Success is imminent...MK3S+ / CPQ / VAAPR

[rogiepoo]

Hi! I am on the verge of total success in setting up my MK3S+ with Octo's Continuous Print. Also I have the 3DQue VAAPR bed overlay which I have several months' experience with. My start code seems to work great, and I am able to write my own bed clearing code (uses the nozzle to knock of a part). However, what is happening is that after the first print finishes, after going home (correctly) it immediately goes into mesh bed leveling, skipping the cooling cycle. At this point, the print is still on the bed, yikes! Since my test print is very small, it is not crashed into by mesh bed leveling, and so it completes it and goes home. THEN the cooling cycle begins. [I have it set up so that when Y =0, a momentary toggle switch mounted at the back of the printer is bumped into. When depressed, this relay switch activates a low-level current which in a relay circuit, which in turn activates 115V current from a wall outlet to activate a powerful cooling fan. This works great; the bed & prints are cooled in five minutes. I can and will share setup info] Then it does mesh bed leveling again TWICE more, before moving onto the bed clearing script. It runs the clearing script, and then....drum roll please...it's time for mesh bed leveling! With an ice cold nozzle and bed, of course. When done, it homes with a Y=0 and engages the fan switch, while simultaneously attempting to heat the bed & nozzle. I have modified the start gcode (kept in Prusaslicer) to run the nozzle and heating sequence twice: once with the noz to 170C and bed to 60C, followed by a mesh bed leveling sequence, and then another heating cycle with noz to 240 and bed 60 (so no change to bed temp, just stays 60). 240 kind of high but works great for PLA I am using (PolyTerra Matte) and a VAAPR bed. This two step approach help prevents unwanted PLA buildup on the nozzle before entering the purge sequence followed by the actual printing of the part. So in summary, the start code works good, the clearing script is good, but I have a surplus of mesh bed levelings taking place, and I need to delete those and just get on with bed cooling followed by the clearing routine, then just go to the next print (which has the heating1, leveling, heating2 as start code). Where is all this mesh leveling coming from? Is this in the firmware for the printer? How do I get rid of it? Thanks for any and all suggestions. I am including my scripts and where I have them, as follows:

Start code, kept in Prusaslicer and added to the Gcode of each part that I slice:
M862.3 P "[printer_model]" ; printer model check
M862.1 P[nozzle_diameter] ; nozzle diameter check
M115 U3.11.0 ; tell printer latest fw version
G90 ; use absolute coordinates
M83 ; extruder relative mode
M104 S170 ; set extruder temp
M140 S[first_layer_bed_temperature] ; set bed temp
M190 S[first_layer_bed_temperature] ; wait for bed temp
M109 S170 ; wait for extruder temp
G0 X0 Y1 Z1.5 F3000 ; home all without mesh bed level
G80 ; mesh bed leveling
G0 X0 Y1 Z1.5 F3000 ; home all without mesh bed level
G1 Z0.2 F720 ; I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS FOR BUT IT WAS IN THE PRUSASLICER STARTGCODE
G90 ; Use absolute coordinates
M83 ; Extruder relative mode
G92 E0
M104 S[first_layer_temperature] ; Set extruder temp
M140 S[first_layer_bed_temperature] ; Set bed temp
M190 S[first_layer_bed_temperature] ; Wait for bed temp
M109 S[first_layer_temperature] ; Wait for extruder temp
G92 E0
G1 X200 Y10 Z1.5 F3000; Go to RIGHT of bed to begin purge line
G1 X225 E20 F400; Draw purge line
G1 E-0.8; Retract
G0 X225 Y50 F4000; Move quickly away
G92 E0
M221 S{if layer_height<0.075}100{else}95{endif}
; Don't change E value below. Excessive value can damage the printer.
{if print_settings_id=~/.@0.25 nozzle MK3./}M907 E430 ; set extruder motor current{endif}

End code. kept in Prusaslicer and added to the Gcode of each part that I slice:
{if max_layer_z < max_print_height}G1 Z{z_offset+min(max_layer_z+1, max_print_height)} F720 ; Move print head up{endif}
G1 X0 Y200 F3600 ; park
{if max_layer_z < max_print_height}G1 Z{z_offset+min(max_layer_z+49, max_print_height)} F720 ; Move print head further up{endif}
G1 X0 Y0 Z1.5 F3600 ; park at origin
M221 S100 ; reset flow
M900 K0 ; reset LA
{if print_settings_id=~/.(DETAIL @mk3|QUALITY @mk3|@0.25 nozzle MK3)./}M907 E538 ; reset extruder motor current{endif}
M104 S0 ; turn off temperature
M140 S0 ; turn off heatbed

