why wont reprap extruder motor turn using skeinforge ?

Ok, i really need help with getting skeinforge to work with my reprap mendel, ive ticked to enable dimension in skeinforge but when loading the gcode into reprap host all i get is the extruder motor not turning but is shaking like there isnt enough power to turn the motor.

does anyone know what i am doing wrong ?

If you have not adjusted the variable resistor, you might not be driving the motor with enough power. If it vibrates no mater what setting you use, one of the motor coils may be in reverse polarity from the other. Lets say you have one coil connected to A and B and another connected to C and D (AB CD). Try using BA CD or AB DC instead.

dazed.dnc Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If you have not adjusted the variable resistor,
> you might not be driving the motor with enough
> power. If it vibrates no mater what setting you
> use, one of the motor coils may be in reverse
> polarity from the other. Lets say you have one
> coil connected to A and B and another connected to
> C and D (AB CD). Try using BA CD or AB DC instead.


dazed my reprap works fine with reprap host and rapsnapper but i am trying to slice my stl files in skeinforge and use the gcode in reprap host but for some reason, skeinforge gcode isnt moving my extruder motor ? and i dont know why

Can you extract the Gcode for a couple of layers out of your file?

Can you move the extruder using your Host software?

---

Bob Morrison
Wörth am Rhein, Germany
"Luke, use the source!"
BLOG - PHOTOS - Thingiverse

M104 S240 T0 (Temperature to 240 celsius)
G21 (Metric FTW)
G90 (Absolute Positioning)
G92 X0 Y0 Z20 (You are now at 0,0,20)
M108 S255 (Extruder speed = max)
M6 T0 (Wait for tool to heat up)
G0 Z0 (Go back to zero.)
G90
G21
M103
M105
M115 S60.0
M116 S30.0
M117 S0.0
M108 S210.0
G1 X-20.0 Y-20.0 Z0.2 F1801.218
M101
G1 X-20.0 Y13.53 Z0.2 F1890.0
G1 X-17.56 Y13.53 Z0.2 F1890.0
G1 X-17.75 Y13.36 Z0.2 F1890.0 E0.333
G1 X-17.97 Y13.16 Z0.2 F1890.0 E0.629
G1 X-18.59 Y12.78 Z0.2 F1890.0 E1.354
G1 X-19.26 Y12.51 Z0.2 F1890.0 E2.079
G1 X-19.97 Y12.36 Z0.2 F1890.0 E2.804
G1 X-20.69 Y12.33 Z0.2 F1890.0 E3.529
G1 X-21.41 Y12.42 Z0.2 F1890.0 E4.253
G1 X-22.1 Y12.63 Z0.2 F1890.0 E4.979
G1 X-22.75 Y12.96 Z0.2 F1890.0 E5.704
G1 X-23.33 Y13.39 Z0.2 F1890.0 E6.427
G1 X-23.84 Y13.92 Z0.2 F1890.0 E7.154
G1 X-24.24 Y14.52 Z0.2 F1890.0 E7.879
G1 X-24.54 Y15.18 Z0.2 F1890.0 E8.603
G1 X-24.72 Y15.88 Z0.2 F1890.0 E9.328
G1 X-24.78 Y16.6 Z0.2 F1890.0 E10.053
G1 X-24.72 Y17.32 Z0.2 F1890.0 E10.777
G1 X-24.54 Y18.02 Z0.2 F1890.0 E11.503
G1 X-24.24 Y18.68 Z0.2 F1890.0 E12.227
G1 X-23.84 Y19.29 Z0.2 F1890.0 E12.952
G1 X-23.33 Y19.81 Z0.2 F1890.0 E13.678
G1 X-22.75 Y20.24 Z0.2 F1890.0 E14.401
G1 X-22.1 Y20.57 Z0.2 F1890.0 E15.127
G1 X-21.41 Y20.78 Z0.2 F1890.0 E15.852
G1 X-20.69 Y20.87 Z0.2 F1890.0 E16.576
G1 X-19.97 Y20.84 Z0.2 F1890.0 E17.302
G1 X-19.26 Y20.69 Z0.2 F1890.0 E18.027
G1 X-18.59 Y20.42 Z0.2 F1890.0 E18.751
G1 X-17.97 Y20.04 Z0.2 F1890.0 E19.477
G1 X-17.43 Y19.56 Z0.2 F1890.0 E20.201
G1 X-16.97 Y18.99 Z0.2 F1890.0 E20.926
G1 X-16.61 Y18.36 Z0.2 F1890.0 E21.652
G1 X-16.37 Y17.68 Z0.2 F1890.0 E22.377
G1 X-16.25 Y16.96 Z0.2 F1890.0 E23.1
G1 X-16.25 Y16.24 Z0.2 F1890.0 E23.826
G1 X-16.37 Y15.52 Z0.2 F1890.0 E24.55
G1 X-16.61 Y14.84 Z0.2 F1890.0 E25.275
G1 X-17.08 Y14.06 Z0.2 F1890.0 E26.182
M103
G1 X-19.58 Y-12.07 Z0.2 F2700.0
M101

What are these lines supposed to be doing?

