This document provides information on common bootloaders found on micro-controllers that Klipper supports.

The bootloader is 3rd-party software that runs on the micro-controller when it is first powered on. It is typically used to flash a new application (eg, Klipper) to the micro-controller without requiring specialized hardware. Unfortunately, there is no industry wide standard for flashing a micro-controller, nor is there a standard bootloader that works across all micro-controllers. Worse, it is common for each bootloader to require a different set of steps to flash an application.

If one can flash a bootloader to a micro-controller then one can generally also use that mechanism to flash an application, but care should be taken when doing this as one may inadvertently remove the bootloader. In contrast, a bootloader will generally only permit a user to flash an application. It is therefore recommended to use a bootloader to flash an application where possible.

This document attempts to describe common bootloaders, the steps needed to flash a bootloader, and the steps needed to flash an application. This document is not an authoritative reference; it is intended as a collection of useful information that the Klipper developers have accumulated.

AVR micro-controllers

In general, the Arduino project is a good reference for bootloaders and flashing procedures on the 8-bit Atmel Atmega micro-controllers. In particular, the “boards.txt” file: https://github.com/arduino/Arduino/blob/1.8.5/hardware/arduino/avr/boards.txt is a useful reference.

To flash a bootloader itself, the AVR chips require an external hardware flashing tool (which communicates with the chip using SPI). This tool can be purchased (for example, do a web search for “avr isp”, “arduino isp”, or “usb tiny isp”). It is also possible to use another Arduino or Raspberry Pi to flash an AVR bootloader (for example, do a web search for “program an avr using raspberry pi”). The examples below are written assuming an “AVR ISP Mk2” type device is in use.

The “avrdude” program is the most common tool used to flash atmega chips (both bootloader flashing and application flashing).

Atmega2560

This chip is typically found in the “Arduino Mega” and is very common in 3d printer boards.

To flash the bootloader itself use something like:

wget 'https://github.com/arduino/Arduino/raw/1.8.5/hardware/arduino/avr/bootloaders/stk500v2/stk500boot_v2_mega2560.hex'

avrdude -cavrispv2 -patmega2560 -P/dev/ttyACM0 -b115200 -e -u -U lock:w:0x3F:m -U efuse:w:0xFD:m -U hfuse:w:0xD8:m -U lfuse:w:0xFF:m
avrdude -cavrispv2 -patmega2560 -P/dev/ttyACM0 -b115200 -U flash:w:stk500boot_v2_mega2560.hex
avrdude -cavrispv2 -patmega2560 -P/dev/ttyACM0 -b115200 -U lock:w:0x0F:m

To flash an application use something like:

avrdude -cwiring -patmega2560 -P/dev/ttyACM0 -b115200 -D -Uflash:w:out/klipper.elf.hex:i

Atmega1280

This chip is typically found in earlier versions of the “Arduino Mega”.

To flash the bootloader itself use something like:

wget 'https://github.com/arduino/Arduino/raw/1.8.5/hardware/arduino/avr/bootloaders/atmega/ATmegaBOOT_168_atmega1280.hex'

avrdude -cavrispv2 -patmega1280 -P/dev/ttyACM0 -b115200 -e -u -U lock:w:0x3F:m -U efuse:w:0xF5:m -U hfuse:w:0xDA:m -U lfuse:w:0xFF:m
avrdude -cavrispv2 -patmega1280 -P/dev/ttyACM0 -b115200 -U flash:w:ATmegaBOOT_168_atmega1280.hex
avrdude -cavrispv2 -patmega1280 -P/dev/ttyACM0 -b115200 -U lock:w:0x0F:m

To flash an application use something like:

avrdude -carduino -patmega1280 -P/dev/ttyACM0 -b57600 -D -Uflash:w:out/klipper.elf.hex:i

Atmega1284p

This chip is commonly found in “Melzi” style 3d printer boards.

To flash the bootloader itself use something like:

wget 'https://github.com/Lauszus/Sanguino/raw/1.0.2/bootloaders/optiboot/optiboot_atmega1284p.hex'

avrdude -cavrispv2 -patmega1284p -P/dev/ttyACM0 -b115200 -e -u -U lock:w:0x3F:m -U efuse:w:0xFD:m -U hfuse:w:0xDE:m -U lfuse:w:0xFF:m
avrdude -cavrispv2 -patmega1284p -P/dev/ttyACM0 -b115200 -U flash:w:optiboot_atmega1284p.hex
avrdude -cavrispv2 -patmega1284p -P/dev/ttyACM0 -b115200 -U lock:w:0x0F:m

To flash an application use something like:

avrdude -carduino -patmega1284p -P/dev/ttyACM0 -b115200 -D -Uflash:w:out/klipper.elf.hex:i

Note that a number of “Melzi” style boards come preloaded with a bootloader that uses a baud rate of 57600. In this case, to flash an application use something like this instead:

avrdude -carduino -patmega1284p -P/dev/ttyACM0 -b57600 -D -Uflash:w:out/klipper.elf.hex:i

At90usb1286

This document does not cover the method to flash a bootloader to the At90usb1286 nor does it cover general application flashing to this device.

