Sailfish firmware and Makerware ?

[Younes Duret]

Hello everyone!
I have a Replicator2 and the install guide of the Sailfish firmware at this link http://www.makerbot.com/sailfish/install/ is a bit obsolete...
So I have a few newbe questions regarding this firmware and I hope you guys can help me.

1 - Can I install Sailfish with Makerware or just with ReplicatorG?

2 - Does Sailfish work with makerware or only with ReplicatorG once installed?

3 - In your opinion, what is the greatest benefit of the Sailfish firmware?

Thx for your help

[Dan Newman]

On 2 Mar 2013 , at 1:37 PM, Younes Duret wrote:

> Hello everyone!
> I have a Replicator2 and the install guide of the Sailfish firmware at this
> link http://www.makerbot.com/sailfish/install/ is a bit obsolete...
> So I have a few newbe questions regarding this firmware and I hope you guys
> can help me.
>
> 1 - Can I install Sailfish with Makerware or just with ReplicatorG?

Why would you want to install it with MakerWare? RepG is known to work.
The authors of Sailfish -- Jetty and myself -- do not presently use
Makerware and as such do not test downloading the firmware with MW.

> 2 - Does Sailfish work with makerware or only with ReplicatorG once
> installed?

Many users have reported that Sailfish works with Makerware.

> 3 - In your opinion, what is the greatest benefit of the Sailfish firmware?

Better print quality and more advanced features.

Dan

[Mike Gervasi]

My personal experience has been with Sailfish firmware and RepG for Sailfish. I've had nothing but bad prints with Makerware.

As far as the greatest benefit, there is CONSTANT improvements and upgrades of the Sailfish "products". Add to that the fact that you can get direct support and questions answered by the people who created it right here (or the Jetty Firmware Forum).

For me it's a no brainer. MBI manufacture the Replicator but Dan and Jetty MAKE the Replicator.

[Eighty]

+1, Mike.

 

I can't say enough about how much Jetty and Dan have done for the community.  They are constantly improving the firmware (I've downloaded half a dozen new beta versions in the past few weeks), and they keep an eye on every single issue that pops up.  You want software/firmware support for your product when MakerBot moves on to the next best thing?  Sailfish.

 

But aside from that, you'll find that Saifish gives you a ton of options on the bot.  It's not a dumbed-down version - and you'll need to educate yourself on what makes your bot tick before diving in.  If ReplicatorG scares you, then Sailfish might not be the best option.  On the other hand, if you're looking to improve your machine - and you're not afraid of the process - then do it.  You will NOT be disappointed. 

[Dan Newman]

Thanks for the kind words everyone and, as per wingcommander's and others recent
suggestion,

Linux: https://www.dropbox.com/s/31o31tm7pogq8kn/replicatorg-0040r10-linux.tgz
OS X: https://www.dropbox.com/s/6txtclghidriyzm/replicatorg-0040r10-mac.dmg
Windows: https://www.dropbox.com/s/q11y70oer50bipv/replicatorg-0040r10-windows.zip

These RepGs default to x3g for writing files. Yipee! No other changes.

Dan

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[KM Design]

Awesome!

Kevin

[Younes Duret]

Thanks guys!

It feels like I'm gonna jailbreak my replicator with the Sailfish Firmware :) 

Are there any tutorial videos on youtube on how to install and configure replicatorG for Sailfish?

Anyway, I'm glad to know there's such a great community I can count on if I have any problem!

[Dan Newman]

On 3 Mar 2013 , at 6:59 AM, Younes Duret wrote:

> Thanks guys!
>
> It feels like I'm gonna jailbreak my replicator with the Sailfish Firmware
> :)
> Are there any tutorial videos on youtube on how to install and configure
> replicatorG for Sailfish?

Not that I'm aware of. But there is

http://www.makerbot.com/sailfish/install/

Dan

[Younes Duret]

Thank you dnewman for your support.

