Klipper VS OctoPrint - An In-Depth Comparison

If you’re into 3D printing, chances are you’ve heard of Klipper and OctoPrint. These two are the most popular options when it comes to 3D printing but they have some differences that make them unique. While Klipper is a firmware replacing the original printer firmware and Octoprint is a software, we can still compare these two in terms of using them for remote control over your printer.

But before diving into details let me give you an overview about both systems:

First off, let’s discuss Klipper. Klipper is a firmware that runs on a Single Board Computer (SBC) like Raspberry Pi. It allows higher speed in 3D printing which results in faster prints while maintaining good quality as well as other advanced features such as dynamic mesh leveling or pressure advance making it ideal for experienced users and enthusiasts.

We can use Mainsail or Fluidd with Klipper to control its features. They are both web interfaces that allows you to control your printer remotely using any device through a web browser. And at this point we can compare Klipper with its interfaces with Octoprint so that the comparison is understandable and fair.

On the other hand, OctoPrint - as you may expect - is a web interface for 3D printers that allows users to control and monitor their printer remotely. Octoprint is easy to set up and use, making it a good option for beginners. It also has a wide range of plugins available to add. These plugins allow users to customize their experience or add additional functions to their printer.

Octoprint – like Klipper - runs on an SBC such as Raspberry Pi and take control of your 3D printer by sending command to it. It communicates with the printer firmware to have this control. You can use your own computer instead of using a Raspberry Pi but you will need to connect your PC to the printer via USB cable as long as you need to use OctoPrint in this case.

In this article we will take deep dive into each one of them and find out what Klipper exactly is?

What makes it distinct from other traditional firmware like marlin?

We will also learn about OctoPrint and its features.

Finally, we will compare Klipper with its interfaces against OctoPrint so that at the end you know which one suits your needs best.

So, without further ado let’s get started!

Understanding the Basics: Firmware vs. Software

Before we get into Klipper and OctoPrint, it’s important to understand the difference between firmware and software in 3D printing.

Think of firmware as being like lower-level code that controls the core functions of your printer's hardware. It’s the brainstem that coordinates stepper motors, heaters, sensors, and other electronic components. Firmware reads the instructions sent from your slicing software (in the form of G-code) and converts them into precise movements or actions which realize your 3D models.

Software, on the other hand, operates at a higher level. It interacts with the firmware, and provide a user interface to control and monitor your prints, but it doesn't directly control the hardware itself. Software aims to improve the user experience and offers features like remote control and print job management.

Now that we have known what is firmware and software? Let us move on.

What’s Klipper? And what’s different about it compared to other conventional firmware such as marlin?

Klipper is a new kind of 3D printing firmware. While Marlin and other traditional firmware run directly on the printer’s microcontroller, Klipper does most of its processing on a single-board computer (SBC) like the Raspberry Pi. This lets Klipper use the much more powerful SBC for processing, which greatly speeds up and improves the 3D printing process. 

Klipper not only uses this extra computing power but also uses its improved built-in algorithms to better calculate step movement times for motor actions. As a result, it can achieve movement precision of 25 microseconds or lower.

Klipper can reach an incredibly high stepper motor stepping rates by offloading its processing to another computer. On older 8-bit mainboards, Klipper can command up to 175,000 steps per second; and on newer 32-bit boards it can go as fast as 500,000 steps per second. With speeds like these, traditional Marlin firmware simply cannot compete.

It has been a long-standing issue in 3D printing that as print speed increases, quality decreases. It is now understood that G-code commands are calculated faster by Klipper and thanks to its advanced built-in features like pressure advance and input shaping, among others Klipper is able to print at greater speeds without losing details or accuracy.

Key Advantages of Klipper

The most unique feature about Klipper is its ability to offload majority heavy computational tasks onto single board computers like Raspberry Pi leaving printer microcontrollers free so that they can concentrate on executing real time commands hence achieving smoother accurate moves which in turn enables faster speeds without compromising quality.

