Better Software than OctoPrint?  

RE: Better Software than OctoPrint?

If you're okay with less extensibility in favor of a IMHO better UI and some nice queue management capabilities, you may want to give AstroPrint a try. And then there's Prusa Connect but it's still early days for it. Plus so far it only works with a Mk3, not a Mini. 

RE: Better Software than OctoPrint?

I am a happy user of repetier server which, from my point of view, has the only flaw of not being completely free, but the basic features that remain even after the 30-day trial are more than enough to print.

RE:

There are indeed several chooses but Octoprint is free, simple to implement and widely used. You should be aware of a prepackaged version of Octprint called Octopi which is even easier to implement, that Astroprint is a fork of Octoprint and that the free version of Astroprint seems a little limited.

Why not run Octoprint (using the Octopi image), see is it does what you need and if it doesn't you haven't wasted any money nor much time. Probably the biggest learning curve you'll be faced with is enabling direct print to host from the slicer.

RE: Better Software than OctoPrint?

https://connect.prusa3d.com/

Can I install and run it on a Pi2 or does it required a Pi4 (I have both at Home).

RE: Better Software than OctoPrint?

It was recommended to me to get a Pi4 for Octoprint .. I got the 4GB board and it has been flawless for me. I did buy it as a kit and it came with a heatsink case and a proper power supply.. The Pi4 needs a heatsink.. and get a good PSU for it.

RE: Better Software than OctoPrint?

+1 - I got the 4B as well with 8GB (I think?), heat sinks, basic case, fan, and proper PS, because that’s what was available at the time. It’s admittedly overkill for the application and I spent more than needed but it is super fast and rock steady. No regrets here and I’m pretty happy with octoprint on the whole. 

Posted by: @crab

It was recommended to me to get a Pi4 for Octoprint .. I got the 4GB board and it has been flawless for me. I did buy it as a kit and it came with a heatsink case and a proper power supply.. The Pi4 needs a heatsink.. and get a good PSU for it.

RE: Better Software than OctoPrint?

I set up both of my printers recently with Octopi and Pi4B.  I guess I will see if either of them die with no heatsink or fan.

RE: Better Software than OctoPrint?

Your Pi2 will probably be ok.  I have Octopi and a camera on a 3B+ and that is working great.  If the Pi2 turns out to be too sluggish, you can always switch to your Pi 4 (but it'll be a bit overkill).

RE: Better Software than OctoPrint?

Well I will go with the octoprint and my Pi4 who have a huge Heatsink from China.
So my Pi with 4GB should be enough? I have to install Win10 on my SSD and put them together.
I could cry since more than 1 1/2 I want to print but not could since the Win7 on my Pc is not that stable.

RE: Better Software than OctoPrint?

I have the Pi4 with 4GB RAM and it is lots.. use a heat sink on the PI and use the OctoPI install. Dead easy.. good instructions on the web. 

RE: Better Software than OctoPrint?

You don’t need windows on the sd card. Use this website to download the OctoPi image and follow the instructions for your OS:

https://octoprint.org/download/

Posted by: @prusaprinters-profile

Well I will go with the octoprint and my Pi4 who have a huge Heatsink from China.
So my Pi with 4GB should be enough? I have to install Win10 on my SSD and put them together.
I could cry since more than 1 1/2 I want to print but not could since the Win7 on my Pc is not that stable.

RE:

Electronic life is shortened due to heat, so you’ll just stress it slowly.. A heat sink for a Pi is not too much, but you need to give it access to outside air to be of any use. I used a case that is made of aluminum and mechanically touches the CPU to conduct heat to the case itself.. seems to keep it under temp and wasn’t too expensive.

Posted by: @netpackrat

I set up both of my printers recently with Octopi and Pi4B.  I guess I will see if either of them die with no heatsink or fan.

RE: Better Software than OctoPrint?

You can pick up a heatsink kit on Amazon for $5. As long as you have decent ventilation for the RPi I don’t think you’ll easily overdrive the unit 🙈.

I’m thinking about printing one of the oversized Einsy board enclosures with space for the 4B so I can eliminate one more box on my desk and the wires connecting it. Something along the lines of this:

https://www.printables.com/model/5928-prusa-mk3s-einsy-raspberry-pi-4b3b-enclosure-with-

You can add a fan and an internal PS for the Pi. There are versions for the Bear frame as well as some interesting re-mixes.

Posted by: @netpackrat

I set up both of my printers recently with Octopi and Pi4B.  I guess I will see if either of them die with no heatsink or fan.

Cheers

RE: Better Software than OctoPrint?

I build this case for my RPi4. I've only been using it for a month or so now, but so far have been very happy with it. I love all the extra room it gives you for wiring.

https://www.printables.com/model/30296-einsy-rambo-raspberry-pi-case-for-stock-frame

RE: Better Software than OctoPrint?

I dunno.  Both printers have been going for about 40 minutes and just from feeling the surface of the pi cases I can't tell any difference from idle, and neither seems particularly warm at all.  The surface of the einsy case is warmer but I think that is just due to proximity of the heat bed.  I don't particularly want to redo my case and drag chain setup now that I finally have it all put together and working, although I may look into designing an adapter that will let an externally mounted fan clip on the case and blow air through it.

I am using the "official" power supply for the Pi 4B; seems to work well.

RE: Better Software than OctoPrint?

I'm using both 3b and 4 pi's without any heat sinks and have never noticed them getting exceedingly hot. They're sitting outside my enclosures. 

RE: Better Software than OctoPrint?

Posted by: @prusaprinters-profile

Hi
Finally I want to print my first Product and for that I want use my Pi as Printserver. I  know OctoPrint from various Articles.
Are there some better Software?
Thanks

Octoprint or OctoPi is the most used and supported 3D printer management software available. Unless you have some specific need that it can't address, then I think it's the best place to start since it's free and has a robust community to help you get stated. Not to mention a huge number of useful plugins like Bed Visualizer, Octolapse for video recording, etc.

Once you get up and running you will be in a better place to evaluate if it does everything you need. Unless you have a number of printers and want to manage them as a printer farm, I think it will do the job for you. It won't cost you anything but time to try, so give it a go. If your computer is currently borked just find a friend with a computer and have them help you with installing the OctoPi premade image on to an SD card. Then take it home, plug it in to your Pi, and fire it up. You can connect a keyboard, mouse, and monitor directly to the Pi and do all your final configuration there and start using it if you want. No PC required (although the Pi technically is a PC). When you get your PC sorted you can then manage everything from your PC.

RE: Better Software than OctoPrint?

Running all my printers using OctoPi using Raspberry Pi Zero 2W without any issues. RAM is 512MB and even that is more than enough for running OctoPi. But whatever you want to  use - be happy if you already own this type of Pi - it's really hard to source them at the moment.

Best regards, Clemens

RE: Better Software than OctoPrint?

It's not difficult to source a Pi right now.  It's difficult to source them for the same prices as people were accustomed to paying in the past.