1 Topic by remmec

  • remmec
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Topic: Update Firmware or Buy a Better Motherboard?

I have at least six hours in research and trials of updating firmware on this POS Solidoodle Rev-E board with no luck. Based on my research I'm not the only one. Is there a full proof way of updating the firmware? If not I'm not wasting another second on Solidoodle. I will just buy a new board, new hot-end, rebrand my printer a reprap and never look back onto the solidoodle world again. This has been a terrible experience and I recommend others to avoid this product all together. There are so many better options available. I wish I would have done better research before I purchased this.

2 Reply by wardjr

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Re: Update Firmware or Buy a Better Motherboard?

There is no question that flashing the firmware to that board sucks.  It can be done though and I would bet that if you PM'd Ldymox she would help you through the steps.  I'd do it but am no where near my PC to be able to send screenshots. 
You'll notice that per my signature I run a Rumba board and I love it but you still need to flash the firmware although it's much easier.

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3 Reply by Hazer

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Re: Update Firmware or Buy a Better Motherboard?

Maybe SD should listen to this though. The bootloader they chose s***s. They should replace it at the factory with the arduino native CDC so people will no longer have to use the HID command line version.

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4 Reply by renee (edited by renee 2014-07-28 13:46:38)

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Re: Update Firmware or Buy a Better Motherboard?

I do not have any problems with the SD4's Printrboard Rev E nor the factory bootloader. I've been able to write custom code to my liking and install a Panelolu2. The bootloader is based on teensyloader. The command line stuff is less than ideal but a bat script makes it easy to drag and drop a firmware file to perform an upgrade.

I'll have to wait until I get home to upload that file for you but I don't think there is any reason to call the Rev E board a POS.

In the meantime I did post an updated executable for the bootloader command line interface that gets around file size limitations: http://www.soliforum.com/topic/6021/loa … ootloader/

5 Reply by renee

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Re: Update Firmware or Buy a Better Motherboard?

Ok so it wasn't that hard to redo. I'm attaching an updated HID Bootloader executable and a batch file. Take your Marlin.cpp.hex and drop it on DragDropFirmwareUpdate.bat

You must short the boot pin on the motherboard and press the reset button. Plug in the USB cable and it will update as long as your hex file is valid.

Post's attachments

Solidoodle PrintrboardE Firmware Update HID Bootloader.zip 5.71 kb, 12 downloads since 2014-07-28 

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6 Reply by wardjr

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Re: Update Firmware or Buy a Better Motherboard?

Hazer wrote:

Maybe SD should listen to this though. The bootloader they chose s***s. They should replace it at the factory with the arduino native CDC so people will no longer have to use the HID command line version.

Absolutely... But you know they won't wink

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
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Thanks to all for your contributions

wardjr's Website

7 Reply by remmec

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Re: Update Firmware or Buy a Better Motherboard?

No worries. I just got my new Azteeg board and E3d hotend. I'm back up and running and now free of the inferior world of Solidoodle. I'm glad that some people such as renee are able to upload firmware with minimum hassle but if you do a quick search through the forums you will see that most people have problems with it and many have replaced their board with something more user friendly and expandable.

I have a lot of respect for members such as Ian and Lawsy but their mods only highlight the shortcomings of Solidoodle. How much of Ians or Lawsy's printer is original Solidoodle? The forums here scream "Solidoodle is junky and inferior, if you want your Solidoodle to be able to print anything of quality you will have to upgrade the motherboard, fix the z banding, install a fan on the y stepper motor, replace the extruder, replace the hotend, replace the carriages, and build an enclosure."

I no longer consider my printer a Solidoodle, I will never recommend Solidoodle to anyone, in fact I will go out of my way to educate people who are considering buying one. I can't think of a worse purchase.

8 Reply by ggunners

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Re: Update Firmware or Buy a Better Motherboard?

My SD2 is running all stock. There are things I would like to fix given time, but so far, it does the job I need.

SD2 Expert stock, ABS fume fan,
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9 Reply by renee

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Re: Update Firmware or Buy a Better Motherboard?

remmec wrote:

I can't think of a worse purchase.

You could have bought a CubeX O_o

Talk about a POS machine.

10 Reply by grob

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Re: Update Firmware or Buy a Better Motherboard?

remmec wrote:

I can't think of a worse purchase.

Ssangyong Stavic?
http://images-2.drive.com.au/2010/08/20/1810574/stavic_01_m_m-420x0.jpg

SD3. Mk2b + glass, heated enclosure, GT2 belts, direct drive y shaft, linear bearings, bowden-feed E3D v5 w/ 0.9° stepper
Smoothieboard via Octoprint on RPi