Beacon

Where can I get help?¶

Come on over to the pellcorp discord server, here is the invite, the #simple-af-beacon channel has been setup for anyone wanting support for beacon.

https://discord.gg/2uGDzyJ3WX

Thanks¶

Thanks to https://raven3dtech.com.au/ and https://beacon3d.com for donating Beacon probes to the Simple AF project to add support and continue to support the Beacon.

Firmware requirements¶

K1 Series¶

This guide assumes you have a K1, K1C, K1SE, K1 Max or Ender 5 Max and you are running stock creality firmware 1.3.3.5 or higher, or alternately you are using my prerooted firmware. Any other pre-rooted firmware is explicitly not supported and the installer.sh will validate this and refuse to proceed if you try to use it on different firmware.

Ender 5 Max¶

You must be using pre-rooted firmware, which is not available from Creality at the moment, you can get it from https://github.com/zevaryx/ender-5-max-firmware

Please note that you will need to change the screen orientation to horizontal, here is a model for that https://www.printables.com/model/1246910-ender-5-max-screen-bracket

Ender 3 V3 KE¶

This guide assumes you have a stock Ender 3 V3 KE with Nebula Pad with Root enabled, when you get to installation below, you should specify the --mount Default to install Simple AF on the KE for Beacon.

Please note that you will need to change the screen orientation to horizontal, here is a model for that https://www.printables.com/model/727362-ender-3-v3-ke-screen-holder-landscape-for-guppyscr, but please do not follow the installation instructions on that page, just print the model and remount your screen only!

Simple AF for RPi¶

See Simple AF for RPi

Slicer Settings¶

There is an assumption that you are using a slicer like OrcaSlicer and Machine G-code like:

Machine start G-code

M140 S0
M104 S0 
START_PRINT EXTRUDER_TEMP=[nozzle_temperature_initial_layer] BED_TEMP=[bed_temperature_initial_layer_single]

Machine end G-code

END_PRINT

Custom Bed Mesh Profile¶

If you want to select a specific predefined bed mesh profile (which disables adaptive mesh generation), you can pass in an additional START_PRINT parameter:

You can either hard code it to a particular model, like BED_MESH_PROFILE=myprofile or you can specify a profile based on orca slicer variables, such as BED_MESH_PROFILE="[curr_bed_type] - [filament_type]", but you have to make sure you have all the possible profiles defined for each of the bed type and filament type combinations.

Wiring¶

Note

This wiring section applies to K1/K1C/K1SE/K1M printers only

On a K1M you can use the lidar cable either directly by repinning it, or via the pass through lidar port on the toolhead. However you cannot use the lidar port on the toolhead for K1, K1C or K1SE. The reason this does not work is because for Lidar on the K1M creality actually routes a completely separate USB cable from the mainboard.

Probe Installation¶

Danger

If you are not using a side mount you must verify config changes for beacon.cfg before homing your printer, using Screws Tilt Calculate or doing a bed mesh!

Ignoring these instructions can lead to significant damage to your build plate and/or probe.

Mount Options¶

Mount	Printer	Beacon	URL	Notes
Default	K1, K1C, K1M, K1SE	RevH Standard	https://www.printables.com/model/1071641-beacon-probe-mounts-for-creality-k1-series
BootyGantry	K1, K1C, K1M, K1SE	RevH Standard	https://github.com/tlace17/K1-Linear-Rail-Gantry/blob/main/STLs/Probe%20Mounts/Rail%20Carriage%20Carto%20Mount.stl	This is not for low profile
SkeletorMK7	K1, K1C, K1M, K1SE	RevH Low Profile	https://www.printables.com/model/833769-the-skeletor-collection-a-creality-k1k1-maxk1c-coo	This is only for the low profile beacon version of the mount!!!
SimplyHexed	Ender 5 Max	RevH Standard	https://www.printables.com/model/1209230-ender-5-max-simply-hexed	Ender 5 Max only!
Default	Ender 3 V3 KE	RevH Standard	https://www.printables.com/model/732262-ender-3-v3-ke-beaconcartographer-mount	Might require shimming depending on the hotend / nozzle you use

Nozzle Offset¶

Warning

It is vital that you verify the coil to nozzle tip distance is within the valid range of 2.6 to 3mm, you can use this simple tool to verify the range: https://www.printables.com/model/1325363-cartographer-and-beacon-z-offset-goldilocks-tool

Just be sure to use digital calipers to verify the print printed with the correct size before relying on it, if you have trouble with your z not being always entirely accurate consider printing the model on its side.

