Help!!!! Dual extruder problem

[Josh]

And what I meant by your M350 looking weird: the below is a copy of what happened when I sent M350 S1, then M350 S16.

>>>M350 S1
SENDING:M350 S1
MS1,MS2 Pins
X: 00
Y: 00
Z: 00
E0: 00
E1: 00
>>>M350 S16
SENDING:M350 S16
MS1,MS2 Pins
X: 11
Y: 11
Z: 11
E0: 11
E1: 11

Brett, if you look at yours again, you'll see that, at least in the instance you reported, the E1 code did not change from 00 to 11.

[Q*bert]

That shows that x1 and x2 microstepping are the only modes with MS2 LOW; since one of the changes that has occurred here is using the E1 stepper motor driver for the first time, it may be that the E1 driver's MS2 pin is behaving strangely (I actually noted in the "M350" echoes from before, that the E1 MS2 pin was weird). I don't know how to test this externally, but an internal test may be to change the E1 MS2 pin in pins.h to something else, so when the Atmega2560 writes it HIGH, it's not actually the physical MS2 pin on the driver. "#define E1_MS2_PIN 64" is the default; perhaps "#define E1_MS2_PIN 4" may work (it's the PS_ON pin as defined in pins.h below, which shouldn't have anything connected to it; make sure you change the #define PS_ON to -1 though).

I hadn't noticed the E1 MS2 pin output from brettb's posting until you pointed it out. I'll try your suggestion regarding the MS2 pin definitions tonight and post results.

What exactly was going on when you had it set to x2 microstepping, but you said you couldn't print?

I was the one that said x2 microstepping (M350 S2) would return correct thermistor readings, but I didn't attempt to print. brettb said that M350 S16 seemed to work but he couldn't print. He'll need to answer your question to be certain, but from the output he posted it looked like the machine would disconnect when he tried to print.

[brettb]

Josh,

I've made your suggest changes & have changed #define E1_MS2_PIN 64 to #define E1_MS2_PIN 4. Connecting with S3D worked fine, I'm now heating up to see if I can print.

-Brett


Attempting connection at /dev/cu.usbmodemfd141...
RECEIVED: ø4Šµ‚——k<ž»£}¾$ÐqÔ&Ø<輓Ô
RECEIVED: echo: External Reset
RECEIVED: Marlin 1.0.0
RECEIVED: echo: Last Updated: Aug 13 2014 14:06:40 | Author: (none, default config)
Last Updated: Aug 13 2014 14:06:40 | Author: (none, default config)
RECEIVED: Compiled: Aug 13 2014
RECEIVED: echo: Free Memory: 4141 PlannerBufferBytes: 1232
Free Memory: 4141 PlannerBufferBytes: 1232
RECEIVED: echo:Hardcoded Default Settings Loaded
Hardcoded Default Settings Loaded
RECEIVED: echo:Steps per unit:
Steps per unit:
RECEIVED: echo: M92 X88.88 Y88.88 Z400.00 E471.50
M92 X88.88 Y88.88 Z400.00 E471.50
RECEIVED: echo:Maximum feedrates (mm/s):
Maximum feedrates (mm/s):
RECEIVED: echo: M203 X500.00 Y500.00 Z25.00 E25.00
M203 X500.00 Y500.00 Z25.00 E25.00
RECEIVED: echo:Maximum Acceleration (mm/s2):
Maximum Acceleration (mm/s2):
RECEIVED: echo: M201 X4000 Y4000 Z100 E10000
M201 X4000 Y4000 Z100 E10000
RECEIVED: echo:Acceleration: S=acceleration, T=retract acceleration
Acceleration: S=acceleration, T=retract acceleration
RECEIVED: echo: M204 S2000.00 T3000.00
M204 S2000.00 T3000.00
RECEIVED: echo:Advanced variables: S=Min feedrate (mm/s), T=Min travel feedrate (mm/s), B=minimum segment time (ms), X=maximum XY jerk (mm/s), Z=maximum Z jerk (mm/s), E=maximum E jerk (mm/s)
Advanced variables: S=Min feedrate (mm/s), T=Min travel feedrate (mm/s), B=minimum segment time (ms), X=maximum XY jerk (mm/s), Z=maximum Z jerk (mm/s), E=maximum E jerk (mm/s)
RECEIVED: echo: M205 S0.00 T0.00 B20000 X8.00 Z0.40 E5.00
M205 S0.00 T0.00 B20000 X8.00 Z0.40 E5.00
RECEIVED: echo:Home offset (mm):
Home offset (mm):
RECEIVED: echo: M206 X0.00 Y0.00 Z0.00
M206 X0.00 Y0.00 Z0.00
RECEIVED: echo:PID settings:
PID settings:
RECEIVED: echo: M301 P25.89 I1.94 D86.53
M301 P25.89 I1.94 D86.53
Testing plaintext communication protocol...
RECEIVED: echo:SD init fail
SD init fail
RECEIVED: ok
Connected to machine!
SENT: G21
SENT: T1
RECEIVED: ok
RECEIVED: echo:Active Extruder: 1
Active Extruder: 1
RECEIVED: ok
SENT: M105
RECEIVED: ok T:19.4 /0.0 B:21.2 /0.0 T0:19.4 /0.0 T1:19.4 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

