Monoprice Select Mini SDcard USB Wireless Connection Issues

[Nifty]

So far, I've been loving my 3D printer... well, everything except getting the files to the printer to print.



At first I had a thousand problems just using the SDcard, for example:

1. I'd write a file to the card, it showed it was on the card (I could even copy the file from the card to my computer, verifying it was on the card), but when I put the card in the printer, the recently added file was missing. When I put the card back into my computer, the file was gone. It's as though putting it into the printer erased the new file. This happens almost 70% of the time.
2. I thought maybe it was a card issue, so I used another micro SD card from my camera. No matter what I do, I can't get the printer to read the card. 100% of the time the printer says the card is empty. I've formatted the card, tested it a hundred ways, and still the same problem. No files found

So, I figured I'd try USB, but that's been even more frustrating. I plugged in my printer and my Windows 10 machine recognized it as a generic 3D printer and set it up. I can sometimes get CURA to connect, and was once able to start a print... but since then, I'm extremely lucky if I can get CURA to see the printer, and when it does and I start a print, the printer just sits on the print screen indefinitely... as though the data to get everything ready has started, but no data about the object to be printed is being sent. I've tried connecting via USB with CURA 15.04 and also CURA 2.6.2.

I'm tempted to try and connect to it wirelessly, but that seems like the least likely to work if SDcard and direct connect with USB isn't working.

My printer has the most recent firmware that I could find: 35.110.2

Not sure what to do now

It's just SUPER frustrating having to go back and forth and back and forth with this micro SDcard, especially when 70% of the time I have to do it again.

Any ideas?

 

[stratman]

From Monoprice concerning SD Cards not working:

• No spaces in the file name.
• Reformat card as FAT32 format using Quick Format

http://support.monoprice.com/link/p...1021/Why-is-my-printer-not-reading-my-SD-card

This web page says to not use the card that came with the printer. Buy a card instead. Another comment was if you leave the card in the printer, turn on the printer, take the card out to load up a file in your computer, replace the card back into the printer, then the card will not be seen by the printer. The solution is

Go to SD card in the menu and hit the remove SD card, then the mount SD card option. That will make the printer recognize the SD card again and you should be able to see all your files.

https://www.thingiverse.com/groups/i3/topic:4180

This web page says to make sure the printer's USB is unplugged as it overrides the function of the printer's SD Card reader.

https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting...ssion_cant_print_off_sd_card_monoprice_maker/

I also read that Monoprice chat help can help.

More answers on Google.

 

[stratman]

More...

have you tried looking into something like Octoprint, Repetier Server, or Astroprint for the printer? It makes sending print jobs 1000x easier.

https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/5nyok3/having_sd_cardusb_issues_with_monoprice_maker/

MP Select Mini Wikipedia: http://mpselectmini.com/start

Cura and USB not working for Cura versions 2.x but did work for earlier versions 1.x. Cura supposedly makes their software for a different type of 3D printer but since it's open source then anyone is free to modify. Potential workaround for Cura 2.x:

http://mpselectmini.com/cura_2.3_usb_printing_not_working

Installing USB drivers:

https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/4rwuoy/monoprice_select_mini_usb_driver/

 

[stratman]

I've tried connecting via USB with CURA 15.04

Maybe it's the bitrate setting that could remedy the issue:

https://www.3dhubs.com/talk/thread/problems-printing-usb-maker-select-v2

 

[stratman]

More on Cura and USB explanations and potential fix:

https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/5g76cs/confused_about_usb_printing_in_cura_231/

https://ultimaker.com/en/community/21433-cura-212-cant-find-printer

 

[The Hat]

well, everything except getting the files to the printer to print.

Sometimes funny things can start to happen when you send or copy a G.code file to your Micro SD Card, when you view your image in CURA your model should be coloured yellow or orange (Brightly) if its grey then the image is too big to fit the printer and this is when funny things start to happen, like disappearing files or Micro cards.

 

[Nifty]

Well, regarding my 2nd card (it's 16 GB), the problem is probably this: "Note: If you choose to purchase an SD card, please make sure that it is not labeled HC (High Capacity) as it may not be compatible with the printer. This means that the card must be smaller than 4GB in size."

The other problem (only working 70% of the time) might be the space in a filename issue. It seems a space in ANY filename will throw the whole thing out of whack.

Regarding USB:

https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/4rwuoy/monoprice_select_mini_usb_driver/

That looked promising, but when I try to load the drivers I get an error that either the drivers I have are newer than the ones that came with the printer, or if I try to force the driver to load, I get another error that the driver doesn't support 64 bit machines.

I see people saying "Everything works fine with Cura 15.0.4.6"... which would make me happy, but I can't even get that version to connect via USB.

 

[Nifty]

Ok, I watched this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fc5opbXblo
I downloaded Pronterface and changed to a USB port in the back of my computer.... and SUCCESS!!! I'm able to connect, command, and print from Pronterface! I'm still having problems printing with CURA 15.04.6, but sending the GCODE file from CURA to Pronterface is WAY easier than popping a card in / out all the time!!!

 

[stratman]

Congrats on getting the printer/computer to recognize the USB port! I like the mods the guy does. He's a good teacher.

sending the GCODE file from CURA to Pronterface is WAY easier than popping a card in / out all the time

Are you printing from Pronterface? Your video says not to do that in case the computer takes a dump. Instead, could you use one of the apps I quoted above: Octoprint, Repetier Server, or Astroprint? How much more time consuming can it be with all the spare time you have.

 

[ninj]

I agree with @stratman -- I use Octoprint running on a Raspberry Pi 2 (google octopi). This runs through a web browser on any networked computer. The Pi connects to the printer via USB, but unlike streaming from a Windows PC (via Cura, Repetier host, Pronterface) you won't have to worry about the job being interrupted by a Windows update etc. You upload your Gcode to the Raspberry Pi over the network and then click Print. Wifi works reliably because you upload the entire file before printing.

If you use Slic3r (instead of Cura) there is even a one-click option to upload the gcode. Very slick.