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most recent firmware for M2 19V/12V (April 2013)

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 5:58 pm
by uli96
Hi,

I just replaced my hotend with this one http://www.ebay.de/itm/MG-Plus-Hot-End- ... 1232383689

Now I need to change PID firmware settings and for that I downloaded the "latest" firmware from here: http://makergear.wikidot.com/m2-firmware

I chose the "M2Marlin.zip" because my M2 was shipped in April-2013.

I changed the PID settings and compiled + uploaded the new firmware but the machine is not running as before. When I manually trigger the filiament feed its running slower, Z-Axis sounds like something isn't right (much more vibrations).

Also at the beginning the printhead is supposed to move off the bed and clean the nozzle, since I uploaded the new firmware the machine just starts printing...

Did I miss something? Do I have to change additional settings to make it run as before?

Uli

Re: most recent firmware for M2 19V/12V (April 2013)

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 6:46 pm
by Tim
If something sounds wrong with the Z-axis, it is most likely the Z stepper micro-stepping. The original M2 had 1/8 steps, and the newer one 1/16 steps. Unfortunately, I can't tell you when they changed. But my gut feeling is that you have the firmware with the 1/16 microstepping, but you need to change it back to 1/8. Or vice versa. In your firmware file "Configuration_adv.h", what do you have for MICROSTEP_MODES? I have a late 2012-vintage M2 with the 1/8 microstepping Z motor, and my configuration is:

Code: Select all

#define MICROSTEP_MODES {8,8,8,8,8} // [1,2,4,8,16]
The newer M2s with the 1/16 microstepping Z motor has all 16s instead of 8s on that line.

Re: most recent firmware for M2 19V/12V (April 2013)

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 7:24 pm
by uli96
Hi Tim,

only thing I see in Configuration.h is:

// Microstep setting (Only functional when microstep pins are connected to MCU
#define MICROSTEP16 // MICROSTEP16

I did a grep search for MICROSTEP_MODES and nothing turned up.

I just tried another print and everything is half the supposed size so yes it seems something is wrong with the microstepping but where do I change that. I also did a grep search for MICROSTEP in order to find for example MICROSTEP8 but no avail., only MICROSTEP16 turns up in Stepper.cpp

Not sure what to do now, is there a different repository for Makergear M2 Marlin software?

In the Wiki they say the stepping changed for all printers shipped after 02/08/2013 to 1/16 microstepping ...

Uli

Re: most recent firmware for M2 19V/12V (April 2013)

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 8:14 pm
by Tim
Looking at all the different firmware flavors I have collected, yours sounds like the original stock firmware. When I look at the configuration headers, I see what you're seeing.

One solution is to track down what to do about the microstepping in the original code. But at a quick glance, it looks like the 16-step microstepper is hard-coded in. The other solution is to use Ketil's firmware, which is what I have running on my M2 (with the 8-step stepper and the split power supply), and it works great.

I put a link to a forum discussion of Ketil's firmware version in my thread "firmware upgrades", but I'll repeat it for your benefit here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=106&start=10#p2304

Re: most recent firmware for M2 19V/12V (April 2013)

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 8:15 pm
by Dale Reed
Uli,

Be sure you also check Configuration_adv.h. Whenever I look for stuff like this in the firmware, I always check Configuration.h and Configuration_adv.h -- I usually guess wrong on which one it's in about 80% of the time.

Dale

Re: most recent firmware for M2 19V/12V (April 2013)

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 8:20 pm
by Tim
Dale,

Part of the problem is that between the version used for the original M2s and the current version of Marlin, a large number of settings were changed and a number of them were moved between header files. The stepper microstep size was one of those. . .

Re: most recent firmware for M2 19V/12V (April 2013)

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 8:27 pm
by Dale Reed
Thanks, Tim. Yeah, I'm at work, not at my PC at home that I use for printing, firmware, etc., so I don't have access to the files I've downloaded to see what's where. I just noticed that you advised checking Configuration_adv.h, and Uli mentioned checking Configuration.h. Wanted to make sure Uli checked the other file. Always good to check BOTH to see exactly what you have.
Dale

Re: most recent firmware for M2 19V/12V (April 2013)

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 9:21 pm
by uli96
Hi,

problem found, downloaded Ketil's firmware, but still the problem was the same.

What the heck, then I though maybe I have already a 1/16 Microstep Board even when I got my M2 in April 2013.

Configured the 1/16 Microstep setup and now it works, Z-Axis still sounds a little odd but thats just some tweaking of current values I guess...

So the shipped my M2 already with the new board!

Thanks for your help

Uli

Re: most recent firmware for M2 19V/12V (April 2013)

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 9:37 pm
by Tim
Now that you mention it, I remember that the difference between the 8 microsteps and 16 microsteps was in the motor drivers on the RAMBo, not on the motors themselves. So I think part of the problem here is that the firmware just defines hardware motherboard number 301 for the "RAMBo", which is kind of problematic, because the difference between board versions is significant from the point of view of the firmware. At any rate, it sounds like you now have consistency between your firmware settings and what you get out of the prints.

Re: most recent firmware for M2 19V/12V (April 2013)

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 9:57 pm
by jsc
I would reread the text on the firmware page and determine which of the files is the one you should be using. M2Marlin.zip is for pre-February 2013, so is probably not the one you should be using.