Question Ender 3 Pro USB printing error

[MsaterSgnt 0]

I'm trying to print from Cura via USB to my Ender 3 Pro running the latest version of Marlin FW (BL Touch enabled) but the monitor tab of Cura never recognizes that there is a printer connected. Is there some settings that I need to change to be able to use this?

[Smithy 1,144]

You can only check it the USB printing plugin is installed an active. 

But Cura is not made to print via USB, even if the functionally is there. It is not supported and there is no active development anymore.

[GregValiant 1,246]

I know that the USB Printing plugin works (as good as it can) with my Ender 3 Pro.  There are a couple of things you can check.

USB Printing must be installed in the Cura MarketPlace.

You must have a fully functional USB cable (some are just for charging phones with no data capability).

You must have the correct USB-Serial drivers installed on the USB port of the computer.  Some drivers only install to a specific USB port so you can only plug in to that one.  Others are enabled and notice when you plug the printer in and will adjust to any USB port.

 

Start with the printer off and Cura closed.  Plug the printer in to the computer and then start Cura.

Cura should "notice" the printer.  The "Monitor" screen should populate with a couple of controls.  After that happens you can use the arrow on the side of the slice button to change to "Print Via USB".

 

Printing via the SD card is much preferred.  As @Smithy says, USB Printing has not been updated in years and isn't likely to be updated any time soon.  Octoprint/RaspPI are an option if you really need remote printing.  

 

[MsaterSgnt 0]

Thanks for your help. I understand that SD printing is much better, I just wanted to do USB printing more for console powers than anything. I still cannot find any plugins on the Cura Marketplace that mention anything about USB printing.

[DivingDuck 104]

This was maybe a bit misleading. What he mean is click on Marketplace, then within this Marketplace window choose Installed. There you will find the plugin. It is an standard Cura plugin and part of the installation. Some people (like myself) have deactivate this plugin for several reasons and  a lot of them then forgot that they did it. That's why @GregValiant mention to check the plugin if it is active or not.

 

[GregValiant 1,246]

"I just wanted to do USB printing more for console powers than anything."

Well then you need a console.

I'm an amateur hack and nowhere near the level of the code writers around here but I did write a little Windows app to provide a way to send commands to my printer and to view the responses and to remotely handle printing from the SD card.  I modestly call it "Greg's SD Print Tool".

 

Essentially, you copy your gcode file to the SD card and stick it in the printer.  After that, you can control the printer functions from a connected computer (running Windows because Visual Basic doesn't port to Linux or Mac).  The screenshot shows the available functions.  You will still need to use the button on the LCD for manual pauses and aborting a print.

Unzip the file and peruse the ReadMe file and then run the "setup.exe" file.  If you decide to install it please understand that it's an unsigned app (that costs money) so you will likely have to talk your anti-virus into allowing the install.  At any rate I find it handy.

 

Here is the interface.

ReadMe.zip

Edited August 30, 2021 by GregValiant