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10.1" Windows Tablet Upgrade... SUCCESS!

Micah Ganske

June 25, 2016 18:26

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Greetings, OpenGB tribe!

I'm relieved to be able to report that I've got my OpenGB happily printing large gcode files from a $95 Windows 10 tablet using Simplify3D's control panel.  You can find the tablet I used here:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018X8M670/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There are other similarly priced Windows tabs out there, but all the other ones lack a full-sized USB port.  This one actually has one, as well as a secondary micro-usb port that can be used to power the tablet.  It has a dedicated power port, but I'm just using the micro-usb since it's easier and can use the long cable I was using for the Pi.  

The tablet is not powerful enough to preview large gcode files in the visualizer (it will crash the software), but it has enough ram (2GB) to load up all the large gcode I've tried in the Control Panel.  Also, since I'm normally a Windows user, it was really simple to get my laptop and the tablet networked for transferring gcode files.  Nice!

If you want to try this upgrade, I also designed a new tablet holder to attach to the existing Re3D mount. It's designed to print without support if you rotate the part so that it's standing straight up and the stl can be downloaded here:  https://www.dropbox.com/s/gxwfj4o3kz1t3av/10inchRCATabletHolder.STL?dl=0

Re3D, feel free to add this file to the repository for printed parts.  

 

Now, here are some photos of things in action: 

 

 

 

 

 

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13 comments

• 0
  
  Shawn Fitzpatrick June 25, 2016 18:51

  Very cool. Glad that worked out for you!!!

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  Micah Ganske June 25, 2016 19:21

  Thanks!  I'm very happy with this since it was super cheap, seems to be working well, and is actually a nice upgrade since the touchscreen is nice and big for my fat fingers!

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  Robert Oakley July 05, 2016 19:52

  hey Micah just wanted to share that I have started a new section on the wevolver called community upgrades and your design was the first to be put in there.  I love the design and it is awesome to see the community starting to take part in modification of the printer.

  link: https://www.wevolver.com/re.3d/opengb/windows-tablet-holder/description/

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  Micah Ganske July 05, 2016 20:30

  Cool! Thanks, Robert!

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  Manmeet July 13, 2016 02:32

  Hey Micah, neat upgrade. Have you had much trouble with prints freezing when printing directly from S3D as oppose to an SD card?

   

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  Micah Ganske July 13, 2016 14:09

  I experienced some freezes at first when the screen timed off. I naturally had "sleep" turned off, but it would still stall occasionally when the display went blank. Don't know why, but I just turn the brightness down and leave it on during a print and I haven't had a single stall since.When printing from S3D the stalled print would always start up when the screen woke up though so if was never that bad. I've printed for about 500 hours with the tablet. I definitely recommend this upgrade!

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  Manmeet July 18, 2016 00:26

  Wow thats alot of hours, great to hear! Is this tablet completely replacing your need for a Raspberry Pi 3? or just the screen that would normally be running off the RPI3?

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  Micah Ganske July 18, 2016 14:33

  Total replacement. Also, with the RP3, I couldn't use the machine with it pushed against the wall. I think it was the EMI from the wall outlet disrupting the usb communication. Using this tablet with Simplify3d fixed that problem for me and I can leave the machine against the wall. My art studio isn't very big so thats a very big deal for me.

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  Manmeet July 18, 2016 18:46

  Your reasoning falls perfectly in line with mine. Found it hard to find a home for the gigabot that didnt restrict access to the electronics or a wall for hardware adjustments. I too had alot of noise that would cause disconnects on occasion. I also had really strange behavior with Octoprint running off the RPI2 so switched to a dedicated windows 10 tablet running S3D directly.

  Unfortunately still having some disconnects which I want to fully rule out before I take on any long prints. Hopefully with your adjustments I can get my tablet connection working reliably. From what I hear though many users use pronterface todo direct connection printing over S3D. 

  Are you using something like google drive to transfer prints between a slicing computer and the S3D running on the tablet or have you found a more elegant way todo that? I find that using Google remote desktop makes it easy to slice elsewhere and get the print going.

   

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  Micah Ganske July 18, 2016 19:36

  For me, I just needed to make sure the tablet screen didn't turn off. It doesn't seem like it should matter since sleep was turned off but it did. Also, I'm not sure about Pronterface, but S3D seems like it waits for acknowledgement from the printer before it sends the next move so that seems like it avoids any stalls. When the print stalled with the screen off, it began again as soon as the screen turned back on.

  I use a Windows machine so networking is super simple with the win tab. I just connect and send the files over.

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  Manmeet July 18, 2016 20:21

  Very interesting, I guess I will have to timelapse my tablet vs print to see if anything specific is occurring during the pauses.

  With using a windows tablet and directly printing from S3D have you not restricted your ability to use out of filament detection and any other additional features being implemented?

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  Micah Ganske July 19, 2016 01:00

  The lack of additional features is an issue, but I literally could not load my files to the OpenGB app, or Pronterface due to their size. Combined with the print hanging and not being able to push the machine flush up to the wall, I'm happy with printing from S3D for the time being. Filament detection might still be able to work with S3D, but I don't really know.  S3D's control panel has customizable buttons that can run gcode commands so maybe those could let filament detection function.  I bought 20 5kg spools direct from a supplier from China, so I don't have to worry about running out of plastic on a long print so long as I swap in a new spool.  

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  Manmeet July 19, 2016 03:48

  Makes sense, might as well get your gigabot up and running in the meantime. Due to the closed nature of S3D I imagine it would be difficult to get it working right on that interface but im optimistic that there is a way to get it done. That is alot of filament, good call! Its tough finding a source in Toronto that sells 5kg spools.