MakerGear Forum

Hello,
I have been reading about many options for control panels for the M2 such that I would not require a USB connection to a computer.

In this forum's opinion;

which is the best control panel?

which gives the clearest easy to access and control interface?

Which gives the most complete access to all factors of machine control and print settings?

which is easiest to set up (doesn't require advanced coding or knowledge of arduino or raspberry pi)?


thanks!!!

For me the OctoPi was dead simple to setup and use.
The latest Raspberry Pi has built in WiFi that make setup a breeze.
You only need to edit one config file to add your network settings.
I also switched two of the axes in the default profile so the arrows moved the bed in the correct direction.
Control is through a web interface from any device with a browser.
As a bonus you can print a cool case to house your new OctoPi.
$40 for a new Pi and the software is free.

http://octoprint.org/download/

-Tom

Edit: I did want to add that I have complete control to start and stop prints and the usual jog controls. Also a cool webcam feature is built in that requires no configuration.
The one thing I dislike is having to move the USB cable to a PC to reset the z starting point.

thanks Tom,
is the interface easy and clear?

Where do I buy an Octopi?

How often do you have to reset the z starting point? Only on re-calibration and leveling?

Here's a link to Tom Sanladerer's Guide to Octoprint: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwsxO3ksxm4

And here's a link to Adafruit Raspberry Pi I'm using https://www.adafruit.com/products/3055

You will also need a 5v power supply/usbcharger and a micro sd card.

-Tom

I'm also using OctoPi on a Raspberry Pi computer. Love it.

thanks Zemlin and Tom,
as a Mac user, will I find all the necessary utilities easily?
It does look a bit confusing.....

How does it connect to the M2? through USB cable?

Yes the Pi connects via the USB cable. You then can control the printer using Octopi from any computer, table, or phone that is connected to your network. The interface is pretty easy to use.


On REV E. Machines..... If you just need to adjust your z height you can always do it through the command line. (You should be able to do it through Octoprint although I've only done it through S3D this way.)

Use M501 to read the EEPROM parameters,
Look for M206. (it should look something like M206 X0.0 Y0.0 Z-6.0)
You can then adjust it using M206 Z[new value]
and then M500 to save it to the firmware.

This is much easier if you just want to change the height a bit with out having to run the program and use feeler gauges. (this is not for initial setup though.)

The OctoPi terminal works fine for the Z-Offset changes.
Home the z-axis after changing the setting if you're going to check it with the feeler gauge.

Thanks for the tip!

I'll try that through the Pi next time.

-Tom

I think when you try to home through S3D or Octoprint with a Rev E. it just sends the platform to the bottom.

Feeler gauges are fine for initial setup but they will only get you so close. Changing the setting via the command line should be more of a fine tuning kind of thing and you should check it by actual print quality or visually inspecting the first line put down.