Complete Octolapse Guide - Tips, tricks and troubleshooting for 3D printing timelapses

[@Mr3buna]

After years of 3D printing, I finally forced myself to connect one of my printers with Raspberry Pi and launch ocopti with octolapse plugin. I just want to say that your video is a perfect guideline with all important details. Thank you :)

[@pewpewpops]

Thanks Michael:) Well, it did not work for me at 1st with my Cura 4.0 but now it is working. 2 things to keep in mind guys. 1. You have to have a G90 in the START G-Code settings in Cura. For you noobs you open Cura, click on your printer, click on Manage Printers, click on your printer again, then click Machine Settings. From there add G90 to Start G-Code. 2. Make sure you are not using any old G-Code until you re-save it. I think a lot of people are forgetting to re-slice the files with new settings. I know I did;)

[@NETBotic]

I don't have G90 in my start code, I changed the drop down box to "Default to Relative" and it works fine.

[@jlkjax57]

I really like your tutorials. They have helped me a lot in getting better at 3D printing. Although this video was old and not using the latest versions of the software, it provided the necessary guidance to get me started. After a little trial and error, my first actual Octolapse was amazing. Thanks for all your work!

[@PieterStefan]

I have been binge watching the teacher tech videos for a few weeks now. Such good work. The detail, documentation and technical content is great. I have found this channel very helpful and saved me many hours and headaches. Thank you very much!

[@mururoa7024]

Awesome tutorial! 🏆 I followed the steps in this "old" video and despite some options changed the basics remain the same. I have a Logitech C920 Pro and it worked flawlessly. The only thing I had to actually adjust was the direction where to park the print head while the snapshots are taken. Easy!! It worked on the first try! 👍 Thank you so much!

[@RandyA_youtube]

I was trying to do the same but from the video to now in Octolapse - I'm having a hard time finding some of what he is referencing too

[@jcdock]

This channel has been incredibly helpful as I start my 3d printing journey!

[@UnBOXTopicz]

Michael, thank you for this amazing tutorial. this is my first time today on time-lapse printing for my youtube channel. I certainly would have not been able to figure tis out without the help of your amazing video. thanks man. Good work.

[@asulliv1954]

OMG Thank You so much I couldn’t figure out why I was getting errors on Octolapse saying my GCode was missing something!

[@pv8685]

hi michael. thank you so much for the octoprint set up tutorial.

[@andypodmore6721]

That's got to be the most in depth octolapse video I've seen. Great work and excellent detail. Now to try it out myself. Again lol

[@sundeshbalraj]

This is such a good video - followed every step an parameter and now I'm getting perfect OctoLapse videos - excellent job and so well explained !!

[@nachhaltig-reparieren]

Thanks for your video was very helpful for me. Do you have a plan why the new HQ Cam with Octopi doesn't work? I've been trying to persuade this camera to work under Octopi for days. Unfortunately without success.

[@vd853]

Works for me! Just want to add, you should move your plate to snapshot position then position your camera.

[@thomasaquaball4864]

Fantastic video, (like all of yours) I recomend to change the script settings on Cura to: Search: (;LAYER:)(.{1,}) Replace: \1\2 G4 P1 ;OctolapSync (Watch out for the brackets!) This will help to keep the gcode readable.

[@barryhulce6714]

Fantastic video! Thanks for taking the time to research Octolapse and help us get set up. Your effort is really appreciated!

[@KL-cv2lt]

Hi there, As always a very helpful video. In step 8, if you use the 'Search and Replace' script and have the Dashboard and DisplayLayerProgress plugins installed in OctoPrint you may lose some nice functionality. So if you are using the latest Cura version, for step 8 I recommend to use a different script: Insert at Layer Change Before G1 P4 My two cents

[@jeucedahn]

Very well documented tutorial. Thanks a lot!

[@Johneyap]

thank you for this video, it isn't "accurate" anymore but it is The information has been moved around in octolapse but the guide still works well. I am now dealing with stringing, but I think I missed a step or two, going back to rewatch

[@ktestable]

FINALLY my c922 is working!! Thanks a lot!