M115 S60.0
M116 S30.0
M117 S0.0

According to the Gcode list, these should not have S parameters. Unexpected parameters might mess up the Gcode parsing. If it does, that could explain your problem.


I don't honestly expect this to fix it, but I see that your gcode still has the old M103/M101 extruder commands. When you use the host to make Gcode, I don't think it inserts them. Otherwise, that Gcode is pretty much the same as what you should get from either tool chain, which is why I'm going to suggest trying this...

If your firmware is like mine, it doesn't have a switch case for handling M101/M103 codes (or it does, but it has been commented out). The default case should cause it to say "Dud M code: " when it hits them, mine did not. I couldn't get the replace.csv file to work, so my solution was to change these lines of code in process_g_code:

//turn extruder on, forward
			case 101:
				ex[extruder_in_use]->setDirection(1);
				ex[extruder_in_use]->setSpeed(extruder_speed);
				break;

			//turn extruder on, reverse
			case 102:
				ex[extruder_in_use]->setDirection(0);
				ex[extruder_in_use]->setSpeed(extruder_speed);
				break;

			//turn extruder off

to this:

                        case 101:
                          break;
                        case 102:
                          break;
                        case 103:
                          break;

If you don't understand how to make these changes, then you can still open the Gcode in notepad and use "replace" to edit out the codes manually. Just set it to find M101 and leave the replace with field blank. Do the same thing to get rid of M103. If it works, then maybe I can walk you through editing the firmware in more detail.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/05/2011 01:50PM by dazed.dnc.

Quote
dazed.dnc
I couldn't get the replace.csv file to work

What do you mean you couldn't get it to work?

You create replace.csv (with Tabs between the two columns):

M108 S	;M108 S
M101	;M101
M103	;M103
M105	;M105

and place it in your ALTERATIONS directory for Skeinforge.

c:\Users[USERNAME]\.skeinforge\alterations\Replace.csv

---

Bob Morrison
Wörth am Rhein, Germany
"Luke, use the source!"
BLOG - PHOTOS - Thingiverse

perfect

I have spent all day trying to get my head around Skeinforge and this is exactly what I needed to replace the M104 calls with an M109 call instead....

AgeingHippy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> perfect
>
> I have spent all day trying to get my head around
> Skeinforge and this is exactly what I needed to
> replace the M104 calls with an M109 call
> instead....

Erm... Bad Idea replacing M104 with M109

The code (in firmware) that implements the wait seems to be screwed and although the temperature is already there it tends to wait a loooonng time !! go figure.

I guess I will have to put that wait statement in my start.gcode file instead.

Ok this is intresting... Ive finally have got my extruder to turn by doing the following :

opening the Gcode in notepad and use "replace" to find M101, and M103 with a blank. (( But this on its own didnt fix the problem ))

So i created the same stl file using repsnapper to create the gcode , then cut and copyed the following :.

; GCode generated by RepSnapper by Kulitorum
G21 ;metric is good!
G90 ;absolute positioning
T0 ;select new extruder
G28 ;go home
G92 E0 ;set extruder home
M104 S73.0 ;set temperature
G1 X20 Y20 F500 ;Move away from 0.0, so we use the same reset (in the layer code) for each layer


G1 F70
G1 Z0 E0 F70

G1 F2300

and then deleted the top half of the gcode which skeinforge made so it looks like this :

; GCode generated by RepSnapper by Kulitorum
G21 ;metric is good!
G90 ;absolute positioning
T0 ;select new extruder
G28 ;go home
G92 E0 ;set extruder home
M104 S73.0 ;set temperature
G1 X20 Y20 F500 ;Move away from 0.0, so we use the same reset (in the layer code) for each layer


