How to Set Up Marlin Firmware to Have Printer Use Whole Bed
Without a doubt Setting up the Marlin firmware editor PlatformIO isn’t the most logical for newcomers. Peculiarly as a requirement is to run PlatfomIO via the Microsoft Visual Studio Code software. Nonetheless this guide volition meet y’all through the initial steps of setting upwardly PlatformIO to edit the Marlin 2 firmware.
Whereas previously I have included the topic of installing PlatformIO for each mainboard installation. Even so there is only and so many times you can wright most the same subject. Consequentially it is time to restructure certain components inside newer articles. Hopefully the event volition make the 3D printing guides easier to find and follow along.
Software Downloads
Without a dubiousness to begin editing the Marlin firmware for your 3D printer y’all are going to need the right tools. Moreover when information technology comes to updating the Marlin firmware on the 3D printer, we need an editor. Furthermore this comes in the course of PlatformIO which is a Integrated Development Environment. Specifically this has many uses including editing firmware. However PlatformIO is not a standalone awarding, instead information technology requires another program to operate and that is Visual Studio Code by Microsoft.
Microsoft Visual Studio Lawmaking
Fortunately Microsoft Visual Lawmaking works on Linux, Mac and PC Operating Systems. Firstly let’s begin by downloading the software from
https://code.visualstudio.com. Once the Microsoft Visual Studio Code software is downloaded information technology is usually installed the same way equally whatsoever other software on your computer.
Installing PlatformIO within Microsoft Visual Code
As previously mentioned PlatformIO is non a standalone app and needs installing inside Microsoft Visual Studio Code (MVSC). If you haven’t already done and then install and launch the MVS application.
One time MVSC is loaded,
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northward the left hand side is a tool bar. Specifically there is an icon that looks like building blocks, click on the icon. Consequentially a search bar will appear, click on it and blazon in PlatformIO. A listing will now exist shown of suggested plug-ins, click on the PlatformIO IDE icon. As a result an extension folio will open to the right of the PlatformIO IDE icon, click on the install button.
Sometimes the install can have a little while to download and configure itself. Nonetheless it does give usa an opportunity to download the latest version of Marlin ii firmware for your 3D printer.
A indicate of note, do not close Microsoft Visual Studio Code while the PlatformIO IDE is installing and configuring itself.
Download Marlin two Firmware
Whereas we need to begin by downloading the open-source Marlin 2 firmware for 3D printers. Notwithstanding you lot have a choice of two locations from which to download it from.
Marlin Firmware Website
Firstly there is the Marlin website
https://marlinfw.org/meta/download/
where you would want to select the Latest Release. Information technology is also worth having a await around the Marlin firmware website with useful topics such equally the help section on
Thou-Codes, Commands, and what they practise.
Marlin Github
Alternatively in that location is the Marlin Github repository
https://github.com/MarlinFirmware/Marlin, which stores different firmware versions. But the most useful part of the GitHub is that you can meet a list of potential issues and problems that others maybe experiencing. Furthermore if they have fixed an issue this is released into a bug fix until updated into the next major build.
Importantly to download the latest release click on the light-green Code icon followed past download Naught.
But if yous wanted to download the latest bug ready version because of a specific issue. Then click on the 2.0x icon which cascades downwards and select bugfix-2.0, followed past the green Code icon. Finally click download Nada.
Chiefly with the Marlin 2 firmware downloaded extract and motion the files to a safe location. Such every bit My Documents on a PC. However if you are using a cloud based binder such every bit on an Apple Mac, this can cause issues with the firmware compiling correctly.
Moreover space is saved past removing the files from the estimator and storing them online. Merely when compiling the Marlin firmware the files tin can non be downloaded fast enough and give unexpected error letters. Thus its is meliorate to identify the folder and files into a folder that is not used by a cloud based system. For example the Pictures binder on an Apple tree Mac.
Loading Marlin into PlatformIO
Presumably at this indicate the PlatformIO has finished configuring itself within Microsoft Visual Studio Code. Importantly before we go any further close the MVSC awarding completely and restart the MVSC again. This ensures everything is freshly loaded from the new PlatformIO installation.
While the Microsoft Visual Studio Code (MVSC) is quick to load, sometimes PlatformIO tin have a flake longer and may appear not to exist working. Even so be patient and give it a little longer and it will load.
Despite this, when the PlatformIO plugin is loaded, click on the Ants head icon on the toolbar on the left paw side. As a result a welcome to PlatformIO screen volition appear. Chiefly to import the freshly downloaded Marlin firmware click on Open Project.
A new window volition now be displayed on the screen. Furthermore this window allows yous to find the Marlin 2 firmware folder that you recently downloaded. Moreover search and locate the Marlin firmware folder. One time you accept institute the folder double click on it to go inside. Furthermore you lot volition observe a file called platformio.ini and that the Open button has changed to blueish. Begin importing the Marlin two firmware past clicking on the Open button.
Importantly in social club to find you freshly imported Marlin 2 files you can employ the icon resembling sheets of paper. Notwithstanding if the files are non visible then click on the binder proper noun such equally Marlin 2 and the folder will expand, Revealing the files.
What files need editing?
In general there are 3 files that demand editing for Marlin firmware. However on the odd occasion at that place may be an boosted one or two files that are specific to the 3D printers mainboard.
Furthermore I have listed the location of the three primary files below for quick reference.
- Marlin-2.0.x/platformio.ini
- Marlin-two.0.x/Marlin/Configuration.h
- Marlin-2.0.10/Marlin/Configuration_adv.h
platform.ini
Withal lets brainstorm with the starting time file platformio.ini, which should be visible in the explore file list. For the most office in that location is only a unmarried line that needs changing within the platformio.ini file. Chiefly this sets the boosted libraries of code required for the mainboard.
For instance the image above shows the default_envs changed from mega2560 to LPC1769 for apply with 3D printer mainboards that utilize the LPC1769 chipset. Such as the SKR V1.4 Turbo and SKR E3 Turbo. Chiefly to check what environs to select, bank check with the manufacture of the mainboard.
default_envs = LPC1769
Well that’s great, you have downloaded and installed Microsoft Visual Studio Code and installed the plugin PlatformIO. As a effect you can now edit the Marlin 2 firmware that you have just imported into PlatformIO
