New MKS SBASE Smoothieware-compatible board from China

Digikey sell them [www.digikey.co.uk]

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I got my board yesterday. It was advertised on ebay as V1.2 (and still is: [www.ebay.com]), but was actually a V1.3 board. I haven't yet hooked it up to my printer, but did connect it over USB, plugged a thermistor in and checked I got some sort of reading from it. Some problems getting the drivers to install on Windows 7 - it now seems to work but displays an error on first connecting.

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See my blog at [moosteria.blogspot.com].

Quote
animoose
I got my board yesterday. It was advertised on ebay as V1.2 (and still is: [www.ebay.com]), but was actually a V1.3 board. I haven't yet hooked it up to my printer, but did connect it over USB, plugged a thermistor in and checked I got some sort of reading from it. Some problems getting the drivers to install on Windows 7 - it now seems to work but displays an error on first connecting.

First off, you did not buy from the manufacturer and I have seen 1.3 posted on models (fake) for a long time, so don't be too excited yet! You have a photo?

However you must install both drivers AND firmware on an SD/the controller, before you can get any readings.

Ive made an instructables Configuring MKS Sbase v1.2 32-bit Controller basics and intro to you might find usefull.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/10/2016 11:25PM by dintid.

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Created a new instructables on how to add an extra fan or use fan with different voltage using PWM pin on the Sbase and configuring Smoothieware.

Sbase/Smoothieware - Use a Free PWM Pin and Power Expander or SSR to Control Fans.

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Quote
dintid

Quote
animoose
I got my board yesterday. It was advertised on ebay as V1.2 (and still is: [www.ebay.com]), but was actually a V1.3 board. I haven't yet hooked it up to my printer, but did connect it over USB, plugged a thermistor in and checked I got some sort of reading from it. Some problems getting the drivers to install on Windows 7 - it now seems to work but displays an error on first connecting.

First off, you did not buy from the manufacturer and I have seen 1.3 posted on models (fake) for a long time, so don't be too excited yet! You have a photo?

However you must install both drivers AND firmware on an SD/the controller, before you can get any readings.

Ive made an instructables Configuring MKS Sbase v1.2 32-bit Controller basics and intro to you might find usefull.

The board has the 25MHz crystal for the ethernet, and the heatsinks with screws through the board, so it may be genuine. I'll post a picture if I get a chance.

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See my blog at [moosteria.blogspot.com].

Pictures of the board: top (https://goo.gl/photos/cwp5cbQVYuzV5qPP6), bottom (https://goo.gl/photos/7AYwKY798TJgjfFj6) and an attempt to show the crystal (https://goo.gl/photos/zomHV8Kqseb24gBy6). Sorry for the poor quality pictures.

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See my blog at [moosteria.blogspot.com].

Quote
animoose
Pictures of the board: top (https://goo.gl/photos/cwp5cbQVYuzV5qPP6), bottom (https://goo.gl/photos/7AYwKY798TJgjfFj6) and an attempt to show the crystal (https://goo.gl/photos/zomHV8Kqseb24gBy6). Sorry for the poor quality pictures.

You can insert them into the posts to make it easier for people
I can not judge wheter they are geunuine or not. I'll recommend buying from manufacturer though

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/11/2016 12:22AM by dintid.

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A few updates. I checked with the manufacturer and they say this looks like a genuine board. The problem I have is that it will connect but does not stay connected. If I connect using Repetier Host, after a few minutes (2-5) I get "communication timeout reset send buffer block". If I connect using a serial terminal (PuTTy) and occasionally send a ls or help command, it stops responding. When the communication fails, the D2 and D3 lights either are both on solid or both off solid.

I've tried this now in multiple configurations and some work, some don't. I don't want to connect it to my printer yet, so the test set up is a free standing board with two thermistors attached, powered over USB only. By connecting thermistors I can watch the temperature graph in Repetier Host as a way of checking it is connected,

- HP laptop running ubuntu: worked reliably until I manually disconnected it after about an hour.
- Dell desktop running Windows 7: pop-up error ("USB Device Not Recognised") on connecting, but then connects OK until it fails as described above.
- A different Dell desktop running Windows 7: failed in the same way.
- This desktop running Windows 10: no error on connecting, but same communication failure.
- This desktop running Ubuntu: worked reliably until I manually disconnected it after about 30 minutes.

I'll keep hacking around. Could a low quality SD card cause this due to some kind of timing issue? I've now tried two different SD cards, but have no idea whether either of them are any good.

