Re: [PLUG] Possibly Off-Topic but looking for a "server"

[Rich Freeman via plug <plug@lists.phillylinux.org>]

On Thu, Jan 26, 2023 at 4:02 PM Rich Mingin (PLUG) via plug
<plug@lists.phillylinux.org> wrote:
>
> It's plain old Klipper, which is fully FOSS, so it's not hard to swap
> to something else. I've been using miniPCs as a make do, but strapping
> a 500$ miniPC to a 500$ printer to manage/monitor/run it is a little
> ridiculous.

Yeah, I am looking more at used options but you're still talking $100+.

>
> There's no hard dependency on the RPi specifically, I could drop any
> other SBC in there that I'd like, but it needs to run Linux well
> (preferably mainline), and it needs to have rock-solid ethernet or
> wifi plus bulletproof USB. Not many parties check all of those boxes.

I agree completely.  I have RockPro64s which can have weird USB errors
if I try to attach two hard drives to one USB port via a hub.  Some of
those SBCs do not have the most solid IO hardware/drivers.  Since
gcode doesn't seem to have much in the way of error correction
built-in I can definitely see the issues with sending some giant print
over USB/etc and not realizing that it didn't transfer correctly until
the print aborts 80% through.

> Also, while I see the Bambu appeal for someone looking to buy
> something partially assembled that they can slap together and start
> printing, Voron is the far more FOSS option. There are no official
> suppliers. All specs, plans, and docs are 100% FOSS-open. It's a free
> as in speech 3d printer.

Yeah, I had actually looked at them briefly before getting the X1C
(really fully assembled other than removing some shipping
screws/braces/etc).  I also had looked at the Mk3S and clones/etc.

If I ever got another printer or wanted to upgrade in size or have
multiple hot ends or whatever I could definitely see going the Voron
route.  I decided not to go with a kit for my first printer since it
was my first printer, and it felt like just too many variables.  Plus
putting together a Voron seems like a journey before destination sort
of thing and I didn't want to be trying to rush through it just so
that I could print anything at all.  Going with the prebuilt meant
that I'd be starting from a fairly known-good situation, and then I
could get a feel for the actual printing and also get a sense for what
makes a good printer.

The Prusas are of course an open prebuilt option (I think they're
completely open).  However, a prebuilt one is pretty expensive and
honestly they don't really compare to the X1C, especially with the
AMS.

I do suspect that we'll see some improvements in the FOSS options
driven by ideas that come from Bambulab/etc, which of course would be
the best of both worlds.

Since I do have a printer now, if I did build a Voron it would be more
as a hobby project and I wouldn't be in such a rush to get it done.
Plus I can print all the parts I need, out of whatever makes sense.

> The few standard parts that are purchased
> pre-built/pre-made, are replaceable, and the community has moved from
> parts that start becoming more closed to more open options multiple
> times. You should visit sometime. It's nice.

I'm more than happy to come drool over a Voron if you want a guest.  :)

-- 
Rich
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