Puttin files on SD Card or Ponterface?  

Re: Puttin files on SD Card or Ponterface?

Hi Gary

First thing is that if you are thinking about transferring gcode files over a serial connection, then you could well be in for a long wait.

Does your printer recognise the SD card and if so, can you "see" the files contained on it? Press the button, go down to SD Card (with the card inserted) and press the button again. You should get a list of the gcode files on the card.

If the printer can read the card, then you should be able to take the card out of the printer and put it into an SD card reader, open "My Computer" and you should then see the card there. If not, then you either have a problem with the card reader or the card itself.

Please try the above and let us know your results.

Peter

Re: Puttin files on SD Card or Ponterface?

Hi Peter, thanks for quick reply! Did all of that. SD in printer works fine and I have completed print from SD card so card is fine in terms of interacting with printer. However, Somehow my computer does not recognize the SD card. I suspect my card reader may be at fault. I will get another today and try that. Or if you have other digestion I'm open to it!
Again, thank you.
G

Re: Puttin files on SD Card or Ponterface?

Hi Gary

Is your SD card reader connected directly to the PC or via a hub? If via a hub, then try connecting it directly to the PC, otherwise try swapping over the cable. Then it would possibly be worthwhile getting a replacement card reader. They are very cheap nowadays.

Peter

Re: Puttin files on SD Card or Ponterface?

Hey Peter, problem resolved! Turns out my computer didn't like the micro adapter but when I plugged the micro SD directly into the computer it works fine. Thanks for helping to troubleshoot this with me!
G

Re: Puttin files on SD Card or Ponterface?

Hi Gary, well done and thanks for letting us know.

Happy printing!

Peter

Re: Puttin files on SD Card or Ponterface?

Also... another thing to mention for those who wishing to print using Ponterface. Make sure you you adjust your computer settings so that your computer does not time-out mid-print. Learned that quickly the hard way, now I only print with SD card.

Re: Puttin files on SD Card or Ponterface?

If I was going to use USB I would have a dedicated computer. This is very common in CNC machining. The long run time is called a "drip feed" because it drips code to the onboard computer a bit at a time. 🙂

Re: Puttin files on SD Card or Ponterface?

Brian

That's why there is OctoPi/OctoPrint which runs on a Raspberry Pi and controls the printer via USB with a webCam and web interface.

Well worth the investment.

Peter

Re: Puttin files on SD Card or Ponterface?

I'll look that up and check into it. I'd love to have a network interface on my printer. 🙂

Re: Puttin files on SD Card or Ponterface?

Brian

It is very good and exceedingly useful (for me at least). It is also possible to use a WiFi dongle, but if you go that route, you will also require a powered USB hub .

I use a 2A phone USB charger to power the Pi and have a MS webcam on one and a full HD Canyon webcam on the other, but you do have to check the list of supported webcams.

Peter