Connection problems with cura

[calad 0]

Hi. I built my first 3d printer but I cant communicate with it.

Printer is prusa i3, my computer is windows 7 and my hardware is arduino mega 2560. Cable is USB if it matters.

When I connect printer to my computer it comes to life (all lights are blinking and motors move on spot a bit) but when I try to print cura says detecting baud rate and nothing happens.

I dont know what is problem here and Im unable to find any help by googling it. I appreciate all replys here.

 

[gr5 2,167]

You need Marlin firmware if you will be using Cura. Baud rate should be 250000 or 115200 although I would expect 115200 to be more reliable. There are many ways to build your own custom Marlin. One of the methods is to use this Marlin builder:

http://marlinbuilder.robotfuzz.com/

 

 

[calad 0]

Thank. Now so process.

 

[calad 0]

Hi again. Im having problems and I try to be as clear as possible.

This is how I think I should make 3d-printer work, please correct me if I make mistake.

1. Install arduino driver (mega 2540)

2. Install arduino software

3. Upload marlin firmware from here: https://github.com/ErikZalm/Marlin

4. Install cura

and thats it. Is it really this easy or Im missing something?

I also read that Pronterface is another program and good way to test if printer works but I guess I wont get much support for it on this forum.

 

[gr5 2,167]

Yes you are correct but I don't know if you actually need any arduino driver. I think any needed driver is built into the operating system (usb in serial mode).

 

Upload marlin firmware from here: https://github.com/ErikZalm/Marlin

 

You will have to do extensive editing to Configuration.h. This file sets things like how many steps/mm each of your 4 servos is, also what type of temperature reading devices do you have for the print head. Plus many other options. That's why I recommended using the marlin builder which helps you through this process - if nothing else you can use the marlin builder just to get a starting Configuration.h file:

http://marlinbuilder.robotfuzz.com/

The above site has a very recent version of "Erik Zalm" Marlin that has been tested out. I don't think it has the absolute latest version (which has microstepping - not sure if that's useful anyway). Anyway, if you want the 100% latest bleeding edge edits committed today you can just use the above link to get your Configuration.h file.

 

[calad 0]

Hi man and thanks for fast answer.

Correct, I dont need any arduino driver because computer automaticly recognize it. However I had to put it on list for sake of beign clear.

Today I wont build anymore, maybe not tomorrow as well, but what is actually difference of mendel90 and mendel max? Fast google photo research didnt reveal anything to me. So does prusa i3 belong to mendel90 or mendelmax category?

And does marlinbuilder build whole program or do I need to import/export further any files? I understood it only does Configuration.h file.

And last one for today. Does it use imperial or metric system? I assume metric and so did nasa and said bye bye to their mars satellite.

 

[gr5 2,167]

Try it! It takes only a few seconds. Marlin builder gives you several files including Configuration.h and also a hex file. This hex file can be uploaded onto the Arduino using Cura (expert menu) or pronterface or whatever you want. But save the hex file so you can refer to it months later when you forget what you did.

The units are explained on the right - hover over the "?".

I don't know if anyone has tested out the mendel90 or mendel max settings. Sorry - it's pretty new. You should ask someone who has built Prusa before to send you their configuration.h file and do a difference on it versus the one generated by the marlin builder using winmerge (free download).

 

[calad 0]

Hi. I updated cura to 13.10 and now got an error log. Can you understand what could be my problem? Setting on device manager are same as in cura.

 

Changing monitoring state from 'Offline' to 'Detecting serial port'

Serial port list: [u'COM4']

Connecting to: COM4

Connected to: Serial<id=0x463af50, open=True>(port='COM4', baudrate=115200, bytesize=8, parity='N', stopbits=1, timeout=5, xonxoff=False, rtscts=False, dsrdtr=False), starting monitor

Changing monitoring state from 'Detecting serial port' to 'Detecting baudrate'

Recv: ?NP|HN?6Ba8f6Hj?JON6?Ha?H?H?Ka><yL}HkmJM^&^?ha?H?8?JsC?^??J@?m?w??%i?g

Recv: &?}CkmBOVwDV?|??HH6F?J?JL??L?K?????Z?*':&(^7l

Recv:

Recv: J?Z??I??I??J?z?X?:&?^h?$P|?%?%?%H%?x??k

Recv: ??kIJO.?+^>8?J?j?aHJ?aHJP<@_!?&??MM6CL

Recv: IM^kJ?vCL

Recv: I?X/+h??&('?H

Recv: I?&HN^l

Recv: I?&8^l*x?J?zb?Jj?J?J?jK??

Recv: '*?MaH$P|4

Recv: ?I?*>?

Recv: g

Recv:

Recv: o?f?