[@SirDanMartin]

Thanks for the great video. Helped me out a ton. Why don't you mount the camera off something other than the printer to reduce that wobbling and help with the snapshot delay problem?

[@andreipirlea3102]

good q

[@buttersstotch2014]

every tutorial of yours i follow i find like 2 years too late and unfortunately that usually means the software in question has been updated to death... meaning the menus hardly resemble what they do in your videos. i spend most of my time going "okay where is that setting *now* lol anyways thanks! one of these days I'm going to catch a tutorial early. here ill subscribe that should help !

[@Vash612584]

Same here. This is one that should should really be updated as a lot has changed in the settings of OctoLapse. What say you @Teaching Tech

[@aaronspain1735]

TRU DAT! I'm like ok "tick" snapshot time. easy money! ummm...?? i put G4 P1 where? there's hardly ever a tutorial on here that you need when you need it.

[@FormerLurker]

Until a new guide is made on this channel, you could check out the Octolapse Wiki, or the tutorials on my channel, like this getting started guide: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIGZfIRnnad-Z8k My guides aren't quite as cool as Teaching Tech's guides, but I guess they will do for now :)

[@oboumoura5130]

@@FormerLurker Thank you this worked for me....

[@mikey3d912]

Big fan of you Thanks a lot. But what if we do not use the raspberry pi camera? Well at least did not get that part. Regardless of what cam we use we still need to edit that part?

[@simonnieswand]

Very good tutorial! I got my Octolapse setup all up and running. Thanks a lot! I only ran into a problem when I added a "Pause at height" script in Cura to change filament at a certain layer: It seems that this script searches for the ;LAYER:# line that your "Search and Replace" script replaces with the G-code to trigger the snapshots. Therefore, the pause G-code never gets inserted. I can just put the pause script before yours and everything works fine. But to make your script more reliable and maybe keep someone from running into the same problem as me I would suggest to tweak your script to use (;LAYER:)(.{1,}) \1\2 G4 P1 This way the LAYER line doesn't get replaced and can still be used as a trigger for other scripts (like the MultiColors plugin for Octoprint). Thanks again for all your hard work and content! EDIT: If you want the snapshot to be triggered before any other G-code that gets inserted by a post-process script that also looks for the LAYER line, you can use: (;LAYER:)(.{1,}) G4 P1 \1\2 This simply inserts the snapshot trigger before the LAYER line

[@davidhenry2927]

In the section starting at 11:00 it is important to note that the IP address of the mpeg streamer interface can be confusing. If you are working on a browser screen directly attached to the octoprint raspberry pi then the mpeg interface is indeed at 127.0.0.1:8080. However if, as is more likely, your browser in on a remote computer then you need to use the actual physical IP address of the octoprint (wifi or ethernet). octoprint.local:8080 should work. Great tutorial BTW, thanks

[@thefourthhotdog8566]

Duuuuuuuuuude!!!!! My frieking hero. I've been looking for how to connect to my webcam ALL day. I'm so glad I happened to scroll through these settings. You're a legend

[@luke752010]

First of all, thanks for this outstanding video 🙂 Can I also use an action camera or a smartphone as octolapse cam ?

[@AkosGulyban]

Very nice guide even after 2 years. I was able to setup Cura 4.8 with the "Search and Replace" G-code post processing: For Search field ";LAYER:" Replace with "@OCTOLAPSE TAKE-SNAPSHOT ;LAYER:" use recular expression "ON" This way the "@OCTOLAPSE TAKE-SNAPSHOT" g-code trigger is send to the Octolaps and the Display Layer Progress and Dashboard plugins are also working (as they are dependent on the layer change info) Hopefully for others this might help as well

[@GreggAdventure]

Hi, great video, but, skipped the most complicated part of my entire PI setup so far... How to actually make the camera show in Octoprint. How do I figure out what to put into the "STREAM URL"? I've been reading and trying for 10 hours, with no luck...