Beacon Firmware¶

Warning

You must have flashed your beacon with the latest beacon firmware (2.1.0 currently) before starting the installation

For K1 Series Simple AF there is a guide.

For Simple AF for RPi, you can use the standard beacon guide https://docs.beacon3d.com/contact/#51-firmware-update

Installation¶

Warn

This does not apply to Simple AF for RPi, See Simple AF for RPi

The installation can only be performed on a printer which has been rooted and ssh granted

You need root access, if you are not already root, then follow Helper Script Enable Root Access

Factory Reset¶

You must do a factory reset only if you have installed Helper Script or Fluidd/Mainsail directly from Creality, otherwise you can safely proceed directly to installation. If you have setup your printer with stock firmware only it can be quite handy to skip a factory reset so that you can use Switch to Stock

wget --no-check-certificate https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pellcorp/creality/main/k1/services/S58factoryreset -O /tmp/S58factoryreset
chmod +x /tmp/S58factoryreset
/tmp/S58factoryreset reset

Danger

It is really important you do not close the ssh session until you get this message:

It can take up to 5 minutes for a factory restart to finish, it is vital you do not power cycle your printer before the stock screen appears. There may be a 3002 error on the screen, this is completely normal. If you are planning to install Simple AF you can ignore it, if you are trying to go back to stock, power cycle the printer again to clear the error.

Failing to follow this advice can lead to your printer getting bricked and requiring much more involved intervention to recover!

Clone the Repo¶

git config --global http.sslVerify false
git clone https://github.com/pellcorp/creality.git /usr/data/pellcorp
sync

Run the installer¶

Note

If you have pellcorp-overrides in github but not stored locally, you need to recreate the ~/pellcorp-overrides directory before running the installer.sh!

To run the script, you must use the following command:

/usr/data/pellcorp/installer.sh --install beacon --mount Mount

Warning

For Mount you must specify the mount option for the mount you have used, if you do not do this the printer will be incorrectly configured for your mount, and bed meshes, x and y limits and related config will be wrong. Please refer to Mount Options for supported mounts.

If you are using a non-supported mount you should specify a mount option as close to your mount as possible and properly adjust your configuration after installation before trying to perform a bed mesh or Screws Tilt Calculate!

Post Installation¶

MCU Firmware updates are pending¶

At the end of the installer process if you get this message:

WARNING: MCU Firmware updates are pending you need to power cycle your printer!

It means that new MCU firmware updates need to be applied and this can only be done by power cycling the printer. After your printer is power cycled you can verify firmware was updated with the CHECK_FIRMWARE macro from Fluidd or Mainsail, if you see this message:

INFO: Your MCU Firmware is up to date!

Your printer MCU firmware was updated successfully. If you still see the MCU Firmware updates are pending you need to power cycle your printer! message after a power cycle, check the /tmp/mcu_update.log, you may be asked to provide this file on Discord if you need additional assistance, sometimes an additional power cycle can solve the problem, there is a very short window of time (15 seconds) in which the MCU firmware can be updated, so there is a chance it will work after an additional power cycle.

Verify USB Key¶

It is important to make sure you have a way to emergency factory reset the printer, if the worst happens. There is a macro in Simple AF called CHECK_USB_KEY that will wait for you to plug a USB thumb drive (aka USB key) in and tell you if it was able to be successfully mounted.

If you get the message: INFO - USB Key was recognised and mounted correctly (/tmp/udisk/sda1), your USB thumb drive (aka USB key) is perfect to use for a factory reset.
If you get no message at all before the script ends (after 60 seconds), your USB thumb drive (aka USB key) is defective. You can check the messages file in the logs section of your UI to get more details about why the usb key could not be mounted!

