New machine that is not communicating

Perfect, back on track, tomorrow is a new day.

Just seriously start at the top of the page and go line by line. Then have a look at all the pictures step by step for your board. It is pretty dense with info, I promise I do not add any words I do not need to.

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On the previous page, you posted a picture of a screen with a blue enclosure. If this screen is yours, then you do have a SD card slot, since these screen include one. You should have a rectangular hole on the left of the screen enclosure for it :slight_smile:

This SD card slot is actually very useful, I only use my machine with it actually, I never connect it to the computer (though I’m pretty sure I’m the exception here, most people prefer to connect with their computers).

Basically what that means is that you can do the following steps:

  1. flash your rambo board with the normal firmware of Ryan, I guess it is this one: https://github.com/Allted/Marlin/archive/MPCNC_MRambo_T8_16T_LCD.zip
  2. since your lowrider is a modded version, then it is possible it will have some slight differences with the standard one, so once the new firmware is installed on the Rambo, swith on your CNC, the use the screen. Navigate to "Prepare"->"move axis" and check that every axis is moving like intended.
  3. If everything is ok, then download the crow Gcode file here: https://www.v1engineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Test-Crown-12mms.gcode
  4. Save this Gcode file on a SD card
  5. Put the SD card on the slot on the left of your CNC screen, the click Print from SD. I suggest you to replace the router by some kind of soft pencil, you don't want to go straight up with the router since you have no experience whatsoever.
On a side note, I don't think the mods that have been done on Ryan's design are an improvement. The vertical structure seems weaker, but more importantly the Y belts are slightly at an angle, so the dimensions will be inconsistent and slightly off on the Y axis.Not a big deal for you though, first let's make that thing running, then get experienced with it and then you'll be able to easily improve once you'll be comfortable :)

On the previous page, you posted a picture of a screen with a blue enclosure. If this screen is yours, then good news, you do have a SD card slot, since these screen include one. You should have a rectangular hole on the left of the screen enclosure for it :slight_smile:

This SD card slot is actually very useful, I only use my machine with it actually, I never connect it to the computer (though I’m pretty sure I’m the exception here, most people prefer to connect with their computers).

Basically what that means is that you can do the following steps:

  1. flash your rambo board with the normal firmware of Ryan, I guess it is this one: https://github.com/Allted/Marlin/archive/MPCNC_MRambo_T8_16T_LCD.zip
  2. since your lowrider is a modded version, then it is possible it will have some slight differences with the standard one, so once the new firmware is installed on the Rambo, switch on your CNC, then use the screen. Navigate to "Prepare"->"move axis" and check that every axis is moving like intended.
  3. If everything is ok, then download the crown Gcode file here: https://www.v1engineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Test-Crown-12mms.gcode
  4. Save this Gcode file on a SD card
  5. Put the SD card on the slot on the left of your CNC screen, then navigate on the screen and find Print from SD card. I suggest you to replace the router by some kind of soft pencil, you don't want to go straight up with the router since you have no experience whatsoever.
  6. Finally you should end up with a beautiful crown, like a king. Pat you on the back and open a nice fresh beer.
On a side note, I don't think the mods that have been done on Ryan's design are an improvement. The vertical structure seems weaker, but more importantly the Y belts are slightly at an angle, so the dimensions will be inconsistent and slightly off on the Y axis.Not a big deal for you though, first let's make that thing running, then get experienced with it and then you'll be able to easily improve once you'll be comfortable :)

Okay started over from scratch in fact I deleted everything off the computer to start over. I downloaded Arduino 1.8.10 and unziped the MPCNC mini rambo file link, left Arduino closed and just double clicked on the .ino file. I hit verify before uploading it and this is what I got back:

Bootloader file specified but missing: C:\Users\Jeremy\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\rambo\hardware\avr\1.0.0\bootloaders\stk500boot_v2_mega2560.hex
Sketch uses 111998 bytes (43%) of program storage space. Maximum is 258048 bytes.
Global variables use 4678 bytes of dynamic memory.

Am I good to upload it, or do I need to reconfigure anything on the configuration.h or adv.h?

Also here is the dropdown to confirm I have the correct board and port to include in my device manager

Do you have a rambo or a mini rambo? Is the controller somwhere you can easily take a picture?

Mini rambo: https://shop.v1engineering.com/products/mini-rambo-1-3

Rambo: https://shop.v1engineering.com/collections/parts/products/rambo-v1-3l

Mini rambo. Here is the controller. Currently a blank screen because it is not flashed yet.

Hmm, That error should be long gone but no worries, You should be okay to flash it.

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The LCD you have is this one: https://reprap.org/wiki/RepRapDiscount_Full_Graphic_Smart_Controller

It looks like the sd card is right behind the cables.

Keep doing what you’re doing. I just wanted to point that out.

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Okay it is flashed. I am going to re download repetier host now. I am flashing zeros on the axis. What will be next after I download RH and EstlCAM?

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IMO, don’t even install Estlcam yet. Next is connecting with repetier and moving the axis around, making sure positive X is to the right, positive Y is away and positive Z is up.

Then load up the crown gcode, and press play.

What size SD card is that?

Full size. You can also use a micro or mini, with an adaptor.

FYI, The test crown is here: https://www.v1engineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Test-Crown-12mms.gcode

Got it, okay so with manually moving it with just the controller from the way that I took the picture my X is moving to right and left, Y is moving toward and away from me and Z is moving Up and Down. Is that correct?

That’s fine. When you are using CAM software, just imagine being on this end of the table.

Just to be clear:

The positive X is to the right, and the negative is to the left?
The positive Y is away from you and the negative is towards you?
The positive Z is up and the negative is down?

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Okay the Y is correct but the X is positive going to my left and the negative going to the right. Z is fine and it is able to be controlled from RH. I did all the setting accordingly.

I am also getting echo:DEBUG:INFO,ERRORS on the bottom of the screen when I control it from RH.

The echo is no big deal.

It looks like you have a checkmark for “disable motors after job/kill” still on. You’ll want that off.

If you don’t fix the x axis, everything you make will be mirrored. It’s easy to change the direction though, just reverse the stepper plug for the X axis. It will be easiest to do at the Mini rambo. Make sure the machine is off, unplugged, when you disconnect it.

There is a bit more info on it here:

https://docs.v1engineering.com/software/reverse-motor/

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Will I need to make any changes in the Arduino, or just change the stepper plug?

When I am done with that and I verify it is moving in the correct direction am I ready to load the crown gcode and test it?