[@tomaski.]

@Teaching tech - I think one of the reasons that WildRose Builds templates look so good is that he seems to be using endstop switch to trigger the capture. On Ender 3 recordings there are 2 visible white cables hanging from right side of the X-gantry. And since he moves the nozzle all the way to the end of X, it'd make sense and guarantee that the pictures are taken always in the very same moment

[@spikekent]

As with every video you make, very worth waiting for Michael. Will be giving this a try as soon as I get time. I have a 1080p Logitech webcam, never use it as a webcam so it's about time I got some use out of it. Obviously I'l be watching this when I try it out (I'm sure to mess it up otherwise) and will probably do it with the CR-10 (not sure yet) BTW all it's upgrades are working perfectly so far.

[@FormerLurker]

Hey, nice video! Thanks a lot for sharing it with all of us! Did you see the option in the snapshot gcode in the printer profile to suppress even if Octolapse is disabled? That means the default 'snap' pseudogcode doesn't get sent even if Octolapse is disabled either via the toggle on the Octolapse tab, or within the Main Settings. However, if you disable it in the plugin manager this option obviously won't work. Your solution (dwell) is pretty clever :)

[@mururoa7024]

Cura 4.x now has a "insert at layer change" post processing script which lets you just enter the G4 P1 code very simply.

[@cmtravis13]

Michael, another excellent video, I have been waiting for this one. Thanks.

[@davidbcrux2048]

Great video! Thank you for taking the time to do this. Really helped me with new Ender 3 V2 setup :)

[@rodneysmith1750]

Excellent been waiting for this guide, no I am out of excuses to "get 'er done"...

[@JorgeJimenez2020]

Awesome video and thank you for doing all of the hard work for us. I followed your directions with all settings, etc. and things worked very well. I do have a question, since I use Cura and many of the settings that I made "non-unique" are supposed to be calculated, and I'm getting messages that they are now set to absolute values. What inputs do you have on that?

[@TeachingTech]

Sorry but I rarely use Cura. You only need to worry about the non unique settings if you are using the advanced mode at the end of the video.

[@salreus]

and not a moment too soon. Just finished building my printer this evening and ready to install the my raspberry pi this weekend... woot.

[@krayfox]

You assume we know how to locate things in the plugin repository. I realize it is "old hat" to you, but not newbes. It took me over a half hour to figure it out...The hardest part!!!

[@beeeeep]

Good stuff Michael. I'll definitely give it a try.

[@nimr0d85]

Thanks for all your work! This will be my holiday project. Merry Christmas!

[@marcopagliacci]

your software is outstanding!! I'm just wondering, is there a command line option to force rendering with snapshots available if for some reason the render did not occur ?

[@Raafman42]

Great stuff as usual Michael. Will be a post Xmas job for me.

[@Iaconiq]

Thanks for this! You answered all the questions I had with this tutorial.

[@milos975]

I follow your guide and works perfect. Thanks.

[@jasoncross6151]

Excellent and clear, thank you so much

[@Mowgi]

3:00 where is this file on Windows? I'm not using a rPi

[@KiloWattPlays]

wherever you installed octopi when you did ex. cd C:\OctoPrint py -m venv venv venv\Scripts\activate.bat

[@LemmyCaution66]

Fantastic video. Thank you very much and Merry Christmas from 🇧🇪 !

[@MrBudge72]

Great video! I've been experimenting with Octolapse, too, and I cannot find a good setting for Vase Mode. Because the vase is only one wall thick, the nozzle leaves a blemish at every layer change. Is there a way to get Octolapse to take the picture without stopping the nozzle? How would you do vase mode?

[@TheMaaksel]

Have you tried the "animated printing" under stabilization?

[@evilstorm8539]

Hiii i am getting error- no more candidates to test and no working port/baudrate combination detected. How to solve this???

[@PappaCanoos]

Awesome tutorial.....very easy to follow !

