Mark Stephen's Smartrap Build

Quote
djinn5150

// these are the offsets to the probe relative to the extruder tip (Hotend - Probe)
  #define X_PROBE_OFFSET_FROM_EXTRUDER 0
  #define Y_PROBE_OFFSET_FROM_EXTRUDER 0
  #define Z_PROBE_OFFSET_FROM_EXTRUDER 1.9
  #define Z_PROBE_OFFSET_FROM_EXTRUDER_DELTA_X 0.5 // smartrap: special quantic error mesurement from porte a faux design (see marlin.cpp)

Is the delta x maybe? I am having similar problems, so cant be positive but far out in the y+ i have problems with adhesion and close to home it seems a bit smashed.

Awesome video!!

Thanks! That did it!!!! A 0.4 on the DELTA_X has it darn near perfect. Don't know how I missed that before.

Glad you liked the video.

Mark

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From FreeCAD To The Real World- Demo video using FreeCAD and featuring the Smartrap 3D Printer

Cool video indeed

Sorry mark, I didn't read very well this thread about the offset parameter It's an important one for the smartrap , due to it's design ( the probe implies a measurement error as we press on the bed).

Congrats for the work !

It puts me back on free cad to go forward with it . I'm learning it for next version of smartrap .. all was done in blender because i knew it, but it would be far better to be in free cad i guess

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/01/2014 03:15AM by smartfriendz.

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the Smartrap project

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Great video Mark and very informative too.

I guess I also will have to learn FreeCAD now as well, because I have just started getting a few guys interested in SmartRaps at our local "Mens Shed"and they will need to be taught CAD so they can use the machines.
I use a rather expensive program that I really love, but these guys will want FREE, so FreeCAD would be the way to go.
I have already downloaded all your other videos to watch when I get enough time, getting started I think is the most important thing to learn, the others things will follow as the learning process takes hold.

As for the Marlin, I am now using the standard Marlin without any special changes. I have setup the machines using the normal servo wiring and also using the servo pins on the RAMPS board.
Having no problems as I have changed so much of the SmartRap to remove the unwanted movements.

Looking forward to any further video installments, they are very good and useful.

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[regpye.com.au]
"Experience is the mother of all knowledge." --Leonardo da Vinci

Quote
markstephen


Thanks! That did it!!!! A 0.4 on the DELTA_X has it darn near perfect. Don't know how I missed that before.

Glad you liked the video.

Mark

I will have to try playing with mine and see if that is the cause,

Quote
smartfriendz
Cool video indeed

Sorry mark, I didn't read very well this thread about the offset parameter It's an important one for the smartrap , due to it's design ( the probe implies a measurement error as we press on the bed).

Congrats for the work !

It puts me back on free cad to go forward with it . I'm learning it for next version of smartrap .. all was done in blender because i knew it, but it would be far better to be in free cad i guess

No problem Serge, my post was kind of in the middle of another subject, and I have missed stuff more than once my own self. All is good now.

First let me say, there is nothing "wrong" with Blender, in so much as it does what it was designed to do very, very well. I really like it and use it, but Blender is a 3D modeler, not a 3D CAD. Once one really digs into a program like FreeCAD and starts working with solid parametric design, it's easy to start to notice the differences. Designing your parts with a parametric 3D CAD system and then exporting that part to an stl file at the end will most always produce a better .stl model than what any mesh modeler can.

Hope you noticed the mention of the Smartrap in the credits at the end.

Quote
regpye
Great video Mark and very informative too.

I guess I also will have to learn FreeCAD now as well, because I have just started getting a few guys interested in SmartRaps at our local "Mens Shed"and they will need to be taught CAD so they can use the machines.
I use a rather expensive program that I really love, but these guys will want FREE, so FreeCAD would be the way to go.
I have already downloaded all your other videos to watch when I get enough time, getting started I think is the most important thing to learn, the others things will follow as the learning process takes hold.

As for the Marlin, I am now using the standard Marlin without any special changes. I have setup the machines using the normal servo wiring and also using the servo pins on the RAMPS board.
Having no problems as I have changed so much of the SmartRap to remove the unwanted movements.

