Access to COM port denied. Unable to flash Marlin to MKS base 1.4

I was running stock firmware on my Tevo Tarantula. It performed well, but was limited in terms of features. So after reading through a lot of user feedback from Facebook Tevo Tarantula Owners group, I decided to flash Marlin.

Since I had Arduino IDE already installed, I downloaded the Marlin source files which Jim Brown has optimized specifically for Tevo Tarantula.

Follow the link and download: https://github.com/JimBrown/MarlinTarantula

Select EasyConfig-1.1.X from Branch drop down and download. Once downloaded open marlin.ino in Arduino IDE.

Edit the config.h file as required and upload. Now the process so far is straight forward and it should work. However this where all the issue began. "Access to COM port denied."

To being with fixing this issue, I thought some application must be using the COM port. So i closed all applications but nothing fixed it. Then since some applications run in bakground, I rebooted the system thus killing any application accessing COM port. After a reboot nothing worked.

By this time I was frustrated, and something clicked. I remembered installing Repetier-Server when I installed Repetier-Host. So stopped Repetier server and BINGO, it worked. So I uninstalled Repetier server and I was able to upload the firmware to my MKS base 1.4 board. Rebooted and everything works fine. I have to fine tune the options to get perfect print. More on the development in my next post.

P.S. Anybody facing issues connecting to printed using Repetier-Host or uploading firmware using Arduino IDE, check if you have Repetier-Server installed and uninstall it.

Thanks for reading.

Sample filaments

I was looking around on the internet for prices on different types of filaments and manufacturers.
Came across Solid Space. They have a link on their website where you can order some samples before you buy in large quantity. So placed request for ABS and PLA filament. They were courteous enough to send me the samples nicely labelled with the print parameters.

If you wish to buy they do sell directly and on Amazon as well.

PLA Filament

PLA:
Extruder Temperature: 190C - 210C
Bed Temperature: 50C - 60C

ABS: 
Extruder Temperature: 225C - 255C
Bed Temperature: 110C - 120C

Will let you know the results in my next post.

Beginning of 3D printing.

3D printing is the new trend and have been around for more than a couple of years. So after considering the cost involved and a lot of research, I concluded that it would be fun to learn something new.

Purchase
Finally that I have decided to get into it, I started researching on the options available based on ease of customization and cost. Being an electronics hobbyist, whats better than being able to tinker around with the circuits and be able to modify as per my requirements. Also being on a very constrained budget, instead of getting a ready to print printer I opted for a DIY kit.

I went through a lot of reviews, feedback and assembly videos for different printers like Anet A8, Anet A6, CR-10, Tevo Tarantula, Tornado, Black Widow. In India the price of a 3D printer kit begins from 20K INR. And finding a reliable seller was a pain. Some who are reliable were selling of a very high cost. So I directed my self towards Chinese manufacturers.


The Hunt for a printer
I browsed through a lot of products on Aliexpress.


Given the price and popularity I settled for Tevo Tarantula. Placed order during a sale and ended up paying $200 (13K INR)  and free shipping.

Tevo took 10 days to ship the product. Today as I write the product has been shipped using DHL. Might take another 10 days before it shows up. Now will have to wait and see what custom duty is charged.

more updates once I receive the printer.

Reasons not to buy from Paytm

Dear Readers,

This post is specifically meant for Indian Consumers who shop Online. I am sharing a recent incident and my takeaway from the incident. I shop online on various sites, but am afraid to try any new website. Some of the sites on trusted list are Amazon.in, Flipkart.com, ebay.in, Myntra.com(which is now app only). When It comes to snapdeal I am a bit nervous.

I used Paytm to recharge and pay bills. Never had a problem with recharge. But paying electricity bill did not go through. One fine day I thought why not try their market to place to buy something. The discounts did catch my attention and they were very lucrative.  So finally I placed an order and ended up in a mess. My reasons not buy are:

 https://paytm.com/

No Paytm Customer Service over telephone. Only Email, Twitter, Facebook.

 This a huge problem. Paytm does not respond to emails. You tweet and they realize they have to respond. Most of the time it takes 24Hrs or more for a response.

Customer Service Executives are just insane

 The executives here do not read emails and respond. Maybe they don't understand English.  They ask you for product pictures in case you receive damaged or incorrect product. Once you send it to them they reply asking the same question over again.

Turn Around Time is way too high

Now unless you have all the time in the world and ready to let go off your money, this is not the place to buy. Let me share my incident.

Day1: Ordered a product (shipping/delivery: 4-6days.) Was happy that will get a cash back of Rs.300 on a purchase of Rs.900

Day2: Seller has not yet shipped the item.

Day3: Sellers ships the item.

Day4: Item arrives at my doorstep(wow that was quick)

I open the parcel in front of the delivery guy, just to ensure the product is in there. Here comes the surprise... its not what I ordered. I ask the delivery guy to take the parcel back. He denies and says...Sir agar aapko return karna hai to request dal do koi aur aakar el jayega(Translation: Sir, in case you want to return the product raise a request and somebody else will collect it.)

Now I was mad and furious. I emailed Paytm care... on their website they quote a turn around time of 4Hrs. but no response. I tweet and wait... no response.

Day5: I tweet and got a reply stating we have replied on your email. I check my email and they ask for a proof. They want me to send the images of the invoice, the picture of actual product and reason how is it different. No issues. I click some pictures and emailed.

Day6: No response. I tweet and another email drops in. Again they want me to send the proof. I suggest that I have already sent. Assuming some idiot might have deleted it, I send pictures again.

Day7: No response. I post on their Facebook account. Now they want me to fill another form on their FB page. So I tweet, same email and again asking for proof. (Now its driving me nuts), later got an email that a return request has been place. Product would be picked up in next 5-7days. Wonderful, now I have to wait for another 5 days. The experience does not end here..I am still awaiting for the product to be picked. Will update once somebody picks up the product.

Thanks for reading, please share you views and share this post as much as possible to help others from such agony.

Assign Quick Clip(Notebook) Key to use as Camera for LG Optimus Vu P895

Hi,

After searching a lot and going through several post found a way to Root my LG Optimus Vu P895.
If you would like to Root, you can follow the post on XDA-Developer here. The motochopper worked with my P895.

Now coming to the key assignment on your phone follow the below mentioned steps. [Root Required]
(P.S. Please perform the steps below at your own risk. I'll not be responsible for any damage caused.)

• Install a file manager which allows you to access the root file. I used SManager.
• Open SManager and browse to the following path "/system/usr/keylayout"
• You would find the file named "osp-input.kl" (Please create a backup copy of the file before editing the original)
• Open this file in Text Editor with -rw- (read/write) permission.
• Locate line "key 212 Quickclip" and change it to "key 212 CAMERA"
• Save the file and write the changes to system.
• Reboot your phone and it should work now.

If the file is not available , it might be due to different regions. Let me know your progress, in case you have any problems or have difficulty following the post, let me know and will try to help.

Happy Hacking !!!