MakerGear Forum

I installed the dual extruder upgrade (very well made, BTW) and I'm encountering the following problem.

When I fire up S3D, the initial readings from all three thermistors are correct, but all subsequent readings are so low as to trigger a MIN_TEMP error. Here's the output in verbose mode:

Attempting connection at \\.\COM3...
RECEIVED: start
Connected to machine!
SENT: G21
RECEIVED: echo: External Reset
SENT: T0
RECEIVED: Marlin 1.0.0
RECEIVED: echo: Last Updated: Aug 10 2014 19:27:09 | Author: (none, default config)
Last Updated: Aug 10 2014 19:27:09 | Author: (none, default config)
RECEIVED: Compiled: Aug 10 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
SENT: M105
RECEIVED: echo:SD init fail
SD init fail
RECEIVED: ok
RECEIVED: echo:Active Extruder: 0
Active Extruder: 0
RECEIVED: ok
RECEIVED: ok T:20.2 /0.0 B:22.5 /0.0 T0:20.2 /0.0 T1:22.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0
RECEIVED: Error:0
RECEIVED: : Extruder switched off. MINTEMP triggered !
RECEIVED: Error:Printer stopped due to errors. Fix the error and use M999 to restart. (Temperature is reset. Set it after restarting)
SENT: M105
RECEIVED: ok T:2.7 /0.0 B:4.8 /0.0 T0:2.7 /0.0 T1:5.0 /0.0 @:0 B@:0
SENT: M105
RECEIVED: ok T:2.6 /0.0 B:5.0 /0.0 T0:2.6 /0.0 T1:5.0 /0.0 @:0 B@:0
SENT: M105
RECEIVED: ok T:2.7 /0.0 B:4.8 /0.0 T0:2.7 /0.0 T1:4.9 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

The line in green shows the initial temperature readings which are correct, and the line in red and subsequent readings are incorrect. Even the bed temperature is wrong.

I've tested and retested all thermistors and wiring and all are good. I've swapped back to the old single extruder and everything is fine. Each individual extruder/thermistor from the new kit works fine as a single. I've used a multimeter to check all cables and both new thermistors and all are good. I've removed all startup and finish G-code from S3D, and I've configured S3D to use two extruders with two thermistors.

I've been using the firmware for the dual extruders from the Wiki page.

HELP!!!!

Okay, so this is definitely a firmware problem. Both extruders (and all thermistors) run perfectly as single extruders when running "M2Marlin24r2" firmware.

My machine was manufactured in Jan/Feb 2013 and has since been upgraded to a 24v power supply and a V3B hot end. It has been running M2Marlin24r2 firmware successfully for some time now - at least until the dual extruder upgrade.

The "M2_Dual_Extruder_Marlin" is significantly different, so I'll wade through it and try to find what is different with my system than with others apparently running the dual firmware successfully.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

I'd love to be able to help you with this, but I asked to have my dual extruder kit shipped later due to my being on vacation, so you may solve the problem before I can even get around to looking at it. However, since I also have the same (or approximately the same) hardware from January 2013, whatever you find out will be relevant to me, so please post everything you discover. I have not done the 24V V3b upgrade, but I have ordered the 24V upgrade by necessity along with the dual extruder. Those of us with this setup need a different firmware to drive the older RAMBo with its 8-microstep motor drivers; I'm not sure what else may be different about the firmware that I have loaded into it right now.

Q - submit the problem through the standard support email address

Thanks Rick - will do.

Very impressed with the quality of the upgrade components!

I'd reported the exact same issue viewtopic.php?f=13&t=755&start=90#p4452. It looks like we've both done the same trouble shooting, let me know if you resolve the issue.

-Brett

Q*bert wrote:I installed the dual extruder upgrade (very well made, BTW) and I'm encountering the following problem.

