Connecting USB locks up the printer  

RE: Connecting USB locks up the printer

Posted by: @stacjackson

I've checked other forum posts and didn't see this issue.

I just completed the build kit for the MK3S+ and from the printer console everything works fine. Prints great.

When I try to connect to my PC through the USB, the printer fans start running and the LCD screen goes to startup and stays there until I unplug the cable.

My PC doesn't recognize the print and Prusaslicer doesn't either.

I've installed the drivers and software from prusa.

Any thoughts?

Thanks for the help

Hello and welcome to the Prusaforum!

This is quite normal. Every connection to the PC via the USB line triggers a reset. This is necessary to flash the firmware properly via e.g. the PrusaSlicer. It is best to connect the USB cables with the devices switched off or not during the printing phase.

RE: Connecting USB locks up the printer

@karl-herbert

Thanks for the response.  Connecting up then turning on, does the same thing. The LCD panel locks up with 3 dots at the bottom right.

The PC only sees the COM4 port in device manager with the prusa printer listed. The PC or Prusaslicer doesn't see it in the file manager device listing.

If I disconnect the cable, the printer resets back to normal.

Thanks again.

RE: Connecting USB locks up the printer

@stacjackson

This might be a noisy or poor connection.

I would try, in order:

A different USB port.

A different USB cable.

Cleaning the USB contacts.

Hmmm, or even a different PC.

Hth, Cheerio,

RE: Connecting USB locks up the printer

@diem

Thanks for the response!

I did try another PC and am getting better results.

The printer doesn't lock up anymore.

But the slicer software still doesn't see the printer. The export GCode  to printer or SD card is not available.

Maybe I just don't understand. Am I not able to send a print from the Slicer to the printer?

Thanks again.

RE: Connecting USB locks up the printer

Did you disable the internal Raspberry Pi interface, using the LCD Menu?

RE: Connecting USB locks up the printer

@stacjackson

Keep in mind that when printing through Pronterface or other software, the computer must be connected to the printer during the entire printing process - the computer must be prevented from going into sleep mode, hibernation, or shut down. Disconnecting the computer during the print ends the printing process without the option to finish the object.

I would recommend you to print via Octoprint!

RE: Connecting USB locks up the printer

It was my understanding, the printer cannot be powered through USB alone?

Don't you turn on the printer beforehand using the supplied power supply and only use USB for data connection?

RE: Connecting USB locks up the printer

Posted by: @neophyl

You cannot print directly from slicer to the printer.   Prusa Slicer will not 'detect' the printer.  The only exception to this is when updating the printers firmware. 

You can save the gcode produced by the slicer to a local SD card or export the gcode to something like octoprint or repetier server wich then handles the USB serial link between the PC/RPi and the printer.

Saving gcode to the printers on board SD card is possible using other software but the transfer speed is so atrociously slow that its just not done.  Its quicker to just put the sd card in your pc and then swap it back to the machine.

The 2 most common methods for wireless control of a Prusa is to either use Octoprint running on a Pi as a printer server or to replace the printers SD card with a wifi enabled Flashair sd card.  Octoprint being the most common

Thanks to all who responded.

I completely misunderstood how to process a print through this printer until this response. I use repitoir with another printer I have and wanted to use the Prusa tools at this point.

Thanks for all the help. I've got it now.