1 Topic by Telemachus

  • Telemachus
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Topic: Flashair III vs Octoprint

I successfully made the switch to repetier last night.  Many have stated that I won't regret it, and I can tell why from the total control I have of the printer (I could print nothing with the stock firmware after resetting the cartridge).

But that is not to say that nothing was lost.  The ease of loading and unloading filaments on the stock firmware was nice, but I have gotten use to just using the extruder control to do that.

I occasionally get the black bars on my display, but it doesn't seem to affect the print.

What I miss most was the ease of sending the print to the SD card, and returning the laptop to its perch.  Repetier appears to have SD card access, but it just plain doesn't work.

Has there been any progress on getting the SD card transfer with Repetier to function any better?

I was going to buy a Flashair III and microSD-SD cable, but I figured I might use an extra Raspberry Pi I have at home to set up an Otoprint server instead.

Can anyone comment on which setup they prefer?

Da Vinci 1.0a.  Repetier 0.92.  E3D V6.  Titan Extruder.  Sllic3r.  Octoprint on Raspberry Pi B+.

2 Reply by scobo (edited by scobo 2016-01-28 18:11:20)

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Re: Flashair III vs Octoprint

Telemachus wrote:

But that is not to say that nothing was lost.  The ease of loading and unloading filaments on the stock firmware was nice, but I have gotten use to just using the extruder control to do that.

There's a load/unload option in repetier under the maintenance menu on the lcd.
I use a Flashair card which works very well and easy to set up. Haven't tried Octoprint but it looks like there's quite a bit more involved in setting it up.

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs

3 Reply by Telemachus

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Re: Flashair III vs Octoprint

Honestly it comes down to me being a cheapskate. 

$12 for a Micro to SD adapter, and $25 for the wifi SD...  I'd rather put that money toward a hot end that can print PLA.

But the Pi is already sitting at home, and it will support a webcam too.

Perhaps I have my own answer...  I'll set it up tomorrow.

Da Vinci 1.0a.  Repetier 0.92.  E3D V6.  Titan Extruder.  Sllic3r.  Octoprint on Raspberry Pi B+.

4 Reply by mpoffo (edited by mpoffo 2016-01-28 21:04:01)

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Re: Flashair III vs Octoprint

scobo wrote:
Telemachus wrote:

But that is not to say that nothing was lost.  The ease of loading and unloading filaments on the stock firmware was nice, but I have gotten use to just using the extruder control to do that.

There's a load/unload option in repetier under the maintenance menu on the lcd.
I use a Flashair card which works very well and easy to set up. Haven't tried Octoprint but it looks like there's quite a bit more involved in setting it up.

+1  As I have stated in my other posts using a Flashair card makes this whole process quicker (quicker than stock).  I save the gcode directly from my slicer to the Flashair card on the printer.  It is worth the effort and money.

As for the other issue you raised, the black bars continuing to appear is concerning.  That is not right.  When do they appear?  I have never had that issue.  It might be necessary to reflash the printer although I am not the expert in this area.  Luc would be your guy.

DaVinci 1.0A with Repetier .92
Simplify 3D
E3DV6

5 Reply by piercedtiger

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Re: Flashair III vs Octoprint

I'll probably do a Pi wireless connection at some point myself. However, for the moment I'm enjoying the direct USB attachment and control it grants me. (I think you could get the same thing with Octoprint.) While learning this new firmware I've found myself stopping the print from RH when things went bad, or while I was dialing in the x and y axis since those got screwed up somehow and caused it to print off the table. To me RH is easier for manual controls than the LCD menu.

I personally wouldn't want to lose those options to get just wireless transfer to the SD card then use the LCD to print.

