Casainho EMCRepStrap

LAOS (LAser Open Source) project mention R2C2 board

2011-06-13T03:21:00.000-07:00

The LAOS (LAser Open Source) project mention R2C2 board on his firmware wiki page.

We would love to cooperate in future and see R2C2 board being used on an Open Source Laser cutter/engraver :-)

The Firmware is the software in the embedded controller. We assume we can base it on the RepRap 5D GCode Firmware in some way. Instead of running it on an Arduino or similar Atmel, we would like to use a 32-bit ARM with Ethernet on board (e.g. ARM7, Cortex M3 from NXP, Atmel or TI). Considerable throughput is required to stream bitmap data. Still: we would like to keep the electronics low-cost, simple and hackable (sufficient IO and communication ports). Various incarnations of the 5D software are available, and This one from Triffid Hunter is a rewrite in plain C, with some favorable characteristics (Constant Accel., no FP math in IRQ, etc.), so we can base out work on this version. Jorge Pinto already made a Cortex M3 port based on this firmware. Maybe we can team up with this development. Currently we have no GCode interpreter running on the system.

Hello World from LAOS project :-)

new, FAST, R2C2 electronics board for RepRap

2011-06-13T03:17:00.000-07:00

Finally, the website is online: http://www.3dprinting-r2c2.com/

Boards will be available soon for pre-order.

WORKING -- Arduino "native" USB for RepRap/Makerbot printers, no more serial port :-)

2011-04-29T02:08:00.000-07:00

I were talking with Erik and we decided to try find if my idea could work... and I just went ahead and got it working :-) (on Linux Ubuntu).

I used my simple C code I used to my ARM board and change the code for the Arduino USB strings and Endpoint numbers. Please see get here the code and test it:
http://code.google.com/p/r2c2/source/browse/trunk/software/libusb-example_software/libusb-1.0.8/arduino_example

Here is a screenshot of code working:
http://code.google.com/p/r2c2/source/browse/trunk/software/libusb-example_software/libusb-1.0.8/arduino_example/casainho-test_arduino_board.png
1st the USB cable of Arduino were not connected to PC and so it wasn't found.
2nd, I did connect the Arduino to PC and it was found. My Arduino don't have the AVR IC and I simple connected a wire from RX to TX line, making a hardware loop back :-)

So, with this example, I were able to identify Arduino (FTDI) on USB bus. After I were able to send and receive bytes to/from serial port.
This means that there is a high probability that we can use Arduino/RepRap/Makerbot boards which use Arduino, just by using USB and finally forget the serial port configuration on PC!

Here is the "lsusb -v" from my Arduino:

Bus 002 Device 002: ID 0403:6001 Future Technology Devices
International, Ltd FT232 USB-Serial (UART) IC
Device Descriptor:
bLength 18
bDescriptorType 1
bcdUSB 2.00
bDeviceClass 0 (Defined at Interface level)
bDeviceSubClass 0
bDeviceProtocol 0
bMaxPacketSize0 8
idVendor 0x0403 Future Technology Devices International,
Ltd
idProduct 0x6001 FT232 USB-Serial (UART) IC
bcdDevice 6.00
iManufacturer 1 FTDI
iProduct 2 FT232R USB UART
iSerial 3 A9007KEw
bNumConfigurations 1
Configuration Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 2
wTotalLength 32
bNumInterfaces 1
bConfigurationValue 1
iConfiguration 0
bmAttributes 0xa0
(Bus Powered)
Remote Wakeup
MaxPower 90mA
Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 4
bInterfaceNumber 0
bAlternateSetting 0
bNumEndpoints 2
bInterfaceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
bInterfaceSubClass 255 Vendor Specific Subclass
bInterfaceProtocol 255 Vendor Specific Protocol
iInterface 2 FT232R USB UART
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x81 EP 1 IN
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes
bInterval 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x02 EP 2 OUT
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes
bInterval 0
Device Status: 0x0000
(Bus Powered)

Arduino "native" USB for RepRap/Makerbot printers, no more serial port :-)

2011-04-27T11:37:00.000-07:00

I were talking with Erik from Ultimaker on my hacking idea of identify and communicate with official Arduino, using only USB and not using the serial port on PC at all!

