Prusa Slicer with Marlin  

RE: Prusa Slicer with Marlin

Posted by: @theprintbutler

[...] I've noticed that my Ender 3 V2 doesnt show the Z height during prints when I use Prusa Slicer to slice an object. Do I need to add in some GCODE for that to show? I had to add in code to make it heat the bed and nozzle too. I know Prusa Slicer was made for Prusa printers but I find this a bit odd.

Are you using a slicer that does? Assuming the Ender 3 will display messages, it would be easy enough to add on layer change gcode to issue an M117 message containing the current z-height to be displayed.

RE: Prusa Slicer with Marlin

Thanks for the reply bobstro. I have previously used Cura (for about a year) until today. My prints always showed the Z height on the display so I assumed it was normal. However after slicing in PrusaSlicer and running the print on my printers neither one shows the Z height. Is it normal with PrusaSlicer or Prusa printers to not show that on the display? Perhaps I've not PrusaSlicer setup correctly for my printers?

The Ender 3's by default show some info by default. Current Z height being one of them. I will add the M117 code and see if that updates it.

Thanks again.

Andy. 

RE: Prusa Slicer with Marlin

Alas this didn't work. I understand what you mean by messages now having tested it. The Ender 3's don't display messages, but they have a constant z height on the screen. This is what I'm not getting updates for. Any idea what I need to do to get that updating when using PrusaSlicer? Cura does it automatically. It's using Marlin if that changes what code is used and it's an Ender 3 V2.

In the picture attached is the example circled in red.

As you can see the print is well on it's way, but the z value remains at -0.10 which is a small z offset I gave it at the start, no matter how far in to the print it is.

Many thanks,

Andy.

RE: Prusa Slicer with Marlin

I would just try comparing two gcode files (one that reports and one that doesnt) and find the differences if possible. 

Could just be when a Z move command is done one slicer uses G0 and another uses G1 and the Ender Firmware only recognizes one or the other. 

RE: Prusa Slicer with Marlin

Hi dragon1291,

I have given this ago however my knowledge of all the commands is minimal. I'll try and find a resource that might explain all the M numbers and what they mean in Marlin. 

When I compared the two G-CODE files from Cura and PrusaSlicer I didn't see enough of a difference to realize what I might need to add to my Prusa code to make the Z height update.

If anyone knows of such a resource, or the code to check/add then please do let me know.

Best regards

Andy.

RE: Prusa Slicer with Marlin

Feel free to share the Gcode files and I'll be happy to look through them to see any difference. 

RE: Prusa Slicer with Marlin

@theprintbutler

When I set up Marlin Firmware for a clone I built this was very useful for what is in behind the different GCodes:

https://marlinfw.org/meta/gcode/

And also very important - what is a gcode command in Marlin / Prusa / ... :

https://www.reprap.org/wiki/G-code

And then there was a tool to compare to more or less similar files - maybe it was a plugin for Notepad++ (or Notepad++ has it still onboard - I don't know) that was very helpful for finding differences.

Best regards, Clemens

RE: Prusa Slicer with Marlin

Found it - it is a plugin for Notepad++

https://www.davidtan.org/how-to-compare-two-text-files-using-notepad-plus/

Best regards, Clemens

RE: Prusa Slicer with Marlin

Posted by: @dragon1291

Feel free to share the Gcode files and I'll be happy to look through them to see any difference. 

@dragon1291 thank you. I will do so if I get stuck. I'll have a read through these links first.

RE: Prusa Slicer with Marlin

@clemens-m thank you foe the links. I will have a read through. I was using notepad++ to compare the two gcode files so I have that already.

I'll see what I can fathom myself and try adding some new code in PrusaSlicer if I can figure out what it is I need. I will report back with my findings whether they are successful or not!

Andy.