Kossel XL Firmware Fixes (fpos_t' after 'struct' and MANUAL_Z_HOME_POS)

...critical fixes for your Kossel XL 3D Printer



Runtime error fpos_t' after 'struct' 


Rename fpos_t variables in SdBaseFile.h and SdBaseFile.cpp to another name like fpos_t1.

C++ won't let you use typedef and struct for the same variable name. Thanks to webliya.

Can't Update MANUAL_Z_HOME_POS



The EEPROM on the Arduino Mega controller stores configuration values.

Sometimes these values override updates you make to Configuration.h. 

Deactivating mine solved this issue instantly, like this:

In Configuration.h.find the // EEPROM section, then change the following lines into comments (add // in front):

//#define EEPROM_SETTINGS

//#define EEPROM_CHITCHAT


Upload to Arduino Mega using Marlin, then home your Kossel XL (G28 command).

Your revised Z value should show in the LCD display. Thanks to zennmaster.

Did the Sketch Upload to Arduino?



Connect Pronterface to your 3D printer.

Check the side status bar - the top line shows date and time the sketch was compiled. Happy days !

FT 3D. First Flight.

...got there in the end

As soon as I saw the video of the FT 3D I decided I was going to have to make one. The build was reasonably simple and the product looked great; a pert-looking aircraft with blacked-out canopy and bristling with vortex generators and wingtip plates.

So it was with much anticipation, and nervousness as usual, that I got around to its maiden flight. My first mistake was the rates weren’t turned down enough, and the expo needed to be much higher. I was lucky to recover control before it speared into the meadow and brought it round to land so I could reprogram the Taranis.

Second mistake is it didn’t really glide - I cut power expecting to ease it in for a landing, but instead it stalled and plummeted down, buckling the undercarriage and breaking the motor mount.

Taking it home for a re-think, I installed a smaller prop than the very solid unit which was one of my Trainstar spares and also cut off the back half of the swappable power tray which was doing nothing. Importantly, I also covered the underside of the cowling with poster board in the hope the shape would support the nose which had been dropping severely on the first flight.

So, back to the field again to test the results, which happily showed significant improvement. Except, unfortunately, that this revealed another problem - the ESC overheated despite the NACA duct cut right in front of it, causing the FT 3D to once again plummet down for a repeat end to the flight.

Take 3, now with a NACA scoop - an inverted NACA duct service as a very large scoop to keep the ESC’s delicate constitution cool. And this time everything seemed to work - the #D was light & floaty enough, easier to control and seemed happy to be flying. All good, now time to learn how to fly 3D properly…