Firmware

PLEASE DO NOT UPDATE ANYTHING WITHOUT CHECKING WITH US. hyrel3d@gmail.com

New software will often require new firmware. New software packages always come with the latest firmware at the time the software was released; however, sometimes newer firmware is available.

There are two families of firmware; one for the Heads and Beds, or STM-103 boards, and another for the Motion Controllers, or STM-427 / STM-407 boards.

These steps are performed in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qbUzZM3vtg

Motion Controllers

PLEASE DO NOT UPDATE ANYTHING WITHOUT CHECKING WITH US. hyrel3d@gmail.com

To find out what version of Motion Controller Firmware you are on now:

For v3:

For v4:

Legend: RED text shows the version of SOFTWARE.
BLUE text shows the version of FIRMWARE.
MAGENTA text shows the COMMUNICATIONS PROTOCOL - USB or UART with port number.

Motion Controller Switches - Pre-2024

For older units, your motion controller (green Waveshare stm32f407Z on ESR and 30M printers, or blue Waveshare Core 4x9I on Hydra and EHR printers) has two switches.

The BOOT CONFIG switch (outlined in red) can be set to SYSTEM (usually up or left - sometimes needed for flashing firmware) or FLASH (usually down or right). It should be set to FLASH for normal operations.

The unlabeled power switch (outlined in purple) can be set to USB (usually left or down - you should not need to use this setting) or 5Vin. It should be set to 5Vin for normal operations.

Note the RESET button (outlined in blue), shown here above the USB connector and the LED. You need to RESET after changing any switch positions. All current printers also have a RESET button on the outside or inside of the chassis.

Images:

Motion Controller Switches - 2024 and Later

For more recent units, your motion controller (green or black Gifford Engineering stm32f407VGT6) on all models, has two buttons, shown at the bottom right. The one at the very bottom labeled RST is the reset button; the one just above it labeled DFU is the BOOT CONFIG button.

Note that all of these newer FK407 controllers take the same firmware, regardless of model. As of Feb 2025, File:Hydra23X10 4.255a.rar is the latest firmware version for these controllers.

In order to enter BOOT CONFIG mode to update firmware, you must:

1. Press and hold both buttons.
2. Then release the RST (outer) button (outlined in green).
3. Then release the DFU (inner) button (outlined in orange).

Now it's in DFU or programming mode, and it can be flashed with new firmware. Note, the stm32f407VGT6 ONLY TAKES v4.5xx AND LATER FIRMWARE.

Images:

Note: In order to RESET the motion controller, you must:

1. Press and hold both buttons.
2. Then release the DFU (inner) button (outlined in orange).
3. Then release the RST (outer) button (outlined in green).

Now the motion controller has been reset.

Also note that the LED D1 (outlined in red), indicates power on the board, and the LED D2 (outlined in blue), indicates that the board is operational with loaded firmware.

Motion Controller Firmware

For all motion controller boards:

Video instructions for flashing the 407 and 429 (Motion) Controllers: https://youtu.be/cFAFRkpLmww

Note that all units shipped since 2015 are internally cabled to automatically connect for flashing, so there should be no need to remove the rear cover or connect special cables.

You should always use the latest version of the release you are on, and we recommend that you upgrade to the most recent release (but this is not required).

1. Launch Repetrel ( C:\Repetrel\bin\Repetrel.exe ).
2. Go to File > Update Firmware > Motion Controller
3. Select the latest .dfu file for your machine from the table below.
4. Your printer should show as "CONNECTED" in the firmware utility. If it is not:
   1. TRY THE STEPS BELOW before messing with switches and cables, please!
5. Click "Program" - the process takes a few seconds.
6. IF you had to change the switch, change it back and reset the motion controller.
7. You are done.

But I can't Connect!

