#Deltaprintr 3D Printer Firmware

Based on Marlin, see README_Marlin.md.

This repository's RC_Deltaprintr branch combines the most recent release of Marlin with the FSR bed leveling code necessary for a standard Deltaprintr setup.

The new firmware

• incorporates all the fixes and enhancements of the most recent Marlin release,
• includes the LCD speedup patches by AnHardt, which greatly enhance the printer's overall performance and eliminate stuttering and blobbing at high printing speeds (beyond 80 mm/s)
• allows the Deltaprintr to be equipped with a heated bed
• allows for several other modifications, like utilizing JohnSL's FSR board for bed leveling

Important notes

Do not simply use Marlin/Configuration.h with your printer. Instead, have a look at the supplied instructions to find the configuration that best matches your printer's setup.

Should you have modified your Deltaprintr, e.g. installed a different hotend, print platform, etc., please double check the values in the Configuration.h and Configuration_adv.h files to match your printer's hardware setup!

For all supplied configuration files that are not explicitely labeled as being for JohnSL's FSR sensor board, make sure to connect the FSR sensors to the T1 input, not to TBED as in the default Deltaprintr setup!

DISCLAIMER

Use this fork of Marlin at your own risk. I take no responsibility whatsoever for any defect of the software and the results thereof. Furthermore, I'm not affiliated with Deltaprintr and this firmware is not officially tested, distributed, or supported by the Deltaprintr stuff.

If you understand and agree to this terms, read on.

##Build/Install instructions

###Generic

• First of all, turn over your Deltaprintr and move the two-pin FSR connector from TBED to T1!
• Download and install the most recent (1.6.8) version of the Arduino IDE from https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software
• Clone this repository git clone git@github.com:tkurbad/Marlin.git
• Change to the Marlin directory you just cloned into
• Make sure to checkout the correct branch git checkout RC_Deltaprintr
• According to the setup/modifications of your printer, choose the appropriate Configuration.h and Configuration_adv.h files from the subdirectory Marlin/example_configurations/delta/deltaprintr_ks_rg and copy them to the root of the Marlin subdirectory, i.e. the directory, where the file Marlin_main.cpp resides. Consult the README to find out which example configuration might be the correct one for you
• Carefully revise the configuration files you copied in the last step
• Connect your Deltaprintr via USB
• On a Windows PC, you will most probably have to install the Arduino serial port drivers upon first connecting your printer
• Once all drivers are installed, start the Arduino IDE and open the file Marlin.ino from the Marlin subdirectory
• From the Tools menu choose Board → Arduino/Genuino Mega or Mega 2560
• In the same menu, choose the correct serial Port (/dev/ttyUSB* on Linux, COM* on Windows)
• From the Sketch menu, choose Include library → Manage libraries, then click on Time → Install and U8glib → Install
• From the Sketch menu, choose Verify/Compile The last two lines of the output should look similar to:

Sketch uses 133.698 Bytes (52%) of program storage space. Maximum is 253,952 bytes.
Global variables use 5.510 Bytes (67%) of dynamic memory, leaving 2.682 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 8,192 bytes.

• If everything worked thus far, you can choose Upload from the Sketch menu to upload the firmware to your printer

###Windows

For everything above to work smoothly, you will have to start Arduino with elevated user rights.

To accomplish this, right click on the Arduino icon on your desktop and choose Run as administrator from the context menu.

###Gentoo Linux

Gentoo Linux has a pecularity with the avrdude binary that prevents the original one shipped with the Arduino IDE from working properly.

Therefore, you have to follow these additional steps:

• Before unpacking the Arduino IDE, as user root install dev-embedded/avrdude:

mkdir -p /etc/portage/package.use
echo "dev-embedded/avrdude ftdi" >> /etc/portage/package.use/avrdude
emerge -NDuv dev-embedded/avrdude

• Then, after unpacking the Arduino IDE, e.g. to the directory ~/projects/deltaprintr/arduino-1.6.8, create a symlink to the avrdude you installed before:

ln -sf /usr/bin/avrdude ~/projects/deltaprintr/arduino-1.6.8/hardware/tools/avr/bin/avrdude
rm -f ~/projects/deltaprintr/arduino-1.6.8/hardware/tools/avr/bin/avrdude_bin

All the other steps remain the same.

##Testing

After uploading the firmware to the Deltaprintr, you should do a few simple tests to ensure some basic functions. Be prepared to pull the plug at any time, should something unexpected happen.

• From the Main LCD menu of your Deltaprintr, choose Prepare → Autohome. The printer should home as usual, hitting the endstop switches on top of the three towers. However, the "going up and down a bit several times" it did after homing with its original firmware should no longer occur.
• Now, from the Prepare menu, choose Level bed. The printer will now do the short down and upwards moves against the endstop switches it used to during homing with the original firmware. This procedure, btw., calibrates the FSR sensors for the printer's inherent vibrations. Afterwards, the printer should do the bed leveling as per G-code G29. If it tries to dig into the bed while doing so, pull the plug and double check that you moved the FSR connector to T1.
• If everything worked fine, do a small test print as you would have with the original firmware.
• If the print test succeeded, it should be safe to assume that the printer works properly.

Have fun with your improved Deltaprintr!

##Further reading / Link collection

• PID autotuning guide for bed and hotends
• Azteeg X3 specifications
• Dokumentation of my Deltaprintr modifications