[SOLVED] cp210x Module, usbserial & 3dprinting.

business_kid · 01-26-2021, 12:59 PM

I've a new 3d printer here, Anycubic Mega X My initiation in ongoing.

looking in lsusb, I get

Code:

Bus 003 Device 005: ID 10c4:ea60 Cygnal Integrated Products, Inc. CP2102/CP2109 UART Bridge Controller [CP210x family

Lsmod shows

Code:

bash-5.0$ lsmod |grep cp210x
cp210x                 28672  0
usbserial              45056  1 cp210x

which leads me to think it's on a usb serial port - is that /dev/ttyusb0? If not, what?

Anycubic only cater for Cura, which only writes to file. Is there any wheeze for downloading straight to the printer?

computersavvy · 01-26-2021, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by business_kid

I've a new 3d printer here, Anycubic Mega X My initiation in ongoing.

looking in lsusb, I get

Code:

Bus 003 Device 005: ID 10c4:ea60 Cygnal Integrated Products, Inc. CP2102/CP2109 UART Bridge Controller [CP210x family

Lsmod shows

Code:

bash-5.0$ lsmod |grep cp210x
cp210x                 28672  0
usbserial              45056  1 cp210x

which leads me to think it's on a usb serial port - is that /dev/ttyusb0? If not, what?

Anycubic only cater for Cura, which only writes to file. Is there any wheeze for downloading straight to the printer?

You cannot download straight to 3d printers. You can run the printer control connected to the printer from your PC (I use repetier-host) to process the .gcode file and print. If the printer has an sdcard reader you can put the gcode file on it and print directly.

Cura can easily take an stl file input, slice it and create the .gcode file, then control the printer and print it. I have used it, but I prefer to use the slic3r to slice the file to .gcode then use Repetier-Host to actually do the printing.

Some use a Raspberry Pi to actually do the printing since it is low power and easily able to handle the printer control.

And yes, the printer will be the device at /dev/ttyusbS0 or some such.

business_kid · 01-26-2021, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by computersavvy

Cura can easily take an stl file input, slice it and create the .gcode file, then control the printer and print it. I have used it, but I prefer to use the slic3r to slice the file to .gcode then use Repetier-Host to actually do the printing.

Thanks for the reply.
How do I control the printer?

I've been through the thing, I have it open as I write this. There may be a menu in a menu in a menu that I haven't checked, but it certainly is well hidden. I'll bet it doesn't know about /dev/ttyusb0. I can give repetier host a bash - tomorrow.

computersavvy · 01-26-2021, 02:58 PM

With cura (which I have installed from the fedora repo and likely you can do the same for your OS) when you open it up the 2 rows across the top have all you need.

The three buttons -- Prepare -- Preview -- Monitor --- are used in sequence.
The tabs below are where you set everything up.
Files --> you select the file to use (normally an stl file)
the next tab is where you select and configure the printer, including its connection.
the 3rd tab is where you select the material used and more
The last part is where you fine tune the printer settings.

Once a file is open with the prepare button you need to slice the image, then you can move to actually printing.

I would suggest you try the 3dprintingforum.org for assistance with 3d printing.

business_kid · 01-27-2021, 04:07 AM

Thanks.
I've just started a day long print, so I'll mess with it later. If this gets finished by tonight, it will be good.

business_kid · 01-27-2021, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by computersavvy

With cura (which I have installed from the fedora repo and likely you can do the same for your OS) when you open it up the 2 rows across the top have all you need.

The three buttons -- Prepare -- Preview -- Monitor --- are used in sequence.
The tabs below are where you set everything up.
Files --> you select the file to use (normally an stl file)
the next tab is where you select and configure the printer, including its connection.
the 3rd tab is where you select the material used and more
The last part is where you fine tune the printer settings.

Once a file is open with the prepare button you need to slice the image, then you can move to actually printing.

I would suggest you try the 3dprintingforum.org for assistance with 3d printing.

I had to abort the long print because it didn't stick. I hadn't cleaned the bed properly. I've gone through your description and I've attached the screenshot; I get the file open, it knows my printer is an Anycubic Mega X, I can slice it, but there's no "print" bit, just save to file. Maybe it's not included*in the AppImage.

Anyhow, it matters little, because the printer & pc are parting company. It's not ideal to have a printer stinking the place out and running all night. I have some 12-18 hour prints coming up (a lot of them!), so it is getting a more remote location where I will have to feed it by sdcard for the foreseeable. Thanks for your help.

business_kid · 01-27-2021, 10:52 AM

I grabbed the Source of Cura. I just have the Slicer, it seems. There's a big dependency list, but the one that jumped out was

PySerial - for USB printing

So I installed PySerial. And now Cura throws up a notice:

Code:

Print setup disabled. Gcode can not be modified

So the current plan is to get to avoid war over this 3D printing lark, move the STLs to gcode en masse, and fill the sdcard with them. Then visit the printer daily, and throw on another 12-18 hour print job.