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@varazir
Forked from adelyser/biqu_bx_klipper.md
Last active June 15, 2024 19:20
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Klipper on the BIQU BX V3

Klipper on the BIQU BX V3

NOTE: If you have a V2 board/screen(HDMI),click here

First, a few requirements:

  1. You need Klipper setup on your Raspberry PI ( borad that support DSI) with your favorite control interface (Octoprint, Fluidd, Mainsail, etc..).
  2. Install the Drivers for V3 screen https://github.com/bigtreetech/BIQU-BX/tree/master/Firmware/RPi-Linux-RPi-7inch-DSI
  3. You need your favorite Touchscreen UI installed (unless you just want to run headless).
    • Use this to install all you need https://github.com/dw-0/kiauh
      • If you have a issue with the screen is black, press the smal button under the turn knob
  4. You MUST have removed the Z endstop physical switch. Not disconnected, but completely removed.

NOTE: CAN will not work on this board due to a hardware mis-configuration
NOTE: I2C is not quite working yet!

Ok, so let's get started.


Klipper firmware configuration

When configuring the klipper firmware to run on the BTT SKR SE BX board, there are a couple things to know about.

  1. Use the main klipper branch.
  2. In order for the toucscreen to work, you will need to set GPIO pins PB5 and PE5 to an initial state during the config
  3. Use the config/printer-biqu-bx-2021.cfg file for your intial printer.cfg
  4. Once you are setup, you will need to calibrate your sensorless homing: https://www.klipper3d.org/TMC_Drivers.html?h=sensorless+ho#sensorless-homing

Klipper Firmware Configuration

A note on connection methods:

There are 4 different connections you can make from the Raspberry Pi to the mainboard, 2 Serial and 2 USB.

Communication Interface

  • Serial (on UART4 PA0/PA1) <--- For v3 board/screen you need to use this

To use serial connections, you have to enable the serial port on the raspberry pi and compile the correct serial port for the BX mainboard. Once you have the serial port enabled on the raspberry pi, it will show up as /dev/ttyAMAx, with x being the port number.

Once you have it setup, your printer.cfg should then contain the following under the MCU section: serial: /dev/ttyAMAx, substituting the x for your port number.


HDMI configuration

As v3 uses DSI you don't need any HDMI settings

Drivers for V3 screen

Config.txt

Example on /boot/config.txt

Make sure this are in the config.txt file, some wil be added by the drivers installation skript.
[all]
dtparam=i2c_vc=on
dtparam=i2c_arm=on
enable_uart=1
dtoverlay=disable-bt
dtoverlay=vc4-kms-dsi-btt-bxv3-7inch
disable_splash=1

Slicer configuration

For your slicer, you need to call the PRINT_START macro instead of any preliminary gcode. The NOZZLE and BED temps get passed in as arguments. Some examples for the more popular slicers:

  • Cura: PRINT_START BED={material_bed_temperature_layer_0} NOZZLE={material_print_temperature_layer_0}
  • PrusaSlicer: PRINT_START NOZZLE=[first_layer_temperature] BED=[bed_temperature]
  • Ideamaker: PRINT_START NOZZLE={temperature_heatbed} BED={temperature_extruder1}
  • Simplify3D: PRINT_START NOZZLE=[extruder0_temperature] BED=[bed0_temperature]
  • Kiri:Moto: PRINT_START NOZZLE={temp} BED={bed_temp}

Klipper Functionality

Here are some notes on how I have Klipper setup and working quite well for my machine.

Touchscreen Sleep

The Touchscreen will go dark when the printer idle timeout occurs. This happens when there is not a print job in action and currently set for 5 minutes. Pressing the Menu Knob on the display will wake up the Touchscreen.

LEDS

The Neopixels are setup and will cycle through colors on bootup. I have the idle timeout set to shut off the LEDS when the printer is inactive. The LEDs automatically come on when a print is started or when the LCD is wakened.

Homing Routine

I have programmed a reliable homing routine that works well for me, however you can adjust or setup your own to taste. My routine will do the following:

  1. Raise the Z axis
  2. Home the X axis
  3. Home the Y axis
  4. Move the probe to the center of the bed (different than the nozzle at center)
  5. Home the Z with the probe.
  • When starting a print, additionally:
  1. After the bed reaches temp, the printer waits for 90 seconds with the probe close to the bed to warm up the probe.
  2. Steps 1-5 are repeated with a warm probe
  3. Move to the origin to start the print.
@varazir
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varazir commented Jun 1, 2024

the cable is like this on the board
image

@Cracoukas
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Yes, it's a RPi4 B / 2018, the red wire on the 5V.
Using Octoprint to control the printer flashed with Marlin it used to work, so I guess the connection through the TFT70 is functional

@Cracoukas
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I am wondering if it could be possible to bypass the TFT70 board and connect the PI to the printer using the USB ports ?
I am also considering switching to a Manta board, may be easyer to get working with Klipper ?

@Cracoukas
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Cracoukas commented Jun 15, 2024

I am now able to connect to the MCU using using pin 6-8-10 of the PI and the TFT pins of the SKR-SE-BX-V3.0 (crossing Rx and Tx).
The TFT display is useless (just to confirm that the MCU is flashed correctly).

and configuring serial USART1 PA10/PA9

@varazir
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varazir commented Jun 15, 2024

I am now able to connect to the MCU using using pin 6-8-10 of the PI and the TFT pins of the SKR-SE-BX-V3.0 (crossing Rx and Tx). The TFT display is useless (just to confirm that the MCU is flashed correctly).

Strange that you need to do that.
Well it's not the best screen. I have issue that it's all white until it's "warm"

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