Unable to read SD cards  

RE:

Historically there have always been potential problems with the physical sd card holder.  The frame which is just thin metal can get bent out of shape during insertion and cause issues. Please have a read of https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/original-prusa-i3-mk3s-mk3-hardware-firmware-and-software-help/fix-for-sd-card-reader-error-no-card/

its an old thread but most of the info should be applicable still.

RE: Unable to read SD cards

Thanks for the reply @neophyl. I conducted a thorough visual inspection and couldn't find anything obviously wrong with the SD card slot. It doesn't appear bent or damaged, and the software registers correctly when a card is inserted or removed. Rather, it appears that reading data from the card is an issue. When inserting the card, instead of a progress bar, I just get dots (° signs). After a few moments it shows a broken empty file structure and the Info Screen return option. When the card is removed, that is detected and reported on screen. See screenshots below.

Everything else appears to be working correctly, I can print using Pronterface over USB without any problems. It's just printing from SD cards that appears to be an issue.

Because everything else is working correctly, I would suspect that it's the physical SD card slot that is not working. Would you recommend trying to replace the SD card slot? Or do you have other suggestions?

Kind regards,

Nick

RE: Unable to read SD cards

Ah in which case what is the format of the cards contents ?  The file system is pretty limited, if you have certain special characters in a file's or folder name then it can break the directory read. Basically stick to alpha numerical (A to Z, A to Z and numbers and you should be ok. Spaces and underscores are also ok but things like % are not.  

RE: Unable to read SD cards

I've tried multiple cards, including the original one, always formatted FAT32. The problem occurs even with blank cards that don't have any files on them.

Try sticking a patch of masking tape or similar on the back of the card in case it's just a little wear - the extra thickness may be enough to maintain the contact.

Cheerio,

RE: Unable to read SD cards

Well it seems it's sensing the sd but carnt read it try reaseat lcd cables 

RE: Unable to read SD cards

@diem I tried the masking tape suggestion but as expected, it didn't make a difference because the card was already detected correctly it's just the reading that seems a problem.

@hello I'd checked the cables and they are plugged in properly on both sides. I've also swapped the cables on both sides, and exactly the same behaviour so its not one of the cables causing the problem.

RE: Unable to read SD cards

Posted by: @nick-i3mk3s

@diem I tried the masking tape suggestion but as expected, it didn't make a difference because the card was already detected correctly it's just the reading that seems a problem.

@hello I'd checked the cables and they are plugged in properly on both sides. I've also swapped the cables on both sides, and exactly the same behaviour so its not one of the cables causing the problem.

Then it sounds like the boards toast to confirm you checked all pins inside sd card holder

RE: Unable to read SD cards

The pins look properly soldered on the outside, but had to look for corrosion on the inside. What procedure would you suggest to check the pins inside?

RE: Unable to read SD cards

Posted by: @nick-i3mk3s

The pins look properly soldered on the outside, but had to look for corrosion on the inside. What procedure would you suggest to check the pins inside?

Just use a torch and look for bent pins there most likely won't be corrosion 

Before doing anything drastic try cleaning the pins with ispropyl alcohol - fold a thin strip of cloth over the end of a screwdriver and dip it in the alcohol - and check your electrical connections at both ends of the ribbon cable in case a plug has vibrated loose.

If that fails I'm with @neophyl, characters out of range, this includes 'invisible' characters, ones where the glyph is a space - also those in directory names if you use them; keep to the ASCII subset.

Make sure you are using FAT32 and not a FAT32 image inside another filesystem.

Try with a small SD drive - 4GB or less (calling 4GB small seems odd considering how recently that would have been unimaginally huge.)

Cheerio,

RE:

I followed your advice to clean the pins internally with IPA, @diem, but it doesn't seem to make a difference. It's hard to say whether I was pushing the screwdriver deep enough, admittedly

I think the next thing to try is to replace the SD card holder completely, but I can't find documentation for this board; does anyone know where/how to find the part number for the SD card holder? There are so many different SD card holders and they don't seem to be pin compatible, so want to make sure to order the correct one.

Where in the world are you(not street address)?  Is there someone nearby who could lend you a known working SD card with a couple of gcodes installed.

https://world.prusa3d.com/en

Cheerio,

RE: Unable to read SD cards

That's something I hadn't thought about, I'll have a look at the map and message users in the neighbourhood to ask if I can borrow a known working SD card. Will report back on the results. Thanks for the suggestion @diem!

RE: Unable to read SD cards

Posted by: @nick-i3mk3s

That's something I hadn't thought about, I'll have a look at the map and message users in the neighbourhood to ask if I can borrow a known working SD card. Will report back on the results. Thanks for the suggestion @diem!

TRy flashing 3.11 firmware if it was the sd card you would not be getting rhe first 2 image you shared

RE: Unable to read SD cards

Posted by: @hello

 TRy flashing 3.11 firmware if it was the sd card you would not be getting rhe first 2 image you shared

Printing via USB works fine though, so wouldn't that suggest it's not the firmware that's the problem?

RE: Unable to read SD cards

Posted by: @nick-i3mk3s

 

Posted by: @hello

 TRy flashing 3.11 firmware if it was the sd card you would not be getting rhe first 2 image you shared

Printing via USB works fine though, so wouldn't that suggest it's not the firmware that's the problem?

How does Printing via usb have anything to do with the SD card reading firmware 

RE: Unable to read SD cards

Printing via usb just sends gcode commands 

RE: Unable to read SD cards

I know, my question was rather, how does changing the firmware help with diagnosing the problem? If printing via USB works, then that leads me to conclude that the firmware currently running on the printer is not corrupt, so what would be the advantage of changing it?