Octoprint and Repetier-Server for Raspberry Pi?

[0110-m-p]

I usually just print straight from my desktop, but lately I have been wanting to do other heavy CPU stuff on it while printing so I started using the LCD and SD card more so that I don't screw up a 10+ hour print job.

The only problem with the SD card is that it takes forever to upload through Repetier-Host or I have to pull the SD, use a SD-USB converter on the PC to load the file, then reinstall the SD. To simplify this process and make it faster I thought...hey, I've heard about people printing from RPi's over Wifi and I just so happen to have an unused 512MB RPi sitting in my desk drawer, why not give it a try?

So, who has used one or both (are there others too)? Any problems? If you have used both which do you prefer?

[bdjohns1]

I usually just print straight from my desktop, but lately I have been wanting to do other heavy CPU stuff on it while printing so I started using the LCD and SD card more so that I don't screw up a 10+ hour print job.

The only problem with the SD card is that it takes forever to upload through Repetier-Host or I have to pull the SD, use a SD-USB converter on the PC to load the file, then reinstall the SD. To simplify this process and make it faster I thought...hey, I've heard about people printing from RPi's over Wifi and I just so happen to have an unused 512MB RPi sitting in my desk drawer, why not give it a try?

So, who has used one or both (are there others too)? Any problems? If you have used both which do you prefer?

I used an RPi with Octoprint for a while. There were some occasional glitches (related to not having the firepower to stream G-code and stream a webcam feed), occasionally horrendous network performance (because the network connection is on the USB bus as well) and my SD card got corrupted once. I now have Octoprint running on a BeagleBone Black. A few bucks more, but much more stable IMO.

[rpress]

I've used both, and I've done some coding for OctoPrint as well.

The master branch of OctoPrint is quite slow on the Pi and on any radiuses (many, short moves) the printer will stutter/blob because the buffer underflows. Some of my coding changes are being considered in the commRefactoring branch which should speed things up a bit. However this is still disappointing, as the performance is twice as slow as Repetier-Server. So in the end it boils down to whether you'd have performance (ability to print faster, smoother) or features.

I'm now using Repetier-Server and I'm pretty happy with it. I can print quickly (100mm/s perimieters) and there are plenty of CPU cycles left over on my Pi for running the camera. It looks like there are some improvements coming to Repetier-Server as well, including timelapse support.

I'm not sure if it is the language difference, but dealing with the maintainer of OctoPrint was a struggle. I quickly tired of the constant straw-man arguments. Hopefully repetier will be more receptive to input.

[0110-m-p]

rpress:
Thanks for all the info. I am definitely in the "I'd rather have performance than features" camp. All I really want to be able to do is transfer gcode generated by KISSlicer on my main PC quickly over Wifi to the RPi and use the RPi through a server to warm the printer, prime the extruder, and start the print.

bdjohns1:
If I had to do it over again, I would probably buy the beaglebone, but I've had this RPi B sitting in my desk for a while now so I might as well put it to work. Thanks for the info.

[0110-m-p]

So I got my Raspberry Pi setup to run run my printer and am having issues with getting it to actually control the printer. The homepage shows that it is connected, but when I go to the control tab and type in any gcode commands or use any buttons nothing happens on the printer.

Here is what I have in the config for the printer.