[@andyvanschyndel8088]

I followed this guide to a t, great job and thank you. I have it set up to take photo by gcode just like you. When I activated octolapse the first time and my axes moved I got an xyz error saying I didn’t define absolute or relative. So I adddd a g90 code to the start of my start code on Cura. Error is gone, but it still wont take pictures??? I’ve seen some posts that you need to define extruder as well? When I did this in Cura, my extruder fed like crazy I had to hit estop. What am I doing wrong? How can I get this to work? Ender 3 and Cura slicer

[@Mr_Gadge]

Did you fix this? I've just had the axis not defined error too.

[@MrTimmyGT]

Meet too, not confident enough to start experimenting with this stuff. Using Cura as well

[@Mr_Gadge]

MrTimmyGT needs G90 in start code in Cura. Edit PRINTER in cura and add to G code.

[@MrTimmyGT]

@@Mr_Gadge ok, thanks for the reply. Will give it a shot when I get home!

[@matthiasschuff7570]

Ender 3 and Cura. Same Problem with this setup. Octolaps stay "enabled and idle". I added G90 to the start G-Code to get rid of the error....

[@ChuftCapt]

Michael, I'm sorry to bother you on an old post but I get "YZ movement was detected, but the axis mode has not been set. Please add a G90 or G91 to the top of your start gcode.". When you have a moment would you mind telling me what mistake I made and if I need to add a command to my start up, where I should place it in the Sart G-code. Thank you.

[@RandyA_youtube]

This video is older - Any idea on the setting now in the latest version of Octolapse - and I have a Adrucam and there is a plugin for AutoFocus but its seems to almost always fail using i2c most of the time.

[@raghavgarg6909]

Can you use octoprint without any arduino or anything? like just plug the printer directly to your main computer.

[@Linkman-fm2in]

I think you need a RPi.

[@NickelCityPixels]

My webcam stream is visible in Control and the Octolapse Webcam Setup tests check out. When, however, I try to edit Custom Image Preferences, I get the following error: Unable To Enable Custom Preferencesunknown-server-type: An unknown webcam server type 'Werkzeug/0.15.6 Python/2.7.13' is being used for the 'piCam' camera profile. Currently only MJPEGStreamer is supported. Unable to apply custom image preferences. I'm suspicious this may be Octoprint Anywhere's doing, but I've no proof. If I disable OA, I no longer see anything from the webcam. How can I specify my webcam server type so that I can get the best Octolapses?

[@3dtom189]

Is G4 P1 command neccessary with new updated Cura and Octolapse as of the date of this question? Cause now they have default configurations

[@pskoen]

am I missing something? can cura profiles be converted into settings.json for import into octolapse in some obvious way that I'm clueless about?? because, damn, I sure can't find a single shared "settings.json" ANYWHERE for sidewinder x1. does someone have this??

[@skywalker781]

I bought an ender 3v2 couple of weeks ago now when I'm powering my printer I'm hearing the entry sound from this videos

[@PalosX]

Doesn't the adding g4 p1 effect the display layer progress plug-in cause it looks for (;LAYER:).{1,}?

[@Dominic01041992]

Hello! Great video, what output format (codec) is the best ?

[@chillbeats6749]

I Made it, and works buts i just have one problem why it doesnt take the filament out?

[@timhatch27]

what if your webcam is still "focusing" and causing blurred images? Is there a g code for a slightly longer pause?

[@megatrack67]

Hi, How do you add the G4 P1 if you are using Cura ? What is the equivalent? thanks mate...Great videos..

[@abtra]

I just commented on this above. There's information in this video description but it replaces the search ;Layer line with the G4 P1 line. I figured out a way to keep both!

[@DavidSteagall91]

Amazing guide, thank you for that!

[@avk3dprinting872]

Very Helpful video but I am stuck at step 12 - can someone explain this to me? what URL should I be accessing with port 8080?

[@emanuelcalderon]

I have the orange pi 5 . Do you have a tutorial for the orange pi 3 and 5 for the install for octoprint?

