Introduction: Anet A8 Plus - Update Board to MKS GEN 1.4 + TMC2208 + 3D Touch With Marlin 2.0.5.1

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About: CNC and 3D Printers

This change was based on the twhite101 project as well as some of the images contained here.

Great job twhite101.

Step 1: STEP 1 - Remove the ANET Board and Original Box.

Tools:
Wire cutters

Wire strippers

Small and large screwdrivers

Exacto knife or very small flat head screwdriver.

Required Material:

1 x new box mount

1 x board MKS GEN 1.4

4 x steppers TMC2208

2 x MKS MOSFET

1 x LCD 2004 or 12864 with SD reader

1 m power cord 12 x M3x15

2 x JST-XH two pins female for thermitors

Printed Parts:

BLTouch mount

Note: You will need a longer power cord. Measure the new distance from the power supply and the end position of the MKS GEN 1.4. The length depends on the new box at MKS GEN 1.4.

In my case I designed a new box that you can find here:

Anet A8 Plus MKS GEN v1.4 + 2xMKS MOSFET new box

Step 2: STEP 2 - Change Some of the Original Plug.

Changing the End-stop and Thermistor Connectors

At the endstops, you only need to change the position of the red cable. As it is in the picture.

For thermistors, the original terminals must be replaced with new two-way terminals.

For the new LCD2004 or LCD 12864 to work it is very important to see the flat cable 180º of EXP1 and EXP2. You can do it on the connectors on MKS GEN 1.4 or on LCD. This change should be made, otherwise the LCD will not work.

You must calibrate the voltage of the steppers as shown.

Step 3: STEP 3 - Connect All Cables to MKS GEN 1.4

After mounting the MKS GEN 1.4 and MKS MOSFET in the new board mount, you can now mount the new box in the printer.

If everything went correctly, we can now proceed to connect all the cables.

Step 4: STEP 4 - Upload New Firmware

To install the new firmware you need:

- Arduino IDE

- USB Type B cable

- Computer

After installing Anduino IDE, you are ready to connect the USB cable to your computer. The computer will recognize the MKS GEN 1.4, you just have to see what the COM port is.

To see what the COM port is, go to the device manager.

Unzips the Marlin 2.0.5.1.rar file and clicks the Marlin.ino file, which is in the Marlin 2.0.5.1 \ Marlin folder. The Arduino IDE will open.

In Marlin IDE, after the project opens and if everything looks like the image, you are ready to upload the firmware.

My BLTouch position settings relative to the extruder nozzle (see image).

For the final calibration of BLTouch follow the instructions in this video.

ATTENTION: You should only use this firmware if you are aware of the risks. This firmware is configured for the LCD12864 reprap full graphics display.

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