Upgrade part ANET A6 hardware and firmware, does this work ?

Hi..

The goal is to change a ANET A6 to :

MARLIN
ARDUINO MEGA 2560
RAMPS 1.4
DRV8825
LCD 12864

And keep :

12 VOLT POWER SUPPLY
THERMISTOR EXTRUDER
THERMISTOR HOTBED
STEPPERMOTORS
BLTOUCH


Has this been done successfully ?

Does the way presented in this video work well for this ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_AA72g_uXg

Thanks...
Windchime...

It's definitely been done successfully.

Take the video with a grain of salt. It's 5 years old and a lot has happened since then.

The stepper orientation is absolutely criticle. Plugging one in backwards will fry everything.

First thing to do is buy a kit that contains the Mega2560 board, the ramps board, the LCD adapter board and the LCD. None of this custom wiring.
Amazon has many of these. Here's a couple of examples:

• kit, no steppers $34
• DRV8825 steppers $15

If you're willing to wait for 6-8 weeks you can get similar kits from Aliexpress. Here's a kit with steppers for $35.

Second is to use the Auto Build Marlin extension within VSCode to build/compile the firmware. Here's a video on how I like to do that.

Third I recommend starting with the A6 example configurations for Marlin 2.1.2. Download 2.1.2 from here. After the two downloads do the following:

1. Unzip 2.1.2
2. Copy the three files from the examples to the MARLIN folder. This will overwrite the configuration.h and configuration_adv.h files.
3. In configuration.h, change the MOTHERBOARD setting from BOARD_ANET_10 to BOARD_RAMPS_14_EFB
4. In configuration.h, change the xx_DRIVER_TYPE from A4988 to DRV8825
5. In configuration.h, comment out these lines: #define ST7920_DELAY_1 DELAY_NS(150), #define ST7920_DELAY_2 DELAY_NS(150) and #define ST7920_DELAY_3 DELAY_NS(150)
6. Put a USB cable between the 2560 board and your PC.
7. Select the UPLOAD option when you compile the firmware.

---

You may want to consider going with a 32 bit board so that you can play with the input shaping option that Marlin has recently introduced. Lots of good reviews on it.

I personally like the BTT SKR PRO. Doesn't lock you into anything.

Quote
[email protected]
It's definitely been done successfully.

That's good news :-)

Quote

If you're willing to wait for 6-8 weeks you can get similar kits from Aliexpress. Here's a kit with steppers for $35.

Oops..
I allready ordered a set for about 100 euro at www.123-3d.nl...


Thanks very much for the info on how to install marlin..
I am more hopeful now :-)

Windchime..

Hi,

I would like to upgrade my Anet A6 with Ramps 1.6 to Marlin 2.1.2.
I downloaded the Marlin 2.1.2 FW as well as the necessary configs from the Marlin Homepage.
I get some errors that I can´t solve myself since I am a complete beginner so I hope someone can help me here.

