Octoprint keeps on impressing  

RE: Octoprint keeps on impressing

And that is without even mentioning Webcam, Octolapse - and PrusaSlicer outputting directly to OctoPrint.

And - your network or computer crash - OctoPrint does not miss a beat. All your GCodes are safely tucked away on the Pi.

Super program. Justifies getting a Raspberry Pi or two. Just not a Zero.

RE: Octoprint keeps on impressing

From 30 miles away I can check on print jobs, load them, stop them using OctoPrint. (Training your SO to clean off the print plate is also a great "plug-in" for OctoPrint)

Here is a current polycarb job viewed from Octoprint's remote web server...

I can remotely check if anything is awry and prevent spaghetti monsters or blobs of death.

RE: Octoprint keeps on impressing

Curious.. I have been running Octoprint on a RPi3B+ for my heavily modified Wanhao i3Plus  (I bought a OP MK3s last week and put i together today...awesome..Prusa.."It just works!")

Anyways.. I found an issue with Octoprint on a Pi where I could not send gcode a consistent rate over the USB. Mostly when printing structures with many curves at a fast toolspeed (80-100mms). The toolhead would jitter and in turn cause surface defects resulting from the plastic ooze when nozzle stops moving for multiple milliseconds.

Now, as discussed in Octoprint forums, There seems to be an issue with either the uart for the octopi or in libs used in Octopi. 

My question to all MK3 users using Octoprint here is if they have seen the same type of problem? Where is may be a problem is like I said with many small curves at high were many lines of gcode will be sent to the printer.

Thanks Guys!

RE: Octoprint keeps on impressing

You certainly sound like a candidate for a Raspberry Pi 4. It has a USB 3.0 port (two of them) and can certainly pump out data faster than the Einsy can accept.

I don't have the figures in front of me - but USB on the Pi 4 has to be faster than the SD card interface. I would be happy to see some actual numbers.

RE: Octoprint keeps on impressing

ya.. I should probably pickup a Pi4... Open another storage bin for a new project  🙂  I have many for this winter. 🙂

RE: Octoprint keeps on impressing

Base Pi 4 goes for $35 (still), with 1 GB of ram. If your tinkering extends to web browsing on the Pi - the 4 GB ram model goes for $55.

It has two HDMI connectors and can drive two large screens. Any of them are more than twice as fast as the 3B.

RE: Octoprint keeps on impressing

@bobstro Which hardware are you using to run your Octoprint?

With regards to Pi Zero W, should I not have purchased it? I haven't installed it yet, but I got it because I saw it in the assembly manual for MK3S and thought it was awesome it installs right onto the einsy board.

RE: Octoprint keeps on impressing

Posted by: @jadedreddragon

@bobstro Which hardware are you using to run your Octoprint?

I had an unused 3B that I pressed into service that is doing very well.

With regards to Pi Zero W, should I not have purchased it? I haven't installed it yet, but I got it because I saw it in the assembly manual for MK3S and thought it was awesome it installs right onto the einsy board.

There's some unfortunate history, but sadly the current Zero W is under-horsed for Octoprint for time-critical operations like 3D printing. I keep hoping the RPi Foundation will put out an updated model that is pin and size compatible with the Zero W, but it doesn't seem to be a priority. I would suggest keeping the Zero W for other projects. 

If you don't mind a low framerate or lower resolution, the Zero W works well with MotionEyeOS. I've got my 3B configured with a Logitech C270 camera mounted on the Z axis for close-up monitoring, and I'm (slowly) incorporating the Zero W as a webcam with a wider angle as a 2nd camera with a wide shot of the entire print area. There's a Multicam plugin for Octoprint that will let you toggle between them.

RE: Octoprint keeps on impressing

The 3B is perfect for almost every user. Tasmith2 is the only use case I have ever seen for the Pi 4.

I have both - but I use the 3B because it is the best fit for the application.

I have my Pi 4 mounted to a Pi display and case, put it next to my printer, and use it as the client to watch Octopi Webcamera focusing.

Makes a very nice - tiny - touchscreen - PC, for when I need something really portable.

RE: Octoprint keeps on impressing

Posted by: @bobstro

I installed the dashboard plugin for Octoprint, and yet again, I'm impressed with the free software that out-performs so much expensive commercial stuff.

If you've been on the fence about giving it a try, I strongly recommend it. 

I've been very much on the fence about it - mainly because every release of firmware/slicer/hardware has a months long list of issues that largely get ignored.... And in addition to dealing with those, there's another set of errors with OctoPrint. It's hard enough to make the MMU-burdened printers reliable, I'm very concerned adding another layer in there will only mean more time tracking down errata and wondering why something that worked before doesn't work now.

To the people who've been running Octoprint for a while, do you find it makes it harder to keep the printer working?