Okay, sometimes the new Repetrel doesn't properly "connect" to allow motion controller firmware update. The following steps work 90+% of the time, and you don't have to move cables around (so it's great when we're updating remotely). I don't know why it works, but trust me, most of the time it does:

1. Exit Repetrel, Slic3r, and any related programs
2. Rename C:\Repetrel to C:\Repetrel_new
3. Rename C:\Repetrel_old to C:\Repetrel (You DID rename the old one before the upgrade, yes?)
4. Launch (the old) Repetrel
5. File > Update Firmware > Motin Controller
6. Click "Select File" and then:
7. Navigate up to C: and then down to C:\Repetrel_new\bin\firmware and select the new .dfu file
8. The programming utility should now show "CONNECTED"
9. Click "Program" - you'll see a progress bar below the Program and Select File buttons when it starts
10. When complete, the window closes
11. Exit Repetrel
12. Rename C:\Repetrel to C:\Repetrel_old
13. Rename C:\Repetrel_new to C:\Repetrel
14. Launch (the new) Repetrel; you may need to change ports under Interface > COM and click Apply, then click PING
15. Profit!!

LATEST UPDATE

So, which printers run which firmware? Great question! Supply chain issues over the last few years have forced us to change a lot of things.

AS ALWAYs, please use the version of firmware that your unit shipped with if you are still running the version of Repetrel that your unit shipped with - or the latest appropriate firmware which was included with your download.

As of February, 2025:

What *.dfu file should I use?

If you are using:	ESR/30M, 2013-2020	EHR/16A, 2016-2020	ANY, 2021-2022	ANY, 2023+
Then your Motion Controller should look like this:	STM407 mounted on Spine	STM429 mounted on TIB	STM429 mounted on TIB	FK407 mounted on TIB
And your Motor Drivers should look like this:	Hyrel Motor Stamp (mounted on spine)	Encoder Boxes (mounted near TIB)	CANBUS Boards (mounted on motors)	MKS Boards (mounted on motors)
You need firmware:	File:EngineSR 30M 4.203c.rar	File:EngineHR Hydra 4.203c.rar	File:Hydra With Can Motors 4.500C.rar even if it's not a Hydra - I did not name this file	File:Hydra23X10 4.255a.rar
And settings file:	File:2019 ESR 30M.rar or File:2020 ESR 30M.rar	File:2020 EHR.rar	File:2021 ESR 30M CAN.rar or File:2021 H21 CAN.rar	(varies with model)

Note: If, for some reason, you are flashing firmware on the 429 board when it is NOT MOUNTED on the Tablet Interface Board, it may not work unless you (carefully!) attach a jumper between the PB2 and GND pins. Something about a floating pin.

Motion Controller Values

Let's not confuse flashing a version of firmware on the motion controller with flashing new default values to the motion controller - again, not my terms.

We should always be sure that we're running not only with the correct version of the motion controller firmware, but that the values for the present model of equipment are being used. In Repetrel, under Settings > Printer, a dialog box will open with lots of numbers you may want to play with. Please don't change any values unless you're sure that they will do something that you want. We have default files for each model, and some users will want to save custom settings - like different park positions for different beds, or different maximum print speeds and acceleration parameters for more heavily outfitted yoke assemblies.

There is a utility to read and write configuration files on every PC running Repetrel v3 at C:\repetrel\Printer Settings, and you should run on (or at least start with) the configuration file for your model printer.

Please resist the urge to go tampering here without talking to us. There's probably a better way to achieve your desired end results.

Heads and Beds (STM103 boards)

PLEASE DO NOT UPDATE ANYTHING WITHOUT CHECKING WITH US. hyrel3d@gmail.com

To find out what version(s) of Head/Bed Firmware you are on now:

V2 vs V3 vs V4

Why is my head FLASHING RED?

Non-Hydra units shipping through spring 2017 shiped with Repetrel version 2.x, and should be on the last version 2 release.

Hydra units, and other units shipping through spring 2019 shipped with version 3.x, and should be on the last version 3 release.

All units shipping after spring 2019 ship with version 4.x, and should be on the last version 4 release.

