Octoprint 2021: Installation, Configuration Tutorial on Kingroon KP3S

Octopi is a system designed for helping 3D printing, it allows you access the printer anywhere and anytime, monitor the print status, do safety check on power supply, making time lapse videos and even take the full control of the mainboard and boost your printing with Klipper firmware.

Now let’s show you how to install Octopi and configure it for Kingroon KP3S 3D printer.

Part 1, Get a Raspberry Pi Board

First, you will need a Raspberry PI, it is a powerful single board commuter designed for learning programming, which is now used in many areas. Go to raspberrypi.com to buy a raspberry Pi. 

Once you get a Pi, you could find a case online, 3D printed it and use to protect your Pi. We are using a Raspberry Pi 2B.

And here are all the things you will need. A USB to printer cable, you can find one in the KP3S package box. A Raspberry pi power supply. Raspberry requires higher input voltage than your phone. If you are using a raspberry pi4, you will need one with USB-C port. A wireless adapter. If you are using newer model than 2B, skip this. And of course, a Raspberry Pi. And a SD card, the volume must be larger than 16GB. Choose a 32GB one with higher speed if you are going to do time-lapse on Octopi.

Then you need to go https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/ to download the Raspberry Pi Imager. It will help you download and flash the Octopi firmware into your SD card and preset the WIFI. Those steps were quite troublesome before, you need to do them separately and even need to edit some code.

Just choose the one fits your computer. Or you can click below link directly:
Mac OS:https://downloads.raspberrypi.org/imager/imager_latest.dmg
Windows:https://downloads.raspberrypi.org/imager/imager_latest.exe

Part 2, Flash the firmware and preset the WIFI

Once you done, open the software you just installed, find "other specific purpose OS", click "Octopi", Choose "Octopi". It is the official and downloaded from the Octopi website.

Then you need to preset the WIFI, press the following keys (On Windows, Control+Shift+X; On Mac, Command+Shift+X) to open the setting. SSH will be a function that you may use later, so we recommend enabling it and set a password. Follow the steps, then you are done with WIFI preset.

As for the rest settings you can set them as your need, or just keep them as default.

After that, choose the storage you want to flash, then click the write button to proceed. It will download the Octopi firmware and flash it automatically, all you need is waiting. It’s goanna take some time.

Part 3. Configure Octopi

Once you finished, insert the SD card to your Pi, connect the power cable and the Wi-Fi adapter, connect the pi to the printer then power the pi up. Please make sure you have set the WIFI password correctly and the power supply for the pi is enough.

Wait for a minute, open the browser, visit "octopi.local/". This step will take a few minutes, just make sure your computer and the pi are connecting the same WIFI. Another thing you might want to know is, your pi does not support 5G WIFI signal.

You will need to create an account, then set up the rest according to your own need. We do recommend setting a strong password and turn off the usage tracking, you know, for a better privacy. If you don't know how to set, just click the blue option to keep default setting.

After this step, you will enter the Octopi Dashboard. Click the wrench icon, click “Printer Profiles”, then edit build volume as 180x180x180mm. You can also do this in the Setup Wizard. Then click the connect button to connect the KP3S, you can proceed to test everything out. Go to the “Control” Panel, click to operate X, Y, Z axis, see if everything moves right.

Part 4, Print with Octopi

Normally the test should be fine, you are ready to start your first print. And you can preheat with your own settings. Or just wait for the printer read the g-code itself. Preheating will save you some time.

Once the preheating done, you can click print to start. The printer will print like it was before. All axis home, then the print head goes down and start to print. But there is no changes on the screen, everything are driven by the Raspberry pi. What we want to remind you is don't power off, disconnect, or operate the printer once start printing from octopi. The resume print won't work in this mode.

Now you are all set with Octopi for your Kingroon KP3 3D printer.