I got a simple code to do just that, but on my ARM bard.

The idea is first trying identify the Arduino USB device on PC, using any strings and USB IDs. After, try read/write the IN and OUT endpoints that goes/come from serial layer... this works for my ARM board... could this work for Arduino/FTDI?

If this works, we could forget the serial port and software/printer board would be able to work without the user need to configure the serial port name/path on software -- a step ahead for a better 3D printer.

RepRap sucks? -- listen to that kid

2011-02-19T02:40:00.000-08:00

RepRap sucks? Probably many RepRap users will say no, because objective of RepRap is: "RepRap is about making self-replicating machines, and making them freely available for the benefit of everyone" but for anyone benefit, it must be easy to acquire/assembly and use -- listen to that kid @ 2:11

RepRap not good for laser PCB etching

2011-02-11T16:46:00.000-08:00

Leonardo from Portugal were making tests for etching a PCB with a 1W blue laser diode. Here is one picture of a OpenHardware LPC1343 board @ Opendous:

And here is the tested Leonardo did after tweaking his RepRap Mendel to get the best results as possible:

Conclusion: RepRap Mendel seems to have bad quality (maybe backslash? maybe repeatability?) and so it can't make correct small lines of ~0.2mm and small circles.

Next, I will make the same tests on my "commercial" CNC. I am just waiting for the arriving of laser housing.

RepRap $money and not Free as in speech

2011-02-07T05:47:00.000-08:00

I found that some RepRap users/developers started to developing RepRap similar technology but they keep it closed source because they are commercialising it. Examples are the extruders - could you imagine if we/RepRap didn't have OpenSource extruders?

I can give 2 examples of what I am talking about:

- Product: Arcol Hot End for extruders, which is listed/advertised on RepRap wiki but there are no source files!

- Product: Extruder, etc from Makergear. Makergear is selling a closed source extruder, Heated Bed, etc and listening/advertising it on RepRap wiki: "MakerGear - Plastruders, Parts, Filament, Surfaces, Platforms, Printed Parts and More".

As stated on RepRap first page: "RepRap is a free (GPL) desktop 3D printer capable of printing plastic objects (...)". I don't agree that RepRap resources as wiki site may be used to list/advertise similar RepRap technology but that is closed source!!!

Will any one on RepRap project take actions against this questions? or the number of RepRap devs developing closed source are so big that they can lobby??

One company that sells Open Source products is Makerbot. They have a link to instructions and SOURCE FILES on each product page! They are even smart enough to make a totally free site for users share and still do business with it: Thingiverse

-------

A RepRap developer gave this suggestion which I agree:

Personally, I'm OK with things like this being listed somewhere on the wiki, so long as they're clearly and prominently labeled "NOT OPEN SOURCE" so people know.
Otherwise they may just stumble across Makergear's website and assume they are open source, not having read about them in the wiki.

USB arriving to RepRap, libusb and libreprap

2011-02-05T15:30:00.000-08:00

I just started working on my idea of using "native" USB on my ARM board for RepRap -- no more Serial port config on PC, now RepRap software will just detect the board/electronics when you connect the USB cable.

I am sure this work/ideas will improve user experience with RepRap printers!

The idea is to use libusb and use it to make libreprap be able to use USB :-)

I am in talks with Ralith RepSnapper/libreprap developer, that will help put all this ideas on libreprap and finally on RepSnapper2 (C++). Later I will see if is possible/simple to add USB also to RepRap software (Java).

Video and pictures -- How PP3DP UP Printer works/prints

2011-02-02T14:44:00.000-08:00

I just recorded some videos and photos showing how closed source PP3DP UP Printers works.

