# Open Source and 3d Printing **URL:** \ **Category:** 3d Printer Reviews\ **Created:** [September 22, 2020, 9:07pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/open-source-and-3d-printing/2635 "2020-09-22T21:07:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ender5r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ender5r](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Ender5r)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2020, 5:17pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/open-source-and-3d-printing/2635/21 "2020-10-14T17:17:59Z")
> [@Geit](#): > > I just did, but used “3d printer 32 bit” and I get printers from Creality CR6 SE, Ender3 V2, Flsun Q5 Delta among tons of display and 32 bit boards. If I limit the search to “printing machines” I get TronXY printers with 32 Bit board as well. Sure the old 8 bit models are still there, too, but of course the older models not just vanish from storage. Some developers still decide to use 8 bit for their new printers and they will see the fall out, when they get tested by the community via YouTube. This already happened a few times. Well, Creality is still making 8bit printers. AFAIK, it’s not even possible to by an Ender 5 with a 32bit board. You have listed some printers, but they are still the minority. I don’t think it’s a matter of printers in warehouses. I believe they are still coming off the manufacturing lines with 8bit boards. Yes, it will change, but not quite yet. Even the brand new JGMaker printer on KickStarter is 8bit. They just recently added a new pledge tier for a “Pro” version of the printer that does include a 32bit board. But the point is the standard version is still 8bit. > [@Geit](#): > > Everyone who gets properly informed about 3d printing will not buy a printer with an 8 bit board unless he is willing to upgrade that himself, which can be an option. Get a cheap printer to tinker with and add 32 bit and silent steppers. Two of my three printers still use 8 bit drivers and it is annoying to see that pausing and unpausing is turning them into turtle mode until the layer is done, which is a known 8 bit problem. How many people are actually informed when they buy their 1st printer? I wasn’t, and I have decades of tech experience. I have no idea what you mean by “pausing and unpausing”. I’ve never seen this during a print on my Ender 5. > [@Geit](#): > > We are already there for years. It is not a point in time, but a pricing point. If you buy a 3000+$ printer you will get that kind of support. Just look at prusa. They work at the lower end of that support level and do an amazing job for printers at a 1000$ price range. You can get the same quality printers for less than 300$, but you won´t get the same level of support. I disagree. It’s not a matter of support: it’s a matter of not needing support for the most part. A toaster will sit on your counter and make toast year after year with no service. An appliance, by definition, just does its work. It doesn’t need dialing in, configuration, troubleshooting: it just works. There are very expensive 3D printers where you can get close to that: the company will install the printer, configure it, and service it when required. The customer just uses it. It’s not quite trouble free, but pretty close. Cars are the best example I can think of. The vast majority of automobile owners just take their cars to the dealer for any required service. It not completely troublefree, but the inconvenience is minimal compared to years ago. ---
**Author:** ![irvshapiro-drvax](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/forum.makewithtech.com/irvshapiro-drvax/32/8_2.png) [@irvshapiro-drvax](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/irvshapiro-drvax)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 5:51pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/open-source-and-3d-printing/2635/22 "2020-11-23T17:51:52Z")
I have a JGMaker printer Pro version on order so when it shows up in January I will do a review. I am very excited to try out dissolvable supports. ---
**Author:** ![Ender5r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ender5r](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Ender5r)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 6:05pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/open-source-and-3d-printing/2635/23 "2020-11-23T18:05:01Z")
> [@irvshapiro1](#): > > I have a JGMaker printer Pro version on order so when it shows up in January I will do a review. I am very excited to try out dissolvable supports. I have 1 on order too. Like you, I’m excited to see what can be done with dissolvable supports. ---
**Author:** ![Geit](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/forum.makewithtech.com/geit/32/44_2.png) [@Geit](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Geit)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 6:15pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/open-source-and-3d-printing/2635/24 "2020-11-23T18:15:14Z")
Yeah, I want to try such supports, too. Since you don´t need any gaps between materials you should have perfectly clean and straight lines on huge overhangs and stuff like nut pockets are far easier to use. ---
**Author:** ![Ender5r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ender5r](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Ender5r)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 6:17pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/open-source-and-3d-printing/2635/25 "2020-11-23T18:17:50Z")
Even better when the slicer has the ability to use the default material except for the last 2mm to 3mm where the support contacts the model. Saves on expensive dissolvable filament and there’s less mess to clean up. ---
