When installing the Tough Extruder most machines that came with a non-geared extruder (aka most machines with the brass gear types) will need the E direction reversed. You will also need to change the esteps.
This guide is written for use with our firmware branches that have easy-to-use configurations. If you are using another firmware or Marlin please refer to that particular firmware documentation for setting the esteps and motor direction.
Step 1 – Set your Steps Per MM #
V1 Tough Extruder #
The recommended steps/mm is 410 for this product when using a 1/16th stepping mode (aka most machines, if you do not know then yours is probably 1/16th stepping).
V2 Tough Extruder #
The recommended steps/mm is 407 for this product when using a 1/16th stepping mode (aka most machines, if you do not know then yours is probably 1/16th stepping).
EStep Calibration #
If you want to calibrate the exact ESteps for your printer use our tool here: https://www.th3dstudio.com/estep-calculator/
You can do this in our firmware easily with the “CUSTOM_ESTEPS” option. Uncomment (remove the // in front of the #define) the CUSTOM_ESTEPS option. By default, it is set to 410 steps/mm.
Step 2 – Reverse your Extruder Motor Direction #
NOTE: USUALLY REQUIRED ON V1 ONLY FOR MOST CREALITY MACHINES
Depending on your printer and its stock extruder you may need to reverse the motor direction. This is very common on the V1 Tough Extruder but the V2 doesn’t usually need reversing (this all depends on the machine you are installing it on).
Next, uncomment the “REVERSE_E_MOTOR_DIRECTION” line.
Your screen should look like the above picture.
If your extruder moves the wrong direction for some reason just add the 2 // in front of the REVERSE_E_MOTOR_DIRECTION line and upload again to set it to run the other way.
If you did not enable the REVERSE_E_MOTOR_DIRECTION then enable it and re-flash the printer.
Step 3 – Flash the firmware & Clear your EEPROM #
All that is left to do is flash the firmware by following the firmware directions for the machine/board you are using (refer to the particular firmware you are using from us) and then make sure to reset your EEPROM after flashing.
If you do not reset the EEPROM after a flash the old steps/mm will be retained and the new ones will not take effect. You can clear the EEPROM from the printer LCD or by sending a M502 followed by a M500 with your favorite gcode sender program.
NOTE: All of our firmware as of writing this article has what is called “cold extrusion prevention” turned on. This is to prevent grinding your filament if the hotend is not heated. To move the E motor your hotend must be heated to 170C or higher for the E motor to move.
Can’t Flash the Firmware? #
In the event that you cannot flash the firmware to change the e-steps you may be able to add a M92 EXX command your starting Gcode and have them set that way. This ONLY changes the e-steps. If you need to change the motor direction you can also do this via reversing the wiring order at the connector that goes to the board (ex – swapping Pin 1 to Pin 4, Pin 2 to Pin 3, Pin 3 to Pin 2, and Pin 4 to Pin 1).
You can also try just sending the printer the M92 EXXX command and then follow it with a M500 to save to EEPROM. But some printer stock firmware may not support saving to EEPROM so then you would have to use it in the starting gcode so the correct steps/mm is set before the beginning of every print.
For example, if you are using the Tough Extruder V2 and that uses a 407 steps/mm setting the M92 command to add to your starting Gcode would be as shown below:
M92 E407