The Teensy++ device from pjrc.com comes with a proprietary bootloader. It requires a custom flashing tool from https://github.com/PaulStoffregen/teensy_loader_cli. One can flash an application with it using something like:

teensy_loader_cli --mcu=at90usb1286 out/klipper.elf.hex -v

Atmega168

The atmega168 has limited flash space. If using a bootloader, it is recommended to use the Optiboot bootloader. To flash that bootloader use something like:

wget 'https://github.com/arduino/Arduino/raw/1.8.5/hardware/arduino/avr/bootloaders/optiboot/optiboot_atmega168.hex'

avrdude -cavrispv2 -patmega168 -P/dev/ttyACM0 -b115200 -e -u -U lock:w:0x3F:m -U efuse:w:0x04:m -U hfuse:w:0xDD:m -U lfuse:w:0xFF:m
avrdude -cavrispv2 -patmega168 -P/dev/ttyACM0 -b115200 -U flash:w:optiboot_atmega168.hex
avrdude -cavrispv2 -patmega168 -P/dev/ttyACM0 -b115200 -U lock:w:0x0F:m

To flash an application via the Optiboot bootloader use something like:

avrdude -carduino -patmega168 -P/dev/ttyACM0 -b115200 -D -Uflash:w:out/klipper.elf.hex:i

SAM3 micro-controllers (Arduino Due)

It is not common to use a bootloader with the SAM3 mcu. The chip itself has a ROM that allows the flash to be programmed from 3.3V serial port or from USB.

To enable the ROM, the “erase” pin is held high during a reset, which erases the flash contents, and causes the ROM to run. On an Arduino Due, this sequence can be accomplished by setting a baud rate of 1200 on the “programming usb port” (the USB port closest to the power supply).

The code at https://github.com/shumatech/BOSSA can be used to program the SAM3. It is recommended to use version 1.9 or later.

To flash an application use something like:

bossac -U -p /dev/ttyACM0 -a -e -w out/klipper.bin -v -b
bossac -U -p /dev/ttyACM0 -R

SAM4 micro-controllers (Duet Wifi)

It is not common to use a bootloader with the SAM4 mcu. The chip itself has a ROM that allows the flash to be programmed from 3.3V serial port or from USB.

To enable the ROM, the “erase” pin is held high during a reset, which erases the flash contents, and causes the ROM to run.

The code at https://github.com/shumatech/BOSSA can be used to program the SAM4. It is necessary to use version 1.8.0 or higher.

To flash an application use something like:

bossac --port=/dev/ttyACM0 -b -U -e -w -v -R out/klipper.bin

SAMD21 micro-controllers (Arduino Zero)

The SAMD21 bootloader is flashed via the ARM Serial Wire Debug (SWD) interface. This is commonly done with a dedicated SWD hardware dongle. Alternatively, it appears one can use a Raspberry Pi with OpenOCD as a programmer (see: https://learn.adafruit.com/programming-microcontrollers-using-openocd-on-raspberry-pi ).

Unfortunately, there are two common bootloaders deployed on the SAMD21. One comes standard with the “Arduino Zero” and the other comes standard with the “Arduino M0”.

The Arduino Zero uses an 8KiB bootloader (the application must be compiled with a start address of 8KiB). One can enter the bootloader by double clicking the reset button. To flash an application use something like:

bossac -U -p "$(FLASH_DEVICE)" --offset=0x2000 -w out/klipper.bin -v -b -R

The Arduino M0 uses a 16KiB bootloader (the application must be compiled with a start address of 16KiB). To flash an application, reset the micro-controller and run the flash command within the first few seconds of boot - something like:

avrdude -c stk500v2 -p atmega2560 -P /dev/ttyACM0 -u -Uflash:w:out/klipper.elf.hex:i

STM32F103 micro-controllers (Blue Pill devices)

The STM32F103 devices have a ROM that can flash a bootloader or application via 3.3V serial. To access this ROM, one should connect the “boot 0” pin to high and “boot 1” pin to low, and then reset the device. The “stm32flash” package can then be used to flash the device using something like:

stm32flash -w out/klipper.bin -v -g 0 /dev/ttyAMA0

Note that if one is using a Raspberry Pi for the 3.3V serial, the stm32flash protocol uses a serial parity mode which the Raspberry Pi’s “miniuart” does not support. See https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/configuration/uart.md for details on enabling the full uart on the Raspberry Pi GPIO pins.

After flashing, set both “boot 0” and “boot 1” back to low so that future resets boot from flash.

STM32F103 with stm32duino bootloader

The “stm32duino” project has a USB capable bootloader - see: https://github.com/rogerclarkmelbourne/STM32duino-bootloader

This bootloader can be flashed via 3.3V serial with something like:

wget 'https://github.com/rogerclarkmelbourne/STM32duino-bootloader/raw/master/binaries/generic_boot20_pc13.bin'

stm32flash -w generic_boot20_pc13.bin -v -g 0 /dev/ttyAMA0

This bootloader uses 8KiB of flash space (the application must be compiled with a start address of 8KiB). Flash an application with something like:

dfu-util -d 1eaf:0003 -a 2 -R -D out/klipper.bin

The bootloader typically runs for only a short period after boot. It may be necessary to time the above command so that it runs while the bootloader is still active (the bootloader will flash a board led while it is running). Alternatively, set the “boot 0” pin to low and “boot 1” pin to high to stay in the bootloader after a reset.

LPC176x micro-controllers (Smoothieboards)

This document does not describe the method to flash a bootloader itself - see: http://smoothieware.org/flashing-the-bootloader for further information on that topic.

It is common for Smoothieboards to come with a bootloader from: https://github.com/triffid/LPC17xx-DFU-Bootloader. When using this bootloader the application must be compiled with a start address of 16KiB. The easiest way to flash an application with this bootloader is to copy the application file (eg, out/klipper.bin) to a file named firmware.bin on an SD card, and then to reboot the micro-controller with that SD card.