Looking forward to any further video installments, they are very good and useful.

Thanks Reg. I will make one quick note about FreeCAD. (and this is for everyone). The FreeCAD developers are about to release the new Production version 0.14. There will be Linux, Mac, and Windows builds available. I can not recommend enough that anyone wanting to try FreeCAD or have tried older versions in the past, to get this latest version. There have been so many improvements and bug fixes, it's like a whole new program. If your not wanting to wait, (should be a mater of days now), there are RC releases in the "unstable" section of the downloads. Do not take the unstable label to infer that the program is not usable, it is in fact more usable than the old 0.13 versions. Unstable refers to the development state of the code, not the performance of the program.

I am very happy you all liked the video.

Thanks again djinn5150 for pointing me in the right direction.

Mark

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From FreeCAD To The Real World- Demo video using FreeCAD and featuring the Smartrap 3D Printer

Your welcome, although it was just a short in the dark I was poking around in the firmware and saw that and wondered what it was, now I know. I did change mine to .4 as well for a test seems good but still off. Do you know how it behaves?

Sorry Mark, I could have pointed that out, too but I was out for a few days I thought all smartrap owners knew about it. Glad you discovered it.

djinn5150,
I poked around serge's hack in the firmware before trying to understand what it does. I found out that it only works when you're using the 3 point probing and not when you're using the grid probing.
What it does is that it applies the delta x value on the third probe reading. This is necessary for the third probe because this is when the X arm is extended. As the X arm probes and touches the bed, the pressure causes either the arm to raise a little or the bed lowering a little. Depending on which one happens on your printer, you can set a positive or negative value for the delta X to compensate for this so that during print, your nozzle will be perfectly aligned with the print bed.

Serge, I hope I have described it well. If not, please feel free to jump in.

Now I am really confused because It seems to have made an improvement in my prints after playing with it and I am on the grid, but that's all a discussion for another thread. Good to have the knowledge in any case.

FWIW, here's the place where Z_PROBE_OFFSET_FROM_EXTRUDER_DELTA_X is being applied in the firmware (marlin_main.cpp) code:

#else // not AUTO_BED_LEVELING_GRID

static void set_bed_level_equation_3pts(float z_at_pt_1, float z_at_pt_2, float z_at_pt_3) {

    plan_bed_level_matrix.set_to_identity();

    // smartrap modif: we add some delta on 3rd point because of smartrap's special design : x is porte a faux and there's a diff between probe and print
    z_at_pt_3 += Z_PROBE_OFFSET_FROM_EXTRUDER_DELTA_X;

Note the "else" clause. So the Z_PROBE_OFFSET_FROM_EXTRUDER_DELTA_X value is only being applied when not on grid mode.

The value you set on Z_PROBE_OFFSET_FROM_EXTRUDER_DELTA_X may change depending on how far on the X axis you are probing for the 3rd point (bigger delta as you probe further away from origin) . But it should be a one-time setup unless you change the position of the probing point again.

Hope this helps.

Great video Mark!

BTW how did you attach the base plate and Arduino to the ATX PSU?
I'm trying to figure out a way to add a PCB that deals with the ATX wiring so that there is a more Plug n Play solution for ATX+ RAMPS + SmartRap

Turns out to be a bit tricky to find a good way to deal with all the different ATX PSU's so i'm taking my time to get my mind around all the options.

Quote
BackEMF
Great video Mark!

BTW how did you attach the base plate and Arduino to the ATX PSU?
I'm trying to figure out a way to add a PCB that deals with the ATX wiring so that there is a more Plug n Play solution for ATX+ RAMPS + SmartRap

Turns out to be a bit tricky to find a good way to deal with all the different ATX PSU's so i'm taking my time to get my mind around all the options.

It's not attached, just sitting on top of the PSU. That is on the "to-do" list, make an enclosure for PSU and mounting Smartrap and controller. Probably one of the first projects to do with the CNC router once I get all the upgrades done.

Oh, and thanks. Glad you liked it, everyone seems to, so I guess I did OK with it.

