Which Raspberry is needed on a MK3S for octoprint and camera ?  

RE: Which Raspberry is needed on a MK3S for octoprint and camera ?

Posted by: @hotwil

Hi guys,

I've seen several videos on youtube that explain how to install a raspberry pi Zero W, it looks amazing !
I also see some video (less) with a Raspberry 4 instead, so i'm wondering which one should be enough ?

You might say that it depends on what i want to do with it maybe ?
I guess, but not sure at all, that the Rasp Zero W is enough to connect to octoprint and its plugins, and to install a camera and have these nice timelapses. But on the other hand, i read that there are troubleshooting with the Rasp Zero W after some printing hours and stuff like that, so maybe it's not enough ?

On the other hand, the Rasp4 seems to allow to connect a touchscreen for instances, and might be more stable as it's way more powerful, but it's 3-4x more expensive then the Zero W. (I don't want to add a touchscreen)

I didn't found specific informations that compares these two brothers, so yeah, my question is that simple, is a Rasp Zero W Enough for octoprint and camera on an MK3S ?

Thanks for your answers guys ! 🙂

I cannot recommend the Pi Zero W if you want to use a camera. But it does not have to be a Pi4. Alternatively you can buy the 3B or 3B+. I have been using these for a long time with several cameras and a touchscreen. The Pi4 is oversized for my purposes and I do not necessarily need it. Also I am not sure if it runs 100% with actual version of octoprint and octopi - may I be corrected..

RE: Which Raspberry is needed on a MK3S for octoprint and camera ?

Many recommend at least a Pi3. For the $15 or $20 difference, a 4k capable computer is just better. So I went with a Pi4. I can OctoPrint, and surf at the same time and not worry about resources.

RE: Which Raspberry is needed on a MK3S for octoprint and camera ?

@karl-herbert

Most problems withe a Pi ZeroW arise when a slow, too small or too old  MicroSD card is used.  Get the fastest you can find so the pictures can be saved quickly - I don't like touchscreens on any sort of printer so I would always set the pi up headlessly and log in from elsewhere.

A Pi4 is way overspec for a job like this - use one to run your design software.

Cheerio,

RE: Which Raspberry is needed on a MK3S for octoprint and camera ?

The developer of OctoPrint specifically states that the RPi Zero W is not supported or recommended. The information you are finding is likely outdated. That's not to say you can't go ahead and do it, but don't expect great results, support, or sympathy if you do so.

A RPi 2B is OK but you can definitely feel the slower responsiveness. A RPi3B or newer works well. A RPi4 is overkill but works very well and provides some future-proofing if you expect to be running many plugins. Be aware that the 8GB RPi requires a 64-bit version of Linux to fully utilize all of the memory, and that there are issues with OctoPrint on 64-bit Linux, although this is being worked on.

RE: Which Raspberry is needed on a MK3S for octoprint and camera ?

Posted by: @hotwil

Hi guys,

I've seen several videos on youtube that explain how to install a raspberry pi Zero W, it looks amazing !
I also see some video (less) with a Raspberry 4 instead, so i'm wondering which one should be enough ?

You might say that it depends on what i want to do with it maybe ?
I guess, but not sure at all, that the Rasp Zero W is enough to connect to octoprint and its plugins, and to install a camera and have these nice timelapses. But on the other hand, i read that there are troubleshooting with the Rasp Zero W after some printing hours and stuff like that, so maybe it's not enough ?

On the other hand, the Rasp4 seems to allow to connect a touchscreen for instances, and might be more stable as it's way more powerful, but it's 3-4x more expensive then the Zero W. (I don't want to add a touchscreen)

I didn't found specific informations that compares these two brothers, so yeah, my question is that simple, is a Rasp Zero W Enough for octoprint and camera on an MK3S ?

Thanks for your answers guys ! 🙂

Now you have received 3 different opinions on your question. What to do?
If you only want to control the printer, zero is sufficient. I had this in use at the beginning. After a short time i decided to extend the system with touchscreen, camera and usb keyboard. However, the zero was overloaded.
I would save the money today and rather spend a few euros more on a B3 or B3+. I recently installed a B3+ on the Prusa Mini. Latest Octoprint with Picam and some plugins runs smoothly and stable. And if I discover anything else, there are still reserves.
Octoprint is very versatile and you are tempted to use this or that...

Just a nice, beautiful but sometimes also practical toy for men, my wife always says 😊 

RE: Which Raspberry is needed on a MK3S for octoprint and camera ?

As @bobstro just meant: Octoprint author Gina (Fosel) advises against the use of the Zero and recommends the 3 series (pi 4 of course also works fine). As a software developer she has certainly tested this extensively. Me too, and I am of her opinion.

I only use industry standard SD cards anyway. For years the same card is still in use. Those who buy cheap often buy twice.

RE: Which Raspberry is needed on a MK3S for octoprint and camera ?

Well guys, i wasn't expecting so much answers in this short time, thank you !!!
I didn't know that the Zero wasn't recommended anymore for octoprint, so i will check for the 3 or 4 depending on the price difference to see if it's worth it.
Concerning the camera, do you think that a rapsberry camera is enough in quality terms ?