Another outstanding capability offered by Klipper is pressure advance; this addresses inconsistent flow rates during extrusion caused by changes in direction or deceleration/acceleration rates among other factors, leading to problems like blobs oozing stringing etcetera thus resulting into cleaner neater looking prints.

Klipper's dynamic mesh bed leveling is another major benefit. This feature compensates for any unevenness in the print bed, ensuring optimal first layer adhesion and consistent layer heights throughout the print. As a result, prints are more reliable and accurate.

Note:  The Bed Mesh is best used after you have done a basic leveling of your bed. Think of it as a fine-tuning step.

The Bed Mesh cannot compensate for mechanical and electrical issues. If an axis is skewed or a probe is not accurate then the bed mesh module will not receive accurate results from the probing process.

When high speed printing, vibrations may occur due to resonance or other reasons these are usually manifested as ringing artefacts called ghosting in final prints this issue can be dealt with by using input shaping feature in Klipper where stepper motor signal timing is adjusted carefully so that such vibrations get damped leading to smoother artifact free even at higher speeds.

Klipper Interfaces: Mainsail and Fluidd

Being primarily a firmware, Klipper needs an interface through which users can interact with their printers; currently two web-based interfaces have gained popularity as they offer more intuitive control over Klipper powered printers than other options available. They include Mainsail and Fluidd both of which are accessed via browser.

Mainsail has a clean look and feel to it, offering a simple interface for controlling your printer running on Klipper firmware. It includes features like live temperature graphs, detailed print progress tracking, direct access into klipper’s configuration settings among others. It offers more customization options than Fluidd but less user-friendly than Fluidd.

Figure 1 source: docs.mainsail.xyz

If you want to know more about Mainsail, its features and how to install it, feel free to follow our guide: Mainsail for Klipper

Fluidd, similar to Mainsail, is a web-based interface for Klipper. It offers a more visually simple experience and a focus on user-friendliness it makes it easy to use Kilpper.

Fluidd provides a comprehensive set of features, including real-time monitoring, G-code visualization, and support for various plugins.

If you would like to know more about Fluidd features and how to install it, we have you covered too! follow our guide here: Fluidd for Klipper.

Both Mainsail and Fluidd provide an excellent user experience for controlling Klipper, and the choice between them often comes down to personal preference for interface design desired features and customization, but they are very similar in their functions and concept.

If you are hesitant and do not know which one to choose or which web interface is best for you, you can read our comparison Mainsail Vs. Fluidd.

OctoPrint: The Versatile Web Interface

When compared to Klipper, OctoPrint has been created by Gina Häußge. It is not a firmware replacement, but a software application with a lot of features that can be run on the web interface. The best features of this software are remote controlling capabilities, monitoring functions as well as expandability using plugins. Even though it’s light and easy to use, many beginner people use it as their first choice.

Key Benefits of OctoPrint

OctoPrint has an easy-to-use interface which allows users to start, stop or pause prints from anywhere as long as you are connected to the same local network of your machine. This feature lets you handle multiple tasks simultaneously without physically being present near the printer.

To increase print control, OctoPrint streams live webcam views displaying real-time footage of your printer during ongoing print so that operators can detect any anomalies early enough before they escalate into full-blown failures ruining entire batches of items being produced.

OctoPrint's integrated G-code viewer provides a graphical representation of the G-code being executed by your printer. This visualization can help you understand the printing process, identify potential problem areas in your G-code, and gain insights into how your printer operates, ultimately improving your ability to fine-tune print settings and troubleshoot issues.

The temperatures of both heated parts - hotend and bed - are monitored non-stop with updates shown instantly onscreen through graphs displayed via OctoPrint so that necessary adjustments can be made without interrupting printing process thereby ensuring ideal conditions under which extrusion should take place.

OctoPrint's Extensive Plugin Ecosystem

The vast library of plugins that make up the OctoPrint network is perhaps the most powerful aspect of this software. Plugins in this collection, which is created by the community and developers, offer a wide range of functions for you to choose from and thus customize your OctoPrint experience according to your own desires. Here are some frequently used plugins that demonstrate just how versatile and capable OctoPrint can be:

Popular OctoPrint Plugins

Octolapse

This plugin allows users to generate time-lapse videos with their printer’s camera by adding smoother motion between frames and additional visual effects. With octolapse, one can easily see the process of 3D printing at work through mesmerizing sequences showing different stages of an object being created layer by layer. You can share these stunning timelapse with the community and enjoy.

