[BUG] 1-5s Freeze at layer change

[elfl0rd]

Did you test the latest release build?

Yes, and the problem still exists.

Bug Description

I found that during layer change, the printer freezes for 1-5 seconds.
It hangs completely, even the screen stops responding to the encoder.
The problem is that it is leaking material, so the printer makes an overlap at the seam.
As you can see at the end of the video, the printer changed the layer (height from 1.4 to 1.6) while hanging and made a blot in the corner. The photo shows the blot on the substrate, also during the layer change.
The problem does NOT occur on BLT, only on UBL.
Firmware - HC32_UBL-ProUI-EX-05-12.bin

Can this problem be caused by a lack of memory, or is it something more specific?

Printer Model

Voxelab Aquila

Model Type

Aquila X2

Your Mainboard

Aquila HC32

Other Mainboard Type

No response

Add-ons that could be involved

BL-Touch

ProUI-EX | Extra Features?

Yes

Bed Leveling

UBL - Unified Bed Leveling

Did you include your own configuration files?

• A ZIP file containing your Configuration.h and Configuration_adv.h.

Additional information & file uploads

video_2025-05-13_20-51-55.zip

[classicrocker883]

very strange. did this happen on another release like April? also, have you tried with or without active leveling enabled (M420 / G29 not in the gcode, or M420 S0 will disable it)

[elfl0rd]

very strange.

Agree

did this happen on another release like April?

Yes, on different releases and on different 3d models "lag" time can be different, idk what affects.

have you tried with or without active leveling enabled

yes, same behavior (active leveling really disabled - no flashing background on screen under Z)

(ignore the different layer densities, I changed the printing speed in the process)

[classicrocker883]

could this be something with the slicer or its settings?
probably not if it doesnt happen using the BLT version... which makes me suspect its the actual HC32 chip.
I could try some changes if you'd like to test the firmware. I might have a couple ideas but to start we need a baseline of something that does work. such as using Marlin Firmware specifically, without ProUI. that way I could narrow it down.

[elfl0rd]

could this be something with the slicer or its settings?

Definitely not, I tried with the native Voxelab slicer (VoxelMaker), which I stopped using (having switched to Orca) long before switching from the native firmware, same problem.

Layer start at different place, Leak still present.

It has another problem by the way, the starting code (which cannot be edited).

M140 S80 T0
M104 S235 T0
M104 S0 T1
...
M190 S80 T0
M109 S235 T0
M109 S0 T1

Which results in heating up, starting printing and turning off the heat completely (while still printing) As I understand it, the firmware applies both T0 and T1 to the single heaters on the table and the hotend. (I edited the g-code file by removing the lines with T1 to check the freeze when changing the layer - it is present).

probably not if it doesnt happen using the BLT version... which makes me suspect its the actual HC32 chip.

Chip HC32F460 KCTA Board V1.0.3.20210609

I could try some changes if you'd like to test the firmware. I might have a couple ideas but to start we need a baseline of something that does work. such as using Marlin Firmware specifically, without ProUI. that way I could narrow it down.

Yes I would like to test I have time and a printer at hand. But I've never built firmware myself, so I'd need help with that, and ideally a ready file =^_^=.

[classicrocker883]

you should be able to edit the .gcode file in something like Notepad.
if you could remove all the "T1" or "T0". find and replace all with nothing.

I think there was an issue from before involving this exactly.
let me know if that has made any difference.

but ill make a firmware file you can test so you don't have to worry about building it. it'll be vanilla Marlin, which will a bit different layout for UI, I will try to keep the settings about the same.

you may have to adjust them. but you can also make a .gcode file using the commands to 'automatically' save the settings for you so you don't have to enter each one through the LCD.

what you do is if you have a raspberry pi w/Octoprint, or a computer/laptop w/Pronterface, or some Slicers can do this, connect to the printer with a USB cable, go to the terminal and enter M503

there you will see a whole bunch of settings. copy these, paste into a new blank document (.gcode)
Example :

; M503 Sample Output
G21    ; Units in mm
M149 C ; Units in Celsius
Filament settings: Disabled
M200 D1.75
M200 D0
Steps per unit:
M92 X100.00 Y100.00 Z398.70 E100.00
Maximum feedrates (units/s):
M203 X400.00 Y400.00 Z8.00 E50.00
Maximum Acceleration (units/s2):
M201 X1000 Y1000 Z100 E10000
Acceleration (units/s2): P R T
M204 P400.00 R1000.00 T1000.00
Advanced: S T B X Z E
M205 S0.00 T0.00 B20000 X10.00 Y10.00 Z0.30 E5.00
Home offset:
M206 X0.00 Y0.00 Z0.00
Auto Bed Leveling:
M420 S1 Z0.00
Material heatup parameters:
M145 S0 H195 B55 F0
M145 S1 H205 B60 F0
PID settings:
M301 P52.25 I5.60 D122.00
Z-Probe Offset (mm):
M851 Z-2.41 

now remove the lines that don't begin with a code, like "Steps per unit:".
then at the very end put M500 to save.

