Print without PC?

**eflyguy** · 2014-09-03 02:28:28

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Topic: Print without PC?

I've seen comments here and there about various options for printing without needing your laptop/pc hooked up. My primary workstation is a MacBook Pro, and it's not convenient to have it hooked up for long prints (smell and noise). I pulled out an older MacBook but I've had three failed prints already - same OS, same drivers, same RH, but for some reason it's not reliable.

So, what is the best solution to stand-alone printing?

I can't see why we can't send the entire "print job" to the printer, as you would with a traditional laser/inkjet 2D printer. Surely there's a way to send that g-code to a caching server that then feeds it to the printer as needed? Is anyone looking at how to do that using the existing hardware and (perhaps?) an SD card for storage?

Stock SD4 with 3/16" glass attached to stock (kapton-covered) bed with Aquanet.

**elmoret** · 2014-09-03 02:32:50

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Re: Print without PC?

$30 Raspberry Pi + this:

http://www.soliforum.com/topic/7410/oct … etty-neat/

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**jenninaj** · 2014-09-03 02:37:37

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Re: Print without PC?

I'm running OctoPrint on a raspberry Pi model B+. I went for this model because it has 4 USB ports: one for the printer, one for a WIFI dongle, and one for a webcam. It's a pretty good solution and will only improve over time.

**slimstar2** · 2014-09-03 02:57:32

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Re: Print without PC?

I use a Panelolu 2 controller from T3P3.com Haven't had a problem yet and good control over all variables temps, flow rates and print speeds. With an SD card on board it's easy to start the print and do something else while the print just runs . I can also monitor temps and % of completion and time it took to print with the On board LCD all info is always available at a glance. A 2 gig SD card will hold hundreds of G codes so to repeat something later is a snap.

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SD3, RAMPS 1.4, Lawsy's carriages modified by me, 2 SSRs, E3D V6, 2 Power supplies, Independent monitoring of both power supplies (amps and volts) also extruder and bed temps, Blue Tooth connectivity, bearings in all axis & rotational points, Y axis direct drive. Remotely controlled power box on / off . Gecko Tec build plate . Renamed FrankenDoodle

**grob** · 2014-09-03 03:08:16

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Re: Print without PC?

Either of these options will work well - I do love the Pi + Octoprint solution though, control via the wifi network is indeed pretty neat!

SD3. Mk2b + glass, heated enclosure, GT2 belts, direct drive y shaft, linear bearings, bowden-feed E3D v5 w/ 0.9° stepper
Smoothieboard via Octoprint on RPi

**elmoret** · 2014-09-03 03:20:08

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Re: Print without PC?

grob wrote:

pretty neat!

Haha.

Wishlist for OctoPrint:

Heater power history graph
Display temperature in machine state box

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**wire10ga** · 2014-09-03 11:47:01

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Re: Print without PC?

Can you use the OctoPrint with G-Code from another slicer?

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**eflyguy** · 2014-09-03 13:58:50

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Re: Print without PC?

Already have a Pi.. Just what I need, another project!

Stock SD4 with 3/16" glass attached to stock (kapton-covered) bed with Aquanet.

**elmoret** · 2014-09-03 14:05:43

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Re: Print without PC?

wire10ga wrote:

Can you use the OctoPrint with G-Code from another slicer?

Yup! It doesn't have its own slicer.

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**wire10ga** · 2014-09-03 18:18:02

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Re: Print without PC?

cool.. Thanks

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**eflyguy** · 2014-09-03 19:56:29

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Re: Print without PC?

Hell, needed a hard drive for my wife's computer, and the local MicroCenter has a maker section - the B+ was cheaper than Amazon! Now to read up on how to get it all working..

Stock SD4 with 3/16" glass attached to stock (kapton-covered) bed with Aquanet.

**elmoret** · 2014-09-03 19:58:25

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Re: Print without PC?

The howto in the post I linked above should cover it. If not, post questions in that thread.

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**jenninaj** · 2014-09-06 04:41:11

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Re: Print without PC?

I just hacked a script to control a WeMo WIFI socket from within Octoprint. Now I can connect to Octoprint from anywhere and power the printer on or off. Useful when I'm printing a big piece and have to leave it running when I go out somewhere - I can check the status on the webcam and if it's complete I can issue a 'power down' command.

If anyone wants details let me know and I'll post a quick how-to.

**eflyguy** · 2014-09-06 20:34:56

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Re: Print without PC?

I just got mine working. Honestly the wifi setup was the biggest battle - none of the RPi forum threads or anything else I could find would get it working. Eventually found a configuration that worked, however, and now I'm "cooking with crisco" (as my deceased best friend always said!) I plan to put together a thread on how to actually get it working - i.e. every step of the process.

First attempt started printing in mid-air, but I homed everything and started again, I'm on layer 4 of the left carriage replacement - so far, so good..

Stock SD4 with 3/16" glass attached to stock (kapton-covered) bed with Aquanet.

**slimstar2** · 2014-09-06 20:48:11

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Re: Print without PC?

Great job I would be interested in a step by procedure

SD3, RAMPS 1.4, Lawsy's carriages modified by me, 2 SSRs, E3D V6, 2 Power supplies, Independent monitoring of both power supplies (amps and volts) also extruder and bed temps, Blue Tooth connectivity, bearings in all axis & rotational points, Y axis direct drive. Remotely controlled power box on / off . Gecko Tec build plate . Renamed FrankenDoodle

**dubbsd** · 2014-09-06 20:54:51

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Re: Print without PC?

has anyone used the Viki printer control.
http://www.panucatt.com/product_p/vikilcd.htm

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**Tin Falcon** · 2014-09-06 21:36:54

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Re: Print without PC?

