DupI3

RAMPS-FD Conversion

Melzi to RAMPS-FD Conversion

This guide will help explain the steps required to convert from using the Melzi controller board to a 32bit processor RAMPS-FD board. More information on the RAMPS-FD board can be found on the Reprap Wiki

Some features of the RAMPS-FD board are:

  • Faster 32bit processor vs 8bit
  • More flash / code space for firmware improvements
  • Faster steps / mm without switching to step doubling or quad stepping because of interrupt constraints
Duplicator i3 Ramps-fd

The switch over.
by.Mark Rattelade (delukart)

Part 1.

Getting the right parts
..(all parts can also be found on amazon)

Part2:
Puting it all together

Putting it all together Part 2-1:
bringing your Due to life:

Putting it all together Part 2-2:
making sure all your jumpers are hooked up and set correctly:

under the x stepper driver make sure the jumpers are set correctly.
jumper for iorf and 5v logic should be set to the iorf side
as in the diagram further down in pictures.
also a jumper should be on the jp1 vin
(to power the arduino from the psu connected to the ramps-fd and not the usb.)
also notice the 12v 24v jumper just outside the x stepper.
the jumper should be set for 12v not 24v.

Putting it all together Part 2-3:
installing the steppers for X.Y.Z.E.
notice the orientation of the X.Y.Z processor chips in the pictures below .
(they face the power block towards the back)
the E. processor chip faces the opposite way.
(it faces the display adapter)

Putting it all together Part 2-4:
Mounting the ramps-fd to the due:



Putting it all together Part 2-5:

Putting it all together Part 2-6:
download the firmware:
Repetier-firmware-RAMPSFD-EEPROM with EEPROM Support. Configured for Geeetech v1.2 or earlier
(credit goes to james armstrong for this firmware and for helping us bring our duplicator i3 ramps-fd's to life. )

Putting it all together Part 2-7:
installing the lcd controller driver:
(search for your display drivers from the manufacturer and download them and unzip them).
next copy and paste the unzipped display folder into.
Program Files (x86)/Arduino/libraries(or wherever you installed the Arduino program in your computer)\\

(example--my display used U8glib drivers)

part 3.

configuring your repetier firmware:
(Installing Repetier firmware: RAMPSFD-EEPROM)

configuration Part 3-1:
connect ramps-fd to your computer from the programing port of your due.
(closest to the power plug).
(make sure you have the eeprom/stepper drivers/display connected)

also:
(plugging in the usb from the computer to the due will power up the ramps-fd motherboard)
(do not open the arduino control panel)

configuration Part 3-2:
open your unzipped repetier-firmware-RAMPSFD-EEPROM folder then look for and open.
src/Arduino DUE/and click on the repetier arduino file.
( the one with the green arduino icon).

configuration Part 3-3:
the arduino controle panel should open.
((now make sure your due and computer are connected and talking))

configuration Part 3-4:
go to configuration.h
and look for drive_system 1
(close to the top of the lines of code)
drive_system 1
change it to
drive_system 0

next scroll down to about half the page and look for:
ui_Printer_name “ryan”
change it to
ui_Printer_Name “d-i3” ( or what ever you want to change it to)

and right under that look for:
ui_Printer_Company “carlyle”
change it to
ui_Printer_company “Wanhao” ( or what ever you want to change it to)

configuration Part 3-5: (Skip this step. The Dropbox download already has it done)
go to pins.h
and scroll down till you see
/******************************************************/

 //RAMPS-FD board

//
now look a little bit further down for:
if Motherboard == 403
//if Motherboard == 404
change it to
//if Motherboard == 403
if Motherboard == 404

configuration Part 3-6:
now that everything is configured and your due and your computer are hooked up and talking:
up at the top left corner of the arduino control panel there is an arrow to the right of the check mark in the corner.
that is the upload button.
click it and wait..
at the bottom of the arduino control panel you should be able to see in red the system updating the.
due/ramps-fd/display/steppers/and the eeprom.

once it is done and says reset.
you can now unplug the due from the computer ...
your ramps-fd and due is now set up and ready.

Part 4:

soldering the existing wires from your i3 to the new connectors:

(always use heat shrink tubing over every soldered joint on every wire.!!!!)

soldering Part 4-1:
soldering the stepper motors:
all wires are soldered inline.
(start on one side of the connector and solder the first wire from your stepper motor the first wire of the connector.)
and the second wire from your stepper motor to the second wire of the connector. and so on.
(make sure not to cross any wires)
(do 1 wire at a time.)
(and label each new connector as you solder them)
you dont want to chase down leads all night.

soldering Part 4-2:
soldering the end stops and the temp sensors:
they are not polarity sensitive.
just solder one wire from the end stop to a wire on the plug .
then solder the next wire from the end stop to the other wire on the plug.

soldering Part 4-3:
soldering the fans
the wires are polarity sensitive and must be inline.
solder + to red wire on the plug and
solder - to black wire on the plug

Part 5:

wiring up the ramps fd:

wiring part5-1:

wiring part5-2:
extruder fan /cooling fan /case fan
the extruder fan connects to the extra mosfet (D2) terminal
the pla cooling fan connects to the extra mosfet (D12) terminal
the case fan connects to the aux terminal next to the x stepper driver

wiring part5-3:
installing the psu.
if you notice in the diagram the ramps-fd takes 3 sets of positive and negative wires to power the board.
they go to the 12-24v in rails for the board stepper power the heaters power and the heat bed power.

wiring part5-4:
installing the hot end and the heat bed.
the heat bed goes to the heat bed (d8)12-24v out socket.
and the extruder heater(hot end) goes to the extruder/ E1(D9) socket.

well now your all wired up …

part6.
voltage adjustments

voltage part6-1
adjusting your stepper driver trimpot voltage.
power up your printer and get out your digital multi meter out and set to dc volts.
(i set mine to 20 dc volts)
and your ceramic screwdriver(desighned for stepper driver trimpots).
now connect your negative terminal from your multi meter to the negative terminal on your powered up ramps-fd board.
then for each stepper insert the ceramic screw driver into the trim pot and touch the top of the trimpot with the positive terminal from your multi meter.
you are going to adjust one at a time the x y and z steppers to

X and Y 0.5- 0.6V
Z axis 0.5 to 0.55V

and the extruder stepper to
Extruder 0.6-065V

trimpot adjustments are.
to lower voltage is clockwise.
and to bring the voltage higher is counter clockwise..

(the trimpots are very sensitive and just turning a tiny bit moves the voltage a lot. so be careful..)

Now you are ready to hook up to repetier host to check and change any eeprom settings that you need to.
(like e-steps whitch are doubled now that you are running 1/32 stepps compared to the original 1/16 stepps) next level your plate..
now start printing!!!

Photos: