Is Smoothieware dead?

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jbasia

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Dec 13, 2022, 7:13:27 PM12/13/22
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Before I go out and buy a LPC1769 controller, is  Smoothieware dead?

When I go to https://smoothieware.org most links are dead. No search, no community, getting - , flashing Smoothie - all links are dead. 

Might hard to make a firmware with no instructions.

So I wonder if LPC1769 + Smoothieware is a good option in late 2022?

(but I am aware that once it's set there may be no need to fiddle with it for long)


Arthur Wolf

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Dec 13, 2022, 7:21:41 PM12/13/22
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There's a bug since having moved to a new host.

Links with a - in them don't work, some links display them as _. If a link doesn't work, replace any _ in it with a - and it'll work again.

I've been very busy with non-smoothie work, but I'll fix it as soon as I can.

Smoothieboard v2 is ongoing it's initial batch of production, after having been fully redesigned to use components not touched by the worldwide shortages, which took a lot of time and effort.

It's very much still alive, but LPC1769s are unavailable worldwide currently.

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jbasia

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Dec 13, 2022, 7:42:37 PM12/13/22
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Ok then, thanks for the fast response. My idea is more like just buying a LPC1769 controller board (that in itself isn't very easy, MKS SGen v2.0 - vanished from Earth, but SKR v1.4 Turbo is still available), und using that with Smoothie. From what I could find, creating a firmware seems quite complex though. Is it like Marlin, where you need a new compile for every change (which isn't that difficult with Marlin)? (I have to do a bit more research about smoothie...)

Btw, there are a few reliable places with LPC1769 stock. (Reliable means one of the big distributors, Mouser etc.)

Michael Anton

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Dec 13, 2022, 7:43:31 PM12/13/22
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Arthur,

It looks like there is probably a bunch of stock currently, so stock up while you can: https://octopart.com/search?q=LPC1769fbd100.  Assuming this is the part you use...

Fernando Corona

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Dec 13, 2022, 8:05:07 PM12/13/22
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I would recommend using RRF with the Duet3 boards. I use a duet3 6xd and used a duet2 wifi previously on my pick n place at work. I set it once and haven't messed with it since. Even when I swapped from the wifi to the 6xd all I had to do was copy over the files on the SD card and change the pinout mapping in the gcode configurationtext file. The duet ecosystem is plug and play and you can use any of the boards whichever is in stock near you. Filastruder and matterhackers are my suppliers of choice. With RRF all you change is gcode settings in a basic text document and that's it. I've used marlin in the past and it was a headache to recompile for a simple change. I can't compare to smoothieware since I have no experience with it unfortunately. 

Fernando


jbasia

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Dec 13, 2022, 10:07:08 PM12/13/22
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On Wednesday, 14 December 2022 at 09:05:07 UTC+8 Fern528 wrote:
I would recommend using RRF with the Duet3 boards. 

Why specifically with the Duet3? I ask because my current controller can do Marlin, Klipper and Reprap (but not Duet*).

Marlin does not work for me (yet, still trying...), Klipper and RRF I didn't try yet - but I am curious to try. Would RRF be a good choice?


 

Fernando Corona

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Dec 13, 2022, 10:47:31 PM12/13/22
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Reprap is for those who don't want to waste time compiling code and editing firmware just to make a simple update to the configuration. 

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mark maker

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Dec 14, 2022, 4:36:05 AM12/14/22
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Hi jbasia,

I don't understand. Are you asking about the firmware for a board that you already own, or are you asking for advice which board to buy?

