RepRap Firmware macros
Contents
Principle of RepRap Firmware macros operation
Most RepRap Firmware board operations are handled by macros files stored on the SD card.
- A macro is a text file containing a sequence of G-codes.
- Firmware use macros with predefined names located in /sys directory.
- Files located in /macros directory are presented to user in DWC panel, whatever their extension.
- User defined macros could be set in any directory, including /sys.
- A macro can call another macro located in any directory.
- A mistake in the syntax of a macro may hold the printer.
The G-codes set of RepRap Firmware is evolving and the description below apply to the most recent firmwares, from DC42 or Chrishamm forks. Note that many listed command may not work with the firmware as delivered with your board (notably Replikeo boards) and you may update the firmware for proper operation.
The below macros are given as examples, but you shall have a look on specific SD images to establish your own macro set.
Some listed macros are single line and fairly basic, but creating these macros once prevent searching the documentation month later when you will have to redo part of the commissioning or calibration and forgot the commands. It is a sort of always available documentation. It is recommended to create you whole macros set before starting the commissioning.
System macros
config.g
This is called at board startup. The printer configuration is defined in the main macro 'config.g'. Configuration and update of this file is detailed in other pages.
Homing: homeall.g and homedelta.g
This macro is called by 'G28' and home the printer. Homedelta.g is called if the printer configuration is defined as delta (M665 command). Example for a cartesian printer (here an Ormerod).
;macro /sys/homeall.g homing for a cartesian G91 ; set movement to relative mode G1 Z5 F200 ; move Z up 5mm G90 ; set movement to absolute mode M558 P1 ; set probe to unmodulated mode G1 X-240 F2000 S1 ; home X G92 X0 ; set position to X=0 G1 X3 F200 ; move axis away from X=0 G1 X-5 F200 S1 ; home again, slower G92 X0 ; set position to X=0 G1 X15 F2000 ; ADJUST the X value to put the nozzle on the edge of the bed G92 X0 ; set position to X=0 M558 P2 ; set probe to modulated mode G1 X45 F2000 ; move X, ADJUST the X value to get Z probe over target G92 Y0 ; set position to Y=0 G1 Y-240 F2000 S1 ; home Y G92 Y0 ; set position to Y=0 G1 Y3 F200 ; move Y axis out G1 Y-5 F200 S1 ; home Y, slower G92 Y0 ; set position to Y=0 G1 Y3 F2000 ; ADJUST the Y value to put the nozzle on the edge of the bed G92 Y0 ; set position to Y=0 G1 Y0 F2000 ; move Y, ADJUST the Y value to get Z probe over target G30 ; home Z, using values from G31 in config.g G1 Z5 F200 ; Move Z up to Z=5 G1 X0 Y0 F2000 ; Move to X=0 Y=0 G1 Z0 F200 ; Move to Z=0
Example for a delta
;macro /sys/homedelta.g Homing file for RepRapFirmware on delta printer G91 ; use relative positioning G1 S1 X520 Y520 Z520 F8000 ; move all carriages up 520mm – S1 moves X,Y,Z carriages and detect stops; use F500 for commissioning (low speed) - beware max carriage travel > max height G1 S2 X-4 Y-4 Z-4 F1000 ; move all tower carriage down 4mm, no stop detection G1 S1 X8 Y8 Z8 F500 ; move carriages up 8mm, stopping at the endstops G1 Z-10 F2000 ; down a few mm so that we can centre the head G90 ; back to absolute positioning G1 X0 Y0 F2000 ; centre the head G1 Z20 F12000 ; move head 20mm above plate
There are also standard system macros for independent axis: homex.g, homey.g and homez.g
Homing without end switches
With digital potentiometer allowing stepper current adjustment by software, it is possible to stall the motors on movement mechanical stops, so removing need for end stops switches and improving reliability. Experience show that a too low current drive to difficulties for the stepper to ‘re-hook’ to steps and large rebounds. Increasing current to a minimal value reduce the rebound. You shall experiment for own steppers, with minimum current values around 30% of nominal current. Also, the mechanical stop shall not be too springy e.g. felt strips may be better than rubber. The precision is not very good (0.2~0.5mm) but that shall be corrected by the calibration run. For any reason, the S2 parameters don’t effectively prevent stop detection, so the below routine only works on machine NOT equipped with switches.
