Quick guide on how i installed and configured my OctoPrint Anet A8 print server. OctoPrint is an open source web-based host for RepRap (Replication Rapid-Prototyper Project) printers. It serves as a web UI to upload and print g-code files and monitor current print jobs, you could even add a webcam and watch your job. Very useful as now you can checkup on a long print and if it looks like its failing you can pause/cancel saving you filament and clear up time.
You will need:
- Raspberry Pi – Any model, i have a spare B+ i’ll be re-purposing.
- Good quality micro SD card
You will also need to download 4 programs:
- Octoprint iso
- Putty
- Etcher (Image burner)
- Look@LAN
Download Octorprint
You can head over to Octoprints offical page, hit the Download button.
Where to get it?
Official mirror is here
Alternative mirror is here
Download Putty
You can go to the official page and use the “You can download PuTTY here“.
Download Etcher
Go to the Win32 Disk Imager page, and click the Download area.
Download Look@LAN
Lots of network ip scanning tools out on the web, but my long term personal favorite is Look@Lan. Can be found here.
Step 1
Run Etcher. Now select the Octoprint you just downloaded, now select the SD card you plugged into your computer. Simply click FLASH to burn the image to the SD card.
- Once that is done before unplugging and putting into the Pi you will (assuming your using wireless) need to setup your wifi, these can be found in the “octopi-network.txt” configuration file on the SD – ensure you save as plain text, do not convert ” characters to curly ” characters!
- Open the octopi-network.txt in the text editor.
- Look for the type of wifi network you have setup and enter your network’s name and password.
- Removing the hashtag symbols from your wifi option like shown in the below image to enable it.
- Save the config and close the file.
Step 2
- Eject and remove the SD card from your computer and insert it into the Raspberry Pi. If your using on insert the Wireless adapter if your model of Pi doesn’t have an internal one. Plug the micro USB power and boot up the Pi.
- Assuming you have a DHCP server running and you configured the wireless right you should be able to find the OctoPi be using Look@LAN or any IP network scanner, or even your wireless broadband router might have an IP table you can check.
- Once the IP address has been found open a browser and input the ip address. 192.168.0.6 for me. (I renamed mine from OctoPi to Dokkaebi)
Now you should have a GUI to the OctoPi
OctoPrint will prompt you choose a the username and password for accessing the interface.
Choose your username and password and enter it into access window. (Both are Case Sensitive)
Now the rest is up to you and the type of printer you have. For me i’m running an ANET A8, so the communication setting are AUTO serial port with a Baudrate of 115200. Check with your printer manufacturer or Facebook group for help on setting up your printer to octoprint.
Another time saver is once you have your OctoPi setup and communicating with your printer is to configure Cura so it can communicate direct. So you can input your STL file… and once ready just click print.