Clear Bed, Fires on Print Success and Que Finished:
M104 T0 S0 ; extruder heater off
M140 S0 ; heated bed heater off
G28 ; home all axes
G90 ; absolute positioning
G0 X25 Y0 Z20 F3000 ; raise the extruder 2cm go to COOLING location at 3000% normal speed
M190 R27 ; wait for bed to cool to 27C
G28 ; home all axes
G90 ; absolute positioning
G0 X25 Y5 Z20 F3000 ; raise the extruder 2cm go to starting point at 3000% normal speed
G0 X245 Y5 Z20 F3000 ; go to lower right corner of bed, hold Z at 20
G0 X245 Y275 Z20 F3000 ; go to upper right of bed, holding Z at 20
G0 X215 Y275 Z20 F3000 ; go over to the left by 3 cm
G0 X215 Y275 Z1 F3000 ; drop down the nozzle to 1mm over the bed
G0 X215 Y5 Z1 F1000 ; slowly complete first wipe vector
G0 X215 Y5 Z20 F3000: lift Z 20mm up @ 3000%speed
G0 X215 Y275 Z20 F3000 ; go to top of bed, holding Z at 20
G0 X185 Y275 Z20 F3000 ; go over to the left by 3 cm
G0 X185 Y275 Z1 F3000 ; drop down the nozzle to 1mm over the bed
G0 X185 Y5 Z1 F1000 ; slowly complete 2nd wipe vector
G0 X185 Y5 Z20 F3000: lift Z 20mm up @ 3000%speed
G0 X185 Y275 Z20 F3000 ; go to top of bed, holding Z at 20
G0 X155 Y275 Z20 F3000 ; go over to the left by 3 cm
G0 X155 Y275 Z1 F3000 ; drop down the nozzle to 1mm over the bed
G0 X155 Y5 Z1 F1000 ; slowly complete 3rd wipe vector
G0 X155 Y5 Z20 F3000: lift Z 20mm up @ 3000%speed
G0 X155 Y275 Z20 F3000 ; go to top of bed, holding Z at 20
G0 X125 Y275 Z20 F3000 ; go over to the left by 3 cm
G0 X125 Y275 Z1 F3000 ; drop down the nozzle to 1mm over the bed
G0 X125 Y5 Z1 F1000 ; slowly complete 4th wipe vector
G0 X125 Y5 Z20 F3000: lift Z 20mm up @ 3000%speed
G0 X125 Y275 Z20 F3000 ; go to top of bed, holding Z at 20
G0 X95 Y275 Z20 F3000 ; go over to the left by 3 cm
G0 X95 Y275 Z1 F3000 ; drop down the nozzle to 1mm over the bed
G0 X95 Y5 Z1 F1000 ; slowly complete 5th wipe vector
G0 X95 Y5 Z20 F3000: lift Z 20mm up @ 3000%speed
G0 X95 Y275 Z20 F3000 ; go to top of bed, holding Z at 20
G0 X65 Y275 Z20 F3000 ; go over to the left by 3 cm
G0 X65 Y275 Z1 F3000 ; drop down the nozzle to 1mm over the bed
G0 X65 Y5 Z1 F1000 ; slowly complete 6th wipe vector
G0 X65 Y5 Z20 F3000: lift Z 20mm up @ 3000%speed
G0 X65 Y275 Z20 F3000 ; go to top of bed, holding Z at 20
G0 X35 Y275 Z20 F3000 ; go over to the left by 3 cm
G0 X35 Y275 Z1 F3000 ; drop down the nozzle to 1mm over the bed
G0 X35 Y5 Z1 F1000 ; slowly complete 6th wipe vector
G0 X35 Y5 Z20 F3000: lift Z 20mm up @ 3000%speed
G0 X35 Y275 Z20 F3000 ; go to top of bed, holding Z at 20
G0 X5 Y275 Z20 F3000 ; go over to the left by 3 cm
G0 X5 Y275 Z1 F3000 ; drop down the nozzle to 1mm over the bed
G0 X5 Y5 Z1 F1000 ; slowly complete 6th wipe vector
G28 ; home all axes

Bed Cooldown
Fires on Queue Finished, Print Success, Bed Cooldown:
G28 ; home
M17 ; enable steppers
M190 R27 ; bed cooldown to 27C

My Events, in the order presented on-screen:
Queue Finished (Fires when there is no work left to do and the plugin goes idle.)
Script: Bed Cooldown: G28 ; home M17 ; enable stepp...
Script: Clear Bed _(Prusa i3 MK3S+)_M104 T0 S0 ; extruder heater ...
Script: Finished M104 T0 S0 ; extruder heater ...

Queue Deactivated (no script entered)
Queue Activated (no script entered)

Print Success
Script: Bed Cooldown
Script: Clear Bed (Prusa i3 MK3S+)

Print Start (no script entered)
Print Cancel (no script entered)
Bed Cooldown (no script entered)
Script: Bed Cooldown: G28 ; home M17 ; enable stepp...
Awaiting Material (no script entered)

I suspect I may have some events out of order. I do not have the Bed Cooldown selected in the Behavior settings. Even if I had that though, I don't know why I am having so many mesh bed leveling events.

