Installing Repetier firmware on Anet A8

To install Repetier firmware on Anet A8, you must first download it. Go to https://github.com/repetier/Repetier-Firmware/tree/work092, click “Clone or Download”, and then “Download ZIP”. Unzip the archive when downloaded, and open the directory. Go to the “boards\Zonestar P802M” sub folder, and copy the Configuration.h file to “src\ArduinoAVR\Repetier” folder. Then open the “src\ArduinoAVR\Repetier\Configuration.h” with Notepad, and change

#define ZAXIS_STEPS_PER_MM 1600

to

#define ZAXIS_STEPS_PER_MM 400

A good idea is to also change the accelerations to lower values to prevent vibrations. Change these:

#define MAX_ACCELERATION_UNITS_PER_SQ_SECOND_X 1000
#define MAX_ACCELERATION_UNITS_PER_SQ_SECOND_Y 1000
#define MAX_TRAVEL_ACCELERATION_UNITS_PER_SQ_SECOND_X 2000
#define MAX_TRAVEL_ACCELERATION_UNITS_PER_SQ_SECOND_Y 2000

to

#define MAX_ACCELERATION_UNITS_PER_SQ_SECOND_X 400
#define MAX_ACCELERATION_UNITS_PER_SQ_SECOND_Y 400
#define MAX_TRAVEL_ACCELERATION_UNITS_PER_SQ_SECOND_X 800
#define MAX_TRAVEL_ACCELERATION_UNITS_PER_SQ_SECOND_Y 800

Finally, save the file. Next, you have to compile the source to binary hex file using the Arduino IDE. The easiest way to do it, is to use the Arduino IDE bundled with Skynet3D firmware (it's preconfigured for Anet A8). Just download it from https://www.facebook.com/skynet3ddevelopment/posts/1757218651186387, extract it and run “Skynet V2\arduino-1.6.9-slim\arduino-1.6.9\arduino.exe”. Open the Repetier.ino located in the “src\ArduinoAVR\Repetier” sub folder where you extracted the Repetier firmware, and compile & upload it from the Arduino IDE.

Note: for my own Anet A8, I had to change the following parameter too, because otherwise X=0 was 6mm to the right from the edge of the bed. Changed

#define X_MIN_POS -38

to

#define X_MIN_POS -32

And a couple of more parameters. Set them to the following values:

(use PID control for the extruder)

#define EXT0_HEAT_MANAGER 1
#define EXT0_PID_PGAIN_OR_DEAD_TIME 19.58
#define EXT0_PID_I 1.71
#define EXT0_PID_D 55.94

(define the proper the X/Y axis lengths)

#define X_MAX_LENGTH 252
#define Y_MAX_LENGTH 227

(make the buttons/UI more responsive)

#define UI_ENCODER_SPEED 0
#define UI_KEY_BOUNCETIME 30
#define UI_KEY_FIRST_REPEAT 250

Finally, save your changes, and hit the Upload button in Arduino IDE.