Firmware and Octoprint Updates

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atestani
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Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2017 10:19 pm

Firmware and Octoprint Updates

Post by atestani » Thu Mar 11, 2021 12:22 am

MakerGear firmware and Octoprint versions are extremely old. Octoprint has moved to Python 3 and many plugins only work on the later versions of Octorpint. Firmware is the same way, i.e. very useful plugins will not work with the old Marlin version of the firmware.

When are we going to get updates!?

airscapes
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Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2018 11:36 pm

Re: Firmware and Octoprint Updates

Post by airscapes » Thu Mar 11, 2021 9:47 pm

I would also email MG support directly.

atestani
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Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2017 10:19 pm

Re: Firmware and Octoprint Updates

Post by atestani » Thu Mar 11, 2021 10:07 pm

I've already done that and was told "it is on the list" but no timetable.

airscapes
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Re: Firmware and Octoprint Updates

Post by airscapes » Mon Mar 15, 2021 6:23 pm

Have you considered just buying a new sd card and loading up the new Octoprint.. I personally have not upgraded OP I use with my M2 since installing it in 2019 as I don't use plugins and all is still working just fine. However that would be the route I would take.. Keep the old card and try installing current on a new card. Firmware I would not mess with as I don't feel comfy doing that unless I have a know working version that does something the old does not do and I need the functionality. I assume you want plugins that need a certain level of firmware?

atestani
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Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2017 10:19 pm

Re: Firmware and Octoprint Updates

Post by atestani » Mon Mar 15, 2021 6:33 pm

I have been told by MakerGear support that in any verion Octoprint is installed except the MakerGear fork, it will break the machine.

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ednisley
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Re: Firmware and Octoprint Updates

Post by ednisley » Tue Mar 16, 2021 1:33 pm

atestani wrote:
Mon Mar 15, 2021 6:33 pm
it will break the machine.
That is just so much bullshit.

What it will do is break their ability to bail you out; no small consideration for tech support.

Because it's just a Raspberry Pi, all the configuration (and everything else) is on its MicroSD card. You can install + tinker a new Octopi on another card, then return to exactly the old installation, just by swapping the cards.

Details matter: you must follow the Octopi setup guide, be willing to tinker with the networking, and generally get used to finding solutions on your own.

Also, don't buy cheap cards unless you love chasing down mysterious errors. Genuine Samsung Evo Select cards work well and last a long time; buy them either direct from Samsung or "sold by and shipped from" Amazon, not from the usual sketchy sellers of counterfeit junk.

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-MicroSDH ... B06XWN9Q99
https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/me ... me64ha-am/

You should have a backup on a good card anyway, because whatever card you're using now will eventually fail. Better still: get used to installing from scratch, just for the practice.

atestani
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2017 10:19 pm

Re: Firmware and Octoprint Updates

Post by atestani » Tue Mar 16, 2021 8:36 pm

Can we assume that since you are making this assertion that you have actually set up an SDCard image without MakerGear's version of Octoprint and it all works?

Bioluminous
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Re: Firmware and Octoprint Updates

Post by Bioluminous » Thu Mar 18, 2021 1:09 am

I have had no issues using the non-MakerGear version of Octoprint on the M2 or the M3-ID. I’m also using PrusaSlicer instead of Simplify3D for everything except dual modes on the M3. I say this because I think it’s fine to experiment. There doesn’t seem to be any risk with using standard Octoprint, just make a new version on another microSD card and test. I also have two machines I purchased from another member that run Klipper and work very nicely (they also have a better control board that makes the printer silent).

Installing Octoprint is very easy. Look up Chris Riley on YouTube for some excellent tutorials.

atestani
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Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2017 10:19 pm

Re: Firmware and Octoprint Updates

Post by atestani » Thu Mar 18, 2021 5:18 am

That's good to hear... thanks.

Now the next issue is the prehistoric Marlin firmware. Has anyone done anything with that?

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ednisley
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Re: Firmware and Octoprint Updates

Post by ednisley » Thu Mar 18, 2021 1:09 pm

atestani wrote:
Tue Mar 16, 2021 8:36 pm
you have actually set up an SDCard image without MakerGear's version of Octoprint and it all works?
Yup, on a somewhat hacked M2 with updated firmware Prusaslicer:

https://softsolder.com/2019/03/07/3d-pr ... i-problem/
https://softsolder.com/2019/10/04/maker ... era-mount/

https://softsolder.com/2015/03/10/maker ... is-switch/
https://softsolder.com/2019/02/11/maker ... t-thereof/
https://softsolder.com/2020/12/11/maker ... e-adapter/

https://softsolder.com/2016/04/14/maker ... 1-1-0-rc5/

https://softsolder.com/2021/01/04/maker ... iguration/

There's no real magic in the hardware, just a good solid design eliminating a bunch of fix-it-with-firmware stuff, but you must (be willing to) learn a whole bunch of fiddly details.

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