I hope I typed this up appropriately. This is my first post and I don't often post (on any discords very often!) and so I hope I am following protocol. If not, please advise.
Thank you for any and all suggestions / comments / direction.
Best regards,
Rog

[smartin015]

Just took a look at the VAAPR bed - that's pretty rad. Also the automation software they have looks quite slick for localized print farms!

If you're willing, could you contribute your clearing scripts via https://smartin015.github.io/continuousprint/gcode-scripting/#contributing ?

[rogiepoo]

Hi Scott, Scripts: Definitely! Will do. :) Quinly: I think their AutoFarm is where they are putting their efforts into. I saw that OctoFarm is also in the works. Since I only have a few printers, I can monitor them easily with just individual tabs. The VAAPR bed is second to none. This thing really works. Can't compete with glass on really fine details though (0.2mm stuff). Needs about 20C more temp than you would on glass to get good first layer adhesion. Thanks, *RogRoger Rasmussen* Coastmans Scenic Products (360) 820-3553 17 Hamlet Port Orford, Oregon 97465 website: www.coastmans.com modelmaking: www.coastalmodelworks.com email: ***@***.***

…

On Wed, Mar 1, 2023 at 6:21 AM Scott Martin ***@***.***> wrote: Just took a look at the VAAPR bed - that's pretty rad. Also the automation software they have looks quite slick for localized print farms! If you're willing, could you contribute your clearing scripts via https://smartin015.github.io/continuousprint/gcode-scripting/#contributing ? — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#210 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/A56POOQHOWV7U2QGIIKYV7DWZ5LQLANCNFSM6AAAAAAVITJMM4> . You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: ***@***.*** com>

[rogiepoo]

Hi again, I was trying to post on Git (I am very new to this) my clearing script. I was trying to follow your instructions and I got stuck on the gcode_scripts.yaml <https://github.com/smartin015/continuousprint/tree/rc/continuousprint/data/gcode_scripts.yaml> part. I see others have their scripts posted here in succession. Looks like the type of printer, model, etc populates in green text. I wasn't sure how to make that happen, or if that is something I do to keep the format going. I did go to printer_profiles.yaml <https://github.com/smartin015/continuousprint/tree/rc/continuousprint/data/printer_profiles.yaml> and my Prusa is on line 312. Prior to that I did create a new fork. Just not sure how to connect all this. Thanks! *RogRoger Rasmussen* Coastmans Scenic Products (360) 820-3553 17 Hamlet Port Orford, Oregon 97465 website: www.coastmans.com modelmaking: www.coastalmodelworks.com email: ***@***.***

…

On Wed, Mar 1, 2023 at 10:03 AM Roger Rasmussen ***@***.***> wrote: Hi Scott, Scripts: Definitely! Will do. :) Quinly: I think their AutoFarm is where they are putting their efforts into. I saw that OctoFarm is also in the works. Since I only have a few printers, I can monitor them easily with just individual tabs. The VAAPR bed is second to none. This thing really works. Can't compete with glass on really fine details though (0.2mm stuff). Needs about 20C more temp than you would on glass to get good first layer adhesion. Thanks, *RogRoger Rasmussen* Coastmans Scenic Products (360) 820-3553 17 Hamlet Port Orford, Oregon 97465 website: www.coastmans.com modelmaking: www.coastalmodelworks.com email: ***@***.*** On Wed, Mar 1, 2023 at 6:21 AM Scott Martin ***@***.***> wrote: > Just took a look at the VAAPR bed - that's pretty rad. Also the > automation software they have looks quite slick for localized print farms! > > If you're willing, could you contribute your clearing scripts via > https://smartin015.github.io/continuousprint/gcode-scripting/#contributing > ? > > — > Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub > <#210 (comment)>, > or unsubscribe > <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/A56POOQHOWV7U2QGIIKYV7DWZ5LQLANCNFSM6AAAAAAVITJMM4> > . > You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: > ***@***.*** > com> >

[smartin015]

Since your setup is a little bit customized from the base printer, I'd recommend adding your clearing script at the end of gcode_scripts.yaml, something like

- name: "Prusa i3 MK3S+ with VAAPR bed overlay and tilt setup from 3DQue"
    description: >
      Cools the print bed so the VAAPR overlay releases the part, then pushes the part off the tilted bed using the extruder.
    version: 0.0.1
    gcode: |
      <put your gcode here>

You're welcome to workshop the name/description a bit, I just wanted to give you an example.

You can skip adding to printer_profiles since your printer's already there - just send a pull request for the gcode_scripts file. Thanks!