Mark

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/02/2014 04:01PM by markstephen.

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From FreeCAD To The Real World- Demo video using FreeCAD and featuring the Smartrap 3D Printer

thank you Meit , i wouldn't tell better than you

an yes Mark, i noticed of course . Proud it's really nice work ! i'm sure you have lot of comments about it .

---

the Smartrap project

[smartfriendz.com]
[www.thingiverse.com]
[reprap.org]
[github.com]
doc assemblage: [reprap.org]
NEW: Forum smartfriendz: [smartraptalk.smartfriendz.com]

Dual Extruders on the way!

OK, now that life if out of the way and parts have arrived, time for some pictures.

Got the mechanical done this evening. Every thing went together just as planed and the only thing that ended up being a small PITA was getting the nozzles leveled up just right. I'll probably need to put a little fine tuning on them once everything gets heated up and a few test prints are made, but to get started, their dog gone close. Next is the wiring and then setting up the firmware and slicer.

So, this is where I am this evening. - Mark

Dual extruders mounted up and looking good


Here they are from the back side.


The "C" and "Dog Bone" clips worked out just as I had planed.


Dual Hotends mounted up and ready to go.


Bowden tubes in place and ready to guide happy PLA to awaiting Hotends.

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From FreeCAD To The Real World- Demo video using FreeCAD and featuring the Smartrap 3D Printer

wow mark !

we will all be so impatient to see it working ! really good ! congrats. 2 heads are very high in next to do list for me thanks.

---

the Smartrap project

[smartfriendz.com]
[www.thingiverse.com]
[reprap.org]
[github.com]
doc assemblage: [reprap.org]
NEW: Forum smartfriendz: [smartraptalk.smartfriendz.com]

Sure thing, and thanks. I rebuilt from scratch the extruder extension part. Maybe I'm just picky, but the original one that is on Thingiverse was made with several meshed parts overlapping each other and came out a bit of a mess when sliced. Great idea, and the spacing is perfect to be an "add on" part for a standard Smartrap, but not the "best" model to run through a slicer. Once I am sure that everything is working and good to go, I'll post the STL files.

Mark

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From FreeCAD To The Real World- Demo video using FreeCAD and featuring the Smartrap 3D Printer

Been waiting for this. Can't wait to see it print!

As they say...two heads are better than one. LOL!

Looks really interesting.
Here is a photo of a system I tried and didn't finish yet on a different machine.
Might get some ideas or not?







Not a SmartRap, but maybe of some useful ideas?

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[regpye.com.au]
"Experience is the mother of all knowledge." --Leonardo da Vinci

Here are the changes i have made so far to Marlin - Thought I had better get this posted somewhere before I forget. the relevant lines have the Smartrap tag in the comment

~

#ifndef MOTHERBOARD
#define MOTHERBOARD 34 //Smartrap Dual Extruder = 34 -- Single Extruder = 33
#endif

~

// This defines the number of extruders
#define EXTRUDERS 2 //Smartrap - Default is 1

~

#define TEMP_SENSOR_0 7  // Smartrap Single Extruder -- J-Head Light Hotend
#define TEMP_SENSOR_1 7  // Smartrap Dual Extruder - Single = #define TEMP_SENSOR_1 0 -- J-Head Light Hotend
#define TEMP_SENSOR_2 0

~

#define INVERT_X_DIR true    // for Mendel set to false, for Orca set to true
#define INVERT_Y_DIR false    // for Mendel set to true, for Orca set to false
#define INVERT_Z_DIR false     // for Mendel set to false, for Orca set to true
#define INVERT_E0_DIR true   // for direct drive extruder v9 set to true, for geared extruder set to false
#define INVERT_E1_DIR true    // for direct drive extruder v9 set to true, for geared extruder set to false // Smartrap - Set to "true" for dual direct extruder
#define INVERT_E2_DIR false   // for direct drive extruder v9 set to true, for geared extruder set to false


~

// Offset of the extruders (uncomment if using more than one and relying on firmware to position when changing).
// The offset has to be X=0, Y=0 for the extruder 0 hotend (default extruder).
// For the other hotends it is their distance from the extruder 0 hotend.
#define EXTRUDER_OFFSET_X {0.0, 0.0} // (in mm) for each extruder, offset of the hotend on the X axis -- Smartrap - Uncommented to enable Offsets
#define EXTRUDER_OFFSET_Y {0.0, 22.40}  // (in mm) for each extruder, offset of the hotend on the Y axis -- Smartrap - Uncommented to enable Offsets

Think that's it.

