MakerGear Forum

Hi, I have a later 24v M2 with and E3D hot end. I recently bought a kit from E3D which replaces the thermister with a PT100 sensor and amplifier board. Here is the link: http://e3d-online.com/V6-PT100-Sensor-Kit.

Anyway, I am using the latest standard firmware for the M2. There is no provision for a PT100 sensor so what I did was go into the latest general release of Marlin and copy the table for what seems to be the appropriate sensor. I reproduced what I copied below. I placed it into the existing standard M2 firmware "thermistorstables.h". I then sent the appropriate sensor value to "20" in configuration.h. I wired up the board so that the "signal" and "0v" wires come from the original sensor connector on the rambo board. I then ran a jumper from an auxillary 5v pad on the rambo board. My meter shows 5v between the 0v and 5v pins on the amplifier. The firmware compiles with no problem and the printer connects to simplify 3D without a problem. The issue is that the extruder stays pegged at 50 degrees and the bed remains at 31 degrees. Does anyone have any suggestions? I am in the process of contacting E3D but I am thinking that some of this is makergear specific.

Thanks,
Mike

Here is the additional code that I added to the existing makergear firmware:

#if (THERMISTORHEATER_0 == 20) || (THERMISTORHEATER_1 == 20) || (THERMISTORHEATER_2 == 20) || (THERMISTORBED == 20) // PT100 with INA826 amp on Ultimaker v2.0 electronics
/* The PT100 in the Ultimaker v2.0 electronics has a high sample value for a high temperature.
This does not match the normal thermistor behaviour so we need to set the following defines */
#if (THERMISTORHEATER_0 == 20)
# define HEATER_0_RAW_HI_TEMP 16383
# define HEATER_0_RAW_LO_TEMP 0
#endif
#if (THERMISTORHEATER_1 == 20)
# define HEATER_1_RAW_HI_TEMP 16383
# define HEATER_1_RAW_LO_TEMP 0
#endif
#if (THERMISTORHEATER_2 == 20)
# define HEATER_2_RAW_HI_TEMP 16383
# define HEATER_2_RAW_LO_TEMP 0
#endif
#if (THERMISTORBED == 20)
# define HEATER_BED_RAW_HI_TEMP 16383
# define HEATER_BED_RAW_LO_TEMP 0
#endif
const short temptable_20[][2] PROGMEM = {
{ 0*OVERSAMPLENR , 0 },
{ 227*OVERSAMPLENR , 1 },
{ 236*OVERSAMPLENR , 10 },
{ 245*OVERSAMPLENR , 20 },
{ 253*OVERSAMPLENR , 30 },
{ 262*OVERSAMPLENR , 40 },
{ 270*OVERSAMPLENR , 50 },
{ 279*OVERSAMPLENR , 60 },
{ 287*OVERSAMPLENR , 70 },
{ 295*OVERSAMPLENR , 80 },
{ 304*OVERSAMPLENR , 90 },
{ 312*OVERSAMPLENR , 100 },
{ 320*OVERSAMPLENR , 110 },
{ 329*OVERSAMPLENR , 120 },
{ 337*OVERSAMPLENR , 130 },
{ 345*OVERSAMPLENR , 140 },
{ 353*OVERSAMPLENR , 150 },
{ 361*OVERSAMPLENR , 160 },
{ 369*OVERSAMPLENR , 170 },
{ 377*OVERSAMPLENR , 180 },
{ 385*OVERSAMPLENR , 190 },
{ 393*OVERSAMPLENR , 200 },
{ 401*OVERSAMPLENR , 210 },
{ 409*OVERSAMPLENR , 220 },
{ 417*OVERSAMPLENR , 230 },
{ 424*OVERSAMPLENR , 240 },
{ 432*OVERSAMPLENR , 250 },
{ 440*OVERSAMPLENR , 260 },
{ 447*OVERSAMPLENR , 270 },
{ 455*OVERSAMPLENR , 280 },
{ 463*OVERSAMPLENR , 290 },
{ 470*OVERSAMPLENR , 300 },
{ 478*OVERSAMPLENR , 310 },
{ 485*OVERSAMPLENR , 320 },
{ 493*OVERSAMPLENR , 330 },
{ 500*OVERSAMPLENR , 340 },
{ 507*OVERSAMPLENR , 350 },
{ 515*OVERSAMPLENR , 360 },
{ 522*OVERSAMPLENR , 370 },
{ 529*OVERSAMPLENR , 380 },
{ 537*OVERSAMPLENR , 390 },
{ 544*OVERSAMPLENR , 400 },
{ 614*OVERSAMPLENR , 500 },
{ 681*OVERSAMPLENR , 600 },
{ 744*OVERSAMPLENR , 700 },
{ 805*OVERSAMPLENR , 800 },
{ 862*OVERSAMPLENR , 900 },
{ 917*OVERSAMPLENR , 1000 },
{ 968*OVERSAMPLENR , 1100 }
};
#endif