There are a technical details which we can learn just by seeing it printing -- UP Printer have high print quality then any RepRap printer and also prints support material in a way that is very easy to remove, something not done on RepRap.

Read more here: http://www.reprap.org/wiki/PP3DP_UP_Printer

Reprap laser cutting tests

2011-01-28T01:41:00.000-08:00

Leonardo from Portugal is being doing tests for a laser cutter on RepRap. I just meet Leonard a few days ago and since them I told him about my ideas for laser cutter to RepRap, for etching PCB just Arcol did here.

One question is: since I want to go for PCBs with LQFP 0.5mm pitch, were each track/clearance have 0.25mm, would we be able to burn such small lines? SEE the video that Leonard recorded to find the answer:

And here is a detailed image (more images here):

That cut were done with blue laser at 1W and with feed rate of F400 (6.6mm/s). the paper sheet should have about 0.1mm.

We believe that we will be able to etch PCBs and make tracks/clearance of 0.25mm :-)

RepRap printers and Android/Linux/ARM little and portable computers

2011-01-15T03:10:00.000-08:00

I bought recently for 130€ an Android Smart Phone. This is my smaller Linux portable computer and I am being developing a LOT using my "old" another smaller and portable Linux computer, an cheap and light (1kg) Acer Aspire One.

Affordable mobile computing (cheaper Android Smart Phone here in Portugal costs just 100€!) will shape the way users/hackers will want RepRap printers.

For my RepRap electronics, I am looking a way to add it control from Android :-) -- I will need to look a way to develop Android software/application. Is there anyone thinking as me? Is there anyone interested to work on Android application for RepRap?

Will someday RepRap electronics be an ARM Linux board? maybe even running Android?

Heated Bed + perfboard (and not Kapton tape)

2011-01-14T07:31:00.000-08:00

My company bought recently a UP printer -- it prints with higher quality then RepRap printers. I think UP printer is MUCH BETTER than RepRap, it is very easy to use, parts have high quality and support is easy to remove. But it have disadvantages, as not being OpenSource, expensive plastic and no different colors for plastic.

UP printer also have an Heated Bed and we did find reading the manual that people is using a perfboard instead of Kapton tape. It works very well: it's cheap, simple and very easy to remove from the Heated Bed and the final printed part.

Would anyone be able to test perfboard on RepRap?

Print quality -- RepRap VS UP printer, BFB, Ultimaker

2010-12-05T12:50:00.000-08:00

Does anyone knows if UP printer, BFB, Ultimaker, have better mechanics resolution and repetitiveness? And the print quality, anyone knows which have better?

Answer from Bogdan Kecman on RepRap-dev mailing list:

I can't do a comparison with up, umaker, mbot etc, because I only have 2 regular mendels and 2 bfb machines but I can tell you about bfb and mendel from my pov.

With mendel1 I was unable to get repeatable quality and I think it is mostly because I made it "wrong", the axes don't move "easy" and I gave up on it to be honest, it could probably be "fixed" but ...

mendel2 I get repeatable quality but I can say compared to my bfb machines, it is comparable but not really in the same class. I'm unable to reliable do 0.15mm layer with mendel while with bfb I do it without a problem. mendel is also much slower as the machine is really not that rigid (this again might be the way I built it, but ...) .. don't get me wrong, the print objects from this mendel are much better then many pictures I seen of "successful" prints on thingiverse, but for me it is not repeatable as it is not always "same".

bfb1/2 the difference between 1 and 2 is that second one has printed corners, 2 extruders and heated bed while first one is "stock". Also the first one runs bfb firmware while second one runs netfabb experimental firmware. I have repeatable print quality, incredible precision, very fast operation. It has some serious limitations - there is table wobble in XY layer caused by darwin origins with some "improvement" attempts that went wrong. I tested with some changes on the second set and I got XY wobble to minimum, now I'm making a separate machine to use the "good" from the design and test some new features .. but that's separate story .. anyhow, whatever quality of bfb is it is very repeatable, I know "exactly" what I can expect from bfb printer and I always get exactly what I expected. (not the case with mendel for me attm)

from Prusa I heard a lot of good words about shapercube, I have never tried it myself (nor ultimaker, up, makerbot ...) so I really can't say

