Repetier Host and Pronterface Will Not Control Printer

[KippKyEva]

I purchased a Chinese Kossel Delta kit and finally got it assembled. I have had some difficulty getting the firmware on the board but finally achieved that. Now I am trying to test the functionality, but I cannot get Repetier Host or Pronterface to function with the printer. Repetier Host states that it is connected, but the manual controls will do nothing. It simply stacks commands. The only way I have been able to get the printer to do anything is manually on the LCD, and that has lead to more issues (2 of the 3 stepper motors are locking up. Not sure if they are damaged or if it is a firmware issue), but I’ll deal with that later.

I am running Win10, and have tried both the latest version of Host as well as a previous version from the site with no luck. When I connect, the printer restarts, which I figured was a good sign. That is the extent of its recognition, though. I’m sure the issue has an obvious solution that this noob simply is not seeing. I know you will probably need more information to formulate a hypothesis, but I am unsure exactly what context is required. Please let me know what more information you would like me to provide for some advice. Thanks!

[Georgei]

If Repetier recognizes the printer and correctly boots then or there is something wrong with the firmware you have uploaded or with the communication. Check that the Baud rate loaded on your board matches the one at the Repetier host.

George

[ekaggrat]

Check the port on which the printer is connected.

[PepCo_Parker]

I have had issues with one of my three printers where no matter what the one refuses to stay connected, it merely connects and disconnects constantly. This might be the issue you are having, not sure how to solve it but I realized it by looking at the printer(screen dialog would change every time) and in the bottom right of my PC it would notify me

[3DecorRVK]

Hello Kyle,

Does the Repetier application show that the printer is connected? If not, try looking for the Repetier service in Windows Task Manager and end the task. Then try reconnecting the printer in the Repetier host.

If it does show that it is connected try disconnecting your printer, ending the task (if it is running in Task Manager) and then reconnecting the printer.

I´ve had an issue similar to this in the past and that worked for me. Hopefully this will resolve your issue. Best wishes!

Ty

[kissfan4]

check the baud rate, i just starting using repetier and was having issues just like you, would say it was connected but manual controls would not do anything, the baud rate repetier defaulted to was incorrect.

[Jfpayeur]

Since you manage to install firmware. And the soft state its connected. And the printer reeboot on connection start. Seems to me the usb to serial connection is working. Howerwere. Could be simply the baud rate beeing at another speed

[fabianstouten]

Doesn’t that chinese delta printer run on cura? because mine did.

it also sounds logical to me, because repetier is not open source. and the chinese use open source programs more often.

[iceman198]

As kissfan4 mentioned, check the baudrate (would be in your configuration.h). Also, make sure you are using the shielded USB cord for the mega (usually a blue cable)…not a hub of some sort as well. I have communication issues whenever I use some other USB cord or a hub.

[kissfan4]

i didnt have to change it in the firmware, just simply in the printer settings within repetier.

[iceman198]

Correct…I just meant check the configuration.h file so you know what the printer is expecting…then go to repetier and set it to whatever that number was.

[SrGeek]

Do you know what board you have? Can you attach pictures of the electronics? What I normally do with all my printers is strip the electronics and change them to Ramps 1.4. All parts are cheap and reliable and most firmware support ramps1.4.

[3DPrintandStuff]

You can used the Arduino Serial monitor in the IDE to find the firmware’s set baud rate.

Select each baud rate 9600-250000 (bottom left) and send M105 until you get a valid response

[12x12inchPrint]

This might help with Pronterface-

1)In your firmware you have a minimum extruder temp. That keeps a printer from starting until the extruder is up to temp.

Find that value and change it to 0.

2) Upload firmware and re-launch Pronterface and see if you can start calibrating your printer.

3) If that worked make sure you go back and change the min temp in your firmware and upload again.

(Not sure its really necessary as most software waits to hit the temp you set in your slicing/printing software but…why not?)

[Valdaine]

Another question : can you read extruder temperature on the PC software ?

Are you sure you’re connected to the right COM port ?

[Magesh]

First order of business. Get rid of the LCD from the board for now and re-upload the firmware code. Make sure you closed the Pronterface and Repetier before you upload the firmware. If they we open, close them and re-upload the code again ( I dont know the reason why it worked for me but it did).

I would suggest you not to open Pronterface at all (restart the computer if necessary). Use only Repetier… for some reason when I was using pronterface and then closed and switched to Repetier, the manual controls didn’t work. When this happened I closed both the softwares and reuploaded the firmware again and opened Repetier to connect to the printer.

If you have firmware upload issues, download a stable older version of Arduino IDE and then try again.

If the above suggestions doesnt work or have some doubts in execution, leave a message here or do the below steps…

Please attach your firmware code here along with snapshots of the Repetier Host (before you click connect, immediately after you click connect and when the status shows Idle). Please confirm that you clicked the right port number in Repetier software that matches the port you used to upload the arduino code.

[roko11]

I have a couple of questions for you.

Did you load a firmware with the configuration for a Delta printer in it?

Is your printer in RH(Repetier-Host) configured as a Delta?

When you connect to the printer with RH the log window should show the version of firmware of the printer if it can talk to it.

**For instance, I connected to my Delta (with the correct baud rate),

it initialized the printer and the firmware version along with other information shows up in the log window.

I have manual control of the printer.

I then disconnected.

THEN I went into the printer configuration and changed the baud rate from 250000 to 115200. (I am using 250000 normally)

I Applied and said OK, then I tried to connect,…

The printer reinitialized

I got no data in the log window,(version,free Ram,etc…). I had no manual control at all.

I disconnected again.

I reconfigured my baudrate to 250000 and applied it and said OK.

I connected again,

The printer initialized, and the First thing I saw in the log window was some oddball characters, the next information was all of the normal stuff,(version, free Ram, etc…)

I had manual control again and all was fine.

I did that 3 times and the same happened.

***

That is something to try, it might get you started.

There are more issues in dealing with stepper movement after you can at least talk to the printer.

For instance, stepper driver voltages, endstop configuration (using M119 for status).There is a whole section in configuration.h on how the endstops are configured, that is why a copy of your configuration.h (at least) would be helpful as Magesh has said.

First things first though, like it was mentioned, I would not worry too much about the LCD part,at least you have it visible and working(somewhat).

[FantasyFormer]

First try clicking the connect button. On Pronterface it is at the top of the screen around the middle. Sorry if that sounds insulting, but the simplest answers first.

[KippKyEva]

No insult taken. I’m sure there is a very simple and obvious explanation for my difficulties. Yes, I did click the connect button, to no avail.

[KippKyEva]

Thank you all so much for your input. I am going to work through these ideas tonight and see what happens. I very much appreciate all of the great advice!