Geeetech

Hi all,

I'm new to the board, new to my new M201, but not necessarily new to 3D printing.

M201 built, tested and calibrated. Somewhat functional, but far from perfect. I'm battling through a few issues at the moment. I have overcome the Z-axis malarkey for now. Had a few started prints - nothing finished. Battling extrusion temperatures for various batches of PLA. The printer is doing weird things occasionally like drifting on the y-axis mid-print, the LCD stopping working mid-print and not allowing the changes of the mix and just doing things that are unnatural. I'm running the out of the box v.1.0.01 firmware and am not sure about updating - mainly because it's a new printer which I'm not fully comfortable with, I'm not sure where exactly to download the latest firmware from and, most importantly, I have not seen any instructions for updating the firmware in Linux (and I'm not about to install windows just to update firmware!).

So, my question is - do I need to update my firmware? Will it fix my issues and solve all (I'd settle for just a few) of my problems? I have trawled through the forums for guidance, but usually end up down a rather confusing rabbit hole. I'm willing to battle on tweaking and adjusting the printer as I have been through this before with other printers. I just don't want to be wasting my time if a firmware upgrade was all that was needed in the first place. Please help me out here, fellas. I see huge potential in this printer when I get it running properly.

Thanks in advance,

MNZ

What a nice guy.
Hi makerenzed

I have a similar opinion to yours.
I see great potential in this machine.
Even in past I said that boys are not aware what they constructed.

The fact is that the printer has several imperfections which give a bone to the user. Especially to the newcomer on the subject.

But, as they say, the problems are there to be solved.
And that's what I'm trying to do.

Above me, you have the advantage of a 3D printing experience.
I am constantly learning everything.

So to the point. You have presented some of the problems you are facing...
1.

makerenzed wrote: Sat Jul 07, 2018 1:00 pm The printer is doing weird things occasionally like drifting on the y-axis mid-print,

For me it was mean, and it was very bad.

To some extent the problem was solved by itself.
What I did was adjust the current in the stepstick module and oil the linear guides.
if you haven't read it yet, I'll tell you that I'm using professional oil from large CNC machines - GildeWay PL68.
It has excellent properties and is also suitable for this application. I don't know if you will find the same at you place because the name can be local.

I wrote that the problem partially solved itself. I am already explaining why I think this is the case.

Mechanical elements such as linear guides were of such quality and no other quality. I do not hide that I saw better. But that's not what it's all about to point out quality.
Simply the more attempts I made, the more time the printer worked. The elements have smoothed out and adjusted.
In the past, even in this forum, I was wondering how to polish linear guides.
I have not yet done so. I don't have to.
You can also slow down the print speed. This has a positive effect, minimising the problem.
This problem no longer exists for me.

2.

makerenzed wrote: Sat Jul 07, 2018 1:00 pm the LCD stopping working mid-print and not allowing the changes of the mix and just doing things that are unnatural

For me, this is an unpleasant reality. I call this affliction a mess on the display.

In my opinion, this mess is hardware-based and I am currently working on a solution. There has been some positive progress, but the situation is not yet resolved.

If you are not afraid of soldering iron I can advise you to solder several SMD tantalum capacitors.
In my opinion, there is a clutter with long-lasting prints - over a few hours. Though since I went to work with him, it's not that often that.

This can be caused by electrical non-contacts and electro-magnetic interference.
This is why the way in which the cables are routed to the periphery is important here.
On photographs you can see where I soldered additional capacitors.
The mess on the display does not block the possibility of making changes in the menu. However, you can't see what you're doing.

3.

makerenzed wrote: Sat Jul 07, 2018 1:00 pm I'm running the out of the box v.1.0.01 firmware and am not sure about updating - mainly because it's a new printer which I'm not fully comfortable with, I'm not sure where exactly to download the latest firmware from and, most importantly, I have not seen any instructions for updating the firmware in Linux (and I'm not about to install windows just to update firmware!).

A terribly complex question came from you.

In my opinion, the upgrade of firmware does not affect the warranty terms. But that is my opinion.
Firmware can be downloaded even every 5 minutes if you feel like it. And even with the 301, I don't advise you to start the printing process.
Firmware version 1.0.03 is still the latest, of course for the GTM32 Pro vB controller board. (Well, unless I don't know about something.)
You can find them in this forum. The file is named gtm32_machine_m201.zip
The older models of our printer had an older version of the controller's board and the firmware for them has a different name.
What I have written does not exempt you from the obligation to check what kind of controller board you have.

hehe immediately i knew that you were a nice person. I don't like Windows either.
You have two options.

• Loan for a moment from your wife, a notebook from Windows, for the time of the update.

• Familiarize yourself with the STM32 development environment and programming tools.E

Oh noooo, I wrote such a story and only now did you ask a question.
I won't delete what I wrote above because I'm lazy.

makerenzed wrote: Sat Jul 07, 2018 1:00 pm
So, my question is - do I need to update my firmware?

No

makerenzed wrote: Sat Jul 07, 2018 1:00 pm
Will it fix my issues and solve all (I'd settle for just a few) of my problems?

No

It is always advisable to update the firmware when the manufacturer announces a new version. Tell me why.

I am glad that I met you. And I especially like what you have written:

makerenzed wrote: Sat Jul 07, 2018 1:00 pm I'm willing to battle on tweaking and adjusting the printer as I have been through this before with other printers.

makerenzed wrote: Sat Jul 07, 2018 1:00 pm I see huge potential in this printer when I get it running properly.

If you will be polite, I will tell you a secret for some time. You will be satisfied twice. And what about there, quadruple.
Meanwhile, take a look at this forum.

ps
interrupted print creation can be successfully completed.