Using Repetier by USB cable to Anet A8 - my extruder prints 20mm to high
Using Repetier by USB cable to Anet A8 - my extruder prints 20mm to high.
I have two Anet A8 running on both 21inch Mac Sierra 10.12.4 and mac mini.
Background. When first assembled and using the Repetier items included in the files from Anet - I could never use the USB connection no matter what tip tricks and suggestions from helpful folk suggested. Dependent on the SD card slot - five days after arrival it was dead. No USB and No SD Card. Meanwhile my second A8 arrived ...
A link from a really nice guy on the FB group gave me a new/different driver for the Macs... using the SD card option via the USB cable and no problems. The motherboard replacement arrived and when fitted - I tried Repetier using the USB cable and new driver = first on the SD Card connection - it worked once - then - so far not again. 22
I tried the direct connection by USB - at this point what I tried on one computer/A8 applies to both. I can connect and I can go through the set up print right upto RUN... the extruders run out and they do not lower - and start to "print" about 20mm above the hotbed. Both computers and both A8s are the same. Start and end codes in Cura are the same. I tried Slic3r - but being a bit new- it confuses me!
If I use Cura for the G Codes and use an SD card and do the transfer on teh computer and put the card in the slot... it starts normally - same file opened on the computer - Load G Code" - it prints too high.
Any suggestion to get it to lower and print - without affecting the "manual" by SD Card option - will be appreciated.
I have two Anet A8 running on both 21inch Mac Sierra 10.12.4 and mac mini.
Background. When first assembled and using the Repetier items included in the files from Anet - I could never use the USB connection no matter what tip tricks and suggestions from helpful folk suggested. Dependent on the SD card slot - five days after arrival it was dead. No USB and No SD Card. Meanwhile my second A8 arrived ...
A link from a really nice guy on the FB group gave me a new/different driver for the Macs... using the SD card option via the USB cable and no problems. The motherboard replacement arrived and when fitted - I tried Repetier using the USB cable and new driver = first on the SD Card connection - it worked once - then - so far not again. 22
I tried the direct connection by USB - at this point what I tried on one computer/A8 applies to both. I can connect and I can go through the set up print right upto RUN... the extruders run out and they do not lower - and start to "print" about 20mm above the hotbed. Both computers and both A8s are the same. Start and end codes in Cura are the same. I tried Slic3r - but being a bit new- it confuses me!
If I use Cura for the G Codes and use an SD card and do the transfer on teh computer and put the card in the slot... it starts normally - same file opened on the computer - Load G Code" - it prints too high.
Any suggestion to get it to lower and print - without affecting the "manual" by SD Card option - will be appreciated.
Comments
I have an Anet A8 - it was all set up and running fine... but only on SD Card operation. Repetier would not connect. This tuned out to be an Apple iMac / Driver issues which was sorted out with help from a very helpful guy on the A8 facebook book group. This came about because the mini SD card slot in the board - failed and we were trying to get a USB connection. However, the board itself was useless and a couple week later I got a replacement from the factory. This second board connects to the A8 via the USB cable. and the SD Card slot is fully functional ( so far) I cannot upload from computer to SD card I get an error report - WRONG target file name - Target name is not valid - Only 0-9, a-z and ) are allowed. " I have tried changing names etc,. It never accepts any file name.
To test your suggestion about different G Code - I downloaded a new file off Thingy... converted in Cura and used the resulting G code The same files on SD card - prints without issues - the same file used by direct via the USB cable - starts to print about 20mm above the bed. I agree it sound illogical - but I have seen a similar post whee I was searching this forum, the difference being that the other poster had a 5mm gap or so.
I was - blaming shoddy electronics used in the Anet A8 board - its only the previous issues with Repetier that has sent me looking for an alternative root cause.
I more than once done a complete - on delivery - set up and bed level process, unsettling end stops etc,. and starting each set up trial. I still get the same results.
I changed machine start code to Cura default - made no difference and returned to a start code that was suggested to me when I first completed the assembly.
p, li { white-space: pre-wrap; }
G21 ;metric values
G90 ;absolute positioning
M82 ;set extruder to absolute mode
M107 ;start with the fan off
G28 X0 Y0 ;move X/Y to min endstops
G28 Z0 ;move Z to min endstops
G1 Z15.0 F9000 ;move the platform down 15mm (this does happen on SD card use - but NOT when in using USB )
G92 E0 ;zero the extruded length
G1 F200 E3 ;extrude 3mm of feed stock
G92 E0 ;zero the extruded length again
G1 F9000
M117 Printing...
Dont know if this help you.
There is something weird about the firm ware. Sorry if this repeat s my post - but I have 2 Anet A8s but the second using a v1 Omni motherboard - which apparently is what is sent with each kit - Unless - like me the buyer added their Auto Level module and the automatically send a kit out with the V2 firmware. The Omni works fine using the USB cable and Repetier. The v2 motherboard firmware I had in my original board - would not connect via the USB - but that was a driver issue. A link from an helper on Facebook gave me CH34x v1.3 and it seems to be OK on both Macs. Whatever the cause it cannot be a regular "fault" on the v2 firmware otherwise there would be a deluge of people every week looking for a solution.
The other issue I have is nnot being able to upload from computer via USB to a mini SD card in the slot on the board.
It tells me only 0-9 a-z etc are allowed for target filenames.... no matter what I rename the file... it will not be uploaded.
Check this please - https://forum.repetier.com/discussion/3654/repertier-server-killed-usb-connection-for-repetier-host?new=1
G28
G1 Z0 F600
Then nozzle should be at bed level. If not it is configured wrong in firmware/hardware. Don't know A8 only know they do not use our firmware, so can not say much to that error. Normally endstop not calibrated correctly or if you have z max homing the z length is not set correct.