Recv: H??J?a?-?

Recv: ?N?8O}?6?+N-.oh?o~NN??~Cx?^HfCNVCa?-hH7fI`~a~?H7oBO6H?a7&6??

Trying baudrate: 250000

Send: M105

Recv: echo:Unknown command: ""

Recv: ok

Recv: ok T:454.8 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.8 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 1

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.8 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.8 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 2

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.8 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.8 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 3

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.8 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.8 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 4

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.8 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.8 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 5

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.8 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.8 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 6

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.8 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.8 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 7

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.8 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.8 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 8

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.8 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.8 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 9

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.8 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.8 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Send: M999

Changing monitoring state from 'Detecting baudrate' to 'Operational'

Recv: Resend: 1

Recv: -?kK?Error:0

Recv: : Extruder switched off. MAXTEMP triggered !

Recv: Error:Printer stopped due to errors. Fix the error and use M999 to restart. (Temperature is reset. Set it after restarting)

Changing monitoring state from 'Operational' to 'Error: Printer stopped due ...'

[Daid 306]

Recv: : Extruder switched off. MAXTEMP triggered !

Recv: Error:Printer stopped due to errors.

You have a temperature sensor problem. At which point Cura will refuse to do anything with the printer as this is a critical fault.

 

[gr5 2,167]

I've been getting MAXTEMP. It's a pain. For me it means a loose connection in the wiring. It tends to happen when the head is in a far corner. Whenever I get it I power cycle my UM and it's fine again. Some day it will mess up a print and when that happens I will probably completely replace the wiring for the temperature sensor. I can wiggle the wiring and get it to happen so I think I know roughly where the problem is (near the head).

I recommend you unplug and plug back in the 3 wire cable on the top of the print head for the temp sensor. Then watch the temperature and see if it fails by moving the wires slightly. Make sure your cable goes through the black strain relief. If you keep getting these errors, switch to the unused cable but make sure you switch the other end underneath the UM also.

 

[calad 0]

Hi. Thanks for support. First I measured sensor and got over 100 ohm so its fine. After that I tryed to connect ang got this error log, it doesnt mention MAXTEMP so perhabs I have other problems as well?

 

 

Changing monitoring state from 'Offline' to 'Detecting serial port'

Serial port list: [u'COM4']

Connecting to: COM4

Connected to: Serial<id=0x453afd0, open=True>(port='COM4', baudrate=115200, bytesize=8, parity='N', stopbits=1, timeout=5, xonxoff=False, rtscts=False, dsrdtr=False), starting monitor

Changing monitoring state from 'Detecting serial port' to 'Detecting baudrate'

Recv: ?n|n?V!8&VHjF?JPO.v?Ha?H?H?KA~|YL=H+MJmF?H!?H?x?

Recv: 3?^??

Recv: @V?m?7??%i?'

Recv: f?=+Mo7d?P|??HsH6?J?JL?K?L?K?????Z?

Recv: g:&ho^wL

Recv: *'J?Z??I??I??J?Z?x?:f?+^>H?$P<?%?%?%h%?8??^^J??+^^I

Recv: OX?kX?J?J?!HJ?aHJp|@_a?fF??

/M6l* $

^

Recv: ?6

Recv: I?Xokh^C??f?* ?&(^L* ?&8n^L*8?J?zb?Jj?J?HJ?jK??*'

Recv: ?M!H$P<4

Recv: ?I?*>?

Recv: JVjo?f?J??J?aO-?*?N?8O}?6?+N-.oh?/~NN^??~Cx?^HfCNVCa?-HH&I

Changing monitoring state from 'Offline' to 'Detecting serial port'

Serial port list: [u'COM4']

Connecting to: COM4

Connected to: Serial<id=0x4990710, open=True>(port='COM4', baudrate=115200, bytesize=8, parity='N', stopbits=1, timeout=5, xonxoff=False, rtscts=False, dsrdtr=False), starting monitor

Changing monitoring state from 'Detecting serial port' to 'Detecting baudrate'

Recv: ?n|n?!8&Hjf?JpOn6?ha?H?H?k!>|9L=H+MJm?Ha?H?x?J?^??

Recv: @V?M?7??%I?

Recv: f?}mBo7D6?p|??H3H6F?J?

Recv: L?K?L?K?????Z?

Recv: g:&H/^wL*

Recv: 'J?Z??I??I??

