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Z Axis - Marlin "Baby Stepping"

Discussion in 'Mods and Upgrades' started by Ziggy, Jul 1, 2014.

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  1. SteveC

    SteveC Well-Known Member

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    Robert, does the garbled LCD ever happen with the USB port is not plugged in? Try it.
     
    #21 SteveC, Dec 11, 2014
  2. Robert Choban

    Robert Choban Active Member

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    I will give that a try and let you know what happens.
     
    #22 Robert Choban, Dec 12, 2014
  3. Robert Choban

    Robert Choban Active Member

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    Ziggy, when you are printing do you print from the XXL controller and at the same time do you have you computer hooked up to the printer.

    I'm trying to determine why my XXL controller will work for a short period of time and then start displaying garbage on the screen. SteveC suggested that I disconnect my computer USB connection and see if the controller starts showing garbage after a short time. I will do this, but was wondering if anyone else out on the forum is having the same problem with the XXL controller, and if they have there computer connected to the printer. Lately I have been starting my prints from the computer, it's just easier than having to download the print to an SD card and them move the SD card from the computer to the XXL controller. I have unplugged and plugged the XXL back in a few times but the problem still happens.
     
    #23 Robert Choban, Dec 12, 2014
  4. Paul Yeh

    Paul Yeh Active Member

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    I had the XXL LCD display issue once in a while as well and I was printed with SD without the USB connection. Don't know what the problem was.
     
    #24 Paul Yeh, Dec 12, 2014
  5. Ziggy

    Ziggy Moderator
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    I print from the LCD but usually have the PC connected (via Repetier) at least for the start of the print. Often I just disconnect the PC part way through the print.

    Never had the LCD scramble at all.
     
    #25 Ziggy, Dec 13, 2014
  6. Galaxius

    Galaxius Well-Known Member

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    FYI, Ziggy and I have the Full Graphic LCD as opposed to the XXL LCD.
     
    #26 Galaxius, Dec 13, 2014
  7. Ziggy

    Ziggy Moderator
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    And that could be an important difference. Because the firmware for the XXL LCD is different. It's possible there is a bug in the XXL LCD coding.
     
    #27 Ziggy, Dec 13, 2014
  8. SteveC

    SteveC Well-Known Member

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    Just another datapoint - my XXL has never glitched. No problem with the original cable length or with the 26" or so I have on it now.

    I did manage to glitch it when I was careless with an oscilloscope probe on the serial port pins thougho_O.
     
    #28 SteveC, Dec 13, 2014
  9. Robert Choban

    Robert Choban Active Member

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    Are all your LCD's enclosed in a case. I printed a case for mine from thingsaverse, not sure if that could be a problem. I did use the round spacers in the box I printed.

    Could there be interference from the cable being too close to the Ramps card. I have the controller laying in front of the Robo (I have not mounted it yet). The cable runs under the controller, I have the enclosed bottom and cut a slot in the front of the bottom so the cable has a place to go, so I can't see exactly how it lays down by the ramps card.

    Paul what software are you using and are you still having problems with your XXL.

    Ziggy, who would I contact about the firmware for the XXL LCD. Not sure how I would checkout a error in the software?
     
    #29 Robert Choban, Dec 14, 2014
  10. Ziggy

    Ziggy Moderator
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    I think it is very unlikely there is a bug in Marlin causing the garbled LCD. This firmware has been stable for a long time. Your problem is far more likely to be a hardware issue with an intermittent connection between the Ramps/LCD or between the Arduino/LCD.

    The problem is not likely to be noise/interference on the LCD cable either. The reason is the LCD screen is completely updated every few seconds by the firmware. So any garbling would be "repaired" if you just moved the cables around to avoid any temporary interference/noise.
     
    #30 Ziggy, Dec 17, 2014
  11. Jeff Mercado

    Jeff Mercado Member

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    Am I missing something? I have reread (from Ziggy's pdf on baby stepping) the configuration_adv.h file a few times without finding any baby stepping code to adjust. Am I looking in the wrong place?
     
    #31 Jeff Mercado, Jan 25, 2015
  12. Mike Kelly

    Mike Kelly Volunteer

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    #32 Mike Kelly, Jan 25, 2015
    3 people like this.
  13. Jeff Mercado

    Jeff Mercado Member

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    Thanks Mike! I thought I was going crazy (but as usual, just ignorant :) ). I'll update and get it running.
     
