MakerBot Industries

Thing-O-Matic troubleshooting

This weekend¹ I was able to get my Thing-O-Matic 3D printer operational.  I’m super happy about this.  However, I did run into some minor hiccups along the way.  Here’s the first problem I ran into, how I diagnosed it, and how I solved it:

• Setup
  • I’ve got a Thing-O-Matic with the automated build platform option installed. ²
• Symptoms
  • As soon as I powered on my Thing-O-Matic, I noticed the extruder’s current temperature was about 21 degrees but that the “Platform Current Temp”was 255.  Having just powered the machine, this didn’t seem likely.  The automated build platform was cool to the touch.
• Diagnosis
  • The first thing I tried was to restart ReplicatorG, resetting the Thing-O-Matic, then unplugging and replugging the Thing-O-Matic.  I also tried disconnecting/reconnecting the cables from the automated build platform. ³  None of this or any combination thereof worked.  From this I inferred that it probably wasn’t a mechanical connection issue or a simple software hiccup.
  • I believe that part of blogging is about sharing the stupid thing I do so that others can learn from my mistakes.  With that preface, please do not do what I am about to describe.  The next thing I tried was increasing the temperature of the build platform just slightly for a very short time.  If the platform couldn’t read temperature and couldn’t heat up, then there may be a big problem with the heated build platform board itself.  I put a finger⁴ on the platform and told it to warm up to 30 degrees Celsius.  This is another thing I do not recommend.  A smart person would have used a thermometer.  I felt a little heat and immediately turned the heat back down to 0.  The potential problems with this stupid test is (a) turning on the heat without a working temperature sensor could ruin a lot of parts very quickly and (b) it’s always a bad idea to put any part of your body⁵ on a heating surface.  What this inadvisable test showed me was that the board was still getting power and the heater was working.
  • Another possibility is that either I had not connected the wires or they had come undone as I closed up my machine.  Shining a flashlight into the case, I could see that the wires for the temperature sensor were plugged in where they were supposed to be.  They appeared to be where they were described on the assembly instructions.  However, I recall having had a similar problem with my automated build platform for my Cupcake CNC.  It turned out that I had inserted the temperature sensor (the black, green, white wire clip) backwards.  While connecting cables after that step I had accidentally unplugged this cable.  I plugged it back in after confirming which pins it went to, but without confirming the orientation.  <facepalm>
• Treatment
  • After I flipped the build platform temperature sensor cable, ReplicatorG was able to measure temperature. 

1. Well, technically this morning, but who’s keeping score anyhow? [↩]
2. I suppose having a little extra build volume might theoretically make the heated build platform or standard acrylic build platform a more attractive option for some.  The extra functionality you get from an automated conveyor belt makes the extra time and care associated with assembling the automated build platform totally worth it. [↩]
3. I didn’t try disconnecting/reconnecting any of the cables to the boards underneath inside the printer because I really didn’t want to bother with opening and closing it up again. [↩]
4. My least favorite one [↩]
5. Even your least favorite finger [↩]