One other question tho. Which firmware should I install on my Rep2? I've got 3 possibilities:
7.1(r895)
7.1(r895s)
7.1(r895b)

[funmakerBart]

A question, I think I bricked my Mightyboard during a firmware upgrade. 

Although I have done it literary more then 30 times without problems, I must have taken a wrong turn, like a wrong machine selected, a wrong RepG with the wrong machine settings. 

I recall to have Makerware open (although I think the conveyor stopped) and used RepG to upload the firmware.

I'm a surely a beginner with 3D printing, but surely known with a lot of aspects as well.

My point is: the naming is a lot alike with the Replicator Machines. Replicator dual and Replicator 2X has the seem 'feeling '. 

When it's possible to brick your Mightyboard on certain circumstances, just by chosen a wrong machine, isn't it possible to make a feature only to upgrade the firmware belonging to your specific machine?

Or am I a victim of specific circumstances and own stupidity? (no answer to the last one please).

Bart

[Jetguy]

"One other question tho. Which firmware should I install on my Rep2?
I've
got 3 possibilities:
7.1(r895)
7.1(r895s)
7.1(r895b) "

Well, if you click on each one, it shows more info to the right
explaining the specific features to that version-AKA self explanatory.
You were just too scared to click.

[funmakerBart]

Clicking is dangerous! Better save then sorry. At the moment I'm happy only staring at my replicator.

[Younes Duret]

Yep Jetguy... I prefer to ask stupid questions rather than having problems with my Rep2
The one thing I learnt with this machine is that it works thanks to a sweet harmony of many factors... so I am very cautious :)

I want to install Sailfish on my Rep2 because from what I read it will improve the quality of the print and the Rep2 will give me more info and option.

I'll give my comments once installed.

Finger crossed :)

[Jetguy]

Sorry if I implied they were stupid questions, not my intent. I had a
short time to answer your question but wanted to attempt to give you
what info I could given the time.

> > > >> Dan- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Dan Newman]

On 4 Mar 2013 , at 10:02 AM, funmakerBart wrote:

> A question, I think I bricked my Mightyboard during a firmware upgrade.
>
> Although I have done it literary more then 30 times without problems, I
> must have taken a wrong turn, like a wrong machine selected,

Putting the wrong bot's firmware on won't brick it. It won't work. However,
the bootloader would still be present and you could then load on the correct
firmware. Your bootloader isn't working so your problem is that the bootloader
got nuked somewhere along the way. Doing lots of resets and reload attempts
can do that.

So, there's some chance that you accidentally put the Rep 2 firmware on your Rep 1.
Then the bot would not have operated correctly and you would not even have seen
anything on the LCD display. But, you still would have been able to load new
firmware as the bootloader would still have been intact.

Dan

[Dan Newman]

On 4 Mar 2013 , at 9:09 AM, Younes Duret wrote:

> Thank you dnewman for your support.
>
> One other question tho. Which firmware should I install on my Rep2? I've
> got 3 possibilities:
> 7.1(r895)
> 7.1(r895s)
> 7.1(r895b)

As you select each one in RepG, a description appears on the right. Read the
description and decide for yourself which you want to use. You likely don't
need the "b" variant.

Dan

[Dan Newman]

On 4 Mar 2013 , at 11:19 AM, funmakerBart wrote:

> Clicking *is* dangerous! Better save then sorry. At the moment I'm happy

> only staring at my replicator.

I hope you're joking. In RepG at least, there's two more screen before a
download starts.

1. Pick the bot type
2. Pick the specific firmware release & rev. Here's where you can see
the descriptions.
3. Pick the USB port
4. Click upload

You're safe up to and including 3. For Cupcakes, ToMs, and Rep 1's, you're
even safe with 4 since you have to press the reset button.

Dan

[Younes Duret]

Merci Dan et Jetguy!

