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Hello
When I connect my printer (makerbot gen4 ABP MK6) the console in RepG gives the following error: Toolhead 0: Not found. Make sure the toolhead is connected, the power supply is plugged in and turned on, and the power switch on the motherboard is on.
I have succesfully printed a couple of times before, and today all of a sudden this error pops up.
Can anyone help me with this problem?
thanks
Everything functions fine except for the heating and abp. the abp won't enable it's rolling and the heating doesn't work in the abp and extruder. still no ideas, anyone?
First of all, are you certain you have the correct driver selected? Probably not the issue but you should check anyway.
Next things you need to try involve opening up the electronics bay again. First check that all the cables (the cat 5 cable going from you motherboard to extruder controller) are plugged in and are plugged in correctly. I know you have printed before, but just make sure something didn't come loose. Make sure the power lead from the power supply is plugged in to the extruder controller. When you get the toolhead 0 not found message, it means there is no communication with the extruder controller. So, either the cables aren't all connected or it is not getting power. If you check all the cables and still get the message. Try uploading the firmware again to the extruder controller, this involves connecting a usb cable direcly to the extruder controller and then going into repg clicking Machine -> Upload Newfirmware -> Select the extruder controller and then click next. Select the version (there is probably only one listed here, 2.7). And then upload it.
If this fails, then you may have a dead extruder controller. You can examine the board for any type of burn marks or blow out traces, but often times you may not be able to tell by looking at it.
Good luck!
If you power down the bot but leave USB on the Arduino still gets power but the extruder controller does not. This leaves your bot in a confused state when you power on again.
Make sure you disconnect usb each time you power down the bot. And first power on the bot, then connect usb, then start repG.
ok thank you, i'll keep that in mind
I have updated the extruder controller to 2.8 and the arduino to 2.81 succesfully, while being disconnected from all.
I still get the same error message.
is there any way we can test the extruder controller to check if it's dead?
during update the extruder controller lid tx and rx leds.
during normal connection no tx or rx leds lid.
the 12 and 5 volt led lid green and the debug flashes red.(periodically)
The TX and RX leds are only used when the USB is used for the FTDI, they do not indicate serial coms between the two boards, that's a different connection.
Thank you but this does not really solve anything
I'm just trying to explain normal operation so that you're not looking for the wrong indicators.
From what you have said so far, the microcontrollers on both boards are working because you were able to update the firmware. This is a definite fact- the microcontroller is good because we depend on the bootloader to update firmware. If the microcontroller wasn't working-we couldn't do that step.
That means that the serial coms between the two boards is broken. Both boards have a
sn75176A transciever used to talk to each other over the RJ45 cable.
Things that could damage or interfere with that chip:
Possible short through the thermocouple to the extruder block and resistors (did you isolate it with Kapton tape or other method?)-normally blows the ground trace on the extruder controller.
Bad solder joints on the mainboard which could have changed with heat and time (many reports of bad motherboards-even one of mine was bad).
Being that it worked before and stopped-it's highly likely it was or is related to item 1 - short through the thermocouple. Because the themcouple is just basically a pair of wires, it's connected to a high gain instrumentation amplifier, but also tied to ground in the extruder controller board. If anything such as static to actual DC current from a short in the extruder will cause a severe ground imbalance in the circuit board-often burning up traces. this is why it's critical to islate and then even periodically check to ensure the thermocouple is electrically isolated.
The big problem is that there is not good way to test the serial coms between the boards without a known good set of boards. Unless you have a bus pirate handy and a spare SN75176A (only $.88 at Digikey), then you cannot see whats going on. I know that's not the answer you want but I have tried to explain the functions of the board as discretely as I can. We know the micro works-we don't know if the SN75176a does.
In the event that the thermocouple has shorted, what is the repair process? is the extruder controller fried?
I'm seeing the same problem, and this sounds like a possibility (though I insulated the thermocouple wires with kapton tape as recomended…
Have you tried (re)setting the toolhead number? I'm not at my bot to give you the exact steps, but when connected in RepG there is an option to set it to 0 or some other number (for multiple toolheads).
Yes I have checked this already and it is set to the correct number, 0.
No, I'm not asking what value RepG is reporting. One way to force a change to happen is to set the toolhead number to "1" then change it back to "0". …but check the electrical stuff first, as Jetguy's suggesting; that's the more likely cause.
An intermittent break in the Cat5 cable connecting the extruder controller to the motherboard could be responsible. Also make sure the cable isn't getting caught under and mechanically compressed by the power supply when you re-assemble the bottom panel holding the electronics. That can stress both the cable and solder connections on the RJ45 jacks.
I had a grounding problem between thermocouple and toolhead.
I did not see any damage to the extruder controller but redid all the soldings.
checked all connections with digital multimeter.
still no results.
tried to change toolhead index to 1 and this response appears:
[22:07:21] Setting toolhead index to 1
[22:07:21] Packet response code: Unknown code
[22:07:21] Packet payload: empty
after refresh:
[22:09:17] Toolhead 0: Not found.
Make sure the toolhead is connected, the power supply is plugged in and turned on, and the power switch on the motherboard is on.
I now recall that the problem started after interrupting a print from SD card by powering down.
Any suggestions?
I spent last weekend resurrecting my old friend CNDdrdave's cupcake, and I experienced the Toolhead 0: Not found error. As jetguy says, it means that the motherboard can't talk to the extruder controller.
The way I solved it was by using an oscilloscope and looking at pins 1 and 2 on the RJ45 connectors .. it turned out in my case that questionable soldering of those connectors cause a short from 2 to 3 on one of the MB connectors, putting +12 on one of the two differential lines. Luckily it didn't blow anything up .. I removed all four connectors from the motherboard, cleaned everything up, installed one back on and she powered up fine and I haven't seen a Toolhead: 0 Not Found since ..
A meter would have indicated the +12 short .. but a scope lets you actually see the bits ..
