it's much more accessible. Documentation: [github.com]
Or use SFACT, which is a slightly improved (for clarity) version of Skeinforge - [github.com]

Thank you very much!

I think the best quick-start guide for Slic3r can be found here.

Andy

Thanks Andy you don't know how much I appreciate the help, its very frustrating to have such a cool printer and to be plagued by people writing instructions and assumeing others know what there talking about, I wrote a how to book once and let a friend read it and pointed out my flaws, you cant assume people know what youre talking about. OMG the build instructions for the Medel, what a mess! Thanks again!

Quote

very frustrating to [...] to be plagued by people writing instructions

Are you serious?

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Generation 7 Electronics	Teacup Firmware	RepRap DIY

You missed off part of the sentence in the quote. It's:

Quote
virgodave61
very frustrating to [...] be plagued by people writing instructions and assumeing others know what there talking about,

So I believe he means people making assumptions in their instructions.

Andy

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 10/13/2012 03:48PM by ajayre.

This isn't exactly what you asked for, but it may touch on some of it. It is also free/libre, so you can use/change it as you see fit:

[download.lulzbot.com]

I'm very sorry if I upset anyone, it wasn't intended to. But as a noob I wish things were layed out better all the Rep Rap info is there, its just spread around so much. All you guys have been great and I appreciate the help.
Thanks again,
Dave

virgodave61 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm very sorry if I upset anyone, it wasn't
> intended to. But as a noob I wish things were
> layed out better all the Rep Rap info is there,
> its just spread around so much. All you guys have
> been great and I appreciate the help.
> Thanks again,
> Dave

It's a community project, so the normal reaction to someone saying something sucks, is to tell them to make it not-suck. So when you have gone through the pain (some of that pain is very good to do) you will have the knowledge to make the documentation better.

Gary Hodgson spent quite some time making the excellent Mendel Visual build instructions, if you have not read it, please take a look.

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[richrap.blogspot.com]

Quote
virgodave61
But as a noob I wish [...]

That's exactly the wrong attitude. It's all open and all free, so the only one fulfilling your wishes is yourself. Unless you pay somebody to do that, of course.

Writing in the wiki is as simple as writing a post here, so you could have enhanced the wiki already instead of complaining here. Looking at the recent wiki changes, I see no virgodave61.

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Generation 7 Electronics	Teacup Firmware	RepRap DIY

Youre points are well taken, think I'm blushing!
Dave