CooCheer Printer Update

[Kyle Granat]

I've been slowly working on the CooCheer (a.k.a. "Choocher") up and running after finding some melted connectors on it. 

Right now it prints and is much less likely to melt any new connectors. It still needs a little calibration and some more testing, but it's getting there. I should be in Wednesday night to work on it a little more.

I've put together some documentation on the changes I made here. I've also outlined some long terms things I'd like to do, like add a Pi/Octoprint to control the printer.  I also want to work on some documentation and instructions using Cura (I've been using Simplify 3D so far just to run tests) 

[Jaime Glasser]

Thank you Kyle for joining HeatSync, fixing and fine tuning the 3D printers and you and Kat joining us at the Art happenings! Thank you both for your help! I appreciate you both.

On Sep 30, 2019, at 4:11 PM, Kyle Granat <kyle....@gmail.com> wrote:



I've been slowly working on the CooCheer (a.k.a. "Choocher") up and running after finding some melted connectors on it. 

Right now it prints and is much less likely to melt any new connectors. It still needs a little calibration and some more testing, but it's getting there. I should be in Wednesday night to work on it a little more.

I've put together some documentation on the changes I made here. I've also outlined some long terms things I'd like to do, like add a Pi/Octoprint to control the printer.  I also want to work on some documentation and instructions using Cura (I've been using Simplify 3D so far just to run tests) 

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[Cprossu]

Me and jasper were going to modify it so the heated bed did not take current from the board anymore, and instead go through a (I think it's a triac or similar) board instead. I got as far as mocking up where it was going to go, but didn't go any further. Do not use the board to power the heated bed, and note that the wires I hacked on there should be a little beefier for what needs done.

On Monday, September 30, 2019 at 8:26:30 PM UTC-7, Jaime Glasser wrote:

Thank you Kyle for joining HeatSync, fixing and fine tuning the 3D printers and you and Kat joining us at the Art happenings! Thank you both for your help! I appreciate you both.

On Sep 30, 2019, at 4:11 PM, Kyle Granat <kyle....@gmail.com> wrote:



I've been slowly working on the CooCheer (a.k.a. "Choocher") up and running after finding some melted connectors on it. 

Right now it prints and is much less likely to melt any new connectors. It still needs a little calibration and some more testing, but it's getting there. I should be in Wednesday night to work on it a little more.

I've put together some documentation on the changes I made here. I've also outlined some long terms things I'd like to do, like add a Pi/Octoprint to control the printer.  I also want to work on some documentation and instructions using Cura (I've been using Simplify 3D so far just to run tests) 

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[Cprossu]

Looking at your docs, looks as if you have this under control, good deal! Have fun, that printer really does well when it's going right.

[James W. Clohessy]

Hi Kyle.  It was great to meet you on Wednesday.  It looks like you at least updated the firmware so the filament can be swapped.  Awesome!  Any other updates?  If you'd like some help, I've taken an interest lately :) 

[Kyle Granat]

Thanks James! I still need to do a proper write-up, but I was able to archive the old firmware and get Marlin 2.0 running on the printer. I started running tests, but had to leave before I got to all the tests and calibrations. I'm hoping to be in tonight(10/8) for a little while, and if not I'll definitely be in tommorow night (10/9) for 3D printer night.

I've also got a Raspberry Pi 4 with Octopi installed. It still needs some configuration, but I'd like to get that set up soon. I might bring my Ikea Lamp / webcam monstrosity until we figure out a proper webcam situation. 

[Kyle Granat]

Misread my calendar, 3D printing night is NOT tomorrow. I'll still try to get it soon to get the coocheer choochin. 

[James W. Clohessy]

I should be able to help out tomorrow :).  Did you make any further progress today?  Thanks!!

[Kyle Granat]

Yesterday I did some basic calibration and got the choocher printing again. The bed leveling still needs some calibration and I still don't trust the striating height mechanism, but I'm much happier with it now.

I also got the pi 4 hooked up. It's currerntly on wifi, I'll see if I can get a small switch so we can get it wired. Right now it has a 16gb card, I'm going to see about getting something bigger.

I'll document this and more soon, but in the meantime 

choocher.local

Linux user: pi

Linux password: hacktheprinter

Octoprint User : printer

Octoprint password: hacktheprinter

[James W. Clohessy]

Awesome stuff!!! I'll be around for open hours today.

[James W. Clohessy]

More CooCheer updates:

We achieved the successful use of Octoprint to operate the printer, from gcode created by Cura 4.5.  

We found that the Cura template for the Prusa i3 Mk2 worked great.  Comparing a print with the UM 2, it did a better job with this test (though filament quality is also a variable to consider).

Octoprint is a great option for loading and unloading the filament on the CooCheer. 

Octoprint also has a webcam hooked into it that works.  Having some way to remote into Octoprint (runs over http on an Raspberry Pi 4) I think would be awesome.

We did find some bed leveling issues, that could be warping.  In the front-facing, right corner, we get bad printing on the initial layer.  Adding a bed leveling sensor is our best solution to this (Kyle futzed away at the thumb-screws, but improving one side puts another out of alignment).

[Nicholas Lauer]

This is awesome to see this printer getting some love! I will say when I worked on it about a year or so ago, the aluminum sub bed is pretty out of shape, I believe one of the leveling screw holes was stripped(I think the back left one of my memory is correct) I think the leveling sensor is a great idea I have added it to one of my clones and it works excellent. I know back in the day Eric replaced the sub bed on the original Ultimaker maybe that would help here?  

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[Kyle Granat]

I definitely encountered the issue with the back left bolt - it was almost like the hole was tapped instead of through, so I bored it out enough to give it clearance. The nature of the leveling screws still makes it a pain to level as we found out yesterday. I'm also worried that its warped, which no amount of leveling will fix.

What kind of probe do you use? I only have experience with the BL Touch. It's a great probe in terms of cost vs repeatability vs versatility, but my biggest worry is that the tips can be easy to bend and that it might not be the best choice for an open hackerspace. My plan was to see what other coocheers/A8s/ prusas use and hopefully pick one that already has a good mounting solution, but if you have any recommendations I'd love to hear them.

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[Cprossu]

RIP Choocher.

Choocher was taken off life support and disassembled 05/06/2021 and it's (non frame) parts will live on in other 3D printers or robotics/cnc projects.

It leaves behind a roll of ice blue PLA filament. Public viewing may occur at the dumpster behind HeatSync labs.

Technicians said they couldn't fix it faster than it was breaking itself and made the final decision following a thermal runaway. Send all of your donations and wishes to Ender 3 who needs your support at this time.