Obico

Obico is a plugin that adds AI failure detection. By using it you have peace of mind as it detects common problems while printing automatically. If any issue arises during printing Obico will notify you and pauses it so that user doesn’t waste any more filament or time on failed prints.

Figure 5 source: obico.io

It also allows you to remotely control your printer form anywhere in the world not only when connected to the local network. Giving you more control over your prints.

Bed Level Visualizer 

When leveling your bed, this plugin helps visualize where high and low points are located across its surface – making it easier for you to adjust these spots accordingly.

 

Themeify plugin

 

With Themeify installed into octoprint you can change the theme appearance on-the-fly. It features a beautiful dark theme inspired by Discord’s color.

Indeed, there are many plugins available for OctoPrint and they help turn it into a very versatile platform for multiple applications.

Klipper (with Mainsail/Fluidd) vs. OctoPrint: A Detailed Comparison

Having looked at Klipper and OctoPrint in details, we will now compare OctoPrint with Klipper used with its popular interfaces Mainsail and Fluidd:

Use Octoprint with Klipper for best results

Despite the fact that most people see Klipper and OctoPrint as competitors in the field of 3D printing, they are actually Compatible tools. Do not consider them as antagonists but rather imagine them as a team of two strong men; every one bringing a different angle to a mutually exclusive 3D print.

Klipper firmware is supported by Octoprint: this way, OctoPrint becomes an interface while Klipper controls hardware for accurate motion control.

This allows you to:

• Benefit from Klipper's high-speed printing and improved accuracy.
• Control and monitor your printer remotely using OctoPrint's intuitive web interface.
• Take advantage of OctoPrint's vast plugin library to expand functionality and customize your setup.

FAQs

Q: Which is better for beginners?

A: Usually, beginning users will find it easier to work with OctoPrint since its installation process is less laborious and it has more intuitive interface.

Q: Which is better for experienced users?

A: Klipper offers greater control and advanced features that may appeal to experienced users looking to optimize performance. However, experienced users can also benefit from OctoPrint's plugin ecosystem.

Q: Can I use OctoPrint with Klipper?

A: Yes, you can use OctoPrint alongside Klipper. Many users prefer this combination for its best-of-both-worlds approach.

Q: What are the best plugins for OctoPrint?

A: Some popular plugins include Octolapse for time-lapse videos, Obico for AI failure detection, Bed Level Visualizer for visual bed leveling, and Themeify for customization.

Q: Do I need a Raspberry Pi for Klipper?

A: Yes, Klipper typically runs on a Raspberry Pi or a similar SBC.

Conclusion

Which is Best for You: Klipper or OctoPrint?

The choice between Klipper and OctoPrint largely depends on your specific requirements, skill level in 3D printing as well as ultimate goals.

Go for Klipper (with Mainsail/Fluidd) if:

• You want to optimize performance of your printer thereby unlocking higher speeds as well as better quality prints.
• You are okay with more technical setup involving firmware flashing and configuration.
• Advanced features like pressure advance, dynamic mesh leveling and input shaping appeal to you.
• Are ready for deeper exploration into different aspects of 3D printing firmware technically and trying out various custom configurations.

Choose OctoPrint if:

• New in 3D printing hence need user-friendly solution for remote control plus monitoring purposes.
• Ease of setup and configuration is your priority number one.
• Vastness together with maturity exhibited by plugin ecosystem which allows expanding functionality while customizing the experience matters most to you.
• Would prefer software-based approach that works well with existing printer firmware that you are using already in case you are using marlin firmware for example and do not like to replace it with other firmware.

Whichever option you go for, both Klipper and OctoPrint provide ways through which one can have full control over their 3D printing experience. Klipper unleashes the potential of a given printer while OctoPrint acts as a versatile platform for remote control, monitoring as well as customization.