Thought I would post this here as may help other Octoprint users who experience intermittent serial communications errors to their printer (Ender 3v2 in my case) over USB. Symptoms include errors such as the following from the Serial log:
Communication timeout while printing, trying to trigger response from printer. Configure long running commands or increase communication timeout if that happens regularly on specific commands or long moves....
As part of trying to resolve this I had tried new USB cable, adding a Ferrite core to the mains cable and inside the printer on the display ribbon cable as well as extra DC filtering on the Ender logic pcb 3.3v rail and fixed lack of earthing on the printer, put additional filtering on the +5v and +3.3v on the Raspberry Pi all to no avail. Errors would happen after 17hrs print or a few minutes - very random.
After noting the Ender power supply has a lack of mains filtering I thought I would try adding a standard EMI filter and so purchased one but it would not fit in the cabinet so instead of getting another smaller type I housed the filter into an enclosure and connected to the printer and since then (some 2 weeks of pretty heavy printing) I have not had another failure (fingers crossed).
Note I have not tried a commercially available filter as shown in the pictures but will do at some point in time.
Anyway - hopefully if someone else has similar problems I would be interested if mains line filtering also resolves the problem
Yes I recall reading about a coiled extension cord when I was researching ways to solve it. Was intrigued that it worked and so long as not too tightly coiled a creative solution. I still have not had a failure and managed a 20hr print yesterday
hey guys. I was searching for solutions because i also experienced the same communications bug with ender 3 pro and octopi. I found a solution but I cannot understand what's behind this I was using a power strip on a socket to have 3 additional sockets. 1 for Rasperi Pi, 1 for 3D Printer and one for a freezer.
on each print the octopi lost communication to the printer. So I checked each cable and found no issues there. And one day by coincidence I connected the freezer somewhere else and used the printer again. There were no commincation issues after this. I also tried to repeat the old issue by connecting the freezer again and my assumption was confirmed. to be clear the freezer has no electrical issue or something. it works very well. But I think when the compressor of the freezer starts every couple minutes it has some effect on the printer on same power plug.
So all in all a tip from my side: check the other devices in the same power circle. Maybe this can solve your problem, too.
I was having the same issue and wanted to say thanks to everyone. I had this problem even after swapping cables, getting ferrite beads, etc. My printer and Raspberry Pi were plugged into a power strip and after removing everything but the Pi and printer I had my first successful print in a week. Thanks all.
I was using a power strip on a socket to have 3 additional sockets. 1 for Rasperi Pi, 1 for 3D Printer and one for a freezer.