Better prints at faster speeds = use an SD card?  

Re: Better prints at faster speeds = use an SD card?

For me, no I have not noticed this.

In fact, I am always slowing down everything manually because the MK2 profiles in slic3r are already so fast.

I have even increased the speed on the MK2 to the point where I started to grind filament and clog the extruder gear ( going way above 120%).

Also, the MK2 blows away my other 3D printer in terms of speed using normal printing defaults ( big factor is the best hot end on the market used in the MK2).

Re: Better prints at faster speeds = use an SD card?

Subjectively speaking, your mileage may vary. Objectively speaking, you don't even need to make tests to know that the minirambo usb connection speed is way lower than sd access, it's straight out from the specifications (115200 bps vs around 250 KBps if I remember correctly).

If you're struggling about the use of octoprint, here is my point of view: worst 50€ spent for 3d printing, but at least you can reuse it for other purposes.

I find it completely useless on a printer that needs babysitting prior to printing (bed cleaning, first layer check). You're actually adding:
- a speed cap;
- a failure point (an entire operating system to a printer which is already capable to work without);
- a cyber security threat (you'll have to manage security updates etc if you plan to use it from internet);
- a safety risk (another powered device near a home-made device which can reach very high temperatures).

All this only to avoid a file copy (and you still have to reach the printer... which is anyway one meter from you i bet 🙄 ).

Re: Better prints at faster speeds = use an SD card?

That's an interesting perspective. I consider a rpi running octoprint an absolutely must-have:

* It allows me to remotely monitor my prints via a webcam
* It allows me to start prints from work, provided I have taken care of the bed cleaning after my previous print which I always do
* It allows me to easily control the printer, set precise temperatures, etc while troubleshooting in a far more precise way than I can from the LCD
* It allows me to remotely terminate a job if I see via the webcam that it's not working well.

To me these are absolutely worth the $40 spent on the system.

Re: Better prints at faster speeds = use an SD card?

@david.b14 - I'm interested in your assertion the stock settings are "already so fast". Unless I'm confused, the default settings print at a rather leisurely 40mm/s. The printer can easily double that from what I've seen; when I'm pressed for time or want a decrease in print time I bump it up to 60mm (I have not tried 80mm/s). I will tell you that 60mm/s with the stock bearings makes *a lot* of noise. That's the next upgrade I'm planning when I have the time and patience to take a completely working printer apart because I'm annoyed by the rattling 😉

As for Octoprint - I use it for almost all prints since it provides time lapse images and a nice history. I've only seen prints "slow down" because of the USB connection a couple times and it usually smooths out after the first layer or two. I don't know about a "must have", but I think it's a "nice to have". But mostly because pulling the SD card out, copying the file, and putting it back really, really time consuming versus clicking "upload" 😛

0.02 :ugeek:

-Tom

Re: Better prints at faster speeds = use an SD card?

When printing via a computer and instead of an SD card can lead to problems with any computer OS. Via Prontoface or Repetier Host. Especially if an upgrade starts, or energy/screensaver saving kicks in, or a virus scan or anything else in the background! It can ruin prints. The exception is if running Octoprint on a dedicated Raspberry Pi. I mostly print via an SD card on my printers, except my Kossel Mini which runs Duet 32bit dedicated software and web server.

Re: Better prints at faster speeds = use an SD card?

@Tom. Sorry for the confusion, the speed was in reference to another 3D printer I use and not the MK2 ( it does not have a full metal hot end ). I'm also using different PLA filaments like wood which seem produce blobs when using the default speeds in the PE Slic3r edition but I realize that is my fault for not taking time to tweak the parameters for the specific vendor that produces the filament.

Re: Better prints at faster speeds = use an SD card?

Interesting tests from Tech2c indeed.

I guess it comes down to sacrificing speed for convenience. I myself rather continue printing at a max 40mm/s than giving up on my RasPi running not Octoprint but Repetier-Server. Its been working well for over 2 months with my mk2 and even longer for my older printers. One Raspi currently controls 3 of my printers reliably and well.

I tend to agree that if you got the printer sitting right there its not much of a hassle to jog cards, but for me its 2 flights of stairs from my office to the printers and running down the stairs to arrive at the printer only to notice I left the bloody card upstairs (or vice versa) was what motivated me to go for the RasPi in the first place. That plus being able to remotely monitor all my printers, cancel a failed print even when i am out of the office is worth more to me than a couple off mm/s.

I guess one alternative would be to use Toshibas FlasAir Wifi enabled SD-Cards, the MK2 works perfectly fine with them, but for me personally, this is a: nah thanks, i am perfectly happy with performance & quality i get from my printers tethered to the RasPi. Speed is kinda overrated anyway 😉

Re: Better prints at faster speeds = use an SD card?

I plan to move to Raspberry pi, because the SD card reader on my reasonably new laptop has failed.
the supplier says it's because I have exceeded the designed maximum number of insertions. I think that's contentious, but since the laptop is out of warrantee, I have little comeback.

regards Joan

Re: Better prints at faster speeds = use an SD card?

Interesting tests from Tech2c indeed.
I guess one alternative would be to use Toshibas FlasAir Wifi enabled SD-Cards, the MK2 works perfectly fine with them

so perfectly fine that is going straight back to Amazon after 10 minutes of use. Slow as hell. Webdav share almost unusable (may also have to blame windows 10 for this). Only (barely) usable for downloading, not for uploading. 90MB/s cards cost less. Good to take pictures of your dinner at the restaurant with the reflex and share them on facebook, i guess. BTW, you can't even configure it for our purpose without an engineering degree.

Re: Better prints at faster speeds = use an SD card?

Hmm.. yes, it is slow, the default "web-interface" is rather "rudimentary", and initial setup requires messing with config files. But it's working nonetheless fine for me on my MK2. (WebDAV & Browser Upload on Win10 Pro x64 Anniv. / Chrome). Whereas in other printers it doesn't. Like for example in my Ultimaker it wont work. Another FlashAir has been in use for ages now in my FlashForge/Dremel (which isn't supported with Octoprint). Albeit equally slow and with the same tedious setup.

Me personally, i'd rather have a slow FlashAir than running up and down the stairs multiple times As long as the print job is transferred by the time i reach the printer i am content 😉 Is it optimal? Heck no, but both FlashAir cards are working reliably here. Well, is kinda moot, since I will not give up my RasPi anyway.

PS: Theres also Wifi-SD by Transcend and EyeFi MobiPro i think they were called, but i am not sure if those two even support uploading at all.