[Josh]

In response to your question about the harness - there really shouldn't be anything different between the different harness versions, though if you send me some pictures I'll take a look. There were a couple changes around that time, though - first we changed to a split harness, and then later to a shorter one with much less excess wire to be coiled inside the electronics case. Neither of those, in my opinion, should have been the major factor here; and anyway, the new harness that you both have is identical to each other, and to what we use now.

Also, I'm reasonably certain I've got a dual running with a 1.2g board, so I don't think that's the specific cause either (though I'll check when the print is done to confirm).

[Q*bert]

I've changed the E1_MS2 pin definition as you suggested and the thermistors read properly at the default 16x microstepping. But now neither extruder will work - I'd expect that for the second extruder but not the first. There was also some other weird behavior such as occasional erratic control of X, Y and Z, and the machine turned off twice during about a half hour of testing.

... and anyway, the new harness that you both have is identical to each other, and to what we use now.

Actually, I'm still using the original harness from Jan-Feb 2013. I did not upgrade the harness, but switched to all 24V fans. See pictures below - there's a lot of extra wire in the harness.

brettb - did you upgrade your harness?

(scratching head...)

20140813_204414.jpg (69.58 KiB) Viewed 12166 times

20140813_202457.jpg (73.95 KiB) Viewed 12166 times

[brettb]

I'm having the same issue, only one of the extruders will work. It looks like either extruder that I plug into E1 will not function, I've switched the wires to verify that it's not a mechanical problem with the extruder, both function on E0. I've pulled all the wires out & installed again, same result.

I'm using the wiring harness that came with the M@, I haven't upgraded anything.

The mystery deepens!

-BB

[Q*bert]

I'm using the wiring harness that came with the M@, I haven't upgraded anything.

Josh - Any more thoughts about the harness? brettb and I are both using that old style harness.

Because of the second extruder the signals travelling back and forth through the harness have changed quite a bit. The fact that the thermistor readings are strangely affected might be explained by interference, possibly from the longer unshielded cables of the original harness combined with the EMF from the additional extruder stepper and heater. I have previously seen weird behavior of the steppers on my CNC router due to shielding issues so I know it can be an issue.

[brettb]

Josh,

I'm working from home today. I'll be available if you would like me to run any, tests, push firmware, identify cables...

-Brett

[brettb]

I should mention that my issue was resolved with a RAMBO board swap, hopefully our experience will help the MakerGear team to identify the issue that Q*bert & I were experiencing.

I'm back in action, looking forward to start experimenting with dissolvable support materials (HIPS) & the 2nd extruder!

-BrettB

[Q*bert]

I should mention that my issue was resolved with a RAMBO board swap, hopefully our experience will help the MakerGear team to identify the issue that Q*bert & I were experiencing.

I'm back in action, looking forward to start experimenting with dissolvable support materials (HIPS) & the 2nd extruder!

-BrettB

Like BrettB, my problem was also solved with a RAMBo board swap. I also tested the original vs the new, upgraded wiring harness, which made no difference.

Thanks to Josh and Karen for the great support!