Photon problems...

[AlwaysSolutions]

Looks like you can set your firmware to 5.0.2 and it'll read the .photon files:  https://www.reddit.com/r/AnycubicPhoton/comments/hyz2om/brand_new_photon_having_issues_firmware_chitubox/

[Chris333]

When you say delete all files from the machine. Do you mean the firmware?

I already tried deleting the sliced files on the USB and renaming them.

[rodsup9000]

When you say delete all files from the machine. Do you mean the firmware?

I already tried deleting the sliced files on the USB and renaming them.

Renaming will not work. You have to reslice it and give it a new name that hasn't been used. 
Sometimes I even have to move it on the build plate. I think it has something to do with the G code and anything that is a duplicate in it, is what shuts it down.

[Chris333]

I just put a .photon file on the new USB stick. Neither the file or the USB stick has ever been in my old printer. It was the same, failed after the first layer.


And my new printer when the print is done goes all the way up to the stop and makes a short grinding sound. No beep, but a message that my print is done. Definitely putting different firmware on it.

[Chris333]

I got V5.0.2 onto the new printer. It now can see .photon files.

[Chris333]

OK     Both of them are running now. After the old printer didn't work even with an all new file. I reinstalled V4.2.5, but this time I also installed the g-code file. That worked!


I understand what you're saying about it getting confused using 2 files named the same, but how does it know if there is resin in the vat or not? The old printer would run with no head and no vat. Install the vat empty and the head and it would work. Fill up the vat with resin and it would fail.

Either way glad they are both working. After the new one is done I will see if it is still running all the way up to the stop like before.

[rodsup9000]

 Happy to here that both are working.

[Chris333]

Well... the new one is still hitting to top stop and grinding when done printing. And there is no beep to tell me the print is done.

[rodsup9000]

 Well that's not so good. Maybe it has a burr on the lead screw up towards to top. It also could be that it is out of tolerance causing binding. 

[Chris333]

What I mean is. The old printer would lift up when done, but it would stop about 1 cm from the top cap and beep to let me know it's done printing.

New printer goes all the way up till it hits. The grinding sound is from the head not being able to move any further. The screw stops because it can't go any further and finally stops trying to move. Then a message pops up on the screen that my print is done with no beep.

[DKS]

New printer goes all the way up till it hits. The grinding sound is from the head not being able to move any further. The screw stops because it can't go any further and finally stops trying to move. Then a message pops up on the screen that my print is done with no beep.

Can you see if there is a travel limit switch somewhere on the vertical rail assembly? If there isn't, I suspect then the software is counting the steps of the Z-axis stepper motor to determine how far it has moved, which suggests the max count limit is wrong. The former should be a relatively easy fix; the latter would require a software or firmware fix.

This really should be addressed, as the grinding action will likely cause damage.

[Chris333]

@rodsup9000  how did you get a hold of Anycubic?  I tried their website to create a ticket and the submission keeps failing.

[rodsup9000]

Chris,  Larry Liu is who I corresponded with and I'll PM you his email.

[Chris333]

Thank you I just mailed him.

Another oddity it that the new machine prints 180 degrees from the old. These are both the exact same files.
Old:


New:


This really doesn't matter, but is strange.

[Chris333]

Someone of FB is saying the Photon has a PhotonS motherboard and the PhotonS has a longer Z axis. And that is why y head is lifting too high. No idea how to fix yet.