Macboy

Update. So somehow it just automagically worked. The test models seem to have dropped where they needed to be from the SD card print. So maybe you can help me fine tune things? The X and Y min and max values are arbitrarily set at the moment, how do I get those dialled in? I mean I understand the measurements but am not 100% sure if the "distance from nozzle to edge of printhead" means the heater block or the entire assembly including fans, shrouds etc. Also the bed settings vs the actual physical bed area is not accurate. The distance, binder clip to binder clip in the Y is actually 130mm and the width, edge to limit switch is actually 215mm (not a lot to gain there). If we can get the settings where they need to be so we're squeezing every mm out of that tiny print bed then maybe I can ask you to help me reflash to a more current version of Marlin?

I had the machine apart to check what board it was using etc as I had given some thought to reflashing with the most current version of Marlin (it's running Marlin currently but I don't know what version). The machine is circa 2018 so I'm betting Marlin is about the same vintage. I still would like to reflash it but was reluctant because I don't really know the finer points of doing so and don't want to brick someone else's machine. It's running a Mega 2560 with a typical reprap smart controller screen. I loaded the code you provided above to an SD card and when I run the file it homes all axis (back right), lowers the Z (it's a stationary gantry printer), moves to 0,0 (front left), then moves to back left and then stops. The LCD readout actually says X2, Y110, Z10. If you see below my bed size info was wrong but I updated it in the gcode before saving to the SD card (x=200, not 220). I'll try to setup the machine again in Cura and report back what I find. I'm also going to setup a simple little 10X10X.5mm block model that I can place in each of the four corners and the bed middle so I can try to get a sense for where it's printing and if it's off, off by how much and in what direction. The original provider did have some documentation but it was very limited. It shipped with Slic3r a config file and instructions to "ensure the bed size is set to 200 X 110mm". When I load that .ini into Slic3r it is pretty limited in terms of info but I can certainly carry those settings into Cura (screenshots attached). I also found some test files the original provider supplied - those are attached also. 4D6_low_poly_elephant.gcode 4D6_machina_calibration_pacman.gcode

Thanks for the help and my apologies for the delay. Haven't had time to get to the machine until now. You are correct on all fronts above. That gcode did exactly as you said it should. I sent the commands one at a time through the Cura Monitor. So if Cura can control it, how do I set up the printer properly without "tricking it" by using a square bed and just setting the models on the front half of it?

That’s the other oddity (for my experience) with this printer. It homes to the back right. After homing if I go to move an axis on the LCD the values are all +220 / +110. I cannot exceed those values so they must be flashed to the board? I can however dial down those values which the moves the axis either to the left or forward, whichever the case may be.

Hello there and my apologies if this question is in the wrong place - wasn’t sure where to ask it. I’m a long time Cura user and have had little issue with it but I’m stumped on this one. I’m trying to set up an older non-mainstream printer for a local high school who is willing to switch over to Cura from Repetier. Trouble is I can’t get it set up for some reason. It’s got a small rectangular bed (110 x 220) but when I set it up as such it only prints on the back half of the bed. Like it’s thinking it’s the front half of a 200x200 bed. As a workaround I have been using a 200x200 bed but placing the models only on the front half of the virtual build plate. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.