If the offending axis still moves in pronterface then the TMC
connection error can actually be ignored but should still be dealt with
for completeness.
You will need to be powered on from the mains for the TMC2208's to
work correctly - if you have the printer connected via USB you will need
to disconnect, power by mains and then connect again.
Make
sure that the TMC2208 drivers are installed the right way round (if
installed incorrectly they will break - the kit includes one spare):
https://makertech-3d.dozuki.com/Guide/Stage+08:+Wiring/58?lang=en#s769
Double check the TMC drivers on
the control board, there should be no jumpers installed underneath on the board
but one jumper should be installed on the corresponding UART pins, see blue
arrows:
https://makertech-3d.dozuki.com/Guide/Stage+08:+Wiring/58#s769
Whilst powered off remove and
reinstall the offending driver and its corresponding UART jumper.
Make sure you have the latest
version of the TMC library installed:
https://makertech-3d.dozuki.com/Guide/Stage+09:+Firmware/53?lang=en#s658
Double check that the installed
TMC drivers are activated in the firmware:
https://makertech-3d.dozuki.com/Guide/Stage+09:+Firmware/53?lang=en&permalink=1#s770
If the offending axis itself moves OK (remember that
the hotend needs to be above 170 degrees C for the Extruders to move)
but the TMC connection error
persists, you will need to run the affected driver/s in standalone mode,
this essentially
puts them into a “manual mode” where the trim-pot on the driver can be
adjusted
to increase/decrease the current to the motors, similar to the A4988
drivers.
In standalone mode their functioning is still the same.
See following step for doing so
(in this example the Y and E1 axis is having the connection error):
1. In the stepper drivers’
section of the firmware (lines 680-695 in Configuration.h) for the Y and E1
axis replace "TMC2208" with TMC2208_STANDALONE, so it looks like
this:
#define X_DRIVER_TYPE TMC2208
#define Y_DRIVER_TYPE TMC2208_STANDALONE
#define Z_DRIVER_TYPE TMC2208
//#define X2_DRIVER_TYPE A4988
//#define Y2_DRIVER_TYPE A4988
//#define Z2_DRIVER_TYPE A4988
//#define Z3_DRIVER_TYPE A4988
//#define Z4_DRIVER_TYPE A4988
#define E0_DRIVER_TYPE TMC2208
#define E1_DRIVER_TYPE TMC2208_STANDALONE
//#define E2_DRIVER_TYPE A4988
//#define E3_DRIVER_TYPE A4988
//#define E4_DRIVER_TYPE A4988
//#define E5_DRIVER_TYPE A4988
//#define E6_DRIVER_TYPE A4988
//#define E7_DRIVER_TYPE A4988
2. Then, with the printer powered
off, remove the corresponding UART jumpers for the axes marked as being standalone.
Then add three jumpers under the TMC drivers position as if it were an A4988 driver. See image here:
https://d17kynu4zpq5hy.cloudfront.net/igi/makertech-3d/16woVuvaG5aYSICA.full
3. Upload the firmware.
4. Connect with pronterface and
check for errors, if you get the EEPROM error, send M502 followed by M500. The
TMC connection error should have disappeared. Remember that you need to also be
powered on from the mains, not just the USB.
5. In pronterface check the
motion of all of the axes, if you find that the stand-alone axes
are underpowered, there is a trim-pot on the driver itself that you can turn
clockwise to increase the current and vice versa.