;macro /sys/homedelta.g Homing file without stop switches (board with digipots) ; - WONT'T WORK if you do have switches G91 ; use relative positioning M906 X540 Y540 Z540 ; low current for homing against mechanical stop ;- shall be above 30% of nominal current G1 S2 X520 Y520 Z520 F4000 ; move all carriages up 520mm S2 no stop detection ;- beware max carriage travel > max height G92 X0 Y0 Z380 ; defines the position when homed - required while there is no endstops ;- beware asymmetry of your stops G1 Z-10 F100 ; down a few mm so that we can centre the head G90 ; back to absolute positioning G1 X0 Y0 F2000 ; centre the head and set a reasonable feed rate M906 X1200 Y1200 Z1200 ; return to normal current - Warning!, this supersedes values in config.g G1 Z20 F12000 ; set head 20mm above bed
bed.g
This macro is called by code 'G32' and do automatic calibration. It also call homing macro (G28) if homing is not already done. Example of calibration for a delta printer with mechanical sensing (like the Fisher). The H parameter is the sensor offset for each point. It is here used instead of the general 'G31 Znn' parameter which is common to all probe points. A negative value correspond to a height over the bed. Example for a Cartesian (using M557 in config.g instead may be more simple than a bed.g macro)
; macro /sys/bed.g Auto calibration routine for a Cartesian printer: 1 to 5 probe points M561 ; clear any bed transform, otherwise homing may be at the wrong height G1 Z5 F350 G1 X45 Y0 F2000 ; move head G30 P0 Z-100000 ; probe G1 Z5 F350 ; rise head G1 X45 Y180 F2000 G30 P1 Z-100000 G1 Z5 F350 G1 X210 Y180 F2000 G30 P2 Z-100000 G1 Z5 F350 G1 X210 Y0 F2000 G30 P3 S Z-100000 ; probe and calibrate with 4 parameters (as there is 4 points) G4 P1500 ;Leave the probe there to give the web interface time to report the plane points G1 Z10 F350
Example for a delta
; macro /sys/bed.g Auto calibration routine for a delta printer with offset values (H param) ; different for each probe point (mechanical sensing). You can have as many probe points ; as you want (least square root average), use at least 3 points more than parameter number. ; This does a single iteration of auto calibration. Run this file multiple times until ; the values converge. Then transfer values from M666 and M665 to your config.g file. M561 ; clear any bed transform, otherwise homing may be at the wrong height M201 X500 Y500 Z500 ; reduce acceleration ; Probe the bed and do auto calibration G1 X-64.95 Y-37.5 Z3 F12000 ;go above first point G30 P0 X-69 Y-37.5 H-0.43 Z-99999 ; X tower G30 P1 X69 Y-37.5 H-0.45 Z-99999 ; Y tower G30 P2 X1 Y78 H-0.40 Z-99999 ; Z tower G30 P3 X-34 Y-18.75 H-0.34 Z-99999 ; half way to X tower G30 P4 X34 Y-18.75 H-0.40 Z-99999 ; half way to Y tower G30 P5 X4 Y41 H-0.30 Z-99999 ; half way to Z tower G30 P6 X2 Y2 H-0.37 Z-99999 S4 ; centre, and auto-calibrate for 4 parameters M201 X6000 Y6000 Z6000 ; reset acceleration - Warning! supersede values set in config.g G91; relative positioning G1 S1 Z40 F15000 ; go part way up G90; back to absolute positioning
Machines like Kossel with mechanically deployed Z-probe also calls deploying and retract macros, see [1]
Tool selection
For each tool, there is three standard macros while changing or selecting tool
example : "Tfree1.g". This could be used to wait for printing temperature, set idling temperature, move the head off the print, retract, un-retract, clean tool or any other action.