If you are asking about Smoothieware firmware specifically, we only recommend and support the original Smoothieboard! Not any clones like the MKS. These are only trouble due to sub-spec and counterfeit parts, insufficient copper etc. Many have failed with OpenPnP as soon as the first high speed moves are executed (these boards might work for slow 3D printing, but not for fast pick and place). We warn against it in the Wiki:

https://github.com/openpnp/openpnp/wiki/Motion-Controller-Firmwares#smoothieware

If you are asking about what new board to buy, I nowadays recommend Duet 3D, as Fernando already mentioned. Much more advanced hardware/features and has top-level support in OpenPnP. It is fully Open Source and the board developers  cooperate with us, and accept our contributions for even better OpenPnP support.

https://github.com/openpnp/openpnp/wiki/Motion-Controller-Firmwares#duet3d

Once Smoothie 2.0 is really available and tested/adapted for OpenPnP, this will perhaps be another option. But I don't recommend getting one before we really tested it. Note that I had to modify the Smoothie v1.x firmware for good OpenPnP support, and these adaptations would have to be ported to Smoothie v2.

https://makr.zone/smoothieware-new-firmware-for-pnp/500/

_Mark

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Arthur Wolf

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Dec 14, 2022, 5:59:15 AM12/14/22
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On Wed, Dec 14, 2022 at 1:42 AM jbasia <china...@gmail.com> wrote:
Ok then, thanks for the fast response. My idea is more like just buying a LPC1769 controller board (that in itself isn't very easy, MKS SGen v2.0 - vanished from Earth, but SKR v1.4 Turbo is still available), und using that with Smoothie. From what I could find, creating a firmware seems quite complex though. Is it like Marlin, where you need a new compile for every change

No, that's sort of the whole original point of Smoothie, you configure it without compilation, just by editing a config file that shows up when you plug it in.
You should read the documentation/research the various boards and firmwares.
 
(which isn't that difficult with Marlin)? (I have to do a bit more research about smoothie...)

Btw, there are a few reliable places with LPC1769 stock. (Reliable means one of the big distributors, Mouser etc.)


On Wednesday, 14 December 2022 at 08:21:41 UTC+8 Arthur Wolf wrote:
There's a bug since having moved to a new host.

Links with a - in them don't work, some links display them as _. If a link doesn't work, replace any _ in it with a - and it'll work again.

I've been very busy with non-smoothie work, but I'll fix it as soon as I can.

Smoothieboard v2 is ongoing it's initial batch of production, after having been fully redesigned to use components not touched by the worldwide shortages, which took a lot of time and effort.

It's very much still alive, but LPC1769s are unavailable worldwide currently.

On Wed, Dec 14, 2022 at 1:13 AM jbasia <china...@gmail.com> wrote:
Before I go out and buy a LPC1769 controller, is  Smoothieware dead?

When I go to https://smoothieware.org most links are dead. No search, no community, getting - , flashing Smoothie - all links are dead. 

Might hard to make a firmware with no instructions.

So I wonder if LPC1769 + Smoothieware is a good option in late 2022?

(but I am aware that once it's set there may be no need to fiddle with it for long)


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jbasia

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Jan 5, 2023, 8:36:32 AM1/5/23
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Just had a look again, links still don't work. 

Basic question about Smoothieware, is there any PnP related quickstart guide? (OpenPnP has a very good one - but that starts with a completely firmware setup and connected controller)

Looking at the firmware, I see there is for 3D (with all the 3D stuff, no harm I guess), then CNC (but only 3 axis). I have 6 stepper, X, Y, Z, R1, R2 and one for the tape stripper. Is there any ready to use firmware for that? Or a PnP adjusted firmware?

And is a controller LCD required? Is the firmware for 1768 and 1769 same?

I like to look into Smoothie.

On Wednesday, 14 December 2022 at 08:21:41 UTC+8 Arthur Wolf wrote:

Arthur Wolf

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Jan 5, 2023, 8:45:41 AM1/5/23
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On Thu, Jan 5, 2023 at 2:17 PM jbasia <china...@gmail.com> wrote:
Just had a look again, links still don't work. 

Recovering from covid. Somebody offered to do the fix for me, but still hasn't had time to look into it.

Basic question about Smoothieware, is there any PnP related quickstart guide?

