1 Topic by Gee

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Topic: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

Hi all,

I know the Da Vinci can be severely improve upon by hacking the firmware and using something like Repetier, but I do not have the confidence with doing such things and do not want to brick my printer or anything like that.

What can I do to get better, more consistent prints out of this machine? It has been doing fairly good, but struggled with this print and I don't know why. The neck area didn't print correctly.

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:571321

I really would love cheaper filament, dam it's expensive!

I have firmware version 1.0.1, is this version even hackable? XYZWare keeps asking me to update the software but I don't know if it means to update XYZWare or the firmware version itself. If it was the firmware what version would it be?

2 Reply by georgehine

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

simplify3d is the only way to improve without hacking I think.

Da Vinci 1.0 stock firmware and stock xyzware.
3D printer Noob.
Stock ABS filaments

3 Reply by Gee

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

Interesting, thanks for the reply and recommendation.

Have you used it at all? I was wondering if there was a guide anywhere as to how to improve prints via the settings. As this is software only, how exactly does it improve prints?

Speed, heat etc?

4 Reply by tonyno

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

Did you print with support material? That's a big overhang.

I'm really surprised by the quality of prints with everything stock. A buddy of mine got a Printrbot a few days after me, and, he's still trying to find the proper settings. I've gone past 40 hours of printing decent parts without messing with anything (except recalibrating the bed).

5 Reply by Gee (edited by Gee 2015-01-04 02:17:22)

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

I have done many prints that have turned out just great. Not sure what happened with the Iron Man bust.

I tried printing it on its back with supports but they just stuck and looked messy on the final print.

If you load a model into XYZ that clearly needs supports to be successful but you don't select the option, will XYZWare try to add them in automatically?

I may recalibrate the bed as I do press down on it too hard sometimes when cleaning it.

I was wondering also, have you tried Sli3er?

6 Reply by mpoffo

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

I am in a similar situation.  I don't want to hack the printer yet but may at some point.  I have been spending a lot of time tweaking my printer to get things working better.  Primarily making sure the bed it level (paper test) and that the belts are aligned and have enough tension.

On mine the bed was originally a pain to get to level with the built in calibration.  I got it to work once and never used it again.

I used the version I read on the forums here:

http://www.soliforum.com/topic/8408/bed … beginners/

There is also this YouTube video with a different approach:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpe0wOxHHnY

I was also having issues with roundness.  I checked my bearing holders and none were broken as some have had.  My issue was with the y access.  The two belts on each side were not lined up properly.  I was able to fix this by adjusting the belt on the offending side.

As for your print, it looks like others in the comments of the "Thing" had problems with the file as well.  There seems to perhaps be an issue with the STL.  Perhaps you saw this.  It appears it may have to do with how some slicers work.  I am no expert but you might be able to modify the model in a program such as sketch-up or perhaps TinkerCad (https://tinkercad.com/)

DaVinci 1.0A with Repetier .92
Simplify 3D
E3DV6

7 Reply by tonyno

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

Gee wrote:

If you load a model into XYZ that clearly needs supports to be successful but you don't select the option, will XYZWare try to add them in automatically?

Nope. It listens well. wink

Gee wrote:

I was wondering also, have you tried Sli3er?

I have played with a few different slicing apps, but, none will do any good with a stock DaVinci.

8 Reply by scobo (edited by scobo 2015-01-04 09:23:44)

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

I'm using Cura plus the xyzware open mod and very happy with the results.
Cura is also way faster at slicing.
Have you tried running the STL through Netfabb to check for errors in the file ?

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs

9 Reply by carl_m1968

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

The issue with the stock software and even the open version is that you have limited control of the speeds for the perimeters, infill, and top and and bottom layers. The hard set speeds are really too slow or fast for the selected resolution. You also need better control of temps for both the bed and nozzle. The temps for the nozzle are usually too low. I know I am printing right now at 215 to 225 depending on the filament and my bed is at 110.

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.

10 Reply by Gee (edited by Gee 2015-01-04 11:44:51)

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

Hey mpoffo,

Thanks for the link and information, I'll check it out.

I just calibrated the bed and it passed with the following parameters:

+214, +226, +219.

I know it stated success, but do you think these numbers are just fine?

Do you have a guide or any steps to check the belts on the Da Vinci?



Hey tonyno,

OK thanks.



scobo,

I can not remember now to be honest! It's a 4 hour print so I'll try some other time. I am going to test a flat square print right now to ensure the first layer sticks etc.

carl_m1968,

Is there any software that will let me control these parameters without hacking the printer? And how would I know what is an ideal temp for printing? You suggest the temps are too low, what temps do you use?

Thanks.

11 Reply by carl_m1968

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

Gee wrote:

Hey mpoffo,

Thanks for the link and information, I'll check it out.

I just calibrated the bed and it passed with the following parameters:

+214, +226, +219.

I know it stated success, but do you think these numbers are just fine?

Do you have a guide or any steps to check the belts on the Da Vinci?



Hey tonyno,

OK thanks.



scobo,

I can not remember now to be honest! It's a 4 hour print so I'll try some other time. I am going to test a flat square print right now to ensure the first layer sticks etc.

carl_m1968,

Is there any software that will let me control these parameters without hacking the printer? And how would I know what is an ideal temp for printing? You suggest the temps are too low, what temps do you use?

