How to Download and Install the Creality CR-6 SE Community Firmware
The Creality CR-6 SE is a desktop 3D printer that offers great value for money. It has a build volume of 235 x 235 x 250 mm, a minimum layer size of 0.1 mm, a heated print bed, a color touchscreen, and an innovative extrusion system. It is easy to use, reliable, and capable of producing high-quality prints.
However, like any 3D printer, it is not perfect. Some users have reported issues with clogged nozzles, uneven bed leveling, skipped layers, electrical problems, or software glitches. That's why some enthusiasts have developed a community firmware for the CR-6 SE that aims to improve its performance and functionality.
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The community firmware is based on Marlin, an open-source firmware for 3D printers. It offers several features that are not available in the stock firmware, such as:
More calibration methods, such as e-step and PID tuning, manual bed leveling, and motion settings
More control options, such as filament change, filament runout detection, power loss recovery, and audible notifications
More information display, such as remaining time, print speed, flow rate, fan speed, and nozzle temperature
More customization options, such as language selection, screen brightness, sound volume, and boot logo
However, installing the community firmware also has some drawbacks, such as:
Voiding your warranty from Creality
Risking damaging your printer or losing your settings if you flash the wrong files or encounter errors
Having to update your firmware regularly to keep up with new versions and bug fixes
Therefore, before you decide to install the community firmware, you should weigh the pros and cons carefully. You should also make sure that you have the following requirements and precautions:
A Creality CR-6 SE printer with a compatible motherboard version (CR-ERA V1.1.0.3 or HW4.5.3)
A micro SD card (8 GB or less) formatted in FAT32
A computer with an internet connection and a card reader
A backup of your original firmware files and settings in case you need to restore them
A basic understanding of how to flash firmware and configure settings on your printer
If you are ready to install the community firmware on your CR-6 SE, follow these steps:
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Step 1: Download the latest version of the community firmware from GitHub
The community firmware is hosted on GitHub, a platform for hosting and sharing software projects. You can find the latest releases on this page.
To download the correct files for your printer model and motherboard version, follow these steps:
Go to [the releases page](^3^) on GitHub.
Find the latest release (the one on top) and click on it.
Scroll down to the Assets section and look for the files that match your printer model and motherboard version. For example, if you have a CR-6 SE with a CR-ERA V1.1.0.3 motherboard, you should download the files that start with CR6SE-CR-ERA-v1.1.0.3.
Click on the file names to download them to your computer. You should download two files: one for the mainboard firmware (ends with .bin) and one for the touchscreen firmware (ends with .zip).
Once you have downloaded the files, you need to unzip and copy them to a micro SD card. Follow these steps:
Insert your micro SD card into your computer using a card reader.
Format your micro SD card in FAT32 if it is not already formatted.
Unzip the touchscreen firmware file using a program like WinZip or 7-Zip.
Copy the mainboard firmware file (the .bin file) and the unzipped touchscreen firmware folder (the DWIN_SET folder) to the root directory of your micro SD card. Do not rename or modify the files or the folder.
Eject your micro SD card safely from your computer.
Step 2: Flash the firmware to the mainboard and the touchscreen
Now that you have prepared your micro SD card with the firmware files, you need to flash them to your printer's mainboard and touchscreen. Follow these steps:
Power off your printer and unplug it from the power source.
Open the electronics box on the right side of your printer and locate the micro SD card slot on the mainboard.
Insert your micro SD card into the slot with the metal contacts facing up.
Close the electronics box and plug in your printer to the power source.
Power on your printer and wait for about 10 seconds. You should see a blue LED flashing on the mainboard, indicating that the firmware is being flashed.
When the flashing process is complete, the blue LED will stop flashing and the printer will reboot automatically.
Power off your printer again and remove the micro SD card from the mainboard slot.
Insert your micro SD card into the slot on the back of the touchscreen.
Power on your printer again and wait for about 10 seconds. You should see a progress bar on the touchscreen, indicating that the firmware is being flashed.
When the flashing process is complete, the touchscreen will reboot automatically and show a welcome screen with the community firmware version.
To verify that the firmware has been updated successfully, follow these steps:
Tap on the settings icon on the touchscreen and go to Info > Version.
Check that the mainboard firmware version and the touchscreen firmware version match the ones that you downloaded from GitHub.