**Author:** ![Geit](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/forum.makewithtech.com/geit/32/44_2.png) [@Geit](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Geit)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 7:36pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/open-source-and-3d-printing/2635/26 "2020-11-23T19:36:53Z")
It would be nice to have that for ABS, Since I slice all parts 3mm over the build plate, so the full object is on a brim, which has zigzak supports on top. On top of the supports the actual part gets printed. Since the entire weight of the part is laying on the support, the bottom surface finish is not the best and more or less fused. And no. A raft is no option. It takes so long to print. This is the best solution for ABS printing I found so far and it provides 100% flat prints, even when a side bends up. I just need to sand the bottom area to get rid of the zigzak pattern. Water desolvable ABS would be nice, but I guess impossible. 😃 But maybe printing on the usual desolvable material would be possible. ---
**Author:** ![irvshapiro-drvax](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/forum.makewithtech.com/irvshapiro-drvax/32/8_2.png) [@irvshapiro-drvax](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/irvshapiro-drvax)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 7:40pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/open-source-and-3d-printing/2635/27 "2020-11-23T19:40:19Z")
Folks, I have used Octoprint extensively and I am a big fan. Just to clarify Octoprint is not a slicer or printer firmware. It is a standalone application that connects to your printer over the printer USB port and provides wifi and remote (with the appropriate plugin) access to send prints and control your 3d printer. Most users install it on a Raspberry Pi using the specialized OctoPi version. It does also run on any computer support Python but I really do not see the utility of using it on a desktop except maybe as a gcode terminal. Some of the confusion occurs because an earlier version of Octoprint had a version of Cura included and there are plugins that add slicers. I currently use support in both Cura and PrusaSlicer to send Gcode over wifi to Octoprint. In addition to providing a wifi front end Octoprint via plugins includes a range of tools to improve your 3d printing workflow. For example, it includes a multi-filament (muti-color) workflow for single color 3d printers that I have reviewed in one of my Youtube videos. Octoprint does have competitors. Astroprint offers a similar solution with the addition of a cloud/web-based modeling and slicing environment. Recently Creality started selling a $45 box called Creality Wifi Box for $45. I have two of the Creality boxes sitting on my back desk waiting for a review I am going to do on the channel. ---
**Author:** ![Ender5r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ender5r](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Ender5r)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 7:43pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/open-source-and-3d-printing/2635/28 "2020-11-23T19:43:03Z")
I suspect you could use HIPS filament for supports. It prints 230C to 240C, but you need Limonene to dissolve it. ---
**Author:** ![RChicago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e47c2d/32.png) [@RChicago](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/RChicago)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2021, 8:46pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/open-source-and-3d-printing/2635/29 "2021-03-27T20:46:05Z")
> [@irvshapiro1](#): > > Folks, I have used Octoprint extensively and I am a big fan. Just to clarify Octoprint is not a slicer or printer firmware. It is a standalone application that connects to your printer over the printer USB port and provides wifi and remote (with the appropriate plugin) access to send prints and control your 3d printer. Most users install it on a Raspberry Pi using the specialized OctoPi version. It does also run on any computer support Python but I really do not see the utility of using it on a desktop except maybe as a gcode terminal. > > Some of the confusion occurs because an earlier version of Octoprint had a version of Cura included and there are plugins that add slicers. I currently use support in both Cura and PrusaSlicer to send Gcode over wifi to Octoprint. > > In addition to providing a wifi front end Octoprint via plugins includes a range of tools to improve your 3d printing workflow. For example, it includes a multi-filament (muti-color) workflow for single color 3d printers that I have reviewed in one of my Youtube videos. > > Octoprint does have competitors. Astroprint offers a similar solution with the addition of a cloud/web-based modeling and slicing environment. Recently Creality started selling a $45 box called Creality Wifi Box for $45. I have two of the Creality boxes sitting on my back desk waiting for a review I am going to do on the channel. I am bringing up an older-ish thread but Irv or anyone…Is there an opinion about AstroPrint vs Octoprint? I like the web based printing, ie. uploading the gcode file to the “box” and being able to print without connection to the printer or SD card. I am just curious. -Tq. (Go Cubbies, April 1st 2021.) ---