When I fire up S3D, the initial readings from all three thermistors are correct, but all subsequent readings are so low as to trigger a MIN_TEMP error. Here's the output in verbose mode:

Attempting connection at \\.\COM3...
RECEIVED: start
Connected to machine!
SENT: G21
RECEIVED: echo: External Reset
SENT: T0
RECEIVED: Marlin 1.0.0
RECEIVED: echo: Last Updated: Aug 10 2014 19:27:09 | Author: (none, default config)
Last Updated: Aug 10 2014 19:27:09 | Author: (none, default config)
RECEIVED: Compiled: Aug 10 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
SENT: M105
RECEIVED: echo:SD init fail
SD init fail
RECEIVED: ok
RECEIVED: echo:Active Extruder: 0
Active Extruder: 0
RECEIVED: ok
RECEIVED: ok T:20.2 /0.0 B:22.5 /0.0 T0:20.2 /0.0 T1:22.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0
RECEIVED: Error:0
RECEIVED: : Extruder switched off. MINTEMP triggered !
RECEIVED: Error:Printer stopped due to errors. Fix the error and use M999 to restart. (Temperature is reset. Set it after restarting)
SENT: M105
RECEIVED: ok T:2.7 /0.0 B:4.8 /0.0 T0:2.7 /0.0 T1:5.0 /0.0 @:0 B@:0
SENT: M105
RECEIVED: ok T:2.6 /0.0 B:5.0 /0.0 T0:2.6 /0.0 T1:5.0 /0.0 @:0 B@:0
SENT: M105
RECEIVED: ok T:2.7 /0.0 B:4.8 /0.0 T0:2.7 /0.0 T1:4.9 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

The line in green shows the initial temperature readings which are correct, and the line in red and subsequent readings are incorrect. Even the bed temperature is wrong.

I've tested and retested all thermistors and wiring and all are good. I've swapped back to the old single extruder and everything is fine. Each individual extruder/thermistor from the new kit works fine as a single. I've used a multimeter to check all cables and both new thermistors and all are good. I've removed all startup and finish G-code from S3D, and I've configured S3D to use two extruders with two thermistors.

I've been using the firmware for the dual extruders from the Wiki page.

HELP!!!!

brettb wrote:I'd reported the exact same issue viewtopic.php?f=13&t=755&start=90#p4452. It looks like we've both done the same trouble shooting, let me know if you resolve the issue.

After a few hours of debugging, I found that the problem is related to how 1/16th microstepping is enabled in this firmware. It is very different that the earlier firmware. If you disable the call to microstep_init() on line 748 of stepper.cpp the thermistor problem goes away. But, of course, then microstepping goes away too! I ran out of time to do further investigation, but now I'm certain that the way Rambo microstepping is implemented in this firmware is the culprit.

Why this is only affecting some of us is another mystery...

As per Rick's request I will submit this via support email when I get a chance later today.

The reason it's only affecting some of us is not a mystery: We have a RAMBo version that was only around for a brief period. When MakerGear switched to 24V, they switched to a more recent RAMBo with 24V support (i.e., the fuse, not the circuit breaker) and the 16-microstep motor controllers.

It's rather weird that the microstepping has an effect on the thermistors, though. From what I read about the motor controller chips, the old 8-microstep motor controllers and the new 16-microstep motor controllers are exactly the same other than one taking a step value from 0 to 7 and the other from 0 to 15 (done through serial communication with the motor controller chip).

What I do know about it already is that somewhere in the firmware source code is a definition of stepper sizes that looks like:

{16,16,16,16,16}

and that, for our RAMBo versions, needs to be changed to

{8,8,8,8,8}

But that shouldn't have any effect upon the thermistor readings!

Tim, it's more confusing than that - the stepper motor drivers don't receive serial commands from the Atmega2560, they just received high/low signals. It's a combination of high/low signals that sets the microstepping mode (the same thing can be done with jumpers, as on the RAMPS board with Pololu stepper motor driver breakout boards, for the same stepper motor driver chip). The confusing thing is that, electrically, the signal for x8 or x16 microstepping is the same - all HIGH, IIRC. The difference is just that one specific chip part number uses that as x8, and the other as x16 (the latter does not have a x8 microstepping mode because of this).

Q*bert and brett - what specific RAMBo revisions do you two have? And did you change the firmware at all before uploading (the steps/mm for instance)? And/or, have you changed anything in EEPROM on your old firmware?

I have the Rambo 1.2d, this was the same board that had the issue with static electricity when running off of a laptop.