If they do not match, repeat steps 1 and 2 again or contact [the community support] for help.
Step 3: Configure and calibrate the printer settings
After you have flashed the community firmware to your printer, you need to configure and calibrate the printer settings to optimize its performance and quality. Follow these steps:
Tap on the settings icon on the touchscreen and go to Level > Auto Leveling.
Follow the instructions on the screen to perform an automatic bed leveling procedure. This will measure the distance between the nozzle and the bed at several points and store the data in the firmware.
Tap on the settings icon again and go to Level > Z Offset.
Follow the instructions on the screen to adjust the Z offset value. This will fine-tune the distance between the nozzle and the bed for the first layer. You can use a piece of paper or a feeler gauge to check the gap.
Tap on the settings icon again and go to Tune > E-step.
Follow the instructions on the screen to perform an e-step tuning procedure. This will calibrate the extruder steps per millimeter, which affects how much filament is pushed through the nozzle. You will need a ruler or a caliper to measure the filament length.
Tap on the settings icon again and go to Tune > PID.
Follow the instructions on the screen to perform a PID tuning procedure. This will optimize the temperature control of the hotend and the bed, which affects how stable and accurate they are. You will need to enter your desired temperature values for both.
Tap on the settings icon again and go to Tune > Motion.
Follow the instructions on the screen to adjust the motion settings, such as acceleration, jerk, and junction deviation. These affect how fast and smooth your printer moves. You can use the default values or tweak them according to your preference.
To test print a calibration cube or a model of your choice, follow these steps:
Download a calibration cube STL file from [Thingiverse] or use your own model file.
Slice it using your preferred slicer software, such as Cura or PrusaSlicer. Make sure to use the correct profile and settings for your printer and filament.
Save it as a G-code file and copy it to your micro SD card.
Insert your micro SD card into the slot on the back of the touchscreen.
Tap on the print icon on the touchscreen and select your file.
Wait for the printer to heat up and start printing.
Monitor the print progress and quality on the touchscreen or on your computer if you use OctoPrint or a similar software.
When the print is finished, remove it from the bed and inspect it for any defects or errors.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you have successfully installed the community firmware on your Creality CR-6 SE printer. You have also configured and calibrated the printer settings to optimize its performance and quality. You should now be able to enjoy the benefits of the community firmware, such as more calibration methods, more control options, more information display, and more customization options.
However, installing the community firmware is not a one-time process. You should keep an eye on [the GitHub page] for any new updates or bug fixes. You should also backup your firmware files and settings regularly in case you need to restore them. If you encounter any issues or have any questions, you can contact [the community support] for help.
We hope that this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you liked it, please share it with your fellow CR-6 SE users. If you have any feedback or suggestions, please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you.
FAQs
What is the difference between the community firmware and the official firmware?
The community firmware is based on Marlin, an open-source firmware for 3D printers. It offers several features that are not available in the official firmware, such as more calibration methods, more control options, more information display, and more customization options. However, installing the community firmware also voids your warranty from Creality, risks damaging your printer or losing your settings if you flash the wrong files or encounter errors, and requires you to update your firmware regularly to keep up with new versions and bug fixes.
How do I know which motherboard version I have?
You can check your motherboard version by opening the electronics box on the right side of your printer and looking at the label on the mainboard. It should say either CR-ERA V1.1.0.3 or HW4.5.3. You can also check your motherboard version by tapping on the settings icon on the touchscreen and going to Info > Version. It should say either 1.0.3.x or 4.x.x.x.
How do I backup my original firmware files and settings?
You can backup your original firmware files and settings by copying them from your micro SD card to your computer before flashing the community firmware. You can also backup your original firmware files and settings by using a program like M503 or Pronterface to send commands to your printer and save the output to a text file.
How do I restore my original firmware files and settings?
You can restore your original firmware files and settings by following the same steps as installing the community firmware, but using the original firmware files instead of the community firmware files. You can also restore your original firmware files and settings by using a program like M503 or Pronterface to send commands to your printer and load the output from a text file.
How do I update my community firmware to a newer version?
You can update your community firmware to a newer version by following the same steps as installing the community firmware, but using the newer version files instead of the older version files. You should also check [the GitHub page] for any changes or instructions that may apply to the newer version. 44f88ac181