G1 F70
G1 Z0 E0 F70

G1 F2300
G1 X-31.68 Y-11.45 Z0.72 F240.0 E536.76
G1 X-28.8 Y-8.57 Z0.72 F240.0 E750.5891
G1 X-28.8 Y-24.55 Z0.72 F240.0 E1589.7491
G1 X-25.92 Y-25.99 Z0.72 F240.0 E1758.7958
G1 X-25.92 Y-7.13 Z0.72 F240.0 E2749.1558
G1 X-23.04 Y-7.13 Z0.72 F240.0 E2900.3558
G1 X-23.04 Y-25.99 Z0.72 F240.0 E3890.7158
G1 X-20.16 Y-25.99 Z0.72 F240.0 E4041.9158
G1 X-20.16 Y-7.13 Z0.72 F240.0 E5032.2758
G1 X-17.28 Y-5.69 Z0.72 F240.0 E5201.3226
G1 X-17.28 Y-25.99 Z0.72 F240.0 E6267.2826
G1 X-14.4 Y-25.99 Z0.72 F240.0 E6418.4826
G1 X-14.4 Y25.99 Z0.72 F240.0 E9147.6426
G1 X-11.52 Y25.99 Z0.72 F240.0 E9298.8426
G1 X-11.52 Y-25.99 Z0.72 F240.0 E12028.0026
G1 X-8.64 Y-25.99 Z0.72 F240.0 E12179.2026
G1 X-8.64 Y25.99 Z0.72 F240.0 E14908.3626
G1 X-5.76 Y24.55 Z0.72 F240.0 E15077.4093
G1 X-5.76 Y-24.55 Z0.72 F240.0 E17655.3693
G1 X-2.88 Y-23.11 Z0.72 F240.0 E17824.416
G1 X-2.88 Y23.11 Z0.72 F240.0 E20251.176
G1 X0.0 Y20.23 Z0.72 F240.0 E20465.0051
G1 X0.0 Y-21.67 Z0.72 F240.0 E22664.9651
G1 X2.88 Y-20.23 Z0.72 F240.0 E22834.0119
G1 X2.88 Y-4.25 Z0.72 F240.0 E23673.1719
G1 X5.76 Y-7.13 Z0.72 F240.0 E23887.001
G1 X5.76 Y-18.79 Z0.72 F240.0 E24499.361
G1 X8.64 Y-18.79 Z0.72 F240.0 E24650.561
G1 X8.64 Y-7.13 Z0.72 F240.0 E25262.921
G1 X11.52 Y-5.69 Z0.72 F240.0 E25431.9677
G1 X11.52 Y-20.23 Z0.72 F240.0 E26195.5277
G1 X14.4 Y-21.67 Z0.72 F240.0 E26364.5744
G1 X14.4 Y-5.69 Z0.72 F240.0 E27203.7344

Now my extruder motor is extrudering to fast haha.. so the question is how do i slow it down ?? and does anyone know what the problem was with the skeinforge gcode and how to correct this in skeinforge ?

Gary

As per my post in response to your question in the General section - set the feed rate and flow rate as mentioned. Your gcode is extruding 27 meters by the end of that snippet you have pasted !!!

AgeingHippy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Gary
>
> As per my post in response to your question in the
> General section - set the feed rate and flow rate
> as mentioned. Your gcode is extruding 27 meters by
> the end of that snippet you have pasted !!!


@Ageinghippy - Sorry for being stupid, but can you advise me where in skeinforge are the setting to change those ?
can you upload a screenshot please ! ( Total newbie )

rhmorrison:
I didn't know about the replace file before doing the firmware trick. I'm sure I was just doing something wrong. Maybe I had it in the wrong place or something, but it wouldn't replace the M101/M103. I tried a couple of times to get it to work, then I just decided to keep using the solution that was already working for me.

AgingHippy:
The problem with using M109 mid build is that it leaves your extruder sitting in one place, which causes uneven heat distribution over your build envelop. If it is close enough to the part, it might cause problems with the print. It will also ooze, so you would have to add extruder retraction before every M109. If you want to wait for a temperature change mid-build, try experimenting with the "cool" settings. This makes the extruder orbit or slow down until the temperature is reached. Unless you manage to get it tweaked for thin posts, I don't think there is really a need for it though. I don't use it.

Gary:
What version? 39? The buttons and settings typically get changed around a bit with each new version, but you should see a button that says "speed". Click on it. Basically, to adjust the extruder speed, you want to change any of the "flow" rate parameters. The "feed" parameters control how fast your X and Y axes will move. Your printer will probably need different settings, but just to give you an idea, I use a feed rate of 30 and flow rate of 12. The perimeter settings operate as multipliers that increase or decrease the speed by some ratio during that portion of the print. You will find more of these speed multipliers under "raft".

Bellow all the buttons, at the right side, you will see a "?" button. Each group of settings will have one of these buttons in that corner. Clicking it will take you to a web page that (sometimes) describes what each setting will do. Some stuff is confusing or not documented at all, but at least it will tell you the default setting in case you mess something up.

Hi Gary

You probably found it by dazed 'n confused's (thats how I read dazed.dnc post, but those settings are on the same screenshot you pasted in the post before my reply... that is your post in the General section.

Gary Riding Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dazed.dnc Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > If you have not adjusted the variable resistor,
> > you might not be driving the motor with enough
> > power. If it vibrates no mater what setting you
> > use, one of the motor coils may be in reverse
> > polarity from the other. Lets say you have one
> > coil connected to A and B and another connected
> to
> > C and D (AB CD). Try using BA CD or AB DC
> instead.
>
>
> dazed my reprap works fine with reprap host and
> rapsnapper but i am trying to slice my stl files
> in skeinforge and use the gcode in reprap host but
> for some reason, skeinforge gcode isnt moving my
> extruder motor ? and i dont know why


I don't know if this has been solved, but I think you either have to insert M113 in your start.gcode to tell the firmware to use the pot to control the extruder motor PWM. This is missing in your gcode. Either that or enable "Activate Speed" and "Add Flowrate" in the Speed tab of SF. The Duty Cycle at Beginning should be set corresponding to your pot setting: Mine is set to 0.9. And the Duty Cycle at the end should be set to 0. This inserts M113 S0.9 at the beginning and M113 S0.0 at the end.