Hello. I am working on the "Software Tweaking" page of the Darwin build instructions [
www.reprap.org]. Specifically, I am in the "Measure the deposited filament section" area of the page, which instructs me to, for the first time with this machine, print a .stl file, widebar.stl.
After setting the parameters as specified (Except that I used 210C for a extrusion temp, as I am using HDPE), closing the program, opening it, loading the widebar.stl file, selecting "HDPE", and clicking "Start build", my RepRap is motionless. About 7 seconds later, I get the following message:
Apparently, the reprap-host software thinks it finished the whole job in 6.5 seconds. Wouldn't that be nice?
Any ideas about what the problem is?
Some facts, as I understand them:
1.) I am using the latest released reprap-host software, reprap-host-20080523.zip
2.) I am using the reprap single-Arduino SNAP file from reprap-arduino-firmware-1.3.zip
3.) The stepper motor exerciser works when I start up the reprap-host program fresh, and I am able to control each stepper.
4.) The extruder exerciser works when I start up the reprap-host program fresh, and I am able to heat, sense temperature, and extrude.
5.) On a typical run of reprap-host, doing things like 3 and 4, I usually get the following console messages:
$ reprap-host
Experimental: JNI_OnLoad called.
Stable Library
=========================================
Native lib Version = RXTX-2.1-7
Java lib Version = RXTX-2.1-7
Exception in thread "RepRap" java.lang.NullPointerException
at javax.swing.ImageIcon.(ImageIcon.java:138)
at org.reprap.gui.botConsole.PrintTabPanel.initComponents(Unknown Source)
at org.reprap.gui.botConsole.PrintTabPanel.(Unknown Source)
at org.reprap.gui.botConsole.BotConsoleFrame.initComponents(Unknown Source)
at org.reprap.gui.botConsole.BotConsoleFrame.(Unknown Source)
at org.reprap.gui.botConsole.BotConsoleFrame$1.run(Unknown Source)
at java.awt.event.InvocationEvent.dispatch(InvocationEvent.java:209)
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEvent(EventQueue.java:597)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpOneEventForFilters(EventDispatchThread.java:273)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForFilter(EventDispatchThread.java:183)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForHierarchy(EventDispatchThread.java:173)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispatchThread.java:168)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispatchThread.java:160)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.run(EventDispatchThread.java:121)
sendMessage error - retrying
sendMessage error - retrying
sendMessage error - retrying
sendMessage error - retrying
sendMessage error - retrying
Everything before the sendMessage errors happens on startup, and the sendMesage errors happen usually when I'm doing something like telling it to extrude or run a motor. These errors are unpredictable. On a given program run, I may get 0 or I may get 10. Usually, they come one at a time.
Are these sendMessage errors normal? The retries seem to work fine, and the cumulative effect seems to just be a delay in the robot's response.
6. Sometimes when I try to print the stl file, I get only the errors mentioned above. Other times, I've gotten a slew of the following errors:
java.lang.NullPointerException
at org.reprap.comms.snap.SNAPCommunicator.receivePacket(Unknown Source)
at org.reprap.comms.snap.SNAPCommunicator.sendMessage(Unknown Source)
at org.reprap.comms.IncomingMessage.(Unknown Source)
at org.reprap.devices.GenericExtruder$RequestIsEmptyResponse.(Unknown Source)
at org.reprap.devices.GenericExtruder.RefreshEmptySensor(Unknown Source)
at org.reprap.devices.GenericExtruder.TEMPpollcheck(Unknown Source)
at org.reprap.devices.GenericExtruder.getTemperature(Unknown Source)
at org.reprap.gui.botConsole.GenericExtruderTabPanel.refreshTemperature(Unknown Source)
at org.reprap.gui.botConsole.GenericExtruderTabPanel.access$100(Unknown Source)
at org.reprap.gui.botConsole.GenericExtruderTabPanel$1.run(Unknown Source)
java.lang.NullPointerException
at org.reprap.comms.snap.SNAPCommunicator.receivePacket(Unknown Source)
at org.reprap.comms.snap.SNAPCommunicator.sendMessage(Unknown Source)
at org.reprap.comms.IncomingMessage.(Unknown Source)
at org.reprap.devices.GenericExtruder$RequestIsEmptyResponse.(Unknown Source)
at org.reprap.devices.GenericExtruder.RefreshEmptySensor(Unknown Source)
at org.reprap.devices.GenericExtruder.TEMPpollcheck(Unknown Source)
at org.reprap.devices.GenericExtruder.getTemperature(Unknown Source)
at org.reprap.gui.botConsole.GenericExtruderTabPanel.refreshTemperature(Unknown Source)
at org.reprap.gui.botConsole.GenericExtruderTabPanel.access$100(Unknown Source)
at org.reprap.gui.botConsole.GenericExtruderTabPanel$1.run(Unknown Source)
7. I have tried shutting down the RepRap, resetting the Arduino, turning the RepRap back on, and starting reprap-host again. Same 6-second print.
Any thoughts? Has this happened to anyone else? Thanks for your help.