Tools: What do you recommend?  

RE: Tools: What do you recommend?

Posted by: @charles-h13

I would not like to recommend either a Raspberry PI 3 or 4.  I have Octoprint installed on each printer and I am very happy with the results.  I have them connected through the pin headers and an RPI cable from a Little Red Toaster.  It allows both data and power to go from the MK3S to the PI. Unfortunately, the Mini is not capable of this connection but can be connected by USB.  

This tool/upgrade will allow you to monitor your prints with Astroprint with an added plugin. PI 4 is preferred because ti adds significant speed over the PI 3.  The 3d printed einsy and raspberry controller box below alloys the addition of a Buck Converter.  I have never needed one.  

Parts:

• Raspberry PI 3 or Raspberry PI 4
• Little Red Toaster Einsy to Pi Cable
• Samsung Evo 32 GB
• Buck converter (optional)

Printed parts:  

• Raspberry and Controller Box

Enjoy!  I am adding one to my new printer and will post pictures as i assemble it. 

I had planned to install Octoprint and Raspberry Pi when I got started in this hobby, but I have been very happy simply running Pronterface on a laptop connected via USB.  I have also added a mini camera to watch the printer.  I can remote into the laptop via AnyDesk or TeamViewer, and control and watch the print.  Very easy and convenient.

RE: Tools: What do you recommend?

@bobstro

No performance benefit.  For me, it is all about powering it through the printer.  

RE: Tools: What do you recommend?

Posted by: @charles-h13

I would now like to recommend either a Raspberry PI 3 or 4.  I have Octoprint installed on each printer and I am very happy with the results.  I have them connected through the pin headers and an RPI cable from a Little Red Toaster.  It allows both data and power to go from the MK3S to the PI. Unfortunately, the Mini is not capable of this connection but can be connected by USB.  

This tool/upgrade will allow you to monitor your prints with Astroprint with an added plugin. PI 4 is preferred because ti adds significant speed over the PI 3.  The 3d printed einsy and raspberry controller box below alloys the addition of a Buck Converter.  I have never needed one.  

Parts:

• Raspberry PI 3 or Raspberry PI 4
• Little Red Toaster Einsy to Pi Cable
• Samsung Evo 32 GB
• Buck converter (optional)

Printed parts:  

• Raspberry and Controller Box

Enjoy!  I am adding one to my new printer and will post pictures as i assemble it. 

Slight typo:  

I would now like to recommend either a Raspberry PI 3 or 4.  I have Octoprint installed on each printer and I am very happy with the results.  I have them connected through the pin headers and an RPI cable from a Little Red Toaster.  It allows both data and power to go from the MK3S to the PI. Unfortunately, the Mini is not capable of this connection but can be connected by USB.  

This tool/upgrade will allow you to monitor your prints with Astroprint with an added plugin. PI 4 is preferred because ti adds significant speed over the PI 3.  The 3d printed Einsy and raspberry controller box below alloys the addition of a Buck Converter.  I have never needed one.  

Parts:

• Raspberry PI 3 or Raspberry PI 4
• Little Red Toaster Einsy to Pi Cable
• Samsung Evo 32 GB
• Buck converter (optional)

Printed parts:  

• Raspberry and Controller Box

Enjoy!  I am adding one to my new printer and will post pictures as i assemble it. 

RE: Tools: What do you recommend?

All I use is the kit Prusa sent with my MK2, some alcohol wipes, a set of different width wallpaper scrapers, and that's it!  I use the Prusa pliers to pull of bits of filament that dribble out the nozzle, and the wallpaper scrapers to remove prints from the bed.  So far I haven't needed anything else.

Never lubricated it, just wiped off the little bit of dust  that gets on it in it's enclosure (a metal/glass server cabinet), and it still prints perfect.

RE: Tools: What do you recommend?

@3delight

It is not that they are needed, I just like better tools.  

RE: Tools: What do you recommend?

Sorry, I wasn't criticising!  I'm sure when something does come up I'll regret not having more tools at hand! 🙂 

RE: Tools: What do you recommend?

Posted by: @charles-h13

I would now like to recommend either a Raspberry PI 3 or 4.

I don't use Octoprint (yet) but I've used the Pi series almost as long as they have been readily available.

The Pi 4 is not too shabby at all.  Really!

A few months ago the PC I had down in the train room crashed, and for a quickie makeshift I subbed in a Pi 4, intended to be temporary, to get things going, and was quite impressed with the performance.  It actually makes a fairly decent low-expectation desktop.  All I really use it for down there is logging into things (mostly other Pi boxes on the model RR), casual web surfing and minor schematic editing and such.

