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makerbot / ReplicatorG

An open-source gcode interpreter for driving RepRaps, Makerbots, and other similar CNC beasties
http://replicat.org
GNU General Public License v2.0
404 stars 226 forks source link

Enable/Disable Steppers in Control Panel should include the Stepper Extruder, if present #167

Closed toomanyplugs closed 14 years ago

toomanyplugs commented 14 years ago

Feature request: There should be a way to disable a stepper-driven extruder from the control panel. Either by including it in the existing Enable/Disable buttons, or a separate button on the Extruder side. I think to be consistent for the user, it should probably go in the existing buttons, right?

For example, if I needed to manually feed filament by spinning the Wade's Extruder big gear. Or just to disable it so it doesn't heat up while it's sitting idle.

Right now, it seems there's no way to do this in the Control Panel. Changing PWM/RPM values (depending on Extruder Controller firmware types) doesn't disable the stepper, just stops it.

koenkooi commented 14 years ago

So you mean that the extruder ignores M18 commands?

toomanyplugs commented 14 years ago

A little more detail: The stepper extruder stays disabled until an RPM is set in the Control Panel. Even if the RPM is set to 0 (and never anything else!) the stepper is enabled and won't become disabled unless the EC is reset.

I'm not much or a programmer, but I'll try to wade through and figure out why this is happening. Maybe this is actually a bug?

For reference, I'm using: RepG 0021 for Linux Ubuntu (Karmic Koala netbook remix 9.10) MB v1.6 EC v2.6 cloned 11/26/10, with external stepper support Pololu external stepper board

toomanyplugs commented 14 years ago

@koenkooi

I just tested a simple gcode to turn on the stepper for 5 seconds then back off. It didn't disable the stepper when done. I tried this both after setting rpm=0 in the panel, and without having opened the panel at all on a RepG restart.

NOTE: do not have filament installed when running this!! It does not turn the heater on. G90 G21 M103 M105 M108 R9.0 M101 G04 P5000 M103 M18

kintel commented 14 years ago

This was fixed in git a few days ago. If you're using the firmware with external stepper driver enabled, this is now the situation: o M103 or stop in the control panel will hold torque o Setting RPM to 0 releases torque

This is, atm, just meant for hacking or testing. With Gen4 (Thingomatic), this will be more intuitive (i.e. disable steppers will work in the control panel).

Note: To get this fix to work, firmware must also be upgraded.

toomanyplugs commented 14 years ago

D'oh! A day late and a dollar short.

So to be clear, I need to build the latest git version of RepG to get this, right? Not the pre-built 0021 version on the Google code website? (I'm very new to git, be gentle).

When you say firmware needs to be upgraded, you mean the Motherboard, or the Extruder Controller? (I'm having other issues that the motherboard v2.x doesn't want to recognize Extruder v2.x. I can get mb v1.6 to see ec v2.x tho).

Edit: alright, ok, it's working correctly when I build the latest RepG. You guys certainly know what you're doing! So, how do I retract this Issue on git? Sorry for the confusion.