Update: it seems like I do get the communication problem on last combination (Dell desktop + Ubuntu). It just takes a lot longer before it happens.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/12/2016 10:18PM by animoose.

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See my blog at [moosteria.blogspot.com].

hi everybody

i buy a MKS BASE and a TFT28 screen from china.
did you have a pb with the screen?
i didn't work for me, I have a problem with the display of icons as you can see on the picture.
I tested all firmwares in GitHub and it's the same problem.
The text is good and the first image too.

thanks for you answers
jm

Quote
jmn47
hi everybody

i buy a MKS BASE and a TFT28 screen from china.
did you have a pb with the screen?
i didn't work for me, I have a problem with the display of icons as you can see on the picture.
I tested all firmwares in GitHub and it's the same problem.
The text is good and the first image too.

thanks for you answers
jm

What is a pb?
How do you power it? If you connect to Ramps and standard Arduino Mega, you MUST give it 12v and set the jumper on the rear of the TFT28 to 12v.

I would talk to the seller. I hope you bought from Makerbase, as there are counterfeits out there.

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My Instructables - both total newbie instructables and some for intermediate users.
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hello Dintid

i'm connected with a MKS SBASE. it's not a power supply problem.
It's a display problem...
THE first startup of the screen, I have no problem. the icons are in Chinese.
After updating the firmware in the SD card, only display the icons will not work while the text is good.
I can navigate the menu, even with fuzzy icons

... could be an issue with image size or colour format, if imported as hex-file.

To get an image displayed correct, you have to convert it into the right XY size and then convert it into a hex-grid with the R/G/B-values as triple set per pixel.

So you'll get a Y-count number of lines with X*3 Hex-numbers per line (3 hex-numbers per Pixel) ...

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Viktor
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Call for the project "garbage-free seas" - [reprap.org]

hello

the pic is .bin files, it's the files from github
i can't modifie it.
i've access to the mks_config.txt file.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/18/2016 10:32AM by jmn47.

Dear friend,
Please copy firmware to the root of SD via PC .

the logo looks great

hello friend,
we have released MKS TFT V1.1.4,please visit our github to download and updated.
[github.com]

yes,friend,
there has image size or colour format.
Icons image size, 16bpp, wide =78 pixels, high =104 pixels.
Logo image size, 16bpp, wide =320 pixels, high =240 pixels.

check attached will find more info.

Quote
flyway97
hello friend,
we have released MKS TFT V1.1.4,please visit our github to download and updated.
[github.com]

Looks and work great. Especially nice with the new Move icons. Makes more sense.

I have used TFT28 and 32 since firmware v1 and lots of good updates have taken place, but...

What really needs updating:

• Update you Github with new info.
• Create and maintain a proper structure on your Github site!
• Stop differentiating TFT28 and 32 names, when firmware is the same - it is confusing!
• Complete English config file Instead of just chinese captions!!
• Special instructions on how to use the MORE section
• Include 7 default different icons when user adds MORE functions.
• Include instructions to the settings in the config file - ie you can change the leveling icon and motor off, but it is not explained.
• Instructions on how the input file must be named mks_config, but is renamed when booting the device - which MUST be renamed if you want to make changes
• Add support to input AES2 encryption for wifi module.

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My Instructables - both total newbie instructables and some for intermediate users.
My Designs on Thingiverse
YouTube channel containing a few 3D printing videos - they are videos for my Instructables, and mostly not standalone.
Ultius / Tantillus Thingiverse Group

Ok i got my motors running but having issues with the endstops can anyone who has this set up on a delta post the config file, please

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hello everybody

i've made a new topic just for the screen :
[forums.reprap.org]

for people who have the same problem....

jm

dintid did you use their firmware bin from the mks github or smoothiewares ?

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Check my rubbish blog for my prusa i3

up and running
[3dimetech.blogspot.co.uk]

Quote
chris33
dintid did you use their firmware bin from the mks github or smoothiewares ?

For TFT28 and 32 I use MKS Github

For Sbase I use the newest Edge firmware from Smoothieware.

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My Instructables - both total newbie instructables and some for intermediate users.
My Designs on Thingiverse
YouTube channel containing a few 3D printing videos - they are videos for my Instructables, and mostly not standalone.
Ultius / Tantillus Thingiverse Group

Quote
dintid

Quote
chris33
dintid did you use their firmware bin from the mks github or smoothiewares ?

For TFT28 and 32 I use MKS Github

For Sbase I use the newest Edge firmware from Smoothieware.