Mark

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From FreeCAD To The Real World- Demo video using FreeCAD and featuring the Smartrap 3D Printer

Hi Reg, that's a nice looking setup. What I have now looks like it will work. will know here in a little bit. About the only thing left to do before the first tests is to set up the slicer. Fingers crossed.

Your setup does give me some ideas for a future project though.

Mark

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From FreeCAD To The Real World- Demo video using FreeCAD and featuring the Smartrap 3D Printer

OK, I'm at a dead stop with the Firmware setup. Currently both heaters and temp sensors are working.

Second extruder is not. Only the first extruder is working. Stepper motor conformed good as swapping works. There is only one extruder showing up in the LCD screen.

I'm pretty sure that it's something in pins.h that needs to be added for the second extruder but I have no clue as to what pin to assign to it. That info seems to so far be elusive for configuring the RAMPS board. Anyone have an idea which pin to tell pins.h to use for the second extruder?

Did find that in Configuration_adv.h i needed (or I think I needed) -

~

// A single Z stepper driver is usually used to drive 2 stepper motors.
// Uncomment this define to utilize a separate stepper driver for each Z axis motor.
// Only a few motherboards support this, like RAMPS, which have dual extruder support (the 2nd, often unused, extruder driver is used
// to control the 2nd Z axis stepper motor). The pins are currently only defined for a RAMPS motherboards.
// On a RAMPS (or other 5 driver) motherboard, using this feature will limit you to using 1 extruder.
//#define Z_DUAL_STEPPER_DRIVERS

#ifdef Z_DUAL_STEPPER_DRIVERS
  #undef EXTRUDERS
  #define EXTRUDERS 2 // Smartrap - Dual Extruders -- Default is #define EXTRUDERS 1
#endif

// Same again but for Y Axis.
//#define Y_DUAL_STEPPER_DRIVERS

// Define if the two Y drives need to rotate in opposite directions
#define INVERT_Y2_VS_Y_DIR true

#ifdef Y_DUAL_STEPPER_DRIVERS
  #undef EXTRUDERS
  #define EXTRUDERS 2 // Smartrap - Dual Extruders -- Default is #define EXTRUDERS 1
#endif

~

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From FreeCAD To The Real World- Demo video using FreeCAD and featuring the Smartrap 3D Printer

Quote
markstephen
OK, I'm at a dead stop with the Firmware setup. Currently both heaters and temp sensors are working.

Second extruder is not. Only the first extruder is working. Stepper motor conformed good as swapping works. There is only one extruder showing up in the LCD screen.

I'm pretty sure that it's something in pins.h that needs to be added for the second extruder but I have no clue as to what pin to assign to it. That info seems to so far be elusive for configuring the RAMPS board. Anyone have an idea which pin to tell pins.h to use for the second extruder?

Did find that in Configuration_adv.h i needed (or I think I needed) -

~

// A single Z stepper driver is usually used to drive 2 stepper motors.
// Uncomment this define to utilize a separate stepper driver for each Z axis motor.
// Only a few motherboards support this, like RAMPS, which have dual extruder support (the 2nd, often unused, extruder driver is used
// to control the 2nd Z axis stepper motor). The pins are currently only defined for a RAMPS motherboards.
// On a RAMPS (or other 5 driver) motherboard, using this feature will limit you to using 1 extruder.
//#define Z_DUAL_STEPPER_DRIVERS

#ifdef Z_DUAL_STEPPER_DRIVERS
  #undef EXTRUDERS
  #define EXTRUDERS 2 // Smartrap - Dual Extruders -- Default is #define EXTRUDERS 1
#endif

// Same again but for Y Axis.
//#define Y_DUAL_STEPPER_DRIVERS

// Define if the two Y drives need to rotate in opposite directions
#define INVERT_Y2_VS_Y_DIR true

#ifdef Y_DUAL_STEPPER_DRIVERS
  #undef EXTRUDERS
  #define EXTRUDERS 2 // Smartrap - Dual Extruders -- Default is #define EXTRUDERS 1
#endif

~

Mark, go here and ask the questions, I am sure they can help.