Macros are called on tool change or selection:
- TpreN.g is run before tool N is set active
- TpostN.g is run after tool N is set active
- TfreeN.g is run before tool N is freed
Note than on the Chrishamm fork, if these macros are not present, there will be an error message. There is no error message on DC42 fork.
Pause and resume a print: pause.g and resume.g
- pause.g is called before pausing a print, pause ordered by M25 (pause from control panel, not from G-code file)
- resume.g is called before resuming a print, resume ordered by M24
Stop a print: stop.g
- stop.g is called while M0 is called, when a paused print is cancelled. Without this macro all heating loops are shutdown.
Using macros
Name and extension
Names are case sensitive. You can use any file extension (.g, .gcode, .txt) or none at all, but it is preferable to stuck to ‘.g’ with an editor doing syntax highlighting.
In a macro file, comments are preceded by “;” character. They could be after the command or alone in line.
Call another macro
While in a macro, you can call another macro. Macros are searched in /sys directory and it is recommended to always specify explicitly the path.
M98 P/macros/mymacro.txt ;P define the parameter and is not part of the name
Some parameters are restored while returning from a macro, however, these are not well documented. So, you shall take care to restore them manually (notably motor current, acceleration). However, this drive to the problem that the actual value is the one decided at the end of the macro and not the value defined in config.g, so you shall take care to track all restored values in your macros.
Debugging
Calling an invalid G-code may sometimes hang the firmware and lock your system. If the error is in the start-up process, the only solution is to remove the SD card and edit files to correct the bug. An error can be in a macro automatically called by the system.
Care shall be taken to not create a recursive loop, e.g. a homing macro calling another home. This creates a "Stack overflow!" error.
Useful user macros
Load filament
example for a Bowden tube installation with 680mm total length. This for tool 0, you may create a macro for each extruder/tool.
;macro /macros/_Load_filament.g T0 ; Select tool M109 S200 ; set the current hotend temperature to 200 and wait for it G1 E640 F3600 ; extrude 640mm at heigh speed G1 E40 F200 ; extrude 40mm at low speed M84 P3 E0 ; turn extruder motor off so the user can feed by hand - change for another tool
Unload filament
Example for tool 0: you may do another macro for other tools
;macro /macros/_Unload_filament.g T0 ;Select tool ;M109 S100 ;set hotend temperature to 100 and wait for it – NOT USED as if hotend is hot, it wait for cooling which slow the process, hence heat temperature request shall be done manually before running this macro. G1 E-5 F500 ;Retract 5mm filament at low speed G1 E-680 F3600 ;Retract 680mm filament at high speed M84 E0 ;turn extruder motor off to let user unload if filament locked - T99 ;deselect tool (useful ?)
Prepare printer
example for PLA preparation with a heated bed
;macro /macros/__prepare_PLA.g prepare the machine after a cold start for PLA printing M140 S55 ; Set the bed temperature and don't wait for it M104 S150 ; set the current hotend temperature to 150 and don't wait for it G28 ; home T0 ; define tool G32 ; calibrate during heating phase M98 P/macros/brush.g ; call cleaning macro if it exists M109 S150 ; set the current hotend temperature to 150 and wait for it - M104 don't wait G32 ; 2nd calibration taking into account heating - at 150°C to save surface like ‘BuildTak’, which don’t like sensing at high temp. Sensing at low temp is inaccurate due to filament blob on the hotend. M109 S190 ; set the current hotend temperature to 190 and wait for it - M104 don't wait M190 S55 ; Set the bed temperature and wait for it
Extruder(s) motor(s) off
;macro /macros/E_motors_off.g M84 E0:1:2:3:4
Head cleaning
The limit of accessible area may be defined in ‘config.g’ (M665 command for delta). You may want to go outside the printing area to clean the head. This need caution and on a delta to not impact the structure and requires reduction of speeds and accelerations to avoid step loss. The proper values will be restored at the end of the macro, but it is important to note that the restored values will supersedes the values defined in the config.g file, which could trouble the user.
