Setting up the XYZ Da Vinci 1.0A 3D printer with RepetierHost and Slic3r on Ubuntu

I finally bought a 3D printer. It’s a used one and entry level, but printing parts is good fun. Here’s how to set it up on Ubuntu 14.04:

Install Repetier firmware

The new firmware will give you much more control over the printing process. Mine was already installed (v0.92), so I upgrading to the 0.92.10 was as easy as cloning the github repo, starting the Arduino IDE and flashing the printer. This version supposedly has better bed leveling, though I’d recommend to manually level the bed anyway (paper method).
Get the firmware here. You’ll also need to have the the Arduino IDE 1.6.7+ for installing and updating it.

UPDATE: I’m using OctoPrint / OctoPi on a Raspberry Pi Zero now (See also: Booting up OctoPi fast(er)) and it works like a charm! It has a webpage where you can configure most of your printer settings, upload G-code, or even STLs and slice them with CuraEngine or Slic3r. You can also plug in a webcam and monitor your print. Give it a try, it is awesome!
I use slic3r 1.2.9 on my PC and upload G-code via the built-in slic3r function.For that you need to start OctoPrint, get an API key via the settings and then enter that API key and the address of your OctoPrint machine in slic3rs settings. If done correctly this gives you an “Send to printer”-button next to the “Export STL…” and “Export G-code…”

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Install RepetierHost

• Download RepetierHost for Linux.
• Unpack it to the directory you want to install us to, e.g. ~/RepetierHost.
• Drop to the command line and run “sh configureFirst.sh”
• If your user can not access the serial port, add it to the dialout group using “usermod -a -G dialout YOURUSERNAME”.

More information about the installation is here. 

Install Slic3r

• Download Slic3r for Linux.
• Unpack it to the RepetierHost installation directory under “/plugins/Slic3r”.
• Install the prerequisites using “sudo apt-get install build-essential libgtk2.0-dev libwxgtk2.8-dev libwx-perl libmodule-build-perl”.
• Start RepetierHost and add Slic3r in the “slicer” tab under “Manager”. Select “Slic3r” in the drop-down entry and enter “slic3r” and its name. Click “Add Slicer”. Enter “/home/YOURUSERNAME/.slic3r” as the configuration directory and the path to the slic3r executable you installed before and press “Apply”.

Now you have RepetierHost and and Slic3r and can connect to the printer, so let’s set it up:

RepetierHost / OctoPrint settings

Printer settings

• Connection – Port: /dev/ttyACM0 (this may vary on your system)
• Connection – Baud rate: 230400 (Check you printers settings via the menu)
• Connection – Transfer protocol: “Repetier Protocol”
• Connection – Reset on Emergency: “Send emergency command and reconnect”
• Connection – Receive Cache Size: 202
• Connection – Use Ping-Pong Communication: Turn on

• Printer Shape – X Max: 200
• Printer Shape – Y Max: 200
• Printer Shape – Print Area Width: 200
• Printer Shape – Print Area Depth: 200
• Printer Shape – Print Area Height: 200
•  Extruder – Extruder 1 Diameter: 0.4

Slic3r settings

Print settings (for all layer heights, add settings if they don’t exist)

• Layers and Perimeters – Perimeters (minimum): 3
• Layers and Perimeters – Solid layers: Top 3, Bottom 3
• Layers and Perimeters – Avoid crossing perimeters: Turn on
• Speed – Perimeters: 50 mm/s
• Speed – Small perimeters: 10 mm/s
• Speed – External perimeters: 40%
• Speed – Infill: 50 mm/s
• Speed – Solid infill: 80%
• Speed – Top solid infill: 70%
• Speed – Support material: 50 mm/s
• Speed – Support material interface: 100%
• Speed – Bridges: 50 mm/s
• Speed – Gap fill: 15 mm/s
• Speed – Travel: 150 mm/s
• Speed – First layer speed: 30%
• Advanced – First layer: 150% 
• Advanced – Infill: 90% 
• Advanced – Solid infill: 80% 
• Advanced – Top solid infill: 80%

Filament settings (add filaments if they don’t exist):

• Filament (XYZ ABS) – Temperature – Extruder: 235° / 230°
• Filament (XYZ ABS) – Temperature – Bed: 95° / 90°
• Cooling (XYZ ABS) – Fan speed: 30% / 90%
• Cooling (XYZ ABS) – Bridges fan speed: 90%
• Cooling (XYZ ABS) – Slow down if layer time is below: 15s
• Filament (XYZ PLA) – Temperature – Extruder: 215° / 210°
• Filament (XYZ PLA) – Temperature – Bed: 70° / 65°
• Cooling (XYZ PLA) – Fan speed: 20% / 50%  (important for layer bonding)
• Cooling (XYZ PLA) – Bridges fan speed: 50% 
• Cooling (XYZ PLA) – Slow down if layer time is below: 15s

Printer settings

• OctoPrint upload – Host or IP: “octoprint.local”.
• OctoPrint upload – API key:
• General – Set up the bed shape to 200x200mm.
• G-code flavor must be “RepRap (Marlin/Sprinter/Repetier)”.
• Custom G-code – Start:

M140 S[first_layer_bed_temperature] ; Bed (no wait)
M104 S[first_layer_temperature] ; Extruder (no wait)
M106 S255 ; Start fan
G90 ; set absolute coordinates
G28 ; home all axis
M190 S[first_layer_bed_temperature] ; Bed (wait)
M109 S[first_layer_temperature] ; Extruder (wait)
M117 Start
M300 s1000 p400 ; Beep
M300 s1500 p400
M300 s2000 p400
M300 s2500 p400
M117 Cleaning
M100 ; Cleaning
G1 Z5 F1500
G1 X0 Y10 F1000
G1 X5 Y35 F1000
G92 E0 ; reset extrusion distance
; G1 Z[first_layer_height] F4800.000
; G1 X5 Y175 E14 F2000
; G1 X5 Y190 F2000
M117 Printing

• Custom G-code – End:

M117 Done
G92 E0 ; reset extrusion distance
M104 S0 ; turn off extruder
M140 S0 ; turn off Bed
G90 ; Absolute
G28 X0 Y0 ; home
M117 Down Bed
G1 Z200 ; Lower bed
M117 Cleaning
M100 ; Cleaning
M84 ; Disable motors
M117 Cooling
M190 S55 ; Bed (cooling)
; M116 ; Wait for all temperatures
M140 S0 ; turn off Bed
M117 Pickup piece
M300 s2500 p400 ; Beep
M300 s2000 p400
M300 s1500 p400
M300 s1000 p400
M84 ; Disable motors
M117 Printer ready

• Extruder 1:

Nozzle diameter: 0.4mm
Retraction length: 1.5
Retraction Speed: 20mm/s

Now you should be good to go and print some parts.