6 Reply by prpickett

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Re: Flashair III vs Octoprint

I have 2 Da Vinci 1.0s both running on Octoprint after flashing to repetier. I use Simplify3d and running Octoprint allows me to easily send the gcode to either printer. It also allows the printers to be in a different room than my desktop computer. I do use a wired lan rather than wifi to connect to the raspberry pis since I already had a router in the basement where the printers are. I haven't had any issues. Both pis are the older B+ models. I also have an old netbook running Lubuntu linux that I keep in the basement next to the printers in case I need to connect (stop a print, pause and switch filament, etc...) while I'm with the printers and with octoprint you just use a browser window.

DaVinci 1.0 w/ repetier firmware, Andy's Carriage, E3D V6, Filastruder #1956, Filawinder

7 Reply by mpoffo

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Re: Flashair III vs Octoprint

piercedtiger wrote:

I'll probably do a Pi wireless connection at some point myself. However, for the moment I'm enjoying the direct USB attachment and control it grants me. (I think you could get the same thing with Octoprint.) While learning this new firmware I've found myself stopping the print from RH when things went bad, or while I was dialing in the x and y axis since those got screwed up somehow and caused it to print off the table. To me RH is easier for manual controls than the LCD menu.

I personally wouldn't want to lose those options to get just wireless transfer to the SD card then use the LCD to print.

I am not sure of the original posters situation but for me I still have a USB connection to the printer and can control it with software so that is not an issue for me.  I can understand why others may want to look at other options though.  It all depends on your needs and preferences.

DaVinci 1.0A with Repetier .92
Simplify 3D
E3DV6

8 Reply by Telemachus (edited by Telemachus 2016-01-31 09:39:15)

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Re: Flashair III vs Octoprint

Octoprint is amazing.  The developer has made it practically plug and play!  I just wrote the octoprint image to an SD card and threw it in the pi.  Entered my wireless settings and put in the baud of the printer.

Just like that, wireless control of the printer and a webserver that let's you watch your print via webcam from anywhere in the world!

Super cool!

Da Vinci 1.0a.  Repetier 0.92.  E3D V6.  Titan Extruder.  Sllic3r.  Octoprint on Raspberry Pi B+.

9 Reply by robertf

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Re: Flashair III vs Octoprint

I tried a flashair 3 and got it all setup and working but my printer would lockup in the middle of prints with it.

I think the ideal solution would be to rewrite the repetier serial controls and have them use the same protocol as the da vinci. 

I haven't looked at the da vinci protocol, but it must have way less overhead than the repetier plain ascii format.  Serial transfers take seconds instead of minutes.

10 Reply by Telemachus

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Re: Flashair III vs Octoprint

I'm not really sure how you find the Da Vinci protocol... has it been released?  I know that S3D somehow uses it, so it must be known.

But honestly, if you have a raspberry pi sitting around, try octopi.  I have printed all day long with it, no problems.  The last print I sent right from my cell phone, no CPU required!!

Da Vinci 1.0a.  Repetier 0.92.  E3D V6.  Titan Extruder.  Sllic3r.  Octoprint on Raspberry Pi B+.

11 Reply by robertf

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Re: Flashair III vs Octoprint

serial sniffing software or hardware and lots of head scratching.

12 Reply by mpoffo (edited by mpoffo 2016-01-31 05:22:26)

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Re: Flashair III vs Octoprint

robertf wrote:

I tried a flashair 3 and got it all setup and working but my printer would lockup in the middle of prints with it.

I think the ideal solution would be to rewrite the repetier serial controls and have them use the same protocol as the da vinci. 

I haven't looked at the da vinci protocol, but it must have way less overhead than the repetier plain ascii format.  Serial transfers take seconds instead of minutes.


I agree it would be nice to not have to worry about the extra piece of hardware.  I guess I have been pretty fortunate with mine.  I have had no lock-ups or issues.  I don't believe that is a typical issue since many have used it with no reported issues.  I know the adapter you get can make a difference, particularly if it does not stay seated in the SD/Micro SD slot.  I use the 1.0A so I have to use an adapter.

DaVinci 1.0A with Repetier .92
Simplify 3D
E3DV6