Inspired by the recent MakerFaire in NYC, I dug an early-2010-vintage Cupcake CNC out of the closet. But I'm confused which version of RepG to use with it. The built-in versions of Skeinforge do not have a profile that seems applicable: the closest ones all refer to HBP and ABP and I just have a static build platform and Mk3 extruder.
You are best off going back to around rep-g 24.
http://code.google.com/p/replicatorg/downloads/list
As you go higher in rep-g versions, at 26 they made a major change in the protocol requiring firmware changes. Thus 26 and higher required firmware 3.0 and higher. In other words, you have 2 choices stock, 2.4 firmware for Rep-G 24 or 3.0 and the latest Rep-g, but as you see, stock Cupcake like yours was much better supported at version 24.
Seriously, a good cheap upgrade is the 5D shield for $25 in the store. http://store.makerbot.com/3g-5d-shield-for-cupcake.html
There is nothing wrong with gen3 electronics and they could drive the latest and greatest hardware with that mod and the 5D matching firmwares. It's actually the best deal going. You get full compatibility, profiles are fully supported, and move up to a stepper extruder-even the MK7. In other words, your gen3 motherbaord with a $25 upgrade can suppport 4 steppers, has the SD card, full endstops, full 5D firmware support (in rep-g firmware updae, scroll to the bottom and see the "3G 5D Shield for 3G hardware") That's right, official support. So let's look at a gen4 motherboard $85 and you still need a mega 2560 for $65 to get the same thing you have with a $25 upgrade. How can you pass that up?
Also, if you don't have the relay kit, make your own or buy one now before you have a MOSFET failure on that expensive to replace extruder controller.
http://store.makerbot.com/relay-board-kit-v1-0.html
And read this thread here for lots of upgrades http://wiki.makerbot.com/forum/t-568564/stepper-driver-board-making-motor-jerky
Thanks so much. I've actually already upgraded to firmware 3.0, and by trying different RepG versions, I see that v26 is the last one to have a SF profile for my model. Would you recommend using that one, or should I go to v24?
You could jump to 26. The thing was that I did a lot of production printing (on the order of 30 lbs of filament) using a Cupcake with Rep-g 24 and the customer said prints coming off the Cupcake looked better than the ones off the T-O-M. There are known issues such as ABP operation on 3.0 on firmware 3.0, but that's for gen4. Point being, they use the same codebase, so somebody like me who remembers, 24 was a good time in the firmware train where things worked pretty well. The main changes to higher versions were support for newer bots. Newer doesn't = better IMHO.
I have nearly the same problem as I have a Cupcake lying around for ages, but slightly different hardware. I have a RepRap v1.2 motherboard with 3G 5D shield (firmware 3.1), v2.3 stepper drivers for XYZ, MK6 stepstruder with v3.3 stepper driver but v2.2 extruder controller (no thermocouple, firmware 3.0), HBP.
The closest machine type in ReplicatorG 0040 is 3G 5D cupcake (Gen 3 XYZ, Mk5/6+ Gen4 Extruder, Sailfish) but trying to move the machine from the control panel, I have a "Read timed out" on the console and no XYZ moves. The A axis is working. I guess there is a comm problem between extruder 2.2 and the firmware (I have correct temperature readings).
Can I make it work like this or do I have to upgrade the extruder controller to a more recent model ?
Thank you