Code: Select all

version="1.0";
active=true;
printer:{
  name="Rostock Max"
  slugName="rostockmax"; // Unique name with ascii chars without space,tab. Is used for path names.
  connection:{
    #device="/dev/serial/by-id/usb-UltiMachine__ultimachine.com__RAMBo_6403636363835131D010-if00";
    device="/dev/ttyACM0"
    baudrate=115200;
    pingPong=false; // Allow sending more then one command if it fits into printer cache
    readCacheSize=127; // Size of the printer cache. May be 63 for some printer.
    /* Communication protocol used to communicate with this printer:
       0 = ascii protocol - works with all reprap firmwares
       1 = Repetier-Protocol V1 - requires Repetier-Firmware
       2 = Repetier-Protocol V2 - requires Repetier-Firmware 0.80 or higher */
    protocol=2;
    okAfterResend=true; // Does your firmware send a ok after sending a resend for that line?
  };
  dimension:{
    xmin=0.0;
    ymin=0.0;
    zmin=0.0;
    xmax=320.0;
    ymax=320.0;
    zmax=320.0;
  };
  homing:{
    xhome=0.0; // Coordinates after homing x axis
    yhome=0.0; // Coordinates after homing x axis
    zhome=0.0; // Coordinates after homing x axis
  };
  speed:{
    xaxis=80.0; // Move speed in mm/s for manual moves
    yaxis=80.0; // Move speed in mm/s for manual moves
    zaxis=10.0; // Move speed in mm/s for manual moves
    eaxisExtrude=4.0; // Move speed in mm/s for manual moves
    eaxisRetract=15.0; // Move speed in mm/s for manual moves
  };
  extruder:{
    count=1;  // Number of extruder on that device
    tempUpdateEvery=1; // Update temperature every x seconds
    heatedBed=true; // Has heated bed (true) or not (false)
  };
};

So far I have tried the following with no luck...

- setting usb device to both listed and both pulled up the server
- protocol set to '0' and '2' (I'm running Repetier 0.91 firmware)
- Baudrate at 115200 and 250000 (250k outright didn't work)
- readCacheSize at 63 and 127.

Any input would be helpful.

[rpress]

I have attached my config. Note that I have a direct serial connection ("/dev/ttyAMA0") instead of using USB. 250000 bps does not work with Repetier-Server and Linux. In the docs it mentions that it works in Windows only IIRC, but I found it's not necessary as the RAMBo can't really handle moves at even 115200, so it's not a limiting factor.

I compiled from the 0.24 github source, running on the latest Raspbian. Did you compile it or download the Pi binary?
Here is my compiled binary:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2fvkp ... sp=sharing

Try pressing the e-stop button (on the front panel under the rotary knob) to reset the RAMBo once Repetier-Server is loaded.

[0110-m-p]

Thanks. I followed the install.txt from git-hub. Install was on a freshly flashed SD card with Wheezy (2014-09-09) and all files pulled/compiled through the terminal window.

Also, not sure where it loads them to, but it just let me load a gcode file through the server. Still no function though and I have rebooted the pi and the printer several times.

[rpress]

Thanks. I followed the install.txt from git-hub. Install was on a freshly flashed SD card with Wheezy (2014-09-09) and all files pulled/compiled through the terminal window.

Also, not sure where it loads them to, but it just let me load a gcode file through the server. Still no function though.

By default it puts gcode files under /var/lib/Repetier-Server/storage/xxx/jobs. Are you using "/dev/ttyACM0"? I believe that is the correct path for the USB connection.

If the connection is up you will see the temperatures change in the control panel. Make sure you change the bps rate on the LCD screen under Configuration->General->Baudrate and then Configuration->Store to EEPROM.

[0110-m-p]

I changed the bps rate on the LCD from 250000 to 115200 and went back to the old device="/dev/serial/by-id/usb-UltiMachine__ultimachine.com__RAMBo_6403636363835131D010-if00" location and it works now.

Not sure why it didn't before (LCD bps rate couldn't have caused this could it?).

So it reads temperature right, sets temperature right, and I can move everything using the GUI buttons. For some reason though, no gcode commands work. Any ideas?

Thanks for all the help.

[rpress]

The bps rate on the LCD/RAMBo must match. Even though it's USB it's really just RS232 over USB.

Are you uploading the gcode under jobs and not models? Do you click the start button on the job after uploading? The tick box to auto start after upload doesn't work for me.

[0110-m-p]

Sorry, I wasn't very clear....I haven't tried to run a job with it yet. It is manual gcode commands that don't work. So type G28 and click send and nothing happens...click the home button and it homes the machine.

Also, if LCD and Rambo have to match how have I been able to print from SD and Repetier-Host for the past year?

[0110-m-p]

Well I figured out the commands thing....they need to be capitalized.

[rpress]

Also, if LCD and Rambo have to match how have I been able to print from SD and Repetier-Host for the past year?

