Marlin (firmware)

Marlin is an open source firmware primarily designed for RepRap project based FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling) 3D-printers using the Arduino platform.[1][2][3]

Marlin (firmware)
Developer(s)Marlin core team + Marlin community
Initial releaseDecember 2011 (2011-12)
Stable release
2.0.7.2 / October 21, 2020 (2020-10-21)
Written inC++ core
Operating systemArduino platform
Platform8-bit AVR and 32-bit ARM based Microcontroller Units
Type3D printing
LicenseGPLv3
Websitemarlinfw.org

The firmware runs G-code formatted coded commands and instruction sets as a robot software on the 3D printer's control board which manages all of the machine's real-time activities including sending movement coordinates to stepper motors through the stepper drivers, controlling heater elements, sensors, lights, tracking bed levelling, LC displays and buttons.[4] Marlin supports many different boards and many designs of 3D printer robot platforms, including Cartesian (including Core XY), Delta and SCARA printers, as well as some other less conventional designs like Hangprinter.[2][5]

Other than for 3D printing, Marlin is also used for many other kinds of machine including SLA and SLS 3D printers, CNC mills, Laser Engravers (or Laser Beam Machining), Laser Cutters, Vinyl Cutters, Pick-and-place machines, and egg painting robots.[3][6][7]

History

Marlin was first created in 2011 for the RepRap and Ultimaker printers; it is today used by many if not most relatively inexpensive 3D-printers for plastic-based Fused filament fabrication (also known as fused deposition modelling) and claims to be the most widely used 3D printing firmware in the world.[2] With perhaps the most famous or infamous products/brands using the Marlin firmware (or forks of the Marlin firmware) being; Ultimaker, LulzBot by Aleph Objects, Original Prusa i3 by Prusa Research, plus the various Ender and CR series by Creality.

Marlin 2.0 (version 2.0.0) was released on the 2nd of December 2019 as the first official version or the Marlin firmware to support 32-bit based controller boards.[8][9]

Development

The firmware is created by a community of contributors, with Scott Lahteine (aka Thinkyhead) as the main developer.[10][3]

License

Marlin uses a GPL license which requires that organisations and individuals share their source code when modifying or expanding the code, some users have not been compliant with the license which has led to distributors removing their products.[11]

Usage and license compliance

Marlin firmware is used by many different manufacturers, most of which comply with its open source license, but some do not.

Company GPL compliance
Aleph Objects' Lulzbot printers[12][13] Yes[14]
Anet[15]
Artillery 3D Yes[16]
AnyCubic Yes[17]
Alphawise[18] Yes[14]
Bibo[15]
BQ[15]
BCN3D[19] Yes
Creality[20][21] No: CR-X[22]

Yes: CR-10S and Ender3[23]

FLSun Yes[14]
FolgerTech[15]
Geeetech Yes[14]
JGAurora[24] No: A8, A7, Z-603S[14]

Yes: A1, A5S, A3S, A5

LMYSTAR No[14]
Makerbase Yes[25]
Mingda No
Printrbot[26] Yes
Prusa Research Yes and have developed their own heavily modified version of Marlin[27]
Tevo No[14]
TronXY No[14]
Ultimaker[28] Yes[14]
Wanhao Yes[14]
Zonestar Yes[14]

References
  1. "Marlin 1.1 Beginner Guide for 3D Printer Firmware | 3DAddict". 3DAddict. 2017-07-26. Retrieved 2018-08-04.
  2. Thomas Sanladerer (2018-08-04), How it's Made: The Marlin Firmware!, retrieved 2018-08-04
  3. "mUVe3D releases improved Marlin firmware for all 3D printers". 3ders.org. Retrieved 2018-08-04.
  4. "3D Printering: Trinamic TMC2130 Stepper Motor Drivers". Hackaday. 2016-09-30. Retrieved 2018-08-04.
  5. Thomas Sanladerer (2016-08-20), [2016 version] How to set up the Marlin firmware!, retrieved 2018-08-04
  6. "3D printing on eggs: 50% infill, one shell?". 3ders.org. Retrieved 2018-08-04.
  7. "Custom Built 3D Printer / CNC Mill marlin firmware help". 3D Hubs. Retrieved 2018-08-04.
  8. https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/e5elvj/marlin_firmware_200_final_has_been_tagged_for/
  9. "New Part Day: ST's 32-Bit 3D Printer Controller". Hackaday. 2016-07-19. Retrieved 2018-08-04.
  10. "Marlin 3D printer firmware developer 'thinkyhead' seeking support". 3ders.org. Retrieved 2018-08-04.
  11. "GPL Violations Cost Creality a US Distributor". Hackaday. 2018-08-27. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  12. "Marlin". code.alephobjects.com. Archived from the original on 2019-10-10. Retrieved 2018-08-04.
  13. "Aleph Objects Debuts Aerostruder v2 Micro Tool Head | All3DP". All3DP. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  14. "3D Printer Companies". 3D Printer - Known License Violators. 2018-04-05. Archived from the original on 2018-08-29. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  15. "MarlinFirmware/Marlin". GitHub. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  16. Ciprian. "Artillery Genius Firmware With Marlin 2.0.5.3". 3D Print Beginner. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  17. "AnyCubic returns to GPL compliance! Chiron Firmware source released". 3D Printer - Known License Violators. 2018-08-27. Archived from the original on 2018-08-29. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  18. "Alfawise U10 : une imprimante 3D grand format à prix très agressif". Génération-NT (in French). Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  19. "BCN3D/BCN3DSigma-Firmware". GitHub. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  20. 3D Printing Nerd (2018-04-09), Creality GPL Update - Naomi Wu Released CR-10S Marlin Source Code, retrieved 2018-08-04
  21. "First Completely Open Source 3D Printer from China". 3D Printer - Known License Violators. 2018-07-09. Archived from the original on 2018-08-07. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  22. "A disappointing month for GPL compliance". 3D Printer - Known License Violators. 2018-08-26. Archived from the original on 2018-08-29. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  23. Solid, Printed. "We are ending our relationship with Creality". Printed Solid. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  24. "JGAurora release A3S and A5 GPL compliant source code". 3D Printer - Known License Violators. 2018-04-16. Archived from the original on 2018-08-07. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  25. Ciprian. "Sapphire Plus Review - Affordable CoreXY". 3D Print Beginner. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  26. "Printrbot/Marlin". GitHub. Retrieved 2018-08-04.
  27. "Prusa Shows Us the New i3 MK2 3D Printer and Where the Community is Headed". Hackaday. 2016-06-15. Retrieved 2018-08-04.
  28. "Ultimaker/Ultimaker2Marlin". GitHub. Retrieved 2018-08-04.

See also
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