The documentation at smoothieware.org should apply to pnp as-is, and my understanding is the documentation at openpnp applies to smoothie as-is too.

Looking at the firmware, I see there is for 3D (with all the 3D stuff, no harm I guess), then CNC (but only 3 axis). I have 6 stepper, X, Y, Z, R1, R2 and one for the tape stripper. Is there any ready to use firmware for that? Or a PnP adjusted firmware?

 While we recommend you download and compile the latest version of the firmware yourself (it's really not difficult), there are also pre-compiled firmwares for all numbers of axes floating around, I know the openpnp community shares some frequently.

And is a controller LCD required?

It's not required, just something people like to have. The currently recommended LCD setup for smoothieware is a raspberry pi and lcd screen running the smoopi control software.
 
Is the firmware for 1768 and 1769 same?

The firmware is developped for the 69, it's is highly recommended you do not try to run it on a 68, though the same file will boot on both.



I like to look into Smoothie.

On Wednesday, 14 December 2022 at 08:21:41 UTC+8 Arthur Wolf wrote:


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jbasia

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Jan 5, 2023, 9:08:57 AM1/5/23
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Sorry to hear about the Covid. Got my 4th vax Tuesday and was running at S50 yesterday ;-) 

Sorry for being so stubborn, what benefit does the LCD bring? Most controllers have a plug-in LCD, but what's there I don't get from the OpenPnP screen? 

For CPU I would only look at 1769. Just got confused, I saw 1769 somewhere on the website.

Arthur Wolf

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Jan 5, 2023, 9:11:13 AM1/5/23
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On Thu, Jan 5, 2023 at 3:09 PM jbasia <china...@gmail.com> wrote:
Sorry to hear about the Covid. Got my 4th vax Tuesday and was running at S50 yesterday ;-) 

Sorry for being so stubborn, what benefit does the LCD bring?

I guess it gets you a way to move the axes/control the machine that is attached to the machine itself. It's about convenience.
I don't think it lets you do anything the openpnp software won't let you do, though I'm not an expert on openpnp so maybe somebody will correct me.



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mark maker

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Jan 5, 2023, 11:00:58 AM1/5/23
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Hi,

> Basic question about Smoothieware, is there any PnP related quickstart guide? (OpenPnP has a very good one - but that starts with a completely firmware setup and connected controller)

What exactly is the question? Still choosing a controller? Wiring diagram? config.txt?

If you haven't bought the controller yet, I also recommend you check out the Duet3D controllers:

https://github.com/openpnp/openpnp/wiki/Motion-Controller-Firmwares#duet3d

If you already have or still absolutely want a Smoothieware controller, please be sure to have read the warning about some clones:

https://github.com/openpnp/openpnp/wiki/Motion-Controller-Firmwares#smoothieware

Some info for my setup is here:

https://makr.zone/choosing-a-motion-controller-the-panucatt-azteeg-x5-gt-32bit/455/

(for this machine: https://makr.zone/pick-place-machine-first-simulated-small-test-run/66/ )

See why we need a special firmware version:

https://makr.zone/smoothieware-new-firmware-for-pnp/500/

The smoothieware.org page can be browsed via web.archive.org (consider a donation). Some useful links:

http://web.archive.org/web/20181117003156/http://smoothieware.org/configuration-options

This is for 6-axis config (disregard the compiling instructions there, use our 6-axis firmware instead):

http://web.archive.org/web/20181122231342/http://smoothieware.org/6axis


_Mark

jbasia

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Jan 28, 2023, 9:14:53 AM1/28/23
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I have some spare time and a LPC1769 board around. Just want to make sure I understand that correctly:

So I go to this page for some guidance:  https://makr.zone/smoothieware-new-firmware-for-pnp/500/

Get the 6-axis firmware.bin here:  https://makr.zone/firmware-2021-02-15-PAXIS-6.bin


and put the firmware.bin together with config.txt on a SD, boot, and that's it?

Is there any starter config.txt available? (for LPC1769 if that matters)




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