4. Flashing Firmware

Set up the Board

1. Download VSCode from https://code.visualstudio.com/download and set it up.

2. Go to “Extensions” (four-squares item with the top right square detached) in the left sidebar. a. Look up” PlatformIO IDE” and click “Install” and Enable if you have not already installed and enabled it.

   

   Then, look up “Serial Monitor” and click “Install” and “Enable”.

   

3. Once, you have finished installing the extensions, scroll to the Top Bar, click “File” and “Open” to open the “Filament_DropGen-main” folder from your downloads or from wherever you have moved it to.

   

4. To ensure the code works in your environment, we need to set up the wifi. Go to the side bar, click on "Code" -> "src" -> "param.h". In lines 11 and 12 you can set your network name and wifi password.

   

5. Now, go to the VSCode Terminal on the bottom of your screen (often the Terminal is collapsed, you can hover to it and pull it up to extend and use it). You should also see “Serial Monitor” now appearing somewhere next to where it says “Terminal”.

6. Ensure your Folder Icon at the bottom of the screen says “Filament_DropGen-main”.

7. When in the Terminal, click on the small checkmark to compile the files.

   

8. Once it prints ============= [SUCCESS] Took …. seconds ============, it is time to set up the motor.

   1. With a non-conducting small stick - e.g., a small wooden stick, press the boot button (if the USB-C opening is facing you, there is a small black button to the left of it) and while pressing the boot button, insert a USB-C cable connecting your computer to the motor.
   2. Click on the small arrow on the bottom panel to upload.

   

   Trouble-Shooting

   1. “No Data Received”: If you get this error, there probably was a problem with pressing the boot button. Unplug the cable, and press the boot button again, you should hear a brief “click” when it is pressed, and while keeping it pressed, insert the cable.
   2. “Serial Port Does not Exist”:
      1. Make sure the small cable icon shows “Auto” or “[name of your USB outlet on the computer]”.
      2. If you have started monitoring with the Serial Monitor before, ensure it is not currently running (not monitoring), else, uploading will not be possible.

9. Once it prints ============= [SUCCESS] Took …. seconds ============, click the Alien Symbol for Platform IO on the left sidebar. Under “seeed_xiao_esp32s3” under “Platform” click “Upload Filesystem Image (seeed_xiao_esp32s2)” (the first out of the two “Upload Filesystem Image” - NOT “Upload Filesystem Image OTA”).

   

10. Once it prints ============= [SUCCESS] Took …. seconds ============, go to Serial Monitor (In the Bar of “Terminal”), make sure the correct port is referenced (should be a USB-C or USB port, depending on which port on your computer you are using). Click the blue button saying “Start Monitoring”.

    1. Once it prints ---- Opened the serial port /dev/tty.usb… ----, click the REboot button on your motor (now, if the USB-C port on the motor is facing you, the button right of it).

       It should say something like

       --- Closed serial port /dev/tty.usbmodem… due to disconnection from the machine ---- ---- Reopened serial port /dev/tty.usbmodem… ---- Connecting... Connecting... Ip Address: 172.18.142.115

    2. If it is stuck in “Connecting...”, it may be the case, that you uploaded the wrong Filesystem Image, go back to uploading and uploading the correct file system image (see above).

    

11. Copy the IP Address into your browser and start using the Droplet Generator!