In file included from C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\inc\MarlinConfig.h:50:0,
from C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\MarlinCore.h:24,
from C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\MarlinCore.cpp:31:
C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\HAL\AVR\inc\SanityCheck.h:73:4: error: #error "FAN_PIN 9 Hardware PWM uses Timer 2 which conflicts with Arduino AVR Tone Timer (for SPEAKER)."
#error "FAN_PIN 9 Hardware PWM uses Timer 2 which conflicts with Arduino AVR Tone Timer (for SPEAKER)."
^~~~~
C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\HAL\AVR\inc\SanityCheck.h:74:4: error: #error "Disable SPEAKER or enable FAN_SOFT_PWM."
#error "Disable SPEAKER or enable FAN_SOFT_PWM."
^~~~~
C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\HAL\AVR\inc\SanityCheck.h:95:4: error: #error "TMCStepper includes SoftwareSerial.h which is incompatible with ENDSTOP_INTERRUPTS_FEATURE. Disable ENDSTOP_INTERRUPTS_FEATURE to continue."
#error "TMCStepper includes SoftwareSerial.h which is incompatible with ENDSTOP_INTERRUPTS_FEATURE. Disable ENDSTOP_INTERRUPTS_FEATURE to continue."
^~~~~
In file included from C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\inc\MarlinConfig.h:37:0,
from C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\MarlinCore.h:24,
from C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\MarlinCore.cpp:31:
C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\core\macros.h:236:48: error: pasting "ENA_" and "/* Give feedback on EEPROM commands. Disable to save PROGMEM.*/" does not give a valid preprocessing token
#define _ENA_1(O) _ISENA(CAT(_IS,CAT(ENA_, O)))
^
C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\HAL\AVR\timers.h:101:22: note: in definition of macro '_CAT'
#define _CAT(a,V...) a##V
^
C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\core\macros.h:236:44: note: in expansion of macro 'CAT'
#define _ENA_1(O) _ISENA(CAT(_IS,CAT(ENA_, O)))
^~~
C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\core\macros.h:243:35: note: in expansion of macro '_ENA_1'
#define TERN0(O,A) _TERN(_ENA_1(O),0,A) // OPTION ? 'A' : '0'
^~~~~~
C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\module\settings.h:45:13: note: in expansion of macro 'TERN0'
if (TERN0(EEPROM_CHITCHAT, success)) report();
^~~~~
In file included from C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\module\stepper\indirection.h:40:0,
from C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\module\stepper.h:47,
from C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\MarlinCore.cpp:47:
C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\module\stepper\trinamic.h:29:10: fatal error: TMCStepper.h: No such file or directory
#include
^~~~~~~~~~~~~~
compilation terminated.

exit status 1

Compilation error: #error "FAN_PIN 9 Hardware PWM uses Timer 2 which conflicts with Arduino AVR Tone Timer (for SPEAKER)."

And what does the very next line say?

"#error "Disable SPEAKER or enable FAN_SOFT_PWM.""

choose one.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/29/2023 10:53PM by Dust.

Thank you so much for the quick reply.
I disabled the speaker. Next error could be solved in the same way by disabling it.
Now i get this error but the problem is I cant find it when I search for "ENA" to disable it.

In file included from C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\inc\MarlinConfig.h:37:0,
from C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\MarlinCore.h:24,
from C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\MarlinCore.cpp:31:
C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\core\macros.h:236:48: error: pasting "ENA_" and "/* Give feedback on EEPROM commands. Disable to save PROGMEM.*/" does not give a valid preprocessing token
#define _ENA_1(O) _ISENA(CAT(_IS,CAT(ENA_, O)))
^
C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\HAL\AVR\timers.h:101:22: note: in definition of macro '_CAT'
#define _CAT(a,V...) a##V
^
C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\core\macros.h:236:44: note: in expansion of macro 'CAT'
#define _ENA_1(O) _ISENA(CAT(_IS,CAT(ENA_, O)))
^~~
C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\core\macros.h:243:35: note: in expansion of macro '_ENA_1'
#define TERN0(O,A) _TERN(_ENA_1(O),0,A) // OPTION ? 'A' : '0'
^~~~~~
C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\module\settings.h:45:13: note: in expansion of macro 'TERN0'
if (TERN0(EEPROM_CHITCHAT, success)) report();
^~~~~
In file included from C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\module\stepper\indirection.h:40:0,
from C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\module\stepper.h:47,
from C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\MarlinCore.cpp:47:
C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\module\stepper\trinamic.h:29:10: fatal error: TMCStepper.h: No such file or directory
#include
^~~~~~~~~~~~~~
compilation terminated.

exit status 1

Compilation error: pasting "ENA_" and "/* Give feedback on EEPROM commands. Disable to save PROGMEM.*/" does not give a valid preprocessing token

I cannot tell exactly what you have changed, but guess from the error the line

#define EEPROM_CHITCHAT       // Give feedback on EEPROM commands. Disable to save PROGMEM.

should be as pictured. Not what you have

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/30/2023 06:14AM by Dust.

thanks a lot.
to be honest i just downloaded the marlin fw 2.1.2 and the config files.
what i did was copying the anet a6 configs to the corresponding marlin folder. that is all i did + the changes from this conversation that i got.

i think there is one error left and then everything should work....hopefully.
where do i get the TMCStepper.h from?