Thanks.


I listed the temps I used. As for knowing the correct setting, it is simply trial and error. Every roll is slightly different.

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.

12 Reply by carl_m1968

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

Gee wrote:

Hey mpoffo,

Thanks for the link and information, I'll check it out.

I just calibrated the bed and it passed with the following parameters:

+214, +226, +219.

I know it stated success, but do you think these numbers are just fine?

Do you have a guide or any steps to check the belts on the Da Vinci?



Hey tonyno,

OK thanks.



scobo,

I can not remember now to be honest! It's a 4 hour print so I'll try some other time. I am going to test a flat square print right now to ensure the first layer sticks etc.

carl_m1968,

Is there any software that will let me control these parameters without hacking the printer? And how would I know what is an ideal temp for printing? You suggest the temps are too low, what temps do you use?

Thanks.


I listed the temps I used. As for knowing the correct setting, it is simply trial and error. Every roll is slightly different.

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.

13 Reply by Gee (edited by Gee 2015-01-04 12:24:52)

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

So sorry Carl,  I have read your post again.

I see by your signature you have been in this game a while smile

And you have hacked and are using the repetier software. I hope to find some software that enables me to change such settings without having to hack the printer.

As you can probably tell, I am new to all of this.

14 Reply by scobo (edited by scobo 2015-01-04 12:36:14)

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

The first and probably the best thing you should do to get better quality prints is to move away from xyz filament.
It really isn't very good and the price they charge for it never ceases to amaze me.
I noticed a big improvment in quality with the first spool of 3rd party filament I tried and every other spool since then has been better.

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs

15 Reply by Neotko

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

My Aio out of the box works nice. But there's one must-do (at least for me). The Z bed did 'wobble' so I had to put loctite 628 ot 638 (cant remember at the moment) retainer (less than a little bit). After that the printins are amazing. I can cartridge reset (firmware 1.1.1 1B1) with the wctek xyzpro changing the serial number of the cartridge and it works superb. I'm printing very nicely with red pla and with a bit of pain on wood filament (aio and the new 1.0A & 2.0A (blue doors) can print pla because the head it's different than the original models).

Btw anyone knows how to chnge the extruder filament tension?

So without hacking you can improve the prints with slic3r (it's muuuch better than xyz program for some things) and simplify3d (i bough it 5 days ago) it's just amazing fast and the supports are wonderfull.

16 Reply by Gee

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

Scobo,

I have firmware version 1.0.1.

Can I use the cartridge reset procedure with this firmware? I have read of at least one person that used the cartridge rest method, seated it back into the printer and bricked it. How could this of happened?


Hey Neotko,

So you oiled the pole that carries the bed up and down?

17 Reply by scobo (edited by scobo 2015-01-04 14:00:09)

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

Not too sure about cartridge resetting with the newer firmwares, it seems to be a bit hit or miss.
But if you're able to downgrade to older xyz firmwares, 1.1.E disables the filament counter therefore no resetting is required and you can use whatever filament you want.

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs

18 Reply by Gee

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

Ahh I see, so version 1.0.1 is a new one. I wasn't sure, as all of the firmwares I see mentioned have letters on the end.

Why would 1.1E disable the counter if it is genuine firmware from XYZ, if one of the reasons of the chip is to how much filament is left?

Sorry, I'm not understanding.

(Thanks for your patience!)

19 Reply by Neotko

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

The think it's that new and current firmwared 'remember' the serial. Aldo ig you dont block the xyz software it sends the serial to their serverd and checks it. So with the wctek xyz pro soft or dongle you can change serial and keep xyz program firewall. Thid esy you can do wherever you want with the cartridges.

20 Reply by scobo (edited by scobo 2015-01-04 14:11:30)

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

There's actually a bug in that version of the firmware which is exploited by the using the xyzware open mod in conjunction with 1.1.E.
So you need to downgrade to 1.1.E then download the open mod here .... http://voltivo.com/forum/davinci-softwa … e-open-mod
I now use that method and no longer bother resetting the cartridge.

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs

21 Reply by Neotko

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

1.0.1 can't be downgrades since the board it's different (you can but it semi bricks and you need to refrash)

22 Reply by scobo (edited by scobo 2015-01-05 10:05:04)

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

Neotko wrote:

1.0.1 can't be downgrades since the board it's different (you can but it semi bricks and you need to refrash)

Ah, I see.
So you'd need to short the jumper to wipe the chip then upload the firmware via Arduino ?

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs

23 Reply by Neotko

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

Yeah the jumper it's on other place. The proble it's that older firmware aint compatible with the new board. That until someone (not me) could do a repetier firmware for the new boards big_smile

24 Reply by scobo (edited by scobo 2015-01-05 10:05:59)

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

I just wondered if the new firmwares could still be downgraded using the older xyzware software by disconnecting from the internet and going to the upgrade firmware tab in xyzware.
That's the method I use to switch between stock firmware versions. It's less hassle than messing with jumpers and re-flashing.
I believe you can switch to Repetier firmware that way too, on the older machines at least.

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs

25 Reply by Gee

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Re: How can the best be made from the Da Vinci without hacking?

Hmm, so my firmware can't be downgraded and the cartridge reset ability can not be used on this firmware either. Bummer.