**Author:** ![Geit](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/forum.makewithtech.com/geit/32/44_2.png) [@Geit](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Geit)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2021, 1:11am UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/open-source-and-3d-printing/2635/30 "2021-03-28T01:11:27Z")
> [@RChicago](#): > > I am bringing up an older-ish thread but Irv or anyone…Is there an opinion about AstroPrint vs Octoprint? I like the web based printing, ie. uploading the gcode file to the “box” and being able to print without connection to the printer or SD card. I am just curious. I added cheap raspberry pi2 to all of my printers. It is just great to have a simple search engine within the web interface, so if you want to print something again. All remotely and feed back via browser and camera. I have no idea about AstroPrint, but OctoPrint has tons of plugins and gets frequently updates and I can recommend it. It even disabled SD card support on all of my printers, as I never use it and connecting an USB to a desktop computer is no fun, when dealing with more than one printer. ---
**Author:** ![Ender5r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ender5r](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Ender5r)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2021, 2:03am UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/open-source-and-3d-printing/2635/31 "2021-03-28T02:03:52Z")
@Geit, how do you do firmware upgrades without SD Card support? Can OctoPrint do it? ---
**Author:** ![Geit](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/forum.makewithtech.com/geit/32/44_2.png) [@Geit](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Geit)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2021, 12:42pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/open-source-and-3d-printing/2635/32 "2021-03-28T12:42:20Z")
My printers do updates via USB, so I just log into the Raspberry Pi (the one also running OctoPrint) using SSH and use a shell command to flash the firmware. I guess there are tools to flash the firmware directly from OctoPrint, but I did not want to install plugins for that, when I already knew the shell command just works. Here I made a post for that: > **[Updating printers ancient firmware in 2020 - MakeWithTech Community Forum](http://forum.makewithtech.com/forum/3d-printing/6207-updating-printers-ancient-firmware-in-2020)** > > Well, this is just my little journey in 2020th second lock down. > > By default I use my main printers, namely an "Anet A8" and a "TronXY X5" remotely, as each printer has a Raspberry Pi hooked up running OctoPrint to deal with Wifi and project... ---
**Author:** ![Ender5r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ender5r](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Ender5r)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2021, 1:54pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/open-source-and-3d-printing/2635/33 "2021-03-28T13:54:36Z")
I had forgotten about that post. For such a lazy guy, you went to a lot of trouble. Mind you, you only went to as much trouble as you had to 🙂 And, indeed, there is at least 1 firmware updater for OP: [U][https://plugins.octoprint.org/plugins/firmwareupdater/[/U]](https://plugins.octoprint.org/plugins/firmwareupdater/%5B/U%5D). I suspect it would be easier for most people. ---
**Author:** ![Geit](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/forum.makewithtech.com/geit/32/44_2.png) [@Geit](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Geit)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2021, 2:02pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/open-source-and-3d-printing/2635/34 "2021-03-28T14:02:57Z")
> [@Ender5r](#): > > For such a lazy guy, you went to a lot of trouble. Mind you, you only went to as much trouble as you had to 🙂 The printers are in another room and I was able to flash the firmware of all printers without lifting my ass from the seat 😃 I also feel at home in shell. The up/download to my website could be done by directly pushing the file, but I have tools here, where uploading a file is just a click and downloading again with wget is just a simple command. ---
**Author:** ![Ender5r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ender5r](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Ender5r)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2021, 2:28pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/open-source-and-3d-printing/2635/35 "2021-03-28T14:28:36Z")
At one time I was well versed in command line operations, particularly in UNIX, & more especially on the 3B2/400: [U][https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:3B2\_model\_400\_sitting\_on\_grass.jpg[/U]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:3B2_model_400_sitting_on_grass.jpg%5B/U%5D). The photo is from the Wikipedia article [U][https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3B\_series\_computers.[/U]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3B_series_computers.%5B/U%5D) Once GUI interfaces became available, I was quite happy to migrate. After decades of long, laborious sessions at a keyboard, I was more than ready to move on to a mouse. ---
**Author:** ![Vassili\_Finellis](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/forum.makewithtech.com/vassili_finellis/32/12_2.png) [@Vassili\_Finellis](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Vassili_Finellis)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2021, 10:19am UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/open-source-and-3d-printing/2635/36 "2021-03-29T10:19:47Z")
Have anyone of you guys tried to install Duet software on a SKR board? [Previous page](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/open-source-and-3d-printing/2635.md?page=1)