Marlin enhancements

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[regpye.com.au]
"Experience is the mother of all knowledge." --Leonardo da Vinci

An update this evening, It looks like the pin out for the RAMPS is already in there as I can extrude with one or the other using Gcode. Also i have found out that it looks like manual control of the second extruder is not available through the LCD controller. So it looks like everything else I did in the firmware is OK. More tomorrow.

Mark

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From FreeCAD To The Real World- Demo video using FreeCAD and featuring the Smartrap 3D Printer

Getting there - Test - Tweak - Test - Tweak...



A little more work and testing. But so far, so good. Think this id going to work out real well.

Mark

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/09/2014 09:35PM by markstephen.

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From FreeCAD To The Real World- Demo video using FreeCAD and featuring the Smartrap 3D Printer

Lookin great! Thanks for the pic!

So, was there anything else that needed to be changed in the firmware to get your second extruder working?

Quote
MelT
Lookin great! Thanks for the pic!

So, was there anything else that needed to be changed in the firmware to get your second extruder working?

No, that was it. the pins were already in pins.h and are used when the motherboard is changed from 33 to 34. The only thing I have done sense then is to tweak the offset -

#define EXTRUDER_OFFSET_X {0.0, 0.0} // (in mm) for each extruder, offset of the hotend on the X axis -- Smartrap - Uncommented to enable Offsets
#define EXTRUDER_OFFSET_Y {0.0, 19.7}  // (in mm) for each extruder, offset of the hotend on the Y axis -- Smartrap - Uncommented to enable Offsets

I did find out real quick that you either change the offset in the firmware, or the gcode, NOT BOTH. The gcode adds to the offset not overrides it.

My next test came out OK. Need to muck about with the retracts and such to help control the oozing, but other than that... Printed out at 60% original scale for the small one. Would of looked better at 100% but he's about the same size as my other little guys so...

Mark


You can see where the retracts and feeds were not quite right.


Would of been nicer if I would of went bigger.

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From FreeCAD To The Real World- Demo video using FreeCAD and featuring the Smartrap 3D Printer

That's crazy! Who would believe that came out of a smartrap? LOL! Congrats!

Thanks!

My only real bitch so far is that Cura 14.07 won't accept any changes to it's gcode for the dual extruders. It has a G28 Z0 line in there and I replaced it with a G29 for probing the bed. The code is there in the window but it writes out the default G28, which means i have to go back and edit the gcode every time I make a slice. Other than that, and that's no biggie, it's all going along smooth.

Yea,a little ol' Smartrap printed that, without stopping!

Mark

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From FreeCAD To The Real World- Demo video using FreeCAD and featuring the Smartrap 3D Printer

So exciting Mark. congrats ! what a nice work.

I will really work on this in the next dew weeks. I would love to have a double head integrated soon as an option on te main smartraps kits. It's fun !

thank you ..you ell an all community now ( i guess .

---

the Smartrap project

[smartfriendz.com]
[www.thingiverse.com]
[reprap.org]
[github.com]
doc assemblage: [reprap.org]
NEW: Forum smartfriendz: [smartraptalk.smartfriendz.com]

I'm in a conference this week, but VIDEO!!!

Quote
madmike8
I'm in a conference this week, but VIDEO!!!

Settle down, settle down... it's coming.

I was wondering why I hadn't heard from you Mike. If your traveling, have a safe trip!

I need to make a new, longer heat shield / fan duct and I'm going to put text on the sides in 2nd color. I'll shoot some video of that and get it up later today or tomorrow.

Mark

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From FreeCAD To The Real World- Demo video using FreeCAD and featuring the Smartrap 3D Printer