Lyre enclosure designed with FreeCAD, an Open Source parametric CAD

2010-12-02T11:17:00.001-08:00

Last time I were using Blender, which isn't parametric, meaning I had to redo all everytime I wanted to change anything... now with FreeCAD, I can quickly change a part of the desing and see the results
I still use Blender, at least to check for non-manifolds after exporting STL from FreeCAD.

And here the enclosure I printed before:

Get the 3D files on Thingiverse.

Electronic music for HBox RepRap electronics

2010-11-21T03:36:00.000-08:00

Electronic music for HBox RepRap electronics

Because this electronics need some good electronic, robotic and chip music, please listen this one from Norwegian artist Binary pilot (I am being listening while developing this electronics):

RepRap wiki page: http://objects.reprap.org/wiki/HBox_RepRap_Electronics

HBox RepRap Electronics

This electronics and firmware are being developed by User:Casainho (HardwareBox company) and will be commercialized on Ebay (including the releasing of source files) to worldwide 1 January 2011. The electronics and firmware will be released as Open Source that work with / and are fully compatible with RepRap software and others alike.

Advantages of this electronics

Just one board to control your RepRap 3D printer (can also control any other 3D printer);
Plug and play - you will receive it completed assembled and tested;
Cutting edge technology - ARM microprocessor of 32bits running at up 120MHz (no more problems like this one because because of slow 8bits used on RepRap);
Wireless communication using bluetooth - you will be able to use your PC or mobile phone as Android or Iphone to control your 3D printer;
RepRap 3D printer working as standalone - you will be able to copy a gcode file from your computer to the printer/board and it will start print, without the need of computer;
Heated_Bed and Mendel_heated_room support;
Ready to control 2 extruders - 1st extruder for print material and 2nd for support material as seeing here (thanks to ifeelbeta.de);
USB bootloader working as a USB Mass Storage device - you will just need to copy/past new firmwares to board as if is a USB pen flash;
Expansion header so you can add support for other functionalities like using a laser to engrave/cut paper or wood;
All the firmware is developed with OpenSource tools: ARM GCC, ARM GDB, OpenOCD JTAG Programmer/Debugger and Eclipse.

Closed source arrived to RepRap :-(

2010-10-04T02:02:00.000-07:00

EDIT: Finaly the source files were upload and so this message is totaluy wrong. Get the source files here: http://www.reprap.org/wiki/Generation_6_Electronics

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You know, Makerbot company rullez because they sell Open So+urce products. At the same time, we have RepRap project that does not sell his hardware and there are shops selling closed source hardware for it based on Open Source hardware and firmware from the project. PLEASE AVOID TO BUY FROM THEM: http://www.mendel-parts.com/

Their product page do not provide costumers with any sources for hardware and firmware, meaning it's closed source, although based on the Open Source from RepRap and/or Makerbot project.

PLEASE AVOID TO BUY FROM THIS SHOP: http://www.mendel-parts.com/

RepRap is the best however my shop just sells for Makerbot

2010-09-17T02:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I were on RepRap IRC Channel, to try find people working on "FiveD for Arduino" code.

The owner off MakerGear shop started to tell me that reifsnyderb mechanical parts for extruder are problematic and that even he don't own a 3D printer. Yeah, I know he don't own a 3D printer, however he is selling since many time on RepRap forum and on Ebay, and NopHeap adviced it to me.

Owner off MakerGear shop even started to talking about my opinion that "RepRap project sucks", which isn't true in her opinion. And I already wrote that I think RepRap provides the worst 3D printing solutions, because they are not accessible for majority of users. I think that Makerbot provides the best 3D printing solution.

