SoliForum - 3D Printing Community — Does multitasking with computer affect printing?

Re: Does multitasking with computer affect printing?

2014-11-10T21:28:03Z

pirvan wrote:

ysb wrote:
solution to the problem : in the processor affinity of your "hungry" program (like repetier), remove the 1st core and let all the other...
with that, windows that use mainly the 1st processor core will stop to hicup your printer/usb (if your 1st core didn't reach the 100% under normal load)
also, it depend from the power of your computer...
I'm pretty sure it's not a CPU/Core load issue. It seems to be and I/O issue.
Repetier seems to read the GCode data in real time. If it buffers any of this data somewhere, the buffer must be very small, it doesn't even appear to hold the contents of one layer. When you try to write a large GCode file, or when you try to scroll through a 3D preview, Repetier has to pause reading the GCode it's currently printing and do something else, like write a file, or read and search through another file to find the location you asked for.
That is what pauses the prints, not the CPU load.
FYI, I just looked at my task manager, and Repetier is using between 8-10% load on a single core while printing.

+1 it seems to be back ground system stuff like Python and similar memory hogging programs that dont like being interrupted to do other tasks when working.
its like when moms cooking dinner and the kids come in and make a messy disaster forcing mom to ignore dinner burning while she deals with their stuff. and there is only 1 mom ya know. LOL
so bottom line keep the kids busy on homework while moms busy at work.

or look at it as virtual traffic and RH printing is like an ambulance coming down the road. all other traffic needs to heed way and pull over. lol

Re: Does multitasking with computer affect printing?

2014-11-10T20:00:46Z

ysb wrote:

solution to the problem : in the processor affinity of your "hungry" program (like repetier), remove the 1st core and let all the other...
with that, windows that use mainly the 1st processor core will stop to hicup your printer/usb (if your 1st core didn't reach the 100% under normal load)
also, it depend from the power of your computer...

I'm pretty sure it's not a CPU/Core load issue. It seems to be and I/O issue.

Repetier seems to read the GCode data in real time. If it buffers any of this data somewhere, the buffer must be very small, it doesn't even appear to hold the contents of one layer. When you try to write a large GCode file, or when you try to scroll through a 3D preview, Repetier has to pause reading the GCode it's currently printing and do something else, like write a file, or read and search through another file to find the location you asked for.

That is what pauses the prints, not the CPU load.

FYI, I just looked at my task manager, and Repetier is using between 8-10% load on a single core while printing.

Re: Does multitasking with computer affect printing?

2014-11-10T19:00:47Z

solution to the problem : in the processor affinity of your "hungry" program (like repetier), remove the 1st core and let all the other...

with that, windows that use mainly the 1st processor core will stop to hicup your printer/usb (if your 1st core didn't reach the 100% under normal load)

also, it depend from the power of your computer...

Re: Does multitasking with computer affect printing?

2014-11-10T18:18:19Z

For me, it's not running other apps, so much as fooling around with Repetier while it's printing.

I had Solidworks and Photoshop running, as well as NetFabb and Meshlab, and worked with them while printing some long print job, while also downloading some stuff in the background.

Not even a single glitch, but then I start messing around with Repetier itself, it glitches and pauses the print. Things like trying to scroll through the layer range preview, will pause the print momentarily. Doing a new slice with either Cura or Slic3r will also glitch and pause the print, not while doing the actual slicing, but when saving the GCode output.

So I don't think multi-tasking is the problem as much as Repetier is too busy using all the resources during a print to respond to other commands without affecting the print.

Re: Does multitasking with computer affect printing?

2014-11-10T13:52:11Z

Previous to upgrading my gtx 670 to an amd r9 290 the printer would derp of I opened a game or tried to slice a large file. Now with the new gpu and slightly better psu I can happily print at the same time as basically everything else. So its all about how much grunt you've got.

Actually now it handle running alien isolation, arma 3 and repetier host all at the same time....

Re: Does multitasking with computer affect printing?

2014-11-08T03:31:16Z

AZERATE wrote:

I'm running Sketchup, talking on here, and printing on one laptop right now.

yeah thats not too hard on CPU usage like video games and anything streaming off internet. also depends if your net connection can handle things without loading up virtual memory, ram. like say a weak signal wireless connection

Re: Does multitasking with computer affect printing?

2014-11-08T01:13:10Z

Try running autodesk inventor and a print job at the same time. that thing hogs cycles like crazy!!

Re: Does multitasking with computer affect printing?

2014-11-08T00:38:55Z

I'm running Sketchup, talking on here, and printing on one laptop right now.

Re: Does multitasking with computer affect printing?

2014-11-08T00:33:15Z

Thanks guys, I kind of guessed that would be the answer. I was hoping that the printer had a buffer to work through any computer "hiccups". Oh well, I'll dig out and set up an old desktop for the printer then.

Re: Does multitasking with computer affect printing?

2014-11-07T05:02:54Z

any heavy streaming downloads, gaming etc is strongly advised against as it steals CPU needed for both slicing (since its done in background in like "Python etc) and printing causing pauses that can last long enough to timeout process and loose the print b4 finished (bummer on long prints) also cause hotend to ruin model etc. non-internet normal computing duties like reading/posting etc have near no effect but results can vary depending on your computers system capacity. I use 32bit winXP on a duo core 2.1ghz processor with 3gb ram, med high grade video board, 1tb HDD etc. have an extra with win7 64bit 2.8ghz duo core with HD video card in case main one crashes. so I dont think lower quality system could handle all the juggling of browsing etc while using RH/slicer. I dont play elaborate online games at all even if printing many hours as my print jobs are much higher priority than killing some virtual army... lol duel extruders etc even more so. an 5 hr print has to deal with well over a quarter million command lines of just gcode. that cant miss a single character or possibly fail. have you ever experienced an error while browsing that requires restart to continue? think what that would mean if 3 hrs into a 4 hr print or worse plus worrying if hotend will melt down while restarting due to no way to shut off heat or run cooling fans? yep been there done that. wouldnt wish it on my enemy.

buy another puter and play on it. the one for printer is now your work puter.

Re: Does multitasking with computer affect printing?

2014-11-07T04:04:27Z

I have seen the printer pause for a second or so when doing something like loading a YouTube video. For this reason I have a machine dedicated to printing. Pauses will cause things like over-extrusion blobs (you may not know what this is yet, but you will once you print for a little while).

How much of an issue this is really just depends on your computer and its processor/memory capabilities, and the overall design of the chipset and how much other tasks affect USB communication. I strongly recommend having a computer dedicated to printing; a $200 laptop or cheaper will suffice.

Does the press not have SD card printing? Shame on Solidoodle.

Your printing machine does not have to be powerful, but I believe USB 2.0 would be advantageous even if USB 1.0 can handle the 250,000 baud rate (which I'm almost certain it can). The one downside to a cheaper computer is slicing can take time. If you are patient this isn't an issue but I slice on a quad core machine and tell slic3r to use 8 threads because I hate waiting on anything. I then save the GCode to a Dropbox folder and load those up on my printing machine in either Repetier Host or Simplify3D.

Does multitasking with computer affect printing?

2014-11-07T03:45:41Z

I don't have a printer yet (SD Press on order), and I was just wondering. Can I use the computer hooked up to the printer for other things while it's printing? For instance, could I watch videos, browse/download on the internet, 3D model, etc. without it interfering with a print? If the computer were to momentarily freeze, as they so often do, would that cause an issue with quality or make a failed print? Or, would I be better off hooking it to a 10+ year old computer that is dedicated to printing only?