Auto-leveling, Firmware, updating component/software - several questions. Is there anyone out there to help?

[Kelsey Taylor]

Originally, we got this Lorei DUO set up and going (briefly) and then it has sat for a few years. I am NO 3D printer expert and now that time has passed, I don't know how to update this machine to make it functional and productive. I will try to lay out some of my questions and if anyone can answer any component of them, I would greatly appreciate it! 

- Auto-leveling is a disaster, this seems to be a common issue with Marlin (across all 3D printers). I have a couple of ideas based on research: 
         - We never updated Marlin. Should I do that? If so, how do I go about doing that without bricking the machine. 
         - Upgrade the inductive sensor to the BLTouch, but it looks like that needs the most recent edition of Marlin and again, I'm afraid of bricking the machine. 

         - Or is there a way to safely turn off the auto-leveling and rely solely on manual leveling. I have no clue how to get this into the G-code or Marlin. 

         - I have tried a lot of things and no matter what I do, the bed side closest to the display is too low for filament to properly adhere and the side furthest from the display is too close to let filament come out. I am frustrated because the day before, everything was working well enough to run prints. 

- Is it worth it to move to Simply3D over Cura? We are currently using Cura 15.04.6. I am terrified to use the updated Cura as I don't know how to get all the gcode and whatnot into the newest Cura to make the machine run. If anyone has any suggestions on updating Cura OR getting Simply3D, I am all ears. 

- Are there any component upgrades that are a MUST (and how do I go about doing that)? 

I feel like a complete idiot when it comes to this stuff, but I have spent the last 3 full days fighting with this machine and I don't feel like I can justify getting a new machine when I believe this one can work if the auto-leveling would work properly, even if it means staying in an outdated version of Cura and not upgrading components! 

Thank you in advance to anyone who can answer ANY part of these questions and help in any way! 

[Kevin Price]

I feel this story. I have had mine for awhile too and just let it sit.  It never wanted to perform from the beginning.  My bed plate is warped couple that with the crap bed leveling system and non adjustable nozzle heights and it is just a nightmare. I ended up just getting some creality machines recently so that I can print and not go crazy.  I treat the xmachine as more of a project machine to learn on and have been slowly making changes to it as I can. Scott Ebersole made quite a few mods for this machine and my Creality printers are working on those as we speak.  Most significantly is the adjustable nozzle height mod.  I would look at getting that one but you will need a functioning printer to make them.   

For coding I use simplify 3d because they made a profile for this printer.  I have recently been messing with Cura to achieve the same results and have had good success.  The manuals and information you need to set up Cura are downloadable in this group.  All the documentation that orig came with the printer is here and is a good reference.

I have considered changing the board out to an SKR with silent steppers.  I am not as worried about bricking that but I am still trying to figure out how to load the right profile/pinout to it.  More research to go. 

 I will be interested to see where your machine gets you.  Fucntionaly I have been able to get mine to print with only a single head and dual head with two models in two colors but a combined 2 color model just wont come together due to offset issues etc.

[Kelsey Taylor]

Thank you, Kevin. 

Are you using the most updated version of Simplify3D? Is it set up for dual color printing (I know you're having trouble with the actual printout of 2 colors)? I have all the Cura stuff set up and working (it's the version that was used when we set up the machine years ago after receiving it and I'm too afraid to change anything!). 

To be honest, I have no idea what adjustable/non-adjustable nozzle heights mean for the functionality of the print (I didn't know that was an option and have not researched that avenue). Nor do I comprehend how to make upgrades to the machine (especially if it means making changes to Marlin or the gcode). My husband is a product designer and learned 3D printing his 3D models in college and I'm just someone who likes arts and crafts and tinkering as a hobby. Everything I have learned I have read and tried to comprehend. Neither of us are good at the coding aspect or building from the ground up. We could do it with the right information, but I'm not sure how to go about how to find the right information to build off this machine (which I would prefer to do rather than build from the ground up or get a new machine). 

I am truly envious of people who have been able to make incredible modifications to their machines! I am really impressed and would love to learn how to do that one day! I've read through most of the posts on this board and sometimes I feel like I am reading a different language. Maybe one day I will get there. 

I'm spending a lot of hours reading on different things and researching. I feel like I've hit a plateau or a brick wall of sorts and am ready to move past it. 

We've had the machine running for the last 2 days to make a few small things. The area that is actually functional to print on is probably 9" of the Y-axis and 5" of the X-axis. The auto leveling system is doing a horrible job with creating a consistent first layer and tears the material off the plate on the left side if we aren't careful how far over we print on. It's just registering too far away from the glass. Unfortunately, it has to be in the auto-leveling system or the sensor. I have done everything in every video and article in regards to leveling. Mathematically, every angle and measurement should indicate a perfect print. It's just not printing that way. I just am really confused on how to upgrade the sensor and still keep the machine running through updating gcodes and Marlin. 

Thank you, again!

[Kevin Price]

Honestly, this is not the machine to learn on in my opinion.  There isnt a support community for this printer anymore.  The board is old tech and the software it is running is outdated.  New boards already have boot loaders on them which removes the need to to get a rasberypi etc. 

The version marlin this is running has a very limited and not very good version of autolevel IMO.  It has had very weird results for me.

Honestly, I think your best bet is to get a Creality Ender 3 for like 179$ and learn on that.  Huge support community and cheap.  It even prints better then my xmachine does currently.  Compare that to the cost of a new board and upgraded sensor for the Xmachine and it is a win.  Once you get that machine figured out come back to the X and give it another try. 

I treat my Xmachine like a side project as it has been an insane journey for me to figure out. My Creality printers are what gave me faith that I could run these machines again.

On mine I have finally finished printing all the pieces to start replacing the entire X axis.  I also ordered and printed all the parts to replace the Y axis. Having used other design printers I can now see why some of the things Xmachines did does not work to my liking. Like the offset bed, 20mm wide y rail, 4 wheel tiny wheel guide for the Y axis, lack of spring bed leveling, advertised 12x12x12 print area when its far less, single arm supported X gantry.... lots of things i dont like but I am rambling...