With the introduction of the Mk4 units, we've also introduced a new way to command the 3D Chameleon and new expansion capabilities. In order to take advantage of these new features, you'll need to update your firmware. You can reprogram your electronics with the new firmware by downloading the new firmware (attached to this thread), installing the Arduino environment and then running the following command from the location of your downloaded (and extracted) firmware. "\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr\bin\avrdude.exe" -v -p m328p -c usbtiny -U flash:w:SelectorFirmwareMk3.1.
hex:i -C "\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr\etc\avrdude.conf" Please note, I am use the Adafruit USBTiny programmer, but you can use anything you choose... you'll need to update this command to reference your own programmer in that case. You can also use any operating system you choose, but be sure to also update the paths in the command to match your OS specific requirements. Be sure to update the "Bootloader" in the Arduino environment to insure the clock speed of the 3DChameleon is updated to the new Mk4 timing. Chris Riley did a great video on upgrading the 3DChameleon's firmware over on his YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7YNcXE9gfU&pp=ygUVM2QgY2hhbWVsZW9uIHByaW50aW5n Also, check out his step by step instructions here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-OkkDjHdcTeN9WLbiT6VLYRj_YzjyalHT2G0v7SsgG4 Don't forget to like and subscribe to his channel. He has other great videos on the 3DChameleon as well. Bill
Quick question. I don't see the AVRTools nor AVRdude in my Arduino setup. Is this something I need to get separately?
I'm looking for some clarification on firmware versions. I purchased my unit in December, and it seems to have the Mk4 firmware. Do I need to upgrade it? After I solder the headers on, can I plug everything in and it just works? Or is there and 'Mk4 Pro' firmware to make the screen and cutter work? Or are they out there as 'hidden' features? How can I check the firmware version? (I have a USBTiny that should be here tomorrow, along with the screen. Just looking for some guidance on the new stuff and a full step=by=step to enable it.
Unfortunately, I'm at a complete loss. I've done extremely minimal work with Arduino. I have a FTDI232 adapter, but have little clue how it's connected or how to interface the Aduino IDE to it. Chris's video does well explaning how to do it with a UNO board with Windows, but doesn't explain at all what the purpose of each connection is. I have no clue how one would update the Bootloader, let alone send the firmware to the device.
EDIT: I have the FTDI driver installed properly and avrdude does run from terminal. I haven't used it in a long time, but even then I followed step by step instructions without a clue as to what I was doing.
Any eta on having mode 3 preinstalled for production units? I may put the Mk3 I just bought on another printer if I can get this (Don't have an Arduino so no way to load myself atm). But I would like to implement this so I can have the Chameleon mounted to the back of my P1P and a single longer ptfe tube running into the printer through the back.
I've updated the parent thread to include the new 3.1 firmware. This firmware adds one more mode of operation, Mode 3. Pressing for 10 pulses cycles through modes 1, 2 and now 3. Mode 1 and 2 are unmodified (with Mode 2 being the default.) Mode 3 is very similar to Mode 2, except for that it requires you to press the button for the entire time you want the filament to load or unload. This allows you to have the Y adapter any arbitrary distance from the extruder/hotend. Your gcode would press the button, wait for your programmed amount of time, using the G4 S{seconds} command, which will tell the 3D Chameleon to load/unload for that distance in time (1 second = 1 inch = 2.5 cm.)
To enable it... just press the button until you get 10 pulses and a response of 3 vibrates. To switch to any color, press the button for that number of pulses... the selector will move to the previous color and wait. It's waiting for you to press the button to start the motion, and it will continue that motion until you release the button. The selector will then move the new color to load and again, pause... waiting for you to press the button a final time for the full duration of the loading. You must time this sequence to coincide with your extruder loading, so that they both occur for about 1" to get a good proper load.
I'll be making a video of it later this week.
Bill
Very excited about this new firmware!
Hi Bill, I have the MK2 and would like to upgrade to the MK3 including the new firmware. Can you put together a kit including the MK3 parts upgrade and the control board preprogramed with the new firmware. I do not have the parts or expertise to do the firmware myself. I'm in Canada. Thanks
Here's a PDF document on how to do the firmware upgrade on the 3D Chameleon's electronics using an Arduino. Many thanks to Laurence Bang for putting this together!
Also, if you need to revert to the Mk2 firmware, you can download this file and use the same command as above, but reference the Mk2 file instead. Bill