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UPGRADING PYTHON ON RASPBIAN

To Upgrade Python, simply run

sudo bash

apt-get update

apt-get install -y build-essential tk-dev libncurses5-dev libncursesw5-dev libreadline6-dev libdb5.3-dev libgdbm-dev libsqlite3-dev libssl-dev libbz2-dev libexpat1-dev liblzma-dev zlib1g-dev libffi-dev tar wget vim

wget https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.8.0/Python-3.8.0.tgz

tar zxf Python-3.8.0.tgz && cd Python-3.8.0 && ./configure –enable-optimizations && make -j 4 && make altinstall

echo “alias python=/usr/local/bin/python3.8” >> ~/.bashrc

source ~/.bashrc

python -v

You should now be 3.8

USING OCTOPI TO FLASH FIRMWARE

This guide will be specific to the setup for my CR10 S5 with the SKR 1.4 Turbo board

Once I build the firmware in VSCode, I needed an easy way to upload it to the device.

To do so, I logged into Octopi

Clicked on the Wrench icon

Clicked on Plugin Manager

Searched for Firmware Updater

And installed the application

Now I have to log into my Raspberry Pi with Octoprint on it

So I open Putty

Input the IP Address for the PI and login

The I enter the following commands

sudo apt-get install usbmount
sudo nano /etc/usbmount/usbmount.conf
Find FS_MOUNTOPTIONS and change it to:
FS_MOUNTOPTIONS=”-fstype=vfat,gid=pi,uid=pi,dmask=0022,fmask=0111″
sudo systemctl edit systemd-udevd
Add these lines

[Service]
PrivateMounts=no
MountFlags=shared

Save and Close the file

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo service systemd-udevd –full-restart

reboot

Log back into the PI

cd /media
ls -la
Verify full permissions on /media/usb
For mine, /media/usb pointed to usb0 so I had to run
chmod 777 usb0

Now log into Octopi through the browser

Click back onto the Wrench

Navigate down to Firmware Updater

Click the Wrench in Firmware Updater

Set the Flash Method

For my flash method, using the LPC1769 board, I had to select LPC1768

For the Path to firmware folder, I put in /media/usb

Click test to make sure the path is valid

Save

Back in Firmware Updater main screen

Click Browse

Find the firmware.bin file that you created with VSCode

and Click Flash from file

Now the board is flashing and when it completes you will get the message Flash Successful

Thats it!



Thanks for reading

Hardware that I use:
Raspberry Pi 4 (4gb)
https://amzn.to/3q551IO

SanDisk 32GB Ultra microSDHC UHS-I Memory Card with Adapter
https://amzn.to/2Vfvo0y

CanaKit 3.5A Raspberry Pi 4 Power Supply (USB-C)
https://amzn.to/3fNTYPu

CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 Micro HDMI Cable – 6 Feet
https://amzn.to/33u5hr9

Western Digital 500GB WD_Black SN750 NVMe
https://amzn.to/3nZ5pH4

Plugable USB C to M.2 NVMe Tool-free Enclosure
https://amzn.to/3lflV3L

HOW TO CHECK MARLIN FIRMWARE VERSION USING PRONTERFACE

This is a quick one

Open Pronterface

Connect the motherboard to the computer using USB cable

Make sure any jumpers for USB are enabled on the motherboard (instead of power supply)

In Pronterface, click Connect

You will see the following message

Connecting…
Printer is now online.

Next type in M115 and press Send

Your firmware will now be listed…

SENDING:M115
FIRMWARE_NAME:Marlin 2.0.5.3 (GitHub) SOURCE_CODE_URL:https://github.com/MarlinFirmware/Marlin PROTOCOL_VERSION:1.0

USING PRONTERFACE WITH THE BIGTREETECH SKR 1.4 TURBO

Ok, so I have the SKR 1.4 TURBO which I will be installing into the Creality CR-10 S5, and to make it work properly, I had to create my own firmware and burn it to the board. Once it is on the board I want to ensure it works properly before I spend the time, rewiring the board and placing it into the control box. How would I verify the board works properly?

Pronterface

This little app allows me to test the board after the firmware has been installed to make sure it works. Also if I am having problems with CR10S5, because the EXP1 and EXP2 ports are not working with my SKR 1.4 Turbo…this little app will let me understand why.

To use pronterface, download it from:

Extract the files to the desktop

On your SKR 1.4 turbo, make sure you set the jumper on the 5v pair instead of the 12-24v pair

Plug the board into the USB drive on your computer and let it boot up

Now open the \Printrun-win-18Nov2017 folder

Launch the app named pronterface.exe

and click Connect within the app

If all went well, this will connect to your board and give you the following message in the dialog box all the way to the right
Connecting…
Printer is now online.

So your board works!

You can send the M503 code to it and check out all the nitty gritty, or you can simply power your board down and install it in the printer

PETG – JAMMING HOTEND, BRITTLE LAYERS AND BREAKS EASILY [SOLVED]


Let’s start here…some PETG prints were amazing…clips, guides, knobs, just about anything without a long flat layer that had infill.

Then began my struggle (see the image below)


After meticulously dialing in my system, running retraction tests, heat towers, extrusion stepper modifications, extrusion multipliers, drying out filament and many many other steps to prep my system for a successful run with PETG prints…. My hotend kept jamming or under extruding, the extruder would click and click, and my prints were terrible.

After it would finish printing, it would break apart by simply touching it….

The solution to this…..

Open Simplify3D

Modify the FFF process

Go to the cooling tab

Set cooling on Layer 1 to 0

Remove all other setpoints

Uncheck the box that says Increase fan speed for layers below

Save, reslice and reprint

The result…

A solid print in PETG

PETG loves heat….and is ruined with cooling

Now It’s time for me to go back around and reconfigure my system with the extrusion multiplier, speed tests, heat towers, retraction tests….everything