Then I asked to owner off MakerGear shop that if RepRap do not sucks, why is shop just sells parts for Makerbot?? Everyone can visit the shop and see what I am talking about. Starting by the name of the shop "MakerGear" --> "MakerBot" :-) They just sell Heated Beds for Makerbot, for example.

This example is clearly for me why RepRap project sucks, because majority of users aren't able to build their own 3D printers, including the Heated Bed. But on Makerbot we have shops selling parts like the Heated Bed while not for RepRap.

Makerbot is ahead than RepRap, because we can buy or DIY the Heated Bed or even the Automated version! And we can also buy or DIY the 3D scanner!

RepRap is clearly beyond on 3D printing options, and since I know, there are no planes and/or no one working for an Automated Heated Bed or 3D Scanner.

Less DIY is better -- power resistor heater block

2010-09-15T12:16:00.000-07:00

Working the extruder heater using nichrome wire is cheaper for me, because I can buy it on local shop on a few different sizes. Another way to make the heater on extruder is to use that heater block from the picture (which I bought from reifsnyderb), which is more expensive and comes from another country.

Using nichrome is a "more DIY" way to make the heater, while buying and using a resistor and the heated block is "less DIY". I prefer the less DIY way because it's much MORE QUICK, LESS TROUBLE, NO CALIBRATIONS, to do the heater or simple redoing it when extruder jams.
We know that is a pain to build and setup RepRap 3D printer, there are a lot of troubles that happens in the path and so the more we can avoid, the better ;-)

I think RepRap should go with this heater block and using a power resistor! Just like Makerbot is doing. I hope reifsnyderb can continue producing and selling to RepRap community this bits for extruder, we really need his help and from others like him/stores/companies.Wade extruder

A BIG thanks also for NopHead, because I saw for first time on his blog this kind of extruder heater ;-)

Less DIY is better? -- no way! I really like the Wade extruder, because it do not use expensive gears which we have to buy from another country, we can do it all with simple tools like a file and a tap :-)

RepRap sucks -- it's the worst of all 3D printers in market

2010-09-06T14:41:00.000-07:00

First I wrote a mailing list message, after a forum message:

After many time building my RepStrap, printing parts for Mendel and finally build my Mendel, I asked on dev mailing list about "RepRap roadmap" -- there is no defined roadmap.

Because there is no roadmap, I can't know what will be RepRap in next 1, 3, 5 years. Will RepRap improve and be userfriendly, being useful for people? --- I don't think so, because none developers expressed that intention. It's clear not and objective and nor a priority.

If we go to market to find other 3D printers, we have Makerbot CupCake, BFB RapMan, UP printer, etc. Maybe that 3 printers are the well known in pair with RepRap Mendel. Which is better and worst? In my opinion, RepRap Mendel is the worst because:

- it's very difficult to access one because have to build it yourself and many problems arise, from mechanics, electronics, firmware and software. There are a lot of probabilities you will get some problem and you will take many time and money to resolve it;

- software seems unfinished, often crashes, is difficult to understand and is slow;

- there are a lot of confusion, because there are many stores and many options when you try to buy all the parts to build it yourself. Even now there is a new version of RepRap, the V3 which have different mechanics parts.

For me the best and cool printer is CupCake CNC from Makerbot, I wish I had invested my money on it instead on RepRap. CupCake CNC is userfriendly! You can buy it almost assembled and it just works, including the latest technology as Heated Bed. Almost every artist prefer CupCake CNC over RepRap Mendel, CupCake CNC is like the Arduino of 3D printers while RepRap Mendel is some obscured printer just for techies.

The only thing I like on RepRap is the self-replicating idea -- however is not enough if people can't access to it and use it.

And after some discussions, my conclusion:

I still think this sucks because there are a lot of people working but everyone is working for his side. OpenSource community may be big when compared with small companies as Makerbot, such a big community would be able to make the best 3D printer, no? but that is not the reality! A small company/group of people (3??) as Makerbot ended up with one printer more accessible than the one(s) made by RepRap big community.

