ddPrint - Adding Process control to FDM printers

Wed Jan 26 18:38:29 CET 2022

• Github: merged next branch into master.
• Setup page with some notes about ddPrint on a Anycubic I3 Mega (S): http://ibrieger.de/ddprint-anycubic-i3.html
• Uploaded new sensor housing stl's, reworked stl naming scheme (https://github.com/ErwinRieger/ddprint/tree/master/stl).
• Added simple install script (ddinstall.sh) and a script for firmware flashing (dd-fw-upload.sh).
• Added firmware blobs (firmware/build*/*.hex)
• Include ProtoThreads library (github.com/benhoyt/protothreads-cpp.git) into ddPrint repository for easier firmware build.

Mon Jan 17 17:45:47 CET 2022

Committed the following changes into the next branch on github:

• Python3 port of ddPrint:

  • Converting python files with 2to3 script.
  • Fix integer divisions.
  • Use bytes() and bytearray() instead of strings for binary data.
  • Converted scripts and 'ddtool' utility to use python3.

• Ported ddPrint to Anycubic I3M printer:
  

  • Pin changes for anycubic i3m.
  • Add support for ATC Semitec 104GT thermocouple.
  • Rework temperature measurement: allow different thermocouple types for heated bed and hotend.
  • Homing: add support for additional Z1 stepper motor and endstop.
  • Homing: implement dual-z homing.
  • Adjust getendstops command for the additional Z-endstop.
  • Control mainboard cooling fan (anycubic i3m).
  • Changed initial baudrate to 500 kbaud, 1 Mbaud is to fast for Anycubic i3m.
  • Auto-baudrate: added new printer profile setting 'baudRateLimit' for the Anycubic i3m (it does not work with 1 Mbaud baudrate).
  • Rework and cleanup ddPrint scripts: Added workaround for a problem with the linux cp210x driver used for the Anycubic i3m (CP2102 usb-serial chip): avoid reset of printer on device-open (cp210x seems to toggle DTR line even if '-hupcl' is used).

• Other changes:

  • Environment: renamed env. var $DDDEVICE to $DDPRINTDEV.
  • Firmware build: Set ARDUINO_PORT from DDPRINTDEV environment var.
  • Added new command "continuosmove" for testing, allow simple movements of the printer (without homing) for debugging/initial setup. Note: no acceleration and no endstop-check - dangerous.
  • Removed unused baudrate commandline switch.
  • Cleanup handling of printer-device ($DDPRINTENV).
  • Firmware: moved pins include files into its own folder.
  • Improved plot_mat_profile.py scipt: use python-argparse, display more information.

Sat Jan  1 10:45:26 CET 2022
   
Merged next into master, biggest change: ported ddPrint to use python3.

Thu Dec 30 14:53:31 CET 2021

• Merged python3 port into next branch.
• Restructured project, moved test gcode files into it's own repository: https://github.com/ErwinRieger/ddprint-test-gcode.
• Build: cleanup Makefiles, added license and moved firmware Makefiles into its own folder. Moved common makefile stuff into makefile-include files.

Documentation:

• Describe material profiles in more detail.
• Describe automatic material profile measurement, determine *into-air* and *printing* volumetric flowrate data.
• Update section about temperature-limiter.
• Update section about flowrate-limiter.
• Added more pictures and data plots.

Code fixes:

• Auto-temp: fix "workingpoint" commandline parameter, it worked the wrong way.
• Preload: test another way to compute amout of data to pre-download to the printer, simply count small moves.
• Some cleanup.

Did some project updates on github.com:ErwinRieger/ddprint:

* Some smaller code fixes and code cleanup.
* plot_mat_profile script: cleanup and improved display
    of material profiles.
* Documentation update (README):
    + Update section about auto-temp feature.
    + Added information in flowratesensor section.
    + Added flowratesensor details section.
    + Added information in material profile section, added some example plots.
    + Added example plots of material profiles.
    + Added more images.

Added explanatory asciinema screencasts for the following ddPrint commands:

* ddprint getstatus (shortform: ddprint stat), https://ibrieger.de/ddprint-3d-printer-firmware.html#getstatus
* ddprint top, https://ibrieger.de/ddprint-3d-printer-firmware.html#top
* ddprint mon, https://ibrieger.de/ddprint-3d-printer-firmware.html#mon

Drafted a page with some notes about installing ddPrint on an

Ender5 (pro): ibrieger.de/ddprint-ender-5.html.

Merged *next branch* into master with the following changes:

Porting ddprint to Ender5 (pro):

  * Changes for the Creality melzi board (atmega1284p based).
  * Added thermistor table for epcos 100k ntc.
  * Declared IO-pins in firmware/pins_ender3.h
  * Rework homing:
    + use feedrate and direction for homing from printerprofile.
    + Move away from nozzle after z is homed (for printers that
      home at z=0. This is to avoid scratching over the bed when
      homing X and Y.
    + Homing: added "4 point mode" for ender.
  * Added new script *thermistor_table.py* to generate thermistor
    tables (c-code).

Other changes:

  * Host: rework *getstatus* and *mon* commands.
  * Host: filament profile measurement:
    + measure2: increase printing speed with fixed
      temperature while monitoring feeder grip.
    + measure2: changes to reduce heating effect of
      heated bed, start measurement on fifth layer.
    + specify minimum grip value on commandline (instead of
      hardcoded value).
    + write measured material profile to ./mat-profile2.add.
  * Host, *removefilament* command: changed feeding
    sequence to avoid filament plug.
  * Host, Experimental: added *reconnect* command.
    To reconnect to a running printer, works after
    download is complete, but not if disconnected
    while downloading stepper data.
  * Host: Added *ddprint version* command.

  * Firmware: cleanup flowrate measurement,
    measure short moves, too.
  * Firmware: added CmdGetVersion command.
  * Firmware, Makefile: new target *make gitversion.cpp*
  * Firmware: set printer state to idle if steppers are
    disabled (cmd *disablesteppers*).
  * Firmware: Update to SdFat-1.1.4 library (USE_SD_CRC enabled).
  * Firmware: Rework mass storage erase: new commands CmdGetCardSize
    and CmdErase. Call erase before printing.
  * Firmware: Sd card init: retry up to 5 times.

  * Many smaller fixes/improvements

* Rotated design to shorten filament path between
  feeder gear wheel and rotary encoder for better response.
* Made it i bit more compact.

STL files are here: github.com/ErwinRieger/ddprint/tree/master/stl