these are all your saved settings, you can use this every time you update your firmware.

to use, put the file name it like "settings.gcode" and go like you're gonna print the file

[elfl0rd]

you should be able to edit the .gcode file in something like Notepad.
if you could remove all the "T1" or "T0". find and replace all with nothing.

Yes, as I wrote, I already did that (otherwise I wouldn't have been able to check the blot at layer transition, since without editing, the plastic solidifies in the nozzle long before the first layer is complete).

I think there was an issue from before involving this exactly.
let me know if that has made any difference.

Unfortunately no :) it is only in voxelmaker, which I hardly ever use.
I mentioned it because this behavior looks like a bug in the firmware (well, to the best of my understanding).
But there is freezing when changing a layer in voxelmaker and orca.

these are all your saved settings, you can use this every time you update your firmware.

Done

[elfl0rd]

Um.
Just for test I tried load settings from gcode file (As you tell me to create), but printer does endless homing circle untill I power it off.

https://youtu.be/7th9DVpf5BM

[classicrocker883]

can you show me your Gcode file? if it doesnt let you drop in the comment box, you can either make a zip archive, or copy the contents in a box like

```
; Gcode

your code here

```

otherwise I suppose you could just enter those settings via terminal, or through LCD

but I managed to make some test firmware.

HC32_Marlin-Tests.zip

• HC32_Marlin_UBL-Test1.bin
• • the one we need to know about most, if the issue of layer change freezing happens here
• HC32_Marlin_BLT-Test2.bin
• • this one just to test it is working fine.

so here are two files for testing the firmware.
basically if UBL-Test1 still doesn't work, then its for sure an HC32 issue.
optionally, there is BLT-Test2, I would install/flash this 2nd if the first one has an issue.

[elfl0rd]

