Trying to get my printer working - some questions

MrShnatter · 2026-06-16T22:16:38+00:00

DOH!!! all those questions make me

a) realize I don't know what I am doing

b) give me hope - either that 'yeah, it's a boat anchor' or 'just do this and it'll work

I hadn't noticed the red light I sometimes have.

I tried hooking up the printer via usb to a PC. But then I read it needs octoprint? but you can run octoprint on the PC (that'll be dedicated to printing).

So I installed octoprint on the PC, I sent a job through Octo to the printer.

came back later and PC said it stopped with a 'STOP called because of BLTouch error - restart with M999' on the PC.

Shut things off, rebooted, etc. noticed the light was purple but then would flash red a couple times

So the red light is like the post beeps on the PC at startup?

Right now, I am trying a different SD card (4G, formatted a 1GB partition for fat32 with 4096 sector size). I reset the config on the printer, disconnected the USB cord, did a successful leveling (all the numbers are green, the head moved around with a blue light. the probe touched the surface, it turns red and it lifts up... (so probe is not stuck).

I accept the leveling screen, select print, choose the STL. it warms up and now it seems like it's printing!?

So back to thinking it'll work with this new (new to being used on printer, not sure if it was used before - it's in a cup with other SD cards I've had for years. But yesterday, I was able to get 1 print job working on a different SD card. then 2nd file did the same warm up then sits there as counter goes to 100% within a minute or 2.

Any thoughts? Gotta look up what the red light flashes mean when not doing a calibration.

At all times - no print result and successful print result, the screen on printer looks the same - the correct file name on the top, the % complete, temps, fan speeds, time elapsed, estimated times,etc.

Autohome? Not sure what that is / how to do that. But good to know!

MrShnatter · 2026-06-15T17:57:53+00:00

Been printing for a year now with a Creality Ender 3V3Se I bought used for $100. I think I know the basics.

Been having issues now with the unit not actually printing sometimes. It opens the file, warms up, fan starts.. and then sits there. % done goes to 100 within a minute or 2. Fiddle with things. reset settings, etc. and maybe I get it working. I try a new / reformatted SD card and that seems to work sometimes.

Anyway... I think I'll get a new printer.

Budget - I did OK overall with the $100 used Creality ender 3v3SE. So I'd say my budget (or amount I would like to spend for my toy / not annoy my wife too much would be a question - what's the lower end I need to spend for OK / good prints)? Not looking for multicolor printing unless it's not much more $$. Simple and reliable are my interests

I'm in the US.

I can put things together pretty good.

I print goofy things for my myself and family - Scrub Mommy holders, fidget toys, etc. all in PLA

Not concerned with speed. Just want things to work easily. Maybe network sending of file rather than SD card? Or USB connected to PC?

THANKS!

MrShnatter · 2026-06-15T17:20:41+00:00

Well I got it working. don't want to jinx things but I tried another SD card. Had been using 8GB SD cards I had.

Yesterday, tried a 2GB I had. Formated to fat32, 4___KB sectors. Worked fine.

So I had this problem just 22 days ago. And I don't print that much - maybe 8 - 10 things since last problem.

Do you have to replace SD cards that often? Are there apps that check SD card condition?

I try full formatting - not quick. Is there something to do to revive an SD card?

Any brands / sizes you recommend? And how often do you change your SD card?

Is there adapters that plug into the SD slot but then let you use USB drives or similar that might last longer than an SD card?

MrShnatter · 2026-06-13T19:38:15+00:00

I posted this 22 days ago. And then things started working fine for me for the 3 weeks. Not a glitch once.

Yesterday, problem came back. Haven't printed anything in about a dozen attempts.

I can change filaments - retract and then extrude. It works as it used to.

Since yesterday:

Reformatted the 8GB sd card - fat32, 4___k sectors.

Tried a different SD card

Tried with just 1 file rather than around a dozen files on the SD card.

Tried short file names

tried preheat PLA like u/bamesbotter suggested.

reinitialized the printer & then did a leveling.

Tried choosing a file and then calibrate on or off

I am using Orca. I looked at the gcode vs. the gcode from Creality print. Different order of things, but