I installed Sailfish on my Rep2... and I had the WOW effect!!!
I didn't expect to have something that good!
Just the fact to change the speed during prints made my day :)
I went through the firmware and all that I saw was a game-changer
I'm curious to know why MBI didn't put all those improvements in their firmware? I just ask myself this question because we can't say that Sailfish offers something different from the MBI firmware but something MUCH better... ?!

So I wanted to go further and try the speed inprovement of Sailfish...

After fighting to install Pypy, I played with the Skeinforge settings as you discribe here http://www.makerbot.com/sailfish/setup/

WOW (again)... my print are going more than 30% faster than before... and the quality of the prints are MUCH better... It's like having a new printer...

So I have few more questions:
1 - I'm not really comfortable with the setup of Skeinforge, do you know some Skeinforge slicer profiles that I can download and that are setup to work with Sailfish? It will be helpful for me to understand more on how it works.
2 - Does Sailfish will increase the speed and the quality of the print if I use Makerware slicer or does it only work with Skeinforge slicer?
3 - The fact that the machine works faster and therefore use more the mechanic, will it reduce the life time of the machine?

Thx for the support!

[Dan Newman]

> So I have few more questions:
> 1 - I'm not really comfortable with the setup of Skeinforge, do you know
> some Skeinforge slicer profiles that I can download and that are setup to
> work with Sailfish? It will be helpful for me to understand more on how it
> works.

The default Rep 2 slicing profile works pretty well. Just either

1. Turn off deprime in the firmware (using RepG's Machine > Onboard Prefs), or
2. Set retraction distance to 0 mm in SF's Dimension plugin.

whpthomas has done some experimentation and found large values of deprime
(around 64 if I recall correctly) to work well for him.

> 2 - Does Sailfish will increase the speed and the quality of the print if I
> use Makerware slicer or does it only work with Skeinforge slicer?

Sailfish works with either MakerWare of Skeinforge. For small layer heights,
most folks seem to be reporting better results with Skeinforge. I'm sure
that will change as MiracleGrue -- the slicer in MakerWare -- matures.

> 3 - The fact that the machine works faster and therefore use more the
> mechanic, will it reduce the life time of the machine?

No, unless you go really fast WITHOUT acceleration enabled. Indeed,
with acceleration, the bot actually has a smoother go at life than
without it.

Dan

[Younes Duret]

Thank you Dan for your support and for answering to all my questions!

[khan]

Hi Guys!
Salut Younes!

I recently received my Replicator 2X and I wanted to know before I get more in depth if Sailfish allows you to choose which extruder you want to use (left / right) and if it allows pausing / changing filament / resuming?
Thanks for your answers.

[Dan Newman]

On 28 May 2013 , at 5:25 PM, khan wrote:

> Hi Guys!
> Salut Younes!
>
> I recently received my Replicator 2X and I wanted to know before I get more
> in depth if Sailfish allows you to choose which extruder you want to use
> (left / right)

You select that either when you slice or after you slice. Well, RepG at least
has an option to switch the extruder. You would then regenerate the x3g file
and print that.

You could, I suppose, turn on ditto printing and remove the filament from the
extruder you do not want to use. But then, if you've been careful and calibrated
each extruder separately you end up with the calibration for which ever extruder
you generated the x3g for. Which is exactly why doing this on the bot *after*
you generated the x3g is not a good idea except for runs you do not care about.

> and if it allows pausing / changing filament / resuming?

Yes.

Dan

[Mike Cameron]

I personally hate the limitations of ReplicatorG... If I am printing a square object, there seems to be no rotate commands to align a straight side with the print axis. This results in the edges layong on an angle to the X and Y which makes for lackluster results when trying to get clean-edged squares. I'll be trying sailfish with Makerware... if anyone has had experience with Maerware/Sailfish/Flashforge Creator I'd love some advice!

[Gregory Sullivan]

not sure if I get your point so all I can add is are you sure your xy are a perfect 90 degrees