[GCode firmware] Arduino resets

When I manually enter 'G1X1Y1' or something similar, I always get 'start' with the 1.3 firmware. After placing a lot of println()'s I found out that at least in the 1.2 firmware I could get it to stop resetting itself (I think it crashes). What I did wat add a string_length = sizeof(instructions); in the function and not using the 256 that's provided from the function call (sizeof the allocated word[256]). With the 1.3 firmware it's not so simple, I never got anything out of it. I've also tried ReplicatorG and this was probably also the reason I didn't get anywhere with Chris Meighan's controller (with which was nothing wrong, probably).

The software seems to hang, but I guess that's because there's no 'done' retrieved but only 'start' every time a command is issued. It will never get past the first instruction. With my modified 1.2 firmware I sometimes got the firmware to run, but there were no movements and it was almost instantly finished with all its steps.

I don't understand where this weird behavior comes from. I've also tried several _init.pde settings, including the default file (all I/O pins are correct in default positions).

I can succesfully run SNAP and using host software, so the hardware seems to be OK. All tests were done with and without the RepRap connected to the I/O pins of the Arduino.

I don't think it's the hardware since I've tried two different arduino's (the official ones produced in italy). At least one of them wasn't out of the packaging until today.

Any pointers on what to try? How can I more effectively debug this situation?
I don't see anyone else having GCode firmware problems. How can my situation be any different?

T.I.A. for any help!!

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Regards,

Erik de Bruijn
[Ultimaker.com] - [blog.erikdebruijn.nl]

Linux or Windows?

How are you sending commands?

The arduino is reset every time the comm port closes and opens.

I only know about windows. I debug using terminal to send commands and check response.

I know the response from the firmware is different in some versions. I think it is "ok" in the latest version

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Regards

Ian

Hi Ian, thanks for your respons. I'm using linux. I've been sending the commands from ReplicatorG and directly from the "Serial Monitor" in the Arduino environment. These are both based on the same code. Earlier I've done it with Chris Meighan's software which was made differently but also used libtxrx for the purpose.

Using minicom I cannot complete a command since it uses each char I send and somehow inserts a newline or waits too long?
[I type G]
done
[I type 1]
done
WARN: unknown instruction - 1
[I type X]
done
WARN: unknown instruction - X
[I type 1]
done
WARN: unknown instruction - 1
done

I've been trying to do in on windows XP but I run it in virtual box and this doesn't seem to play well with the FTDI USB2Serial chip using the official drivers. I'll try some more.

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Regards,

Erik de Bruijn
[Ultimaker.com] - [blog.erikdebruijn.nl]

erik, I had the same problem when I compiled the firmware in Ubuntu. Compiling in windows or Xandros worked fine. I haven't figure out why yet, but till then I use Xandros.

Hi Wade, I'm milling successfully now with G-Code!!! Thanks a lot!

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Regards,

Erik de Bruijn
[Ultimaker.com] - [blog.erikdebruijn.nl]

You should try the avr-libc version from ubuntu 8.10 (1.6.2), i'm pretty sure it shoud do it. I posted about this regarding the sanguino, but it seems to be a general problem after all...

Hey, I ran into this problem again, but I'm having trouble getting avr-libc 1.6.2 on Ubuntu 8.04. Any tips on where to find this or how to install it?

Ack, ok, I'm installing it from source. Hope this works...

So, I ran the following commands on a bog standard Hardy 8.04 install, found on Lady Ada's forums:

wget [download.savannah.gnu.org]
tar jxfv avr-libc-1.6.2.tar.bz2
cd avr-libc-1.6.2/
./configure --host=avr
make
sudo make install
cd ..

and it all seemed to work, although there was about a half a megabyte of status messages scrolling by.

But, I still get resets when I try to run any Gcodes. Damn. I'm not sure if I have a problem installing avr-libc 1.6.2, or the problem is something else. Think I'll have to go back to Xandros in the meantime.

Wade