Example for a delta machine with a bed 300mm diameter
;macro /macros/brush.g Brush the head on a fixed brush M201 X1000 Y1000 Z800 ; reduce accelerations outside normal area ; – required for a delta at low arm angle - M564 S0 ; can go outside the limits defined in M665 G0 X-52 Y127 Z2 F8000 ;go to origin point, within authorized area, higher than brush G1 X-77 Y140 F1500 ; 1rst point outside G1 Z0.5 ; lower head to brush. in this case, the brush is at same height as bed G1 X-97 Y126 F1500 G1 X-78 Y139 F1500 G1 X-98 Y125 F1500 G1 X-77 Y140 F1500 G1 X-97 Y126 F1500 G1 X-77 Y140 F1500 G1 X-97 Y126 F1500 G1 X-78 Y139 F1500 G1 Z2 F1500 G0 X-52 Y127 F1500 ; Safe area, where speed could be increased M564 S1 ; set again the safe area limits G0 X0 Y0 Z50 F8000 ; back to center M201 X6000 Y6000 Z3000 ; set again accelerations – Warning! that supersedes values in config.g
Slow retraction
In case of jam caused by foreign matter, you may want to remove very slowly the filament at low temperature to get the guilty element. Appropriate temperature for PLA is around 100°C, may be a few degrees lower
M109 S100 ; set the current hotend temperature to 100 and wait for it M302 P1 ; allow cold extrusion for P1 extruder G1 E-280 F15 ; very slow retract - it takes ages G1 E-650 F3000 ; fast retract M84 E0:1:2:3:4 ; Disconnect extruder motors M302 P0 ; disallow cold extrusion for P1 extruder
Activate output/buzzer
Some output pins could be activated via code M42. By example a buzzer could be connected on extension connector pin 32, which is signal PB16 and Duet digital pin 67
/macros/Beep_3s.g ; activate buzzer for 3seconds. Digital pin 67 = extension connector pin 32 M42 P67 S1 ; Beeper off G4 P3000 ; wait 3000 msec (= 3 sec) M42 P67 S0 ; Beeper off
Make sound to confirm proper operation
Principle
It is possible to make sound using motors. The frequency is the step frequency, so moving at a defined speed give a note. However, the frequency for a given speed depends from the step/mm ratio and each sound file shall be adapted for a given step/mm ratio. Another solution is to temporarily modify the step/mm configuration to use a known command set. As most printers driven by a duet haven’t any local screen nor diagnostic LED, the sound may indicate proper startup.
You may call a separate macro as the last command of your config file, e.g.
M98 P/macros/startmusic.g ; call a sound file to acknowledge the startup
You could create a music file by using this converter: http://en.homeconstructor.de/converter-convert-music-in-g-code.html On a delta printer, you shall move in Z only, to have all your motor running simultaneously with the effector speed equal to the carriage speed. On a Cartesian printer, you can use whatever axis, provided the step/mm is accurate. It is wise to limit the travel, so the converter will make back and forth travel within the defined range. The file provided by the converter shall be modified:
- Replace all G01 by G1
- Comments shall be prefixed by “;”
- add "G92 X0 Y0 Z0" at the beginning of the code, to define the origin as current position, as you have not yet homed the machine
- add "G91" to set absolute moves.
A better control on a delta may be to move each carriage independently, hence checking driver and stepper independently. A movement on 'XYZ' columns instead of 'XYZ' user space is done while adding S2 parameter to the G1 command. Unfortunately, this does only work in relative mode, so you shall convert the file from absolute to relative. Use a spreadsheet program to help conversion.