[@meirmeyer4]

Great video!!! I'll test it on the Easythreed 3ed Nano printer I'm expecting to get. Can u share the Cure profile of this printer? Thanks Emla

[@EnergySeeker]

can we do that with SKR 1.4 and raspberry 3b with reprap installed ? would be great if you show how

[@ArunSen]

How would one set up the camera for an Ender 5 bed? Would octolapses be possible on ender 5?

[@lucasdacampo1335]

I installed Octolapse and its working ok but i am unable te enable custom image preferences with a raspicam V 2.1. The image quality is really bad (brigtness, focus, etc) I changed on boot/octopi.txt, tryed FormerLurker procedure, still not working. Do you have any suggestion?

[@christopherlyons7613]

Need some help. When I try to run a test print, I keep getting a message saying something about an XYZ error and I need a G90/G91 gcode command in my start script. Nothing was mentioned of this in the video. How do I provide the needed gcode? I use Cura 4.3 as my slicer. Also, exactly how are you supposed to start your print when running in test mode? Can I load something normally through OctoPrint? If I do that, will it not start the heaters and extrude? Or do I have to run the print in DryRun mode?

[@MakerViking]

Great guide. Keep up the good work!

[@dericklong6191]

I used my brother's gaming laptop to set up octoprint Raspberry Pi Imager and now I don't have his computer think I'd be able to use my Chromebook to go back in and change these settings?

[@mikek2824]

I really need help with the blobs and access filament when the hotend moves outta the camera range my prints look like crap

[@caballete0075]

Excellent video my friend keep the good work. Raspberry Pi 3 B+ with CanaKit power Supply everything set up and running the only problem is that WiFi drops every few minutes. I done a few things that I found in the internet of people having the same problem but nothing works. Does anyone have the same problem or a solution for this issue. Thank you.

[@CuguTuxo]

The octolapse feature of taking snapshots according to the different parts of the layer speed is great, but you should first of all configure your slicer to avoid layer changes on the outer walls at all and then just proceed with snapping on the layer change. By the way you should not replace LAYER... with your snap code, just add it to that new layer marker because you may use it later for other post-processing like removing the snap code after priming the nozzle before the first layer or any other.

[@michaelthompson8366]

How would you acomplish this? I see the "Combing" option in Cura for the layer change part, but how dould you add the "snap" command in, on layer change?

[@OmeSlikkumGaming]

A question. When I use your settings Octolapse is saying I don't have a XYZ code enabled (G90 or G91). Must I enter that to the start code? Or is it optional. Other thing to readers here. If you see the video (great video by the way) you see a section where you must enter G4 P1. In the video it looks like there isn't a space in between them. Don't be an ars like me and DO enter an space between G4 P1 or else nothing will happen hahahah

[@UnBOXTopicz]

and you just got your self a new sub.

[@sebastienlemay343]

Hi Michael, Thanks for the video. I did all your steps and it worked perfect the first time. In the Octoprint, I have this error at the end even though my timelapse is available and Good. I am using Ideamaker. Any idea what could be wrong. ---------------------------------- Octolapse - Before/After Render Script Error Rendering completed and was successful, but there were some script errors: The after script failed with the following error: after_render_script_error: The after-render script failed with the following error message: The process does not exist. --------------------------------- Thanks and keep up the good work.

[@3dprintlifeguy]

Is there an option to make it work using Linux? My system detects the camara but not sure how to make it work in octoprint

[@SwampMan]

Is there any way to attach a phone to the raspberry pi as a camera? so tempted to switch to the octolapse with the time lapse 3d print videos I've had on my channel

[@cathyomalley2772]

Thanks mate. A great explanation.

[@cache4pat]

Any chance that you have Octolapse on your list of 'to do' videos for Ender 5 ?

[@tristanelliott4106]

Could you help with retraction settings? I've spent all day tweaking mine but nothing really seems to he changing. I'm using Cura with my CR10S. Currently sitting at 25 mm/s retraction speed and 6 mm retraction.

