Preparation
This is a generic guide for getting started with Marlin 2.0 Firmware.
Visual Studio Code is used to compile Marlin 2.0 Firmware with the help of the PlatformIO extension. This guide will take you through the process of installing these and finding a Marlin configuration that best fits your printer.
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1. Download and install Visual studio code:
https://code.visualstudio.com/
2. Once installed, check to see if the icons on the left-hand side are visible. If they are not you will need to toggle the visibility by selecting:
View -> Appearance -> Show Status Bar
3. Select the extension's icon, this should open up a list of potential extensions.
4. Type PlatformIO into the search bar that pops up, then select install.
Source Firmware
5. Go to the Marlin downloads page.
https://marlinfw.org/meta/download/
6. Download the latest release of Marlin 2.0 firmware.
This guide demonstrates the latest (stable) build. You may consider using the nightly bugfix for the most up to date version of marlin, there is also a bugfix variant of the configurations files. The process should be the same, the file name, however, being slightly different.
7. Before closing the window under configurations click View/ Download.
This should take you to their GitHub page containing printer-specific configuration options.
8. This will take you to the GitHub page, Select:
Code -> Download Zip
9. At this stage there should now be two new zipped up files in your downloads:
Configurations-release-x
and:
Marlin-2.0.x
Extract both of these into a new folder and place it somewhere easy to find.
10. Open the folder and navigate to examples:
Configurations-release-x -> config -> examples
Here you will find a list of printer manufacturers.
Sort through and find one which corresponds to your setup. If you can't find your exact setup, use the closest one you can find.
Let's say we are using an Ender 3 with an SKR 1.4 Mainboard. For this setup we would navigate to 'Creality' then to 'Ender 3' and then to 'BigTreeTech SKR 1.4'.
11. You should now be looking at a list of files including a 'Configuration.h' and 'Configuration_adv.h'. Copy the contents of this folder.
There may be other files included such as '_Bootscreen.h' or '_Statusscreen.h' included in your chosen folder. Make sure these are also copied over.
12. Navigate back to your original folder (where you moved the extracted folders to) and open:
Marlin-2.0.x -> Marlin
13. Paste the files you copied into the folder called 'Marlin'.
You should be prompted with 'The destination has 2 files with the same names'. Make sure to click - 'Replace the files in the destination'.
14. Return to Visual Studio Code and click the platform io icon on the left toolbar, then select:
Open -> Home -> Open Project
16. Navigate to the location of the two folders you unzipped. Open:
Marlin-2.0.x
look for the file:
platformio.ini
you won't be able to select it, but as long as it's in the folder structure select:
Open 'Marlin-2.0.x'
17. Before making changes to the firmware you will need to make sure PlatformIO is using the correct environment. This will vary depending on your mainboard.
To find out which environment to use, we need to navigate to 'pins.h':
Marlin -> src -> pins -> pins.h.
Once you have 'pins.h' open, use Ctrl + F on your keyboard to bring up the find bar. Then type the name of your Mainboard into this bar and find the corresponding environment.
If you were using a regular SKR1.4 board, you would need to use LPC1768:
18. Navigate to the 'platformio.ini' tab in the explorer tab on the left of your screen and change the 'default_envs' to the one which corresponds to your Board.
Make sure to hit File -> Save once you are done.
If you do not save, it will cause compiling errors later on.
At this point, you are ready to make your own changes to configuration.h. We have specific guides in Zendesk which will explain which settings to change for your new E3D HotEnd or Extruder.