I have a RepRapPro Tri-color printer with dual Melzi controllers. I did love it up until a few days ago.
It started doing this thing where the printer loses connection with the computer mid way through prints. The printer freezes and the pronterface cant read or right. If I click 'disconnect' in pronterface to reconnect then pronterface becomes (not responding) and wont close. If I open a second pronterface and try to connect then it responds that the access is denied. The hot end and bed continue to maintain their correct temperatures the whole time. I have to unplug the power to the printer and plug it back in to reconnect.
It seems to be completely at random. I cant quite tell for sure but it looks like its in the middle of moves some times. Meaning that its probably not a communication issue on the computer side. not sure though. I made sure that its not the usb cable the best i can. If i move it around I cant make it freeze. It seems to be getting progressively more common. Now i cant finish any prints.
I have read that sometimes power surges can cause strange things but it even does it late at night when nothing in the building is on (i have it at work).
It does one thing that i have noticed. When the board is running normal it blinks at a stead quick pace. Once it freezes it changes to a combination of short and long blinks. I tried to find a pattern but it seems to be random. its mostly long blinks with some short blinks here and there.
Could it be an overheating issue? Is there any way to check that?
Is the board bad?
Any help/advice is greatly appreciated!!
-Brad
It started doing this thing where the printer loses connection with the computer mid way through prints. The printer freezes and the pronterface cant read or right. If I click 'disconnect' in pronterface to reconnect then pronterface becomes (not responding) and wont close. If I open a second pronterface and try to connect then it responds that the access is denied. The hot end and bed continue to maintain their correct temperatures the whole time. I have to unplug the power to the printer and plug it back in to reconnect.
It seems to be completely at random. I cant quite tell for sure but it looks like its in the middle of moves some times. Meaning that its probably not a communication issue on the computer side. not sure though. I made sure that its not the usb cable the best i can. If i move it around I cant make it freeze. It seems to be getting progressively more common. Now i cant finish any prints.
I have read that sometimes power surges can cause strange things but it even does it late at night when nothing in the building is on (i have it at work).
It does one thing that i have noticed. When the board is running normal it blinks at a stead quick pace. Once it freezes it changes to a combination of short and long blinks. I tried to find a pattern but it seems to be random. its mostly long blinks with some short blinks here and there.
Could it be an overheating issue? Is there any way to check that?
Is the board bad?
Any help/advice is greatly appreciated!!
-Brad