its tough working with new hardware. i dont know anyone here who has messed with that sensor. i know i havent. the stock e3d thermistor has worked great for me over the past 2 years. at the moment i dont have the need to go over 280c or so.

economycar wrote: /* The PT100 in the Ultimaker v2.0 electronics has a high sample value for a high temperature.
This does not match the normal thermistor behaviour so we need to set the following defines */

My guess is that the comment is relevant and likely means that there is something specific about the Ultimaker which probably does not apply to the RAMBo. Regardless, it will not be a MakerGear-specific issue. The E3D people are the most likely to know. At least, last time I talked to them, I found them to be friendly, responsive, and knowledgeable.

I was having extrusion problems and ruled out a number of issues and came to suspect that the thermistor may have been damaged. I know that pt100 sensors are considered more accurate and stable, their physical design is also more durable. The construction is similar to the heater cartridge, no more delicate small gauge wires or chances of shorting out leads.

I ended up getting it to work last night by using the latest general release of marlin. The amplifier circuit is based on what is found in an ultimaker so that is why E3D suggests using that particular sensor table. Other than that, the only difference is that the E3D board needs to be tied into a +5v rail and the sensor/ground connector needs to be oriented correctly when plugged into the original connector on rambo.

Now my issue is with the firmware, the case fan/extruder fan don't seem to want to turn on. I tried to activate "pin 23" since that is what the fan seems to be connected to in the original m2 firmware but it is commented out. Is there something else I need to do?

Thanks

The easiest way to implement the 40mm fans in newer Marlin is to use the "auto fan" options in Configuration_adv.h - setting Extruder 0 to pin 6 ("#define EXTRUDER_0_AUTO_FAN_PIN 6") will tell the firmware that, when the hotend is above 50°C ("#define EXTRUDER_AUTO_FAN_TEMPERATURE 50") to turn on the fans connected to the Fan1 header on RAMBo (pin 6 in Arduino IDE terms).

Turn on pin 6. MakerGear's custom firmware issues an analogWrite(6,255) in setup(). You can also set up EXTRUDER_0_AUTO_FAN_PIN and EXTRUDER_AUTO_FAN_TEMPERATURE in Configuration_adv.h to have it turn on and off by temperature.

Edit: too slow!

Does anyone have a consolidated list of modifications to install the E3dv6 with pt100? I have a M2RevE w/24V. Thanks.

I wanted to see what benefits going to an e3d hotend over the newest release of maker gear had.

I am in manufacturing and bought this printer just to try new things. I want to be able to print in the widest range of materials possible. We do custom work on our projects and we are always in need of a special this or that to make something work, thus me wanting to learn 3d printing.

I ordered the printer kit and the dual extruder upgrade and waiting for it all to arrive. I have had shipping issue after shipping issue but hope to now have the kit monday.

I was considering going ahead and upgrading to the e3d as it appears I may need them to print polycarb or even perhaps some of the carbon based nylons etc but I am still not sure.

How much work is involved in fitting them to the printer, and is it worth the extra expense right away to do this?

I'm printing PC now with the stock V4 hot end, and have done nylon without issue. What would you expect gain with the E3d?

Was only seeing the higher possible temps and "wondered" if that allowed further material selection.

I am going to learn on the two I have and wait to have a problem before needing a solution.

BTW I bought this printer after reading most of your post, your use seems similar to mine.