[@carlhurdman5122]

thx for the tips they realy help

[@eta26rajeevgupta54]

sir i want to ask one thing what if i use marlin firmware for my 3d printer, is it possible to use for rapsberry pi?

[@mikek2824]

Have ypu figured out how to stop the oozing blobs and stringing for the octolapse??

[@richardrhoads9088]

So for step #12 i cannot get the website to show the mjpg streamer, I get 400 bad request the browser(or proxy) sent a request that this server could not understand. I also do not get the camera settings under "edit camera" when i check the box that says enable and apply preferences a box pops up top right that says unable to enable custom preferences unknown-server-type: An unknown webcam server type 'Werkzeug/0.16.1 Python/2/7/16' is being used for the default webcam camera profile. Currently only mjpeg streamer is supported.... I have tried 2 webcams. Logitech c922 PRO and Logitech 4k PRO... Does anyone have any ideas?

[@miremaker]

Question: If you have multiple processes, let's say you even have 2-4 objects, what happens with that "G4 P1" script you add to the layer height change in S3D? Will it take more shots because it will be pausing for those other objects with that command in their script? How will it affect the overall time lapse?

[@PhysicalZer0]

because the 4 objects are being printed at the same time, they layer change should happen for each at the same time as well. i.e same number of images for 2-4 as you would get for 1 i believe.

[@JAYTEEAU]

Thanks Michael, great detail as always. Cheers, JAYTEE

[@allanpiacente]

How do I know where the bed will be for the prints so I can set the camera?

[@Nuttster2]

You are teaching me so much, Thank you very much, I have a problem with the Display Layer Height in Octoprint, I did what you show me in CURA , But Octoprint does not display, The plugin is turned on, Can you Help Please... Thanks for your time NOOBIE

[@aaronward6092]

when i duplicate my tab it doesn't show up as ip address it just has octoprint name and some other letter,but not like yours did

[@rbid]

what about using a DSLR camera controlled by gphoto2 with octolapse? I guess this is possible, here another idea for a future video for you. Greetings from the Galilee

[@jesseakers1126]

I'm hoping I can get a reply here. I've followed the guide and got everything going and octolapse will pause and take snap shots on layer changes, but it refuses to do any of the stabilization modes. I tried the static and animated options and all it will do is pause on the layer it's on, leaving a glob, and taking an ugly snap shot with the extruder in the way.

[@StefanDembowski]

Thanks for this, It solved my problems!

[@avejst]

Nice, thanks for sharing Happy Holidays :-)

[@ChrisHeerschap]

I like to leave the layer number in my gcode if I'm going to insert an M600 or anything like that, so instead of "G4 P1" as the replacement text, I change the search to: "(;LAYER:.{1,})" and the replacement text to: "\1 G4 P1" Moving the parenthesis around the entire match allows me to call it back with the \1 - then followed by a to inset a newline, which puts the G4 P1 on the next line.

[@MatheusBrasil]

Hi @Teaching Tech. I've been trying to use my Logitech C310 with the Octopi and Octolapse unsuccessfully. I'm not able to access the cam through IP from Octopi. I've already changed the Octopi file but still not working.

[@colindembovsky]

Thanks for this great vid! I have an Ender3 and use CURA for slicing - I think your regex is incorrect for the custom GCode snapshot. It should be ";LAYER:.\d*" for the search expression - otherwise it leaves the layer number in and you get "G4 P11", "G4 P12" etc. instead of just "G4 P1" for every layer comment.

[@5stepshred300]

This worked for me however it gives me an error when processing saying that the code for the final picture there was an error... I think it means like at the last shot. Can you please post your code again or notepad++ changes if yours is working properly? Many thanks :):):)

[@notaloneinrsa1345]

My streaming is extremely laggy. I get about 17 seconds of lag between movement IRL and display in Octoprint. Any advice on how to remedy this in the config files? I'm running Octoprint off of wifi and I know one way to solve the lag issue is to use ethernet instead.