; Gcode

G21 ; (mm)
M149 C ; Units in Celsius
M200 S0 D1.75
M92 X80.00 Y80.00 Z400.00 E98.00
M203 X800.00 Y800.00 Z18.00 E120.00
M201 X800.00 Y800.00 Z120.00 E1200.00
M204 P800.00 R800.00 T1000.00
M205 B50000.00 S0.00 T0.00 X10.00 Y10.00 Z0.40 E10.00
M206 X0.00 Y0.00 Z0.00
M420 S0 Z0.00 ; Leveling OFF
G29 W I0 J0 Z0.07550
G29 W I1 J0 Z-0.00800
G29 W I2 J0 Z-0.06100
G29 W I3 J0 Z-0.03850
G29 W I4 J0 Z-0.00450
G29 W I5 J0 Z0.00000
G29 W I6 J0 Z0.00000
G29 W I7 J0 Z0.00000
G29 W I8 J0 Z0.00000
G29 W I0 J1 Z0.09600
G29 W I1 J1 Z0.00600
G29 W I2 J1 Z-0.01700
G29 W I3 J1 Z-0.00100
G29 W I4 J1 Z0.01850
G29 W I5 J1 Z0.00000
G29 W I6 J1 Z0.00000
G29 W I7 J1 Z0.00000
G29 W I8 J1 Z0.00000
G29 W I0 J2 Z0.06900
G29 W I1 J2 Z0.01100
G29 W I2 J2 Z-0.03050
G29 W I3 J2 Z-0.02700
G29 W I4 J2 Z0.01900
G29 W I5 J2 Z0.00000
G29 W I6 J2 Z0.00000
G29 W I7 J2 Z0.00000
G29 W I8 J2 Z0.00000
G29 W I0 J3 Z0.04550
G29 W I1 J3 Z0.03250
G29 W I2 J3 Z-0.00400
G29 W I3 J3 Z0.01550
G29 W I4 J3 Z0.02300
G29 W I5 J3 Z0.00000
G29 W I6 J3 Z0.00000
G29 W I7 J3 Z0.00000
G29 W I8 J3 Z0.00000
G29 W I0 J4 Z0.00000
G29 W I1 J4 Z-0.01700
G29 W I2 J4 Z-0.04950
G29 W I3 J4 Z-0.04500
G29 W I4 J4 Z-0.02600
G29 W I5 J4 Z0.00000
G29 W I6 J4 Z0.00000
G29 W I7 J4 Z0.00000
G29 W I8 J4 Z0.00000
G29 W I0 J5 Z0.00000
G29 W I1 J5 Z0.00000
G29 W I2 J5 Z0.00000
G29 W I3 J5 Z0.00000
G29 W I4 J5 Z0.00000
G29 W I5 J5 Z0.00000
G29 W I6 J5 Z0.00000
G29 W I7 J5 Z0.00000
G29 W I8 J5 Z0.00000
G29 W I0 J6 Z0.00000
G29 W I1 J6 Z0.00000
G29 W I2 J6 Z0.00000
G29 W I3 J6 Z0.00000
G29 W I4 J6 Z0.00000
G29 W I5 J6 Z0.00000
G29 W I6 J6 Z0.00000
G29 W I7 J6 Z0.00000
G29 W I8 J6 Z0.00000
G29 W I0 J7 Z0.00000
G29 W I1 J7 Z0.00000
G29 W I2 J7 Z0.00000
G29 W I3 J7 Z0.00000
G29 W I4 J7 Z0.00000
G29 W I5 J7 Z0.00000
G29 W I6 J7 Z0.00000
G29 W I7 J7 Z0.00000
G29 W I8 J7 Z0.00000
G29 W I0 J8 Z0.00000
G29 W I1 J8 Z0.00000
G29 W I2 J8 Z0.00000
G29 W I3 J8 Z0.00000
G29 W I4 J8 Z0.00000
G29 W I5 J8 Z0.00000
G29 W I6 J8 Z0.00000
G29 W I7 J8 Z0.00000
G29 W I8 J8 Z0.00000
M145 S0 H210.00 B60.00 F0
M145 S1 H240.00 B75.00 F0
M301 P13.19 I0.77 D56.05
M304 P128.06 I24.95 D438.07
M255 S10 ; (minutes)
M256 B40
M207 S7.00 F2400.00 W13.00 Z0.20
M208 S0.00 F2400.00 W0.00 R480.00
M210 X3600.00 Y3600.00 Z480.00
M851 X-50.00 Y-10.00 Z-1.12 ; (mm)
M86 B0 E0 S360 T180
M900 K1.300
M603 L10.00 U120.00 ; (mm)
M412 S0 D25.00 ; Sensor OFF
C29 L10.00 R180.00 F10.00 B210.00 N T ; 5x5  T=180°C; Physical minimums:
C100 X Y; Physical maximums:
C101 X Y Z; Bed size:
C102 X Y; Max Extruder temperature:
C104 T; Park Head:
C125 X Y Z; Filament runout sensor:
C412 M ; Active mode: HIGH; Invert Extruder:
C562 E ; No inverted; Toolbar configuration:
C810 A B C D E; Probe Z Speed and Multiple Probing:
C851 S Mok
M500

[elfl0rd]

HC32_Marlin-Tests.zip

should I reflash screen for it?

[classicrocker883]

no need to reflash, once is all you need unless there is an update, which there hasnt one in over a year

HC32_Marlin-Tests.zip

should I reflash screen for it?

[classicrocker883]

so I dont know why it would want to Home for that Gcode, but lets remove some code that isnt necessary,
delete the following lines:

G21 ; (mm)
M149 C ; Units in Celsius
M420 S0 Z0.00 ; Leveling OFF

; and all the ones starting with G29
G29 W I0 J0 Z0.07550
...
G29 W I8 J8 Z0.00000

; not sure why some C-codes have no numerical values,   
; but we can remove all those as well
C29
...
C851

then just to satisfy the Homing if it keeps going and going, add G28 to the beginning, and G4 S5 which will add 5sec delay:

; Gcode settings
G28
G4 S5
M200 S0 D1.75
... and so on ...

[yrabbit]

M420 S0 Z0.00 ; Leveling OFF
G29 W I0 J0 Z0.07550
G29 W I1 J0 Z-0.00800
G29 W I2 J0 Z-0.06100
G29 W I3 J0 Z-0.03850
G29 W I4 J0 Z-0.00450
G29 W I5 J0 Z0.00000
G29 W I6 J0 Z0.00000

I could be wrong and that's fine, but with UBL homing is not infinite at all - it's just that every time you give a G29 mentioning I and J there is a calibration, no?

https://marlinfw.org/docs/gcode/G029-ubl.html