The good thing is that they still are OpenSource, they can take advantage from work/development made by unorganized RepRap community and earn money :-)

I guess the same as UP printer (although not OpenSource) , they wrote that they follow RepRap community. I am sure they are selling UP printer for $1500 and earning a lot of $$$, they did lowering the price to be just equal to Makerbot CupCake CNC or RepRap Mendel. I am sure they can go lower, but as good business, they should sell at/earn the maximum as possible :-)

In future, I would prefer to work on an organized team, be it an OpenSource project or a small company as Makerbot. RepRap community is unorganized and for me that sucks because as I think/learned that RepRap have the worst printer(s) from market because of that unorganization.

FreeCAD for RepRap

2010-08-24T17:47:00.000-07:00

On a blog message from NopHead, he said: "Blender is a mesh editor, not a solid modeller so there is no way I will be using that for CAD."

So I went to test FreeCAD and it looks much better then Blender, at least for RepRap -- se here the video I did recorded as a demo:

Original file with "perfect" quality: FreeCAD_for_RepRap.ogv

Promotional video -- RepRap Mendel Geared Nema17 extruder by Wade

2010-08-17T17:14:00.000-07:00

I love the Wade's Geared Nema17 Extruder! I prefer it over official RepRap extruder, because Wade's extruder is cheaper and DIY :-)

Because I love it, I made a video to help people understand how it works. I also hope that this video helps promoting it :-)

I did recorded more videos, mainly showing X and Y axis working. I hope to put that videos on RepRap wiki, on X and Y axis build pages, so it can help people understand how axis works and so how to assembly them.

View the high quality original vorbis video file.

Print head comming to RepRap -- let's make our own Open Source 2D ink printer for print on paper, wood, clothes, PCB, etc

2010-08-03T12:35:00.000-07:00

That's true, the first inkjet head is comming to RepRap, which will empower us to make our own Open Source 2D ink printer for printing on paper, wood, clothes, PCB, etc.

How does it looks like?

The mechanical part, printer head:

And his layout:

The electronics:

So, there is also a nozzle with a hole that should be smaller than 0.1mm(to verify). A bimorph (a piezo like the ones on buzzers) vibrates at hight frequency creating pressure over the ink (or any other liquid) and that will make the jet :-)

For electronics, the piezo just needs a signal of about 50kHz or less, and with amplitude of 12V it should be able to make a jet of 15mm length.

Help needed to improve actual prototype

We need to make more experimentation, mainly to get even smaller nozzles holes and maybe using some valve to avoid the return of the liquid ink to reservoir.

We also need to design and print an holder for this head to RepRap Mendel, and right after to find a way to use actual software to create GCode paths and finally print :-)

The potential

The potential for this print head is BIG! Actual cheap printers ($50) on the market like the ones from Epson, HP, Lexmark, etc, just prints on A4 paper and lock us, consumers, to theirs business models! Usually a printer cartridge just works for 200 prints and the inside chip counts that number, the cartridge goes to "garbage" without being empty!!

But even the mainly window that the print head can open, is the cheap print over materials like wood, clothes, PCB (for making our electronic boars, a must!!) and even bigger size paper sheets!!

Your help

We need all the help possible. If you believe you can help, please start reading the wiki page: http://reprap.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Scratchbuilt_Peizo_Printhead
(yeah, I know the wiki page name is wrong, it's not "peizo", but was Sebastien Bailard who started that wiki page -- let's make fun from Sebastien :-) ;-)

There is also a forum message here.

The prototype and the idea is from Johnrpm! Big thanks to him for sharing and let's keep working together :-)

Plotting with RepRap -- making our own printed circuit boards ;-)

2010-07-26T01:25:00.000-07:00

I am being working to be able to plot my PCB with Mendel - READ HERE: http://reprap.org/wiki/Plotting

The problem is how create GCode from Gerber files... and for that there are a few tools... and I were able to create a 3D mesh on Blender (non-manifold) for the Gerber files, which mean I am now able to use Skeinforge :-)

I found also Staedtler pens that have 0.1mm and 0.05mm line widths, and that pens have pigment ink which should resist to etchant.

