USB stick killer?
Hello everyone,
I'm quite new to 3D printing. I've assembled the Core One Plus kit and am generally satisfied. My problem: The C1 has killed two USB sticks (Samsung, Transcend) in a very short time. One is no longer recognized by Windows, even when using tools like Rufus, and the other is recognized but constantly gives hardware errors when writing. The device also occasionally reboots when plugging in or unplugging a stick.
What can I do about this? Thanks!
RE: USB stick killer?
This sounds like a topic you should bring up with customer service, I think. Of course, it could be any other device the stick went into.
What I'd do - with USB sticks being relatively cheap compared to all the hassle - is put in a brand-new USB stick that stays in the printer and gets connected nowhere else (using PrusaLink, for example, or PrusaConnect). If it then still fails, "the third broken USB stick that was brand-new and never plugged in anywhere else" should make for a very straightforward claim. Just a thought.
RE:
Just to rule it out: Have the sticks been formatted in an unsupported format by any chance? The Core One only supports FAT32. Windows somewhat annoyingly formats in exFAT instead if the stick's capacity is larger than 32 GByte (IIRC). You should use sticks < 32 GByte (or is it <= 32 GByte?) or a different formatter which lets you control the choice of FAT32 or exFAT.
The combination of dead USB sticks and a rebooting printer sounds like you might have problems with static electricity. Is it currently particularly dry where you are, or could the combination of carpet, clothing, office chair fabric be causing static charges?
I prefer to leave a USB stick (I just use the Prusa-supplied one) in the printer all the time and send print jobs via WiFi. Not PrusaConnect but the local Prusa Link in my case.
RE: USB stick killer?
The sticks were formatted with FAT32 and worked with the printer—until they didn't. I have hardwood flooring and an office chair with rubber wheels; I'm not sure if there are static discharges, but I didn't feel anything. I've picked up two more sticks. Let's see how long they last if I don’t unplug them.
RE: USB stick killer?
I use an 8GB Sandisk industrial microSD. I only have MacOS around so I have to be careful when formatting. So I just never remove it and only rely on PrusaConnect (or PrusaLink on occasion).
RE: USB stick killer?
My constant transfer is a 64G Sandisk and I think I used a 3rd party format program for FAT32. I less frequently use an ancient 8G Sandisk. No end of troubles if you get formatted with exFAT and I vaguely remember having to jump through some extra hoops when I accidently used an exFAT stick. It was recoverable, but I first thought it was damaged forever. It wasn't, though I don't remember what utility I used to fix it. There are lots of FAT32 format utilities.