Recv: ?z?x?:f?+^^H?$P<4?%?%?%%?8??^^J??^^I

Recv: OX?kX?J?j?aHJ?aHJ|

 

After first attemp I tryed to connect again and this time got same MAXTEMP error as in older post:

 

Changing monitoring state from 'Offline' to 'Detecting serial port'

Serial port list: [u'COM4']

Connecting to: COM4

Connected to: Serial<id=0x4990390, open=True>(port='COM4', baudrate=115200, bytesize=8, parity='N', stopbits=1, timeout=5, xonxoff=False, rtscts=False, dsrdtr=False), starting monitor

Changing monitoring state from 'Detecting serial port' to 'Detecting baudrate'

Recv: ?NP|HN?6Ba8&6Hj?JON6?H!?H?H?Ka><yL}HkmJM>&^?ha?H?8?JsC?^??J@?m?w??%i?g

Recv: &?}CkmBoVwDV?|??HH6F?J?JL??L?K?????Z?

Recv: ':&h^7l

Recv:

Recv: gJ?Z??I??I??J?z?X?:&?kh?$p|?%?%?%H%?x??+^

Recv: ??k JO.X?+^>x?J?j?aHJ?AHJP|@_a?&??MoMvCL

Recv: IM^kJ?vL

Recv: I?6X/+h?4?&H?H

Recv: I?&HN~

Recv: I?&8N~l

Recv: x?

Recv: ?zb?

Recv: j?J?J?(jK??

Recv:

Recv: ?-ah$p|

Recv: ?I?j>?*g

Recv: Jo6??JH??J?a?(-?

Recv: ?N?8O]?v?Nmn/h?/~CFNN^??^8?^H&NNa?-HHw& @^!~?HoO6Ha&V??

Trying baudrate: 250000

Send: M105

Recv: echo:Unknown command: ""

Recv: ok

Recv: ok T:454.7 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 1

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.7 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 2

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.7 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 3

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.7 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 4

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.7 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 5

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.7 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 6

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.7 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 7

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.7 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 8

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.7 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 9

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.7 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Send: M999

Changing monitoring state from 'Detecting baudrate' to 'Operational'

Recv: Resend: 1

Recv: o?kK?Error:0

Recv: : Extruder switched off. MAXTEMP triggered !

Recv: Error:Printer stopped due to errors. Fix the error and use M999 to restart. (Temperature is reset. Set it after restarting)

Changing monitoring state from 'Operational' to 'Error: Printer stopped due ...'

 

However then I removed sensor pin from arduino just for fun and experience and got same error again:

 

Changing monitoring state from 'Offline' to 'Detecting serial port'

Serial port list: [u'COM4']

Connecting to: COM4

Connected to: Serial<id=0x4990390, open=True>(port='COM4', baudrate=115200, bytesize=8, parity='N', stopbits=1, timeout=5, xonxoff=False, rtscts=False, dsrdtr=False), starting monitor

Changing monitoring state from 'Detecting serial port' to 'Detecting baudrate'

Recv: ?NP|HN?6Ba8&6Hj?JON6?H!?H?H?Ka><yL}HkmJM>&^?ha?H?8?JsC?^??J@?m?w??%i?g

Recv: &?}CkmBoVwDV?|??HH6F?J?JL??L?K?????Z?

Recv: ':&h^7l

Recv:

Recv: gJ?Z??I??I??J?z?X?:&?kh?$p|?%?%?%H%?x??+^

Recv: ??k JO.X?+^>x?J?j?aHJ?AHJP|@_a?&??MoMvCL

Recv: IM^kJ?vL

Recv: I?6X/+h?4?&H?H

Recv: I?&HN~

Recv: I?&8N~l

Recv: x?

Recv: ?zb?

Recv: j?J?J?(jK??

Recv:

Recv: ?-ah$p|

Recv: ?I?j>?*g

Recv: Jo6??JH??J?a?(-?

Recv: ?N?8O]?v?Nmn/h?/~CFNN^??^8?^H&NNa?-HHw& @^!~?HoO6Ha&V??

Trying baudrate: 250000

Send: M105

Recv: echo:Unknown command: ""

Recv: ok

Recv: ok T:454.7 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 1

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.7 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 2

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.7 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 3

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.7 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 4

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.7 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 5

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.7 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 6

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.7 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 7

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.7 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 8

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.7 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Baudrate test ok: 9

Send: M105

Recv: ok T:454.7 /0.0 B:0.0 /0.0 T0:454.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0

Send: M999

Changing monitoring state from 'Detecting baudrate' to 'Operational'

Recv: Resend: 1

Recv: o?kK?Error:0

Recv: : Extruder switched off. MAXTEMP triggered !

Recv: Error:Printer stopped due to errors. Fix the error and use M999 to restart. (Temperature is reset. Set it after restarting)

Changing monitoring state from 'Operational' to 'Error: Printer stopped due ...'

 

So definetly I have problem with sensor pin. Riiight???

I will post more later if new errors pop out.

 

[gr5 2,167]

You are getting maxtemp. That means you have problem with the temperature sensor (thermocouple) system.