Examples and converter
100 step/mm -> example 16 teeth GT2-2, micro-step 1/16, 1.8° stepper Z travel up total 8mm. Works ok for 200 step/mm (same with 0.9° steppers). You could use it 'as is' by modifying temporarily the step/mm of your machine with M92: Set axis steps per unit, then resetting original value.
8 first notes of French children song 'Quand on fait des crêpes chez nous'
; en.homeconstructor.de MIDI-converter version: 2.5 ; File: crepes.mid ;Breaks disabled ;Steps per millimeter for Z-axis: 100 G21 ; units are mm - supersedes former value, may not be needed G90 ; Absolute positioning - supersedes former value, shall be the default except for extruder G94 ; feed rate in units/minute, shall be the default G92 X0 Y0 Z0; set origin to current position, required as machine is not homed G1 Z1.23600000 F197.76000000 G1 Z1.60312500 F176.22000000 G1 Z2.42712500 F197.76000000 G1 Z3.30012500 F209.52000000 G1 Z4.28012500 F235.20000000 G1 Z5.10412500 F197.76000000 G1 Z6.41212500 F156.96000000 G1 Z7.64812500 F197.76000000 M84; shut down motors
for 87 steps/mm (like Fisher delta) sound shall be
G1 Z1.42068966 F227.31034483 G1 Z1.84267241 F202.55172414 G1 Z2.78979885 F227.31034483 G1 Z3.79324713 F240.82758621 G1 Z4.91968391 F270.34482759 G1 Z5.86681034 F227.31034483 G1 Z7.37025862 F180.41379310 G1 Z8.79094828 F227.31034483
You can hear the above example at the end of this film or same film in another format
Here is a small Libre Office calc sheet File:Convert crepes.zip.
It converts G-codes according a given step/mm ratio of the first 8 notes of the children song 'Quand on fait des crêpes'. This calc sheet does not use any libre office macro.
Commissioning macros
Allow cold extrusion
; /macros/Allow_cold_extrusion.g T0 ;select tool 0 – note that its starts hotend heating M302 P1 ;allow cold extrusion
Extrude a given filament length
To calibrate your extruder, you shall extrude a given length and measure the actual extruded filament.
;macro /macros/Extrude_1000mm.g Extrude 1000m of filament for calibration T0 ;select tool 0 – note that start the hotend heating. M302 P1 ;allow cold extrusion T0 G1 E1000 F3600 ;new step/mm = old*1000/Measured ;example 1024 measured with old steps = 310 -> new = 310*1000/1024 = 302.7
Move a motor on delta printer
On delta printers, the X,Y and Z movements does not correspond to a motor movement, while for commissioning, you may want to operate each motor independently. in G1 code 'S2' is used to select motor instead movement.
; macros/X_carriage_up_10mm.g Commissioning - test of displacement column by column of 10mm, up. G91 ; use relative positioning G1 S2 X10 F300 ; move carriage of X column 10mm up
Initial calibration
Calibration report
you can use M122 for reporting height of the sensing point – relative to previous geometrical alignment. A calibration MODIFY the geometrical alignment, and this is an iterative process. Another solution is to create a macro identical to bed.g, but with S-1 parameters, which will report height without doing a calibration. This can be useful to test repeatability of sensing.
Calibration help for mechanical sensing
In case of mechanical sensing, the offset for each point may vary for two reasons:
- The force needed for actuation differ for each point depending relative position of sensors and hotend
- The machine deformation for a given vertical force vary for each position,
So, you shall defined individually offset for each sensing point with the sheet paper method. To help this tedious process, it is useful to makes macros. Unfortunately, pausing don’t work in a macro if you are not printing, so independent macros are needed for each point. Writing all those macros ease the calibration process and is worth the task.
; /macros/P0.g – go to P0 Probing point G90 ; absolute position M564 S0 ; // allow travel outside envelope - needed for movement below bed level (sub 0) G1 Z2 ;raise 2mm above bed G1 X-69 Y-37 F4000 ;move to P0 G1 Z0.25 ; lower the hotend 0.25mm above bed
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