Please use the files in your C:\Repetrel\bin\firmware directory, since it is "paired" with your Repetrel version.

If you run a head with v2 settings on a v3 or later install, the background will FLASH RED; this DOES NOT mean that you need to flash new FIRMWARE - this DOES mean that you need to flash new VALUES to the head. Please make the changes noted for each head and right-click-flash these values on your heads:

1. For Cold and Warm Flow (EMO, SDS, VOL, KRA, TAM, etc).
2. For Hot flow (MK*).
3. For the HotBed Controller, just define it as a print head, set the pulses to 10, redefine it as a hotbed, and flash these settings. Contact us for help.

Head / Bed Firmware

For the STM-103 Boards. Consult the table below for the proper version. The wrong version WILL NOT WORK.

These files are included in the latest Repetrel download, and the latest Repetrel\bin directory download.

Video instructions for flashing the 103 (HH/HB) Controllers: CLICK HERE

1. Launch Repetrel ( C:\Repetrel\bin\Repetrel.exe ).
2. Go to File > Update Firmware > HotHead Controller (even for HotBeds).
3. Navigate to the proper .hex file for your machine from the table below.
4. Connect the ST-Link as shown in the video above.
5. Click "Program" - the process takes a few seconds.
6. You are mostly done - you still need to update the settings on each head and the hotbed, but that's easy now - see below.

Firmware Listing for Repetrel v4
Thankfully, this is now very simple:

All Heads	Firmware
ALL HEADS	Heads_Beds_103_4.053c.hex

Firmware Listing for Repetrel v2 and v3
Karl doesn't like me renaming these files, so...

Filament Heads	Firmware
MK1-250	MK1_2_PRTDClearWires_1A.hex
MK1-250 with red RTDs (from pre-2015)	_FIL_250_RED_235A.hex
MK2-250	MK1_2_PRTDClearWires_1A.hex
MK1-450	MK450_Caution_450C_45A.hex
Emulsion-Type Heads	Firmware
ALL Emulsion-Type Heads	Emo_Vol_Kra_Cod.52V.hex
Laser Heads and UV Pens	Firmware
Diode Lasers on Repetrel v2.xs	Laser_Diode_Shark_6N.hex
Diode and CO2 Lasers on Repetrel v3.x	LaserPWM_8L.hex
Spindle Tools	Firmware
Spindle Tools, Three-Phase	3phase_Spindle_238M.hex
Spindle Tools, Single-Phase	DrillMill_236M_DC_SPINDLE.hex
Inkjet Heads	Firmware
Inkjet Headss (Heat- and Piezo- based)	LaserPWM_8L.hex

Head / Bed Settings

Note: For CO₂ Lasers, Your acutal laser controller, on the Aux Heads tab, should be set to "Laser_40".
Note: For CO₂ Lasers, Your safety/mirror/lens controller, on the Heads 1-5 tab, should be set to "CO2_Laser"

Let's not confuse flashing a version of firmware on a head with flashing new default values to a head. I know - I didn't come up with the terms.

This also used to be a lot of info to change, but now we have made it easier!

Right-click on the head (anywhere EXCEPT the "FLASH" button) and open the proper file for your head or bed:

And select the file for the device for which you wish to load the settings:

As with all settings, to store them as defaults, go to the last page and right-click FLASH:

And then click YES:

Old method:

Once your head has the proper firmware version running on it, you want to be sure that the values for the head are correct. Please consult the pages for Reservoir_Heads and Filament_Heads for our recommended values, then adjust for your custom environment as needed, determined through trial and observation.

To change the values, click on the arrow at the top right (next page) or the temperature display area at the top left (previous page) of the displayed data for that head. Edit values as appropriate, and then on the last page, RIGHT-CLICK on the Flash button and then confirm that you want to overwrite the previous defaults with these values, then click Yes on the confirmation dialog box.

For our purposes, the hotbed and a printhead are controlled in the same manner.