Tip

You should verify your USB thumb drive (aka USB key) often just to make sure you have something if you need to unbrick your printer, simply type CHECK_USB_KEY or hit the button in Fluidd / Mainsail The USB key should be FAT32 formatted and be no larger than 32GB!

Note

If you have plugged your beacon into the front usb port, you are going to have to temporarily remove the beacon from the front usb slot and replace it with your USB thumb drive (aka USB key), after you have finished verifying the USB thumb drive (aka USB key) can be used in an emergency, you can replace the beacon into the front usb slot and restart klipper or power cycle your printer.

Timer too close and microsteps¶

For beacon you cannot use more than microsteps: 32, the MCU cannot handle both more microsteps and beacon, it puts too much pressure on the system and it cause stuttering during bed meshes, it is also been known to cause klipper to crash during repeated bed meshes.

Calibration¶

It is strongly recommended to disable the camera for these calibration steps, just use the STOP_CAMERA macro to do this.

Run the STOP_CAMERA macro to stop the camera
Home X Y (G28 X Y)
Heat Nozzle to 150c (M109 S150) so that any filament can be removed from nozzle
Make sure nozzle is centred on bed
Run BEACON_CALIBRATE Follow the Paper Test Method
Upon completion SAVE_CONFIG

Source: Calibrate Beacon

Note

Is normal to show the Z position at almost at the max height of the printer even if the nozzle is somewhere in the middle or even close to the bed, this is not a bug, its intentional. Until this calibration step is completed, the Z axes cannot be homed, so we make the printer pretend the bed is down the bottom of the printer so that you can freely move the bed up to meet the nozzle during the paper test without running into out of range issues. You however won't be able to move the bed further away from the nozzle more than a few mm.

First Print¶

For this first print you can go and do the tuning first (PID Tuning, etc) or you can go ahead and optimise your cal_nozzle_z using baby stepping.

In fluidd the save button after you finish or cancel your print can be a bit hard to find, look for

Tuning¶

At least PID tuning (bed and extruder) and input shaping is required for acceptable printing. If you try and print after running the installer.sh and a power cycle but before any calibration you will most likely have horrendous quality, the worst you have ever seen on the k1. After PID tuning and input shaping you should see the same kind of quality as you get with stock k1 + input shaper fix.

Quick Start¶

You can use the QUICK_START Macro to automatically complete Bed and Nozzle PID Tuning and Input Shaping Automatically.

Pid Tuning¶

Source: Calibrate Pid Settings

For example you might run these:

PID_CALIBRATE_BED BED_TEMP=65
PID_CALIBRATE_HOTEND HOTEND_TEMP=230

Note

The PID_CALIBRATE_BED and PID_CALIBRATE_HOTEND macros are located in the useful_macros.cfg file and they have defaults values for BED_TEMP and HOTEND_TEMP so you can just run them by clicking on them if you want that same temperature.

Input Shaping¶

There is no default configuration for input shaping so it is essentially disabled out of the box.

You can use the SHAPER_CALIBRATE macro to run input shaping, just be sure to SAVE CONFIG at the end, to choose the automatically selected shaper config, be aware though that the shaper chosen might be sub-optimal due to a slight difference in vibrations between two options. So you should probably review the output and potentially choose an alternative if it gives you higher recommended max acceleration for minimal increase in vibration.

Input Shaper Auto Calibration

Other Calibrations¶

Info

The default value for pressure advance is set to 0.04

Refer to Orcaslicer Calibration for more calibrations

Refer to the Ellis Print Tuning Guide for more great tuning ideas.

Troubleshooting¶

Manual Beacon Serial Device configuration¶

You can run the following command to fix your serial if you forgot to plug your beacon in during the installation or update:

~/pellcorp/k1/installer.sh --fix-serial

'BeaconProbe' object has no attribute '_mcu_freq'¶

This often indicates the beacon was disconnected during homing or some other operation, you need to reboot

On rare occasions this also occurs when the printer gets overloaded, if the error does not clear after a power cycle, try leaving your printer completely powered off for 15 minutes, see if the error clears afterwards. If the error does not clear after doing this, I would be looking for a hardware issue, such as a dodgy cable.