I will likely give it a go as well I have the pi and needed add ons except a wifi dongle and web cam .wally world pretty much a bust.
putting the octipi image on a class 10 sd card as I type.

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**foofoodog** · 2014-09-06 21:39:02

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Re: Print without PC?

I love a RasPi and all but $35 is bull. After you get all the vitamins it comes to 100 US, as much as a much more capable old used XP laptop. Or even a craptastic(I am a proud owner) OLPC device. Yeah, so for a farm, add a USB hub and run octoprint. I have half a dozen x86 pc's here that the township wants to charge me $20 a piece to dump, along with their crt's, free to a good home.

**eflyguy** · 2014-09-07 02:29:32

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Re: Print without PC?

I bought mine locally as it was cheaper than amazon (although with tax it's about even) - still,

34.99 RPi B+
5.99 Class 10 8GB MicroSD
9.99 TP Link USB Wireless adpater
7.49 2.5A MicroUSB power supply

$58.50 plus tax.

Stock SD4 with 3/16" glass attached to stock (kapton-covered) bed with Aquanet.

**eflyguy** · 2014-09-07 02:30:27

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Re: Print without PC?

(Plus, this is about making, right? )

Stock SD4 with 3/16" glass attached to stock (kapton-covered) bed with Aquanet.

**elmoret** · 2014-09-07 02:56:05

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Re: Print without PC?

eflyguy wrote:

I bought mine locally as it was cheaper than amazon (although with tax it's about even) - still,
34.99 RPi B+
5.99 Class 10 8GB MicroSD
9.99 TP Link USB Wireless adpater
7.49 2.5A MicroUSB power supply
$58.50 plus tax.

Same, except the power supply and 4gb card were already laying around. I run the printer 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. Assuming that PC of yours pulls 100 watts, the RasPi pays for itself in a year in reduced power consumption, for me at least.

Not sure its "bull".

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**agentsmith** · 2014-09-07 11:07:20

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Re: Print without PC?

The RasPi has several advantages compared to the old desktop PC, namely space, noise, power consumption. Old PCs have less efficient power supplies. Maybe an old laptop would be a better fit. Octoprint runs fine on x86 Linux as it has been written in Phyton.

To switch the printer on/off, the WeMo solution appears to be expensive, plus I remember they have got some security vulnerabilities. It is cheaper to connect relay board to the GPIO pins, or if you are using an ATX power supply, the PS_ON wire.

https://github.com/foosel/OctoPrint/wik … m-your-RPi

**eflyguy** · 2014-09-07 17:46:41

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Re: Print without PC?

I'm really liking this.. it's like a "regular" printer - create your print job and "send" it to octopi..

Stock SD4 with 3/16" glass attached to stock (kapton-covered) bed with Aquanet.

**knowack** · 2014-09-09 04:38:54

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Re: Print without PC?

I use a RasPi with OctoPi and a TFT touchscreen when I need standalone operations. Even when I'm printing from my desktop, I use OctoPi to view the Pi camera to monitor the print job.

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Print without PC?

Posts: 24

1 Topic by eflyguy 2014-09-03 02:28:28

Topic: Print without PC?

2 Reply by elmoret 2014-09-03 02:32:50

Re: Print without PC?

3 Reply by jenninaj 2014-09-03 02:37:37

Re: Print without PC?

4 Reply by slimstar2 2014-09-03 02:57:32 (edited by slimstar2 2014-09-03 03:08:46)

Re: Print without PC?

5 Reply by grob 2014-09-03 03:08:16

Re: Print without PC?

6 Reply by elmoret 2014-09-03 03:20:08

Re: Print without PC?

7 Reply by wire10ga 2014-09-03 11:47:01

Re: Print without PC?

8 Reply by eflyguy 2014-09-03 13:58:50

Re: Print without PC?

9 Reply by elmoret 2014-09-03 14:05:43

Re: Print without PC?

10 Reply by wire10ga 2014-09-03 18:18:02

Re: Print without PC?

11 Reply by eflyguy 2014-09-03 19:56:29

Re: Print without PC?

12 Reply by elmoret 2014-09-03 19:58:25

Re: Print without PC?

13 Reply by jenninaj 2014-09-06 04:41:11

Re: Print without PC?

14 Reply by eflyguy 2014-09-06 20:34:56

Re: Print without PC?

15 Reply by slimstar2 2014-09-06 20:48:11

Re: Print without PC?

16 Reply by dubbsd 2014-09-06 20:54:51

Re: Print without PC?

17 Reply by Tin Falcon 2014-09-06 21:36:54

Re: Print without PC?

18 Reply by foofoodog 2014-09-06 21:39:02 (edited by foofoodog 2014-09-06 21:39:56)

Re: Print without PC?

19 Reply by eflyguy 2014-09-07 02:29:32

Re: Print without PC?

20 Reply by eflyguy 2014-09-07 02:30:27

Re: Print without PC?

21 Reply by elmoret 2014-09-07 02:56:05

Re: Print without PC?

22 Reply by agentsmith 2014-09-07 11:07:20

Re: Print without PC?

23 Reply by eflyguy 2014-09-07 17:46:41

Re: Print without PC?

24 Reply by knowack 2014-09-09 04:38:54 (edited by knowack 2014-09-09 04:41:50)

Re: Print without PC?

Posts: 24