Thanks again for your help, i appreciate a lot ! 🙂

RE: Which Raspberry is needed on a MK3S for octoprint and camera ?

@hotwil

I had a short look on a supplier I always use to buy (in Austria) - not the big "A" - the 3B+ is for about 38 to 39 €, which is the same for the 4 with 2GB. So I would buy the 4 with 2GB (more than enough RAM) and you are safe for a longer time.

Best regards, Clemens

RE: Which Raspberry is needed on a MK3S for octoprint and camera ?

After some researchs, i found at a local store near my home a Rasp 4B 2Gb for 42,9€ :
https://www.compumsa.eu/item/Raspberry-Pi-4-B-2GB-8882

So yeah @clemens-m, i totally agree with you, go for the version 4 🙂

Is 2gb enough ? Because 4go is at 69€ in this store (i prefer to avoid amazon when i can)
I guess that it will be fine, as i had 2gb ram on my computer years ago and i was running 3d modeling software and some shit xD

RE: Which Raspberry is needed on a MK3S for octoprint and camera ?

Oh, and i'm looking forward to create timelapses of my prints, and it seems that there are 3 schools here :
1) Use a Raspberry camera
2) Use a webcam connected in usb to the Raspberry
3) Use a camera with a remote trigger and configure the trigger to be hit by the carriage of the printer with a gcode modification.

What's the best option in your opinion ?

I see some issues but not sure if i'm right :
1) The quality of the camera may not be very great. (but it's the cheaper version)
2) Maybe like the raspberry camera, but it should depends on the quality of the webcam, no ? (Don't want to spend 70€ in a logitech 4k camera)
3) The camera must have enough battery to stay power on during many hours, and i could not use octolapse at all.
3B) A theoric option would be to use an old smartphone (i still got a S4) which could be enough for the picture quality, and maybe wifi connected so, "theorically" could be used in octolapse ?

How do you do your timelapses guys ?
Thanks !!

RE: Which Raspberry is needed on a MK3S for octoprint and camera ?

I used a Logitech C720 that was available for about $14 before the pandemic. Now webcams are ridiculously priced and a RPi cam might be a cheaper option. I'm not fond of running the RPi ribbon cable all over the place, and a single thin cord for video and power is nice of the camera will move. Mine is mounted to the X axis. 

RE: Which Raspberry is needed on a MK3S for octoprint and camera ?

@clemens-m

Where did you find the Pi4 for the price of the 3B+. Just out of curiosity, I'd like to test my image (running on a Pi 3B+) on the Pi4. Do you have a link for me? I would like to do a kind of benchmark.

RE: Which Raspberry is needed on a MK3S for octoprint and camera ?

@karl-herbert

Here is the link: https://www.reichelt.at/at/de/index.html?ACTION=446&LA=446&nbc=1&q=rasp%20pi%204%20b%202gb

I know that there is delivery for about 7€ - but I always place bigger orders, so that delivery costs become less important.

Best regards, Clemens

RE: Which Raspberry is needed on a MK3S for octoprint and camera ?

@hotwil

As I already postet 2GB is more than enough - Pi3 has only 1GB and even that is no problem.

Best regards, Clemens

RE: Which Raspberry is needed on a MK3S for octoprint and camera ?

@bobstro

That is correct! Due to the Covid pandemic, the price of some products, including webcams, has skyrocketed.
Meanwhile, prices between 55 and 100 (for buyers from Austria) are called up for the C270.
For this reason I bought a good working alternative: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/gp/product/B0892XP53M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I bought it 2 months ago for 30 Euro, but it has become more expensive again.

Many are currently doing home office, and a webcam or headset is of course a popular product with corresponding demand and pricing.

RE: Which Raspberry is needed on a MK3S for octoprint and camera ?

@clemens-m

Thanks for the link - https://www.reichelt.at/at/de/raspberry-pi-4-b-4x-1-5-ghz-2-gb-ram-wlan-bt-rasp-pi-4-b-2gb-p259919.html?&trstct=vrt_pdn&nbc=1 (actual for 38 Euro)

but the 4 gb variant is much more expensive (58 Euro). I am just thinking about which one to take. I still have to do a little research.

RE: Which Raspberry is needed on a MK3S for octoprint and camera ?

@karl-herbert

Running OctoPi is not RAM excessive, so I would go for the 2GB version which is really cheap. It is twice the memory of the Pi3 or Pi3+

Best regards, Clemens

RE: Which Raspberry is needed on a MK3S for octoprint and camera ?

@clemens-m

Thanks!

I think I'll go the middle way and test the 4Gb version, as it should still be compatible with a 32bit system - as a direct comparison to the Pi3B+.

Make it big, why not. If it will be noticeable in operation, i will see then.

RE: Which Raspberry is needed on a MK3S for octoprint and camera ?

@clemens-m

I bought a raspberry 4 2bg this afternoon 🙂
I'll probably check tomorrow to install it with octoprint !

I wasn't expecting that i only receive the rapsberry without any cooling and cables, so i hope that for the firsts test, it won't be an issue.