Month: June 2016

What modeling software do you use/enjoy using?

I’ve been messing around with different modeling programs lately and can’t seem to find one that I like. I’ve used Creo (Pro/E) at work for years. I’ve also used Auto desk Inventor and Solidworks for a while. Of these, I favor Creo. I’ve been trying to find a program for home use that doesn’t cost $1000+. I’ve tried a couple of free ones but I found them to be wanting. What do you guys use/have success with? http://ift.tt/1YlAmo0

I updated my firmware and had shifts in my prints, long story.

I had just changed out my hotend, and decided that because I needed to change my firmware settings that I should update that firmware with a newer version, however Windows 10 would not let me flash the firmware to my 3D printer, it also wont let me flash my android phones, but thats another story.I use the Marlin firmware:http://ift.tt/1XOTITQ updated to Marlin version 1.0.2-1, I did not even notice that it was released “May 29, 2015”, but thats still newer than what I was using.I had to borrow a laptop with Windows 7 before I was able to update the firmware, I updated the firmware and “did not notice any errors” there were errors, but the small window that shows errors on the Arduino IDE was to small on the laptop screen to see the text unless you were to scroll up, the firmware did compile and did flash but had errors.I started getting shifted prints, well I went over to:http://ift.tt/1UtbtkN went down the list checking everything, nothing seemed to work, I decided to swap out the stepper motor, the stepper driver, the ramps board, the Arduino board, check the wires in case of interference, checked the power supply, make sure there were no mechanical issues, lowered the jerk, acceleration, and travel speeds, changed the belt out, changed the pulley out, checked all the grub screws, tried with the driver current higher and lower.Then I got thinking, I use a “Full Graphic Smart Controller” like this:http://ift.tt/1XOT8po I powered down the 3D printer and unplugged the LCD and tried again, the 3D printer still printed with shifted layers, so I decided to disable the LCD in the firmware and try another test print, this time the 3D printer worked correctly, and then I remember that along time ago that I had trouble with “U8glib” and this LCD, and this LCD requires “U8glib”, I started looking carefully over the Arduino IDE, and found errors related to “U8glib” and something THERMAL_RUNAWAY_PROTECTION, and something else about LCD_MESSAGEPGM(MACHINE_NAME” “MSG_OFF”.”);Basically this:http://ift.tt/1Utb5Tp I decided to update my Arduino IDE and all the libraries, and switch to the newest “RC” version of Marlin and all the errors went away, and now everything works. http://ift.tt/1Xh8Zfj