 

[Daid 306]

He does not have a termocouple, he has a RepRap i3 machine, not an Ultimaker, which uses a different temperature measurement system.

You would be better off diagnosing the problem at the RepRap forum, or on the RepRap IRC channel, as the problem is unrelated to Cura.

 

[calad 0]

Hm. I see. Today I checked my thermistor;

1. 100k ohm, ok

2. thermistor ins connected. ok

3. extruder pins, ok

sometimes I do get this

Changing monitoring state from 'Offline' to 'Detecting serial port'

Serial port list: [u'COM4']

Connecting to: COM4

Connected to: Serial<id=0x44bad90, open=True>(port='COM4', baudrate=115200, bytesize=8, parity='N', stopbits=1, timeout=5, xonxoff=False, rtscts=False, dsrdtr=False), starting monitor

Changing monitoring state from 'Detecting serial port' to 'Detecting baudrate'

Recv: ?NP|HN?6Ba8&6Hj?JOn6?H!?H?H?Ka><yL}HmJM>^?Ha?H?8?Js?~??J@?-?w??%)?g

Recv: &?}CkmBO6DV?p|??H3H6F?J?

Recv: L?K?L??????Z?*':&(/^7L*

Recv: '

Recv: ?Z??I??I??

Recv: ?z?x?:f?^^H?$P<4?%?%?%%?x??^J??^^I

Recv: O?kX?J?j?aHJ?aHJ|

or this

Changing monitoring state from 'Offline' to 'Detecting serial port'

Serial port list: [u'COM4']

Connecting to: COM4

Connected to: Serial<id=0x44eaef0, open=True>(port='COM4', baudrate=115200, bytesize=8, parity='N', stopbits=1, timeout=5, xonxoff=False, rtscts=False, dsrdtr=False), starting monitor

Changing monitoring state from 'Detecting serial port' to 'Detecting baudrate'

Recv: ?np|hn?Vba8fVH*F?JP.v?Ha?H?H?Ka>|yL]kmj-^&~?Ha?H?x?J3?^??J

and sometimes same old maxtemp. Maybe there is something wrong in my firmware?

 

[gr5 2,167]

Those garbled receive messages look fine to me (but I don't really know). To detect baudrate I assume you just try a bunch of different ones until it starts working so I am guessing that's normal.

MAXTEMP however is more serious. It usually means an intermittent connection to the thermocouple in the print head and nothing works once I get that until I power cycle the ultimaker.

 

[calad 0]

Hi again. This simply should not be this difficult so I suspect my hardware is damaged, alien type or broken. There are some factors that doesnt make any sense, like why do I get MAXTEMP when sensor is not connected. I also installed pronterface but I cant connect even with it and it is the most basic program.

What do you think?

 

[illuminarti 18]

The gibberish that you get is because Cura is trying to communicate at the wrong speed - 115200 baud. When it starts being readable, it's using 250000 baud - which is what the firmware is set to. So use the Cura -> Machine settings to manually set 250000 as the baud rate, and then that part won't happen any more.

If you're convinced that your temperature hardware is ok, then it's probably that you have mis-configured the firmware, so that it's expecting a different sort of temperature sensor, or for it to be connected to different pins. As a result the firmware gets a temperature reading that seems off scale. The lines starting with T before it shuts down are the temperature system reporting a temperature of 454 degrees. That's way too hot, so it shuts down for safety.

Double check how you have configured the firmware, especially the type of motherboard, and type of temp sensor for the first extruder.

 

[gr5 2,167]

like why do I get MAXTEMP when sensor is not connected

 

That's as expected. The voltage is just floating and when floating you can end up getting *any* random voltage. Although my arduino tends to read around 5 volts (and yours is reading 4.54 volts so this agrees with my experience).

There is a small circuit board on the print head that converts the temperature at the thermocouple into voltage where 0 volts is 0 degrees C and 5 volts is 500 degrees C. The Arduino reads 4.54 V which means 454C so it reports MAXTEMP. I get this error if I simply push on the cable on top of my print head hard enough.

 

[calad 0]

Hi.

Thanks for all help. Now my printer works with cura. Not perfectly but I can deal with that now.

 

[tomos 0]

i also have reprap printer, and i would like to print using cura. I would probably need Cura, Marlin, and Arduino, well that is not the problem..i dont know how to use all these togheder and how to upload firmware..

Great regards

blaz

[febozza 0]

Good morning, I set up a large size 3d printer.

I'm using osx

Board rumba

Recent marlin

I installed the marlin on the board, set the parameters of the machine

But when I connect the host he he does not respond to the error message

Not connected.

what's the problem? And in some connection in the configuration.h code?