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evillvi77
(@evillvi77)
Active Member
Help with Lcd problem

Hi... im currently building an enclosure for my mk3s and I would like to change the lcd to something smaller. Are there any alternatives that will work with this printer? Id like to use a 128x64 lcd just because its size would work for me but Ive come across several posts on this forum and others that say it cant be done and some that say it can but they are old posts and im not sure if its possible. am i truly stuck using this screen or is there a guide or something that someone can help point me in the right direction? If i cant use a 128x64 size screen, is there another type of screen thats roughly 4inches (100mm) wide that i can use? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Posted : 03/08/2020 2:18 am
evillvi77
(@evillvi77)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Help with Lcd problem

can anyone help me out?

Posted : 09/08/2020 1:38 pm
M.J. Caboose
(@m-j-caboose)
Trusted Member
RE: Help with Lcd problem

Well, it looks like Prusa is using an Apha Nummerical LCD based on Hitachi's HD44780 (Today Renesas) in parallel mode. I didn't check the bus for sure, but that is an de facto industrial standard and the number of wires attached to the display suggest this.

The content is created by the µC on the main board. So also line width and line number is fixed. When using a graphical LCD in most cases other buses are uses (SPI, I2C, ...). But when your 128x 64 LCD is HD44780 parallel bus compatible and can render 4 lines with 20 characters each, it should work. But this you have to figure out in the datasheet of the display. There might be still some issues with the character set or user defined characters since different vendors often use different char tables. But this is less likely and the worst thing hat can happen here are wrongly displayed characters (for example the "°" symbol).
But this only can be clarified when comparing the two datasheets (your display and the included LCD).

One additional thing can be the supply voltage ... there are 3.3V displays and 5V displays ... The supply voltage needs to be checked.

So the answer can't be anwered with a clear yes or no ... it depends on the display you want to use and whether it is compatible with the provided signals.

When you want to dig into, of course there is the possibility to adapt the firmware to another display style. But I won't suggest this since the adaptions need to be done with every release 😉 ...

- Made by me -

Posted : 11/08/2020 11:49 am
Neophyl
(@neophyl)
Illustrious Member
RE: Help with Lcd problem

Not to also forget that the lcd module of the Mk3 isnt just the lcd.  It also contains the sd card socket and a rotary encoder and the reset button.

Posted : 11/08/2020 12:04 pm
evillvi77
(@evillvi77)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Help with Lcd problem

thanks for the help. i figured out a way thats gonna work for me. i removed the lcd from the board and i added a ribbon in between. ill make a plate that will hold the lcd and the knob. I'll post pics when i get home from work. and thanks for the replies...

Posted : 11/08/2020 4:38 pm
evillvi77
(@evillvi77)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Help with Lcd problem

here is the workaround i did to get the display to where i need it to be. im making a plate that ill attach the lcd and knob to and just mount the board inside the electronics side. im almost done building my enclosure and when its done ill post more pics...

Posted : 11/08/2020 10:38 pm
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