RE: Octoprint keeps on impressing

It has absolutely no effect - as in zero - on the printer running. I consider it far more reliable than Pronterface or other applications that print from a computer. Network drops - computer crashes - have no effect on your print job.

If in doubt, you can always use sneaker net and print from the SD card.

RE: Octoprint keeps on impressing

Sneaker is a way to load g-code onto the SD card in the printer remotely, then trigger it to print from that?

Originally I shied away from Octoprint because printing on serial can have issues keeping up, I didn't want stuttering issues, and I had had lots of negative experiences printing over USB from the PC for reasons you outlined. If you use Sneaker, wouldn't you lose all the clever OctoPrint tricks like cancel object? I guess you could still monitor (video, temperature) and kill the job, even printing off SD....

RE: Octoprint keeps on impressing

Posted by: @abraham-m

Sneaker is a way to load g-code onto the SD card in the printer remotely, then trigger it to print from that?

Originally I shied away from Octoprint because printing on serial can have issues keeping up, I didn't want stuttering issues, and I had had lots of negative experiences printing over USB from the PC for reasons you outlined. If you use Sneaker, wouldn't you lose all the clever OctoPrint tricks like cancel object? I guess you could still monitor (video, temperature) and kill the job, even printing off SD....

I guess one way is to use a wireless SD card, haha.

RE: Octoprint keeps on impressing

Posted by: @jadedreddragon

I guess one way is to use a wireless SD card, haha.

Octoprint will let you copy to the SD card via WiFi if that's all you want it for. You could also use it for remote monitoring. Actually printing via USB is completely optional and you can still launch prints from the front panel off SD if desired. Considering that the price of the RPi was about the same as replacing my frustrating failed FlashAir, I'd still go with Octoprint. Haha. 

RE: Octoprint keeps on impressing

well this does look good... problem is my old 3B died on me... it somehow managed to die while being stored away... yep weird, maybe it got bumped against something...
anyways, I do have pi 0 W, but I've been reading everywhere that it is not recommended.

I have been planning on setting up mini print farm of 3-4 printers in my shed, which is outside the house... so yeh I've been heavily thinking into  octoprint 🙂  I might just take the leap and get everything setup now that I've only got one printer, so that I can just copy-paste settings for when I move operation to the shed

and i've been "eyeing" the new PI 4's for a while now anyways... 😀

RE: Octoprint keeps on impressing

Posted by: @tasmith2

Anyways.. I found an issue with Octoprint on a Pi where I could not send gcode a consistent rate over the USB. Mostly when printing structures with many curves at a fast toolspeed (80-100mms). The toolhead would jitter and in turn cause surface defects resulting from the plastic ooze when nozzle stops moving for multiple milliseconds.

Now, as discussed in Octoprint forums, There seems to be an issue with either the uart for the octopi or in libs used in Octopi. 

My question to all MK3 users using Octoprint here is if they have seen the same type of problem? Where is may be a problem is like I said with many small curves at high were many lines of gcode will be sent to the printer.

Thanks Guys!

I have seen this especially on denser gyroid infill - printhead seems to pause a fraction of a second every now and then - I noticed but it didn‘ bother me as of yet as a problem in print quality. now you made me curious to investigate..

RE: Octoprint keeps on impressing

Posted by: @bobstro

Octoprint will let you copy to the SD card via WiFi if that's all you want it for. You could also use it for remote monitoring. Actually printing via USB is completely optional and you can still launch prints from the front panel off SD if desired. Considering that the price of the RPi was about the same as replacing my frustrating failed FlashAir, I'd still go with Octoprint. Haha. 

That seems like some solid logic to me. Can I use the PiZero on the RPI port and use it for:

1) Loading to and printing from in-printer SD card

2) Monitoring with occasional pictures from a camera

3) Power off printer on command

4) Monitor temperature and send commands over serial

It *seems* like all that is pretty possible, and the only downside would be low framerate on the camera?

Can time lapse be triggered FROM the printer, with it telling the Pi when to snap the shot?

It would seem this set up would fix the Serial issues and let the printer work well.

RE: Octoprint keeps on impressing

Loading to the SD card from Octopi is excruciatingly slow.

If I want a print on the SD card, I manually carry it to my PC and copy it there.

The data rate of a hand-carry beats the USB rate...

RE: Octoprint keeps on impressing

Posted by: @robert-rmm200

Loading to the SD card from Octopi is excruciatingly slow.

If I want a print on the SD card, I manually carry it to my PC and copy it there.

The data rate of a hand-carry beats the USB rate...

Oh yes, I remember now how slow that was when I was using OctoPrint on PI 2 with the original i3 1.75mm. Those dang serial cables seem to be the bottleneck.