secondsuitor

So I map the data, then I create an array with all the fields I need. I then create my payment book with a detail table where the row height is equal to the page height. Each row of the detail table then becomes it’s own page. Problem solved.

Obviously this sounds janky, but janky is my middle name. Or at least it should be. Janky works.

Now why the hell clone() isn’t working, I just don’t know.

I was entertaining a new hire while my coworker (who is her primary trainer) was in a meeting. At the moment I was working on that imposition with the composition tool. While describing it’s not-monolithic processes, and the comparison with InDesign coupled with SmartStream, I had an ahah moment. At the time I was still trying to impose huge files into a 5up dutch cut in one pass. What if I impose one sheet at a time and then imposed them after the fact. This worked.

Okay. I have a randomly huge number of rows of data. I need to split the rows into 5 stacks, so we end up with, given 15 rows for example:

1 6 11 2 7 12 3 8 13 4 9 15

Wait. So this is because I need to impose a large number of rows of data, 5up on a larger sheet. I should think this through. I should do a test before I go to town. The base line way of doing it worked, all the way until it went to crap. I to a dummy file of 2.5M and made it 39M. This was for 50 out of 79k records or so. That won’t work.

I should relook at that API. Maybe there’s a different and better method to use. I should also look to see if I have any other tools that can do the same thing. While I’m doing that I’ll reach out to HP and OL to see if they have any bright ideas.

Or, if the test works, bully.

Update (ish):

I think I’ll need to go with the reading method due to the way or bindery wants prints like this. Otherwise, I’m looking at 70k x 50kb, soo… Is that 3.5g?

Now, that’s not to say I need to impose as in the way I’m thinking. That’s to say by creating a 5up Dutch cut file with the art in spades on the sheet. I just need to rearrange the data. One the single pages are created, I can then go back to the drawing board for imposing. However, I’ll be able to do infinitely tall stacks broken into multiple files.

Everyday my importer syndrome seems to diminish just a bit more.

Last night, I was able to run a full dry run, and it “looks” like everything printed right. Tonight, I’ll power it up, verify the extruder and try a live run. Admittedly, I dosed the threads with a boat load of bike chain lube, but as I’ve types before, I’m not super worried about the damage I do. Since I need to order parts for other things anyway, I’ll probably get some bearings (to replace the one I thrashed) and belts (to something something something) while I’m at it.

So I did a bit now experimenting yesterday. One, I was turning the pot the wing way (oops). Two, it gets hot as falafel. Three, the cooling fan helped, though it wasn’t always the easiest to stay on target because everything around it kept nudging it. Four, I think it needs more juice.

Now to figure out what I need to do to keep the chip goosed with power, without overheating. Or do I want to replace that one driver with something more robust?

Didn’t get anything done. Tonight the Wif has off, so probably no progress tonight either. Thursday, I should try my current list of troubleshooting steps. If there are still no dice to be had…

I need to order a few more linear bearings, I won’t say that one of them is currently jacked (and I try to never order one of a commodity item). While I’m doing that I’ll be getting some RFID stuff to set up access controls for the animals. Since I’m doing that I should get whatever I need to boost the power for the stepper motors on the Z-axis. Heck, why not all the motors (ie never buy one when 10 isn’t too much more)? If I’m doing that I should think about replacing the control board with a BeagleBone. That’s what I’m thinking right now. I think that’s why Thomas Sanladerer mentioned in a video to not be too cheap. Then again, I wanted the learning experience more than anything, and I’m definitely learning a lot more than how to click print.

Switched from pronterface to repetier server for the computer connection (as a computer person, I see no value in me using an SD card, though I understand other’s desiring to). This seemed to get me a little closer, which hints towards it being a configuration issue. The printing seemed to be going smooth but, with the different interface, I ran into some confusion on the keeping the extruder hot so I killed the print. Starting it again led the extruder to start printing in mid-air. Well that didn’t work. Maybe I need to zero the printer before starting the print. That’s when it starts jittering again.

My current guesses, it’s one or more of a couple things:

• The driver is maybe overheating. The Z motors seem to be driven in series, which if I remember right is usually a no-no, but whatever. As it is, the heat sink isn’t heading up much, but with everything else on full bore, it might be a bit to much. I’ve soldered up a spare fan to a USB cord. It’s slow, but it might help keep the temperature down.
• The microstepping might be a little too aggressively… micro? I could try killing the microstepping?
• I could try random settings from a completely disconnected down posts…

I don’t know. I just don’t know.

I’m coming up with a way to shuffle an infinite number of pages for double sided printing, in cut stacks, 5up on a sheet with a Dutch cut. This is taking time.

• Nothing is clogging the nozzle anymore
• I can’t adjust the hot end (reduce the size of the heat break) without replacing the hot end or a hack saw
• Extruder moves fine when running on a different motor driver

To do:

1. Figure out how to check the motor driver for the extruder
2. Plug everything back in like normal (because that seems to work way too often), this includes unplug and replug at the stepper motor. Also check the continuity.
3. Figure out a good default speed for the extruder motor
4. Try running with the bed unplugged (is it the bed?)

• Tear down the extruder. I think it’s probably jammed. This also, check the heat break length, that thing looks way too long.
• Try reslicing with a stupid tall layer height, a big move up and then an almost as big move down, or hand edit the gcode to do one of the previous options.