In file included from C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\module\stepper\indirection.h:40:0,
from C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\module\stepper.h:47,
from C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\MarlinCore.cpp:47:
C:\Users\Howy-PC\Downloads\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin-2.1.2\Marlin\src\module\stepper\trinamic.h:29:10: fatal error: TMCStepper.h: No such file or directory
#include
^~~~~~~~~~~~~~
compilation terminated.

exit status 1

Compilation error: TMCStepper.h: No such file or directory

This error normally results from a previous error. you have to fix them in order. One at a time

The file is part of Marlin, you should have all of these

[github.com]


Put your config files somewhere we can review them (zip and attach, or upload somewhere and provide the URL)

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 05/01/2023 09:22AM by Dust.

Please find my marlin config in the following link.
thank you.
[we.tl]

you have added

#include <TMCStepper.h> 
#include <TMCStepper_UTILITY.h> 

#include <TMCStepper.h> 
#include <TMCStepper_UTILITY.h>

to the top of Configuration.h

these where not in the original config files and are not meant to be there. Remove them

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/01/2023 01:05PM by Dust.

Thank you so much. It worked finally. Now I can compile and uplaod Marlin without any errors.
I just get a message on the 3D printers display now stating TMC CONNECTION ERROR

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/02/2023 02:07PM by 88Howy88.

Currently you have
#define X_DRIVER_TYPE TMC2208
#define Y_DRIVER_TYPE TMC2208
#define Z_DRIVER_TYPE TMC2208
#define E0_DRIVER_TYPE TMC2208

Your using a ramps. The ramps has no hardware support for TMC2208 uart pins

You either need to use the stepper drivers in standalone mode

#define X_DRIVER_TYPE TMC2208_STANDALONE
#define Y_DRIVER_TYPE TMC2208_STANDALONE
#define Z_DRIVER_TYPE TMC2208_STANDALONE
#define E0_DRIVER_TYPE TMC2208_STANDALONE

Or you need to add wires
[forum.v1e.com]

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/02/2023 10:51PM by Dust.

Thank you Dust.
STANDALONE worked absolutely fine for me. Now the error message is gone from the 3D printers display.
The link you provided here --> [github.com]
What exactly should i do with it? I can see 7 different files but I don't know which one I need and where to put it.

You don't need to do anything. that was just to show you that the file TMCStepper.h exists in marlin when you had the error "error: TMCStepper.h: No such file or directory"

Ok got it. Thank you.
I changed my direct extruder to an e3d titan bowden extruder. The extruding speed is way too slow. I read in the assembly guide that the new nema motor has a movement speed of 400 steps / rev instead of 200. where can i set this? and the direction is also inverted. It pulls out the filament instead of pushing.
thank you

You need to update the steps per millimeter for E

This is the last value in this lne

#define DEFAULT_AXIS_STEPS_PER_UNIT { 100, 100, 400, 95 }

According to the internet this should be 837

#define DEFAULT_AXIS_STEPS_PER_UNIT { 100, 100, 400, 837 }


Important these values are stored in eeprom. they will not be updated until you reset the eprom to firmware defaults
I highly recommend that you enable

#define EEPROM_INIT_NOW // Init EEPROM on first boot after a new build.

Then every time you upload new firmware, the eeprom is also set to the firmware defaults



To change direction
find
#define INVERT_E0_DIR false

change to
#define INVERT_E0_DIR true

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/03/2023 07:47AM by Dust.

Thanks Dust. All works perfectly fine.
If you could help me with my inductive sensor it would be amazon. I have an NO inductive sensor that i want to connect to my ramps board.
I have a small pcb to reduce the voltage but i don't know how and where to connect it to my ramps board.
Thank you.