1 Topic by fichito

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Topic: Anet A6 offline (standalone) printing?

I've never attempted to use the Anet A6 in standalone mode, always connected to PC.

Now that my DLP printer is on the way I thought why not have the FDM printer standalone as well.


Anyone tried it? What is needed? There's only one microSD card slot on the board situated in a very inconvenient place on the back of the printer which is even more annoying since I've made an enclosure for the printer. I can get a microSD extension cable to be able to attach the card outside the enclosure. After that, what do I do?

when I recalibrate the extruder, I have to reflash the firmware? Or can it be in a config file in the SD card instead?

Thanks.

2 Reply by carl_m1968 (edited by carl_m1968 2019-03-27 11:41:38)

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Re: Anet A6 offline (standalone) printing?

fichito wrote:

I've never attempted to use the Anet A6 in standalone mode, always connected to PC.

Now that my DLP printer is on the way I thought why not have the FDM printer standalone as well.


Anyone tried it? What is needed? There's only one microSD card slot on the board situated in a very inconvenient place on the back of the printer which is even more annoying since I've made an enclosure for the printer. I can get a microSD extension cable to be able to attach the card outside the enclosure. After that, what do I do?

when I recalibrate the extruder, I have to reflash the firmware? Or can it be in a config file in the SD card instead?

Thanks.


If there is an SDcard in the mainboard like some have that card is for that boards use. The LCD has a card slot on the side opposite of the knob. That is the slot you would use for Offline printing. All you do is slice the file as normal in your host/slicer then save or export the gcode, not the STL to the Sdcard. Plug the card into the printer then turn it on and access the card through the LCD menu on the printer. These use the large older TFcard so if you are looking for an extension then keep that in mind.

You can make changes in steps per mm on all the motors through the LCD menu. Should be under PREPARE and then MOTION. You can also save them through M Gcode commands using the terminal box in a host like Pronterface or Repetier Host. You should look up gcode commands and get very familiar with the M codes and how to use them. Especially when it comes to reading, storing, and retrieving EEPROM settings.

Printing since 2009 and still love it!
Anycubic 4MAX best $225 ever invested.
Voxelabs Proxima SLA. 6 inch 2k Mono LCD.
Anycubic Predator, massive Delta machine. 450 x 370 print envelope.

3 Reply by fichito (edited by fichito 2019-03-27 13:34:05)

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Re: Anet A6 offline (standalone) printing?

It appears there are two versions of Anet A6. Mine uses buttons insteaf of a knob, like A8.
https://i.imgur.com/bjEIssd.jpg

The LCD board doesn't have any SD card slots: https://i.imgur.com/F0SOlmi.jpg

However it seems the SD card slot on the mainboard is indeed used for 3d printing: https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/tool/sd … der-holder.


I rahter have all these settings added to gcode by the slicer rather than messing with the EEPROM. Is that possible or does Gcode not have enough commands to override all firmware settings?

4 Reply by Bozotclown1970

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Re: Anet A6 offline (standalone) printing?

One solution might be here http://www.soliforum.com/post/69786/#p69786. I have one and it does work.

5 Reply by heartless

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Re: Anet A6 offline (standalone) printing?

fichito wrote:

It appears there are two versions of Anet A6. Mine uses buttons insteaf of a knob, like A8.
https://i.imgur.com/bjEIssd.jpg

The LCD board doesn't have any SD card slots: https://i.imgur.com/F0SOlmi.jpg

However it seems the SD card slot on the mainboard is indeed used for 3d printing: https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/tool/sd … der-holder.


I rahter have all these settings added to gcode by the slicer rather than messing with the EEPROM. Is that possible or does Gcode not have enough commands to override all firmware settings?

Steps/mm should be calibrated and set ONCE. It is usually done in the firmware, but can be changed in EEPROM (which does override firmware settings if saved properly)

slicers do not typically have adjustments for the steps/mm settings - that is not what they are intended for.
they do have settings for speed, which is an entirely different parameter than steps/mm

SD4 #1 & #2 - Lawsy carriages, E3D v6, Rumba controller board, mirror bed plate, X motor fan, upgraded PSU & Mica bed heater
SD4 #3 - in the works ~ Folgertech FT-5, rev 1
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6 Reply by fichito (edited by fichito 2019-03-29 18:55:13)

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Re: Anet A6 offline (standalone) printing?

I think it would make sense for slicers to be able to override the steps/mm at this point due to using different filaments on one machine often by some people but I'm probably in the minority.
Thanks.

7 Reply by carl_m1968

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Re: Anet A6 offline (standalone) printing?

fichito wrote:

I think it would make sense for slicers to be able to override the steps/mm at this point due to using different filaments on one machine often by some people but I'm probably in the minority.
Thanks.


The steps per mm on the extruder is a motor function. It has nothing to do with filament. Once the steps per mm are set for 100mm of filament they are set regardless of the filament used. The purpose for the one time calibration on the e-steps is to assure that you are getting said length of filament when asked for so that you know that this part of the math is accurate and not a factor in issues. Once this is set it will never change unless you change it. 100mm will always be 100mm.

If after doing this you still have an issue with under or over extrusion due to shrinkage or swelling then you fine tune that using your flow rate or flow multiplier depending on slicer flavor.

Printing since 2009 and still love it!
Anycubic 4MAX best $225 ever invested.
Voxelabs Proxima SLA. 6 inch 2k Mono LCD.
Anycubic Predator, massive Delta machine. 450 x 370 print envelope.

8 Reply by fichito

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Re: Anet A6 offline (standalone) printing?

damn it's been so long I've actually forgot about all of this

thank you

9 Reply by heartless

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Re: Anet A6 offline (standalone) printing?

fichito wrote:

I think it would make sense for slicers to be able to override the steps/mm at this point due to using different filaments on one machine often by some people but I'm probably in the minority.
Thanks.

different filaments should have ZERO to do with the steps/mm.

Steps/mm gets calibrated ONCE and done.

Proper filament calibrations are an entirely different subject

SD4 #1 & #2 - Lawsy carriages, E3D v6, Rumba controller board, mirror bed plate, X motor fan, upgraded PSU & Mica bed heater
SD4 #3 - in the works ~ Folgertech FT-5, rev 1
Printit Industries Beta Tester - Horizon H1

10 Reply by fichito

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Re: Anet A6 offline (standalone) printing?

Yeah, you're right it's pointlesss. It would be like nailing something tiny with a sledgehammer. Although admittedly I was doing it for a while since I got back into 3d printing this year.