Mini Network Farm , is it possible yet ?  

Software and plugins

Sort of related:

How does octofarm’s filament manager work?  I use a plug-in called filament manager that integrates with a print history plugin.  It allows me to calculate cost better.  

Mods

Posted by: @djkirkendall

I haven't decided if I'm going to release that just yet. I worked very hard on it over the last few months and I have completed my testing with great results. This might just stay in my bag of tricks. 

 

I understand where you're coming from, I've spent a lot of time modding other open-source systems and often get asked about unfinished mods. 

However I respectfully disagree with that approach. You don't have to give away your models or even your .STL's, but you should at least list verbally what you've done, it benefits the community here and can benefit you as well.

You mentioned that you put a Y-axis chain on your mini, but what if there is an easier or cheaper solution that could work better? Other mods could benefit from external input and models / .STL's that you release can be remixed for further improvements at no cost to you. 

I understand that you feel protective of your work, who doesn't? But if your mods are really that good, you should at the very least sell them through your business so we can still benefit from them some way.

So far my mods are as follows: 
- Power Supply Holder - ( https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/72316-prusa-mini-original-psu-holder-adapter-mount - I'll make one for the new "Delta" power supply in a few minutes)
- Rubber Feet from i3 ( https://shop.prusa3d.com/en/mk3mk3smk3s/245-antivibration-foot.html)
- IKEA lack enclosure (2 tables, with spacers on the feet for added height, plexiglass door using 3D printed hinges [thingiverse], custom door handle and latch [they're basic and they suck, but I'll gladly post the files if anyone wants to use them] and LED Lights)
- Software changed to leave Y axis 5mm further from the edge as it used to crash when starting the next print, I also removed the useless "Cool down then heat up" startup GCODE - I reported both improvements on Github and both appear to have been incorporated.

RE: Experienced

Call me bitter and jaded. Any time I have posted mods over the years, I get flooded with requests for mods and questions about installation. I used to share everything, but over the years I came to realize it is a huge time suck to which I never see any benefit. 

It's my work & expertise, I do this commercially and have access to trend data that is very valuable, and I'm under no obligation to publish my work. 

I am different.

Posted by: @djkirkendall

Call me bitter and jaded. Any time I have posted mods over the years, I get flooded with requests for mods and questions about installation. I used to share everything, but over the years I came to realize it is a huge time suck to which I never see any benefit. 

It's my work & expertise, I do this commercially and have access to trend data that is very valuable, and I'm under no obligation to publish my work. 

I guess I look at this differently.  It is not all about me.  As a member of the rocket hobby, I see this as a means to pay forward for all of the help people have given me over the years.  

Paid in full

I think I've paid that debt at least 5x. Like I said, I used to publish everything. My TVerse and MyMiniFactory accounts are packed with uploads, a lot of it moved the farm ball forward. 

Then there's OctoFarm. I contributed thousands to that project to keep James motivated, and sent back bug reports from a large farm and usability perspective. Open sourced the whole thing. 

justification

Posted by: @djkirkendall

I think I've paid that debt at least 5x. Like I said, I used to publish everything. My TVerse and MyMiniFactory accounts are packed with uploads, a lot of it moved the farm ball forward. 

Then there's OctoFarm. I contributed thousands to that project to keep James motivated, and sent back bug reports from a large farm and usability perspective. Open sourced the whole thing. 

You do not have to justify it to me.  It is your conscience.  Do what you want.  It is your stuff.  I am by no means trying to convince you of anything.  I am just telling you that I have a different look at it.  

Just Business

Conscience has nothing to do with it. It's just business. I left the hobby space about 2 years ago as I scaled up the manufacturing as a capability vs. a novelty. I think once you're staring at 100+ 3D printers, some things need to be held closer to the vest. I haven't decided if my R6 (MK3S+ Extruder) port will be made public. That one took a lot of effort, and for now, I am enjoying it's sole benefit. I did publish the R4 port on prusaprinters/tVerse/MyMiniFactory. 

Ironically enough, if one were to do a simple google search there's enough out there to piece it all together. 

Hmm

Back to the topic at hand.  I installed Octofarm and I am messing with it.  I can't wait for a better Spool Manager and better shared filament database.  

Spool accounting

I don't think James is still actively working on it. That feature is extremely difficult to code right, as the slicer is still "Garbage in, garbage out". Unless you have accurate manufacturer density data on the polymer used, it will never be accurate enough to get down to the last gram reliably. The only true way to get that data is to put an encoder on the input like Mosiac did with the palette. 

I was toying with that idea for a while, but the performance of filament sensors really outmoded that requirement. 

Spool Manager

Posted by: @djkirkendall

I don't think James is still actively working on it. That feature is extremely difficult to code right, as the slicer is still "Garbage in, garbage out". Unless you have accurate manufacturer density data on the polymer used, it will never be accurate enough to get down to the last gram reliably. The only true way to get that data is to put an encoder on the input like Mosiac did with the palette. 

I was toying with that idea for a while, but the performance of filament sensors really outmoded that requirement. 

Spool manager is being actively developed.  I follow it very closely. The next feature is an external database.