FlashAir SD Compatibility Feature Request  

Re: FlashAir SD Compatibility Feature Request

Hi Jim

That modification is very easy to do yourself; looking at the code it starts at line 498 in Sc2Card.cpp.

Any what is it you are having issues with regarding OctoPrint? I have set it up 3 times now and it is quite straight forward if you start from an OctoPi disk image.

Personally, I think it easier to go OctoPrint route as you don't really want to be amending the firmware every time a new version is released.

Post again if you need any assistance with either the above.

Peter

Re: FlashAir SD Compatibility Feature Request

I agree with Peter. OctoPrint is easy enough to set up and there are many of us here that would be willing to help you get it going.

Re: FlashAir SD Compatibility Feature Request

Thanks for the suggestions and help.

I for some reason have had difficulty in getting OctoPrint on my Raspberry Pi to work for me. If I follow the wireless tutorials, it never connects to my network properly and I cannot connect via the web app interface.

So I just burned the image, connected ethernet cable, logged in via HDMI monitor / keyboard. Do the disk expand, us keyboard fix, wifi country and enable SSH. Reboot and now I can finally get to the OctoPrint server web page (via IP address).

I can connect (only at one baud rate). The USB connection is not robust for me. It connects sometimes and other times I get the warning balloon on the right. I changed cables, seemed to improve a little. Attempts to connect at other baud rates connects, but never gives control to the mk2. I have to disconnect and select 115200 and reconnect. This works about 75% of the time, otherwise I get an error.

Once connected to the mk2, my web cam works, I can control the motors but when I attempt to upload a file to the SD drive, it never occurs. Progress bars suggest activity, but the .gcode file never gets there (SD shows zero size files). I have waited several minutes and nothing.

Thanks again in advance.

Jim

Re: FlashAir SD Compatibility Feature Request

Jim

The RAMBo will only communicate at the rate you mentioned.

Do not load files to the SD card; the method used within the RAMBo to send files to the SD card is not sufficiently robust and will take a very long time, if it actually does work.

Store the files to the SD card in the Pi (drag them to the left hand side of the browser window) and print from there.

I run my printers without the SD cards inserted and can control them no matter where I am. I also find the controls within the OctoPrint interface via a regular web browser afford me much better control over the printer than the LCD. Obviously there are some functions which can only be carried out using the LCD, but they are the once-per-fortnight maintenance tasks.

I used to use a web cam connected to the Pi; now I use PiCams simply because they require a lot less power.

It is also possible to derive power for the Pi from the printer's PSU 12V rail via a buck regulator (cost is less than £3/$4) set to 5V.

Peter

Re: FlashAir SD Compatibility Feature Request

Jim,

If you want to power your pi from the printer power supply I have had good luck with these..

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BMIVFK8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Re: FlashAir SD Compatibility Feature Request

Thanks folks. Got it to work!
Uploading to the RPI works just fine.

Re: FlashAir SD Compatibility Feature Request

I am looking into the FlashAir issue right now.
Vojtech

Re: FlashAir SD Compatibility Feature Request

Since you asked for it, we deliver. The FlashAir will be supported in the upcoming firmware release.

Not only we applied the usual Marlin patch to support the FlashAir card, but we also show the IP address assigned to the card by the WiFi router on the printer display! Without this feature, using the Toshiba FlashAir in the station mode is not very convenient.

Stay tuned.

Vojtech

Re: FlashAir SD Compatibility Feature Request

Wow that was quick vojtěch.b3!! Sounds like a great idea, would save me keep having to fetch the SD card every time I want to stick something on it! 😀

Re: FlashAir SD Compatibility Feature Request

Thanks!!

This is a super handy update.

I took your suggestion and made a custom FW load.
Thanks for the tips and fantastic support!

Jim

Re: FlashAir SD Compatibility Feature Request

Can someone please hold my hand through setting this up? I bought the card immediately after seeing the thread and have spent five hours trying to make it do anything remotely useful. I'm a software and hardware engineer and not that stupid... this thing has absolutely owned me. Would love whatever tutorial I can get on using this effectively with my MK2. <3

Re: FlashAir SD Compatibility Feature Request

I agree it is not straightforward to make the FlashAir work as a WiFi file server client.

To make it connect to your WiFi router, you have to edit the CONFIG file on your FlashAir card. It resides in a hidden directory SD_WLAN.
This is how my content of the SD_WLAN\CONFIG file looks like now. You have to replace YOURWIFINODE and YOURWIFIPASSWORD with yours.
You should keep the first section of your current configuration file intact, namely the CIPATH, VERSION, CID, VENDOR entries. I am not quite sure about the rest.

