FT-5/Repetier USB disconnects randomly during print

[Bob]

I had to change the computer I had connected to my ft5. The original linux computer and Repetier version didn't have any connection problems. However, two different computers now with the latest version of Repetier haven't been able to complete a 2 hour print job because the connection is randomly dropped during the print. Nothing has really changed on the printer side, so I figure it may be Repetier/Linux related, but I read where some folks have updated their firmware to fix this. Repetier folks recommended I try using their server instead. I've also read that this is why some folks print from an SD card. I'll try the server to see if that does better. If not, I'll try to figure out how to use an SD card. I'll post whatever I (hopefully) get to work, just wondering if anyone else has experienced this and found a solution?

[Bob]

I've also noticed that I can't simply press the reconnect button. I have to physically disconnect the USB cable and reconnect it before I can reconnect with Repetier.

[csorrows]

This is fairly normal behavior for a USB connection and a cheap Chinese USB chip. It's generally not a great idea to stream long prints (past like 20 minutes) over USB from a PC. It's much more dependable to use a SD card over the walk-network.

[Tin_Falcon]

Typically a computer goes to sleep when left idol . So you need to make sure the settings are such this does not happen during a print. Or as csorrows pointed out learn to us an sd card. this is not difficult simply slice as normal select save as sd print save it to the card . eject it . install in printer and select the print with the twist and push knob on the printer.

[Bob]

Well, Repetier server gave out quicker than host does. I was able to dig up 2 SD cards I had laying around. I put my gcode on the first one, and the printer didn't recognize the card, so I tried the second one and it worked. Got through the whole print without a problem! Know what format the SD card needs to be?

[Ron]

I just checked the SD cards that I used to print from.
They are formatted as either FAT16 or FAT32 depending upon their size.
I have tried using NTFS formatting before and it will definitely not work.

I never had any luck printing from a live connection to a computer and completely gave up on that long ago.

Another thing that I noticed was the original controller did not like it when there were a lot of files on the cards.
I'm not sure what the threshold number was, or why, but I tried not to keep more than five or six files on them at any given time.
And periodically I would reformat and scan the cards for errors just to make sure they were "clean".
I hope this helps.
FWIW.

[csorrows]

Another thing that I noticed was the original controller did not like it when there were a lot of files on the cards.I'm not sure what the threshold number was, or why, but I tried not to keep more than five or six files on them at any given time.

I have had issues in the past with a lot of files in the root folder. I now have many folders separating them by project and have not had an issue. There are probably well over 100 gcode files on that drive now.

Speaking of that, I should probably make a backup of it. It hadn't come to mind until just now. Thanks!

Know what format the SD card needs to be?

As @Ron mentioned, both FAT16 and 32 is supported. I use FAT32.

[Bob]

Ok, thanks. I had tried reformatting it with FAT32, but it still didn't recognize it. I only had my gcode file on it after the reformat. Maybe it's just bad card. No idea how long I've had it or where it's been.

[Ron]

If it is an SDHC or SDXC card, particularly one of higher capacity it might have trouble reading it.
I had my best luck with smaller cards such as 2gb up to 8gb on the original controller.
The largest one I ever successfully used was 16gb.
Also, there may be some brands that won't work for one reason or another.
I have even had trouble on my computer reading some brands of cards.
My most reliable ones have been SanDisk or PNY, again the smaller capacity the better.
I think I had a Kodak or two that worked too.

You might try formatting the cards as FAT16, or just FAT if it will let you.
You might have to partition the card into smaller logical units to do that even if it means wasting some of its capacity.
I'll have to try doing that to see what happens.

If you scroll down a ways in this web page it explains why SD and SDHC cards have a known compatibility problem for some machines.

SD card

All in all you would be much better off using USB thumb drives if your controller will allow it (I don't know what you are running).
I have a Smoothie board setup with a color touch screen on my FT5 and thumb drives are all I am using lately.

[Bob]

Now that I've looked closely the one that wasn't working says it's 128G, so I guess that might explain it! Thanks a lot for all the information and advice. You guys are awesome!

[Ron]

Now that I've looked closely the one that wasn't working says it's 128G

Yes, that would most likely be the problem.
Even pre-Win10 versions of Windows do not support SD cards that large well (if at all).
The nice thing is that the smaller capacity cards tend to be dirt cheap.
Stockpile a few while you can still get them.

[Bob]

I have 2 16G cards ready to pick up.

[Ron]

Sounds good, I hope they work for you.
I can still find 8gb cards locally, but they are starting to get a bit rare.