And right before I were trying to hacking 2 Epson printers and use them to print directly on PCB, using Epson DuraBrite pigment ink. There only problems is that printers can't feed correctly the PCB... -- I wish we could control the Epson inkjet header and put it on our RepRaps ;-)

Now I am looking for anyone which want to try the process and help! we need:

- testing the idea of Gerber -> STL (3D mesh) -> Skeinforge -> plotting;

- testing the "Gerber2RepRap" -> plotting. That code is in Java and is very simple at the moment, however the final code may be simple due to the simplicity of Gerber files.
That code is being done by a student of Bath University and should be integrated in the end on RepRap host.
Right now it just needs math code to fill the areas using a kind of shells (shells like Skeinforge).

BUG on RepRap firmware, RepSnapper firmware, Mendel printing :-)

2010-07-02T04:49:00.000-07:00

Mendel printing

I am being printing and testing enclosures for Lyre project:

Also I verified small particles of ABS coming from my Wade extruder gears:

I went and quickly printed new gears this time on PLA. I am thinking in printing all the Mendel pieces again in case some broke :-)

RepRap Firmware BUG for Hop

I took a few days digging on RepRap firmware, to understand it and see if I could resolve a BUG that appears when enabling Hop functionality on Skeinforge. Please read (and answer there) all my findings and see if you can help to improve RepRap firmware.

RepSnapper

Trying to print with my Mendel, I were trying to use for the first time the RepSnapper host software. I must say I have no problem for it be done in Java, even I would like to know such programming language and I were looking at host sources to see If I understand something.

Well, the problem is that RepRap host + Mendel seems to be slow... and then on RepRap IRC channel, Tonok told me to try RepSnapper. I am very happy with it! however just for control the Mendel, as the STL -> GCODE is far from better than the Skeinforge :-) so I still keep using Skeinforge.

I was happy to have RepSnapper working on Linux, I couldn't use it if was just for MAC OS or Windows. I did build it and it runs perfectly, I feel now my Mendel + host software much more responsiveness.

I was having many errors on USB <-> UART communications and Tonok told me to disable "Show temperature" while printing. Looks like RepSnapper sends commands to firmware/AVR to show us the temperature in real time while printing, and that causes errors on communications and introduce some little pauses on printing!!

So, if you didn't try yet RepSnapper, go ahead!!!

UltiMachine and clients, another victims of FAKE "Kapton" tape (sourced from DealExtreme ??)

2010-06-20T13:53:00.000-07:00

EDIT: UltiMachine now resolved the problem, thanks for being serious sellers.

---
Today at RepRap IRC channel there was another user talking about FAKE Kapton tape - he bought it from UltiMachine and I guess UltiMachine bought it from DealExtreme ;-) -- please read my last post about this subject: FAKE katpon tape from DealExtreme -- do not buy from DealExtreme!

Here the conversation on IRC channel:

-x303- hmm, the kapton tape thats holding down my thermistor keeps melting away
-x303- so im not getting acurate readings
-hypoon- x303: hm, kaptop tape isn't supposed to melt like that.
-casainho- x303: where did you bought your kapton tape?
-x303- ultimachine
-casainho- x303: read about FAKE kapton tape here: http://casainho-emcrepstrap.blogspot.com/2010/06/fake-katpon-tape-from-dealextreme-do.html
-casainho- x303: maybe Ultimachine bought it from DealExtreme, just like me ;-)
-x303- mabby
-hypoon- x303: I do physics research, and kapton tape doesn't melt like that.
-casainho- x303: do a test with a solder iron, as I did
-x303- ill do that right now
-x303- yep, my soldering iron went right threw the kapton tape