[Vendor]
CIPATH=/DCIM/100__TSB/FA000001.JPG
VERSION=FA9CAW3AW3.00.00
CID=02544d535730384731c2edbe7900f101
PRODUCT=FlashAir
VENDOR=TOSHIBA
LOCK=1
WEBDAV=1
TIMEZONE=8

APPMODE=5
APPSSID=YOURWIFINODE
APPNETWORKKEY=YOURWIFIPASSWORD
UPLOAD=1
UPDIR=/
APPAUTOTIME=0
APPNAME=I3MK2

Then plug it into your printer and wait for 30 seconds. Go to the Support menu and at the bottom there should be the FlashAir IP address displayed.

I recommend to install the following UI onto the FlashAir card:
http://www.extrud3d.com/fashairui

Then just enter the IP address you seen on the printer menu into your web browser and you shall be good to go.

Vojtech

Re: FlashAir SD Compatibility Feature Request

> Can someone please hold my hand through setting this up? I bought the card immediately after seeing the thread and have spent five hours trying to make it do anything remotely useful. I'm a software and hardware engineer and not that stupid... this thing has absolutely owned me. Would love whatever tutorial I can get on using this effectively with my MK2. <3

You also need at least the 3.0.6-rc2 firmware, better the 3.0.6 final.

What version of the FlashAir card did you buy? We tested the W-03. It shall work with the newer, but I am not quite sure about the older FlashAir cards.

Vojtech

Re: FlashAir SD Compatibility Feature Request

I agree it is not straightforward to make the FlashAir work as a WiFi file server client.

To make it connect to your WiFi router, you have to edit the CONFIG file on your FlashAir card. It resides in a hidden directory SD_WLAN.
This is how my content of the SD_WLAN\CONFIG file looks like now. You have to replace YOURWIFINODE and YOURWIFIPASSWORD with yours.
You should keep the first section of your current configuration file intact, namely the CIPATH, VERSION, CID, VENDOR entries. I am not quite sure about the rest.

......

Vojtech

Here is a complete list of all config options for the config file:

FlashAir Developers - Docs - API Guide - CONFIG

There are are other useful bits of technical information on the top left sidebar as well.

Re: FlashAir SD Compatibility Feature Request

Just got this SD card and ... it's f.cking amazing! (sorry for language but there is no better expression)
PR guys, thanks for supporting this. No more shuffling with cards.

One idea.

What about some mechanism to automatically trigger "begin print from SD" action remotely?
For example, I upload a file named "some_thing.gcode" to SD card and after that I create a plain text file named "autoprint.cmd", where I put one single line: some_thing.gcode and upload it to SD card as well. The printer (while idle) will periodically (every 10 sec) check root folder of SD card for a file named "autoprint.cmd" and when found, it will start print from SD and delete autoprint.cmd (to not trigger again when idle).
Implementation looks simple.
Good idea? Bad idea? What do you think?

Re: FlashAir SD Compatibility Feature Request

The FlashAir web interface looks a bit like from the digital stone age. It works quite well with a good WiFi signal, but with marginal WiFi signal the web user interface acts oddly and sometimes one is not sure whether the file was uploaded correctly. I saw some scrips, which verified the upload by downloading the file from the FlashAir card and comparing with the original file.

Regarding the auto start, the Marlin firmware implements an unadvertised feature. I would not know, if I did not read the source code. If you put a file named autostart1.g on the SD card and reset the printer, the printer will run the G-code automatically, then it will run autostart2.g etc. I believe I have got the file name right.

I think your idea of starting a print automatically is sound. It would be even better to somehow integrate it into Slic3r. This does not have a high priority as of today though. You would have to convince us that the FlashAir found plenty of MK2 users first. If someone volunteers to make a configuration utility for the FlashAir card to act as a printer WiFi client, that would be surely helpful.

Vojtech

Re: FlashAir SD Compatibility Feature Request

Thanks for the help! That configuration worked perfectly for me and now it's very reliable (so far). I'll consider coding a utility to configure these cards.

Re: FlashAir SD Compatibility Feature Request

Regarding the auto start, the Marlin firmware implements an unadvertised feature. I would not know, if I did not read the source code. If you put a file named autostart1.g on the SD card and reset the printer, the printer will run the G-code automatically, then it will run autostart2.g etc. I believe I have got the file name right.
That's not quite the behavior I'm waiting for, because it still requires to stand up from computer desk, walk at the printer and push reset. When I have to go at printer, I can start the print manually, so that's no improvement.
I would like something to be able to start print remotely, thus without walking at printer and doing anything by hand. 🙂