The LCD is controlled by the RAMBo. You probably have Repetier-Host set to 250000, this is what needs to match what is shown on the LCD. Now that your LCD shows 115200 if you plug back in to your computer you'll need to change the rate in R-H.

Yes the firmware needs everything to be in upper case. In this case Repetier-Server does not fix the capitalization for you.

[0110-m-p]

Cool, so it was definitely the baud rate that was my problem then. I just changed the rate in R-H to 115200 as well so they both work now without modification. Is there any benefit to switching the rate in the LCD back and forth between 115200 and 250000 whenever I switch between R-H and R-S?

Thanks again for all the help troubleshooting this.

[0110-m-p]

First layer of the first print with Repetier-Server running over Wifi...started the print through the browser on my phone.

[img]https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7576/15648783939_22991c58ae_b.jpg[/img]

[rpress]

Is there any benefit to switching the rate in the LCD back and forth between 115200 and 250000 whenever I switch between R-H and R-S?

Thanks again for all the help troubleshooting this.

Glad you got it working. In my experience the RAMBo will run out of processing power even at 115200. So the 250000 will not buy you anything.

Repetier has said a new version of R-S is coming in December with a lot of improvements. It will not be open source but it will have some way to do UI modifications. I plan to write a plugin for Cura that will add the ability to upload gcode files directly.

[geneb]

Wow. The guy is closing R-S now too?

Making a project open source only long enough to have other people help you improve it so you can close-source it is a HUGE dickbag move. Who the hell does he think he is, Bre Pettis?

g.

[rpress]

There's probably a better thread for this, but here's the contributions to Repetier-Server:
https://github.com/repetier/Repetier-Se ... ntributors

There are hardly any other non-repetier contributions. I really don't see how this is "a HUGE dickbag move." I will not pass judgement until I see clear dickbag behavior.

Would I rather it be open source? Yes. Will I use it if it's closed source? Yes, if it does what I want it to do. Would I be willing to pay for it if he decides to charge for it? Yes, if I feel the features are worth the cost.

[bvandiepenbos]

You could also try Astroprint on your pi
https://astroprint.zendesk.com/hc/en-us ... nd-pcDuino

[rpress]

You could also try Astroprint on your pi
https://astroprint.zendesk.com/hc/en-us ... nd-pcDuino

The cloud slicer is an interesting idea. How does it compare to say Cura? It would be really cool to have a repository that you could upload/download settings for different printers/filaments.

Looks like the "Astroprint Pro Plan" costs $10/month. Is there a free version? If so what do you get for free?

[teoman]

I was just on the site. And 10gb of space is free. 50 gb costs 10 usd. Both have unlimited slice.

[rpress]

I ask because I see this on their web site:

Connect your AstroBox box to AstroPrint.com and monitor your prints from anywhere. Even change temperatures, pause, or cancel prints.*

Sign up for an AstroPrint account here.

*Pro Plan Needed

https://www.astroprint.com/p/astrobox

So I guess to monitor from anywhere you need a Pro account. But does anywhere include where the printer is located too? Or is WiFi access allowed without a Pro account?

[arroyo]

Hi,

I'm Daniel, AstroPrint's CTO.

You can monitor your prints and control your printer within your local network (the same as the AstroBox is connected to) at no cost. The Pro Plan allows you to do the same over the internet.

BTW, Accounts created now, have a 3 months FREE pro features so that you can try them out. There's no need to credit card to sign up at all.

Please let us know your thoughts about the service.

https://www.astroprint.com

[0110-m-p]

Astrobox looks really neat for people who don't want to screw with getting their Repetier-Server setup running and who want to be able to slice remotely, but the joy of the Raspberry Pi is that you can have a wireless print server running in your house for under $50. I still like to slice using my main computer and transfer the file over to the server after slicing. User interface isn't incredible, but it works well.

[lightninjay]

I hate to be the guy who comes up with the theoretical way to circumvent some of the pay-system, but wouldn't one still be able to VNC into their local network and still control the astrobox without incurring "internet" charges?