Yeah the mks firmware.bin doesnt work properly

---

Check my rubbish blog for my prusa i3

up and running
[3dimetech.blogspot.co.uk]

Quote
chris33

Quote
dintid

Quote
chris33
dintid did you use their firmware bin from the mks github or smoothiewares ?

For TFT28 and 32 I use MKS Github

For Sbase I use the newest Edge firmware from Smoothieware.

Yeah the mks firmware.bin doesnt work properly

Actually worked fine for me.. I just choose to use the newest firmware I could find

Anyone having luck creating new icons for the "more" section? I have enabled the section and added functions.. works great!! but when I create icons and store them in the .bin format as pr. MKS instructions, my screen fails to update - flatly refuses to do so.

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My Instructables - both total newbie instructables and some for intermediate users.
My Designs on Thingiverse
YouTube channel containing a few 3D printing videos - they are videos for my Instructables, and mostly not standalone.
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well i did have the updated version of the MKS VERSION of the firmware, doesnt read the endstops i put a issue on the github and someone else had the same problem, just need to figure out why i cant update the tft firmware

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Check my rubbish blog for my prusa i3

up and running
[3dimetech.blogspot.co.uk]

Quote
chris33
well i did have the updated version of the MKS VERSION of the firmware, doesnt read the endstops i put a issue on the github and someone else had the same problem, just need to figure out why i cant update the tft firmware

What do you mean it doesn't read the endstops?
Just use the newest from Smoothieware. No reason to use MKS firmware for Sbase controller.

Smoothieware does not have softendstops... I raised an issue and they have plans to implement it, which is why we can define MAX posisitons for the axes.
If this is not what you mean, try posting an image of your wiring. Remember it is signal and gnd and not vin (3/5v) for normal limit-switches.

How do you try to update TFT firmware? Some other tried doing it from MAC and it didn't work.
Maybe try formatting your SD card and then just copy over the firmware: [www.sdcard.org]
Remember the config file MUST be named mks_config.txt when you make changes.... the MKS panel is renaming the file every time it updates firmware, so you have to rename it back to make new changes.

---

My Instructables - both total newbie instructables and some for intermediate users.
My Designs on Thingiverse
YouTube channel containing a few 3D printing videos - they are videos for my Instructables, and mostly not standalone.
Ultius / Tantillus Thingiverse Group

I know it doesnt have soft endstops and i went with the mks firmware as that what was offered on the github. and im on about the endstops which you home too and like i said i used smoothieware edge firmware works fine i just put the problem i had just in case someone searching the problem at least now people will know how to solve the issue

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Check my rubbish blog for my prusa i3

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chris33
I know it doesnt have soft endstops and i went with the mks firmware as that what was offered on the github. and im on about the endstops which you home too and like i said i used smoothieware edge firmware works fine i just put the problem i had just in case someone searching the problem at least now people will know how to solve the issue

That's not what you said.. what you said was: "i did have the updated version of the MKS VERSION of the firmware, doesnt read the endstops"... now you said you used MKS firmware and later you said smoothieware edge.. but which one is causing problems?

What exactly is the problem? You home and it doesn't trigger endstops?Or endstops doesn't ever work, or?
Just because 1 other have same problem doesn't mean it isn't a user error (like wiring), which is why I asked for phot

Maybe you can post link to your report on Github if that is easier?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/01/2016 04:53AM by dintid.

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My Instructables - both total newbie instructables and some for intermediate users.
My Designs on Thingiverse
YouTube channel containing a few 3D printing videos - they are videos for my Instructables, and mostly not standalone.
Ultius / Tantillus Thingiverse Group

your totally reading it wrong you said you used the latest firmware, i said i used the latest mks firmware which doesnt work proper and if you read it proper i have not got the problem no more as im using smoothieware edge so the is a problem with the mks firmware.bin file which i have said that i put a issue on the the github

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Check my rubbish blog for my prusa i3

up and running
[3dimetech.blogspot.co.uk]

Quote
chris33
your totally reading it wrong you said you used the latest firmware, i said i used the latest mks firmware which doesnt work proper and if you read it proper i have not got the problem no more as im using smoothieware edge so the is a problem with the mks firmware.bin file which i have said that i put a issue on the the github

I'm not a native english reader. Proper sentences means the world for understanding. Just sorry you don't want to share in an easy to understand way instead of arguing about it.

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My Instructables - both total newbie instructables and some for intermediate users.
My Designs on Thingiverse
YouTube channel containing a few 3D printing videos - they are videos for my Instructables, and mostly not standalone.
Ultius / Tantillus Thingiverse Group