    #33 Jeff Mercado, Jan 25, 2015
  14. R/C Heli

    R/C Heli New Member

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    Mike, I need some help. I just upgraded to firmware Auto_Level_7_17_516 "RoBoDR1AUTOV4" At the same time I replaced the Pololu A4988 stepper driver boards with the DRV8825 stepper driver boards. I wanted the cooler running boards, to keep the long prints from failing due to heat. I have the DRV8825's set to .59 volts and set the firmware to 1/32 stepping by changing "#define DEFAULT_AXIS_STEPS_PER_UNIT {160,160,4435.44,1446.76}" which seems to be working fine.

    The problem is after upgrading both of these the Baby Stepping stopped working. I can hear it trying when I turn the knob but the motors don't turn.

    Have you seen this before? Any suggestions.

    Thanks
    Rick
     
    #34 R/C Heli, Apr 4, 2015
  15. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    #35 mark tomlinson, Apr 4, 2015
  16. R/C Heli

    R/C Heli New Member

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    mark tomlinson

    Your the man, I put the A4988 back in for the Z axis and made the required firmware changes and it works. I am going to have to do some research to find out why the DRV8825 does not work with Baby-stepping.

    Thanks
    Rick
     
    #36 R/C Heli, Apr 4, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2015
    mark tomlinson likes this.
  17. Ziggy

    Ziggy Moderator
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    If you look in stepper.cpp you will see that Marlin has been "tuned" to work with the A4988 stepper driver. The statement I have bolded below just adds a minimum step pin high/low pulse duration. It may be the DRV8825 needs a longer delay. Look at the spec sheets for the A4988 v DRV8825.

    //perform step
    WRITE(Z_STEP_PIN, !INVERT_Z_STEP_PIN);
    #ifdef Z_DUAL_STEPPER_DRIVERS
    WRITE(Z2_STEP_PIN, !INVERT_Z_STEP_PIN);
    #endif
    //wait a tiny bit
    {
    float x=1./float(axis+1); //absolutely useless
    }
    WRITE(Z_STEP_PIN, INVERT_Z_STEP_PIN);
    #ifdef Z_DUAL_STEPPER_DRIVERS
    WRITE(Z2_STEP_PIN, INVERT_Z_STEP_PIN);
    #endif

    EDIT :

    A4988 needs min 1us step pulse duration
    DRV8825 needs min 1.9us
     
    #37 Ziggy, Apr 6, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2015
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  18. Ziggy

    Ziggy Moderator
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    I tested babystepping with a DRV8825 driver. Replace the useless statement (in the previous post) with a 2us delay and it works.

    I'll raise an issue on Github Marlin.

    //perform step
    WRITE(Z_STEP_PIN, !INVERT_Z_STEP_PIN);
    #ifdef Z_DUAL_STEPPER_DRIVERS
    WRITE(Z2_STEP_PIN, !INVERT_Z_STEP_PIN);
    #endif
    //wait a tiny bit
    {
    delayMicroseconds(2);
    }
    WRITE(Z_STEP_PIN, INVERT_Z_STEP_PIN);
    #ifdef Z_DUAL_STEPPER_DRIVERS
    WRITE(Z2_STEP_PIN, INVERT_Z_STEP_PIN);
    #endif
     
    #38 Ziggy, Apr 8, 2015
    mark tomlinson likes this.
  19. ANDERSON GODOY

    ANDERSON GODOY New Member

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    Hi!
    My name is Anderson Godoy.
    I am new here.
    I managed to install Babystepping, but when I send it to move the Z during printing, it does not move. At least I can see the axis moving.
    What can be? I use drivers of 1/32 and 8mm diameter bar with 8mm step. Tested with the multiplier set to 1 and 2 and in no nothing happens.
    Sorry for English errors.
     
    #39 ANDERSON GODOY, May 15, 2015
  20. Jeff Mercado

    Jeff Mercado Member

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    It is very possible the z axis is moving but you can't tell. It moved very very slowly. When printing a rim around a part I can spin the knob many times to get it to the right height. Make sure you are giving it a chance with several spins of the knob. There is a firmware variable I think that will enable you to increase the speed of the movement.
     
    #40 Jeff Mercado, May 15, 2015
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