That little box really gives a lot of bang for the buck.

RE: Tools: What do you recommend?

@charles-h13

I would not recommend cheap buck converters, because they do not provide stable voltage for the Pi and can even damage the power supply.

RE: Tools: What do you recommend?

@karl-herbert

I did not use it,  but good advice.  I have one because it was recommended on Thingiverse.  I chose to wire it with the RPI connector instead.  

RE: Tools: What do you recommend?

@bobstro

I have also connected my Pi 3B+ to the Einsy via GPIO. Current baud is 250000 and the Pi is supplied by an external stabilized 5.2V power source.

RE: Tools: What do you recommend?

I just installed a Pi Zero as a temperature monitor for the new enclosure and I really didn't even think of powering it off of the printer.  Those USB power bricks are dirt cheap and the Pi, even the 4, is really not that picky about the power you give it as long as you give it adequate current.  (I hate seeing that lightning bolt on the Pi screen.)

RE: Tools: What do you recommend?

@jsw

I am running out of sockets on my power back up.  

RE: Tools: What do you recommend?

Posted by: @charles-h13

@jsw

I am running out of sockets on my power back up.  

That's what cube taps and octopus plugs are for.  😉

RE: Tools: What do you recommend?

@charles-h13

I have installed a distribution box in my printer enclosure. Various consumers are connected and secured to this box. For this reason I only need one power plug. LAN (Pi connection) and USB for flashing the firmware (printer and MMU2) are mounted on the outside of the enclosure.

RE: Tools: What do you recommend?

Two tools I absolutely love for building the kit and for general maintenance is the Wera 2.5mm Allen screwdriver (hex plus - not the ball head), no more messing about with tiny fiddly allens, Quick easy and secure, never lose it and cheap for such a high quality tool.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wera-05118070001-Screwdriver-2-5x60mm-Hex-Plus/dp/B000XJ1LIS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=wera%2B2.5&qid=1599392372&quartzVehicle=112-1489&replacementKeywords=wera&sr=8-1&th=1

And: Hartman's Alligator Forceps, these are great at getting things into and out of small spaces especially tight nuts and washers, or fishing screws out from hidey holes.

I keep a set of matching set op spanners in 5.5mm (nuts), 7mm (nozzle), 16mm (heater block) and 3mm drill bit for m3 hole reaming, with the printers alongside the standard vernier calipers,  side cutter IPA bottle and all the other little bits that accumulate.

RE: Tools: What do you recommend?

Posted by: @jsw

Posted by: @charles-h13

I would now like to recommend either a Raspberry PI 3 or 4.

I don't use Octoprint (yet) but I've used the Pi series almost as long as they have been readily available.

The Pi 4 is not too shabby at all.  Really!

A few months ago the PC I had down in the train room crashed, and for a quickie makeshift I subbed in a Pi 4, intended to be temporary, to get things going, and was quite impressed with the performance.  It actually makes a fairly decent low-expectation desktop.  All I really use it for down there is logging into things (mostly other Pi boxes on the model RR), casual web surfing and minor schematic editing and such.

That little box really gives a lot of bang for the buck.

Same to me - I have 3 of the Pi4 4GB running as desktop computers, where I do CAD-work, slicing, firmware configuration and compiling and so on. It is really impressive how that little peace of curcits performs. I love them! Overall I have more than 20 of them - at least one of every model they released.

What is the adventage of not connecting the Pi using a USB-cable but these connectors on the GPI?

Best regards, Clemens

RE: Tools: What do you recommend?

I have a couple of Pi projects that power the Pi from another device through the bus connector.  Advantage is that it needs one less power supply, but it really depends on the circumstances of the project.

In terms of the enclosure, it was close to a no-brainer.  More hassle connecting it in to the printer supply than to simply run a cable out to a power brick.

RE: Tools: What do you recommend?

@jsw

No hassle.  To me, it was fewer power bricks and fewer USB connectors to break off or get in the way during repairs.  The cable is now self-contained in the casing.  

RE: Tools: What do you recommend?

@clemens-m

The advantage is powering off the Einsy and no external USB cables to clutter or get in the way.  

RE: Tools: What do you recommend?

I'm sure some peeps successfully run Pi's in various ways but I would point out that 2 commonly recurring threads (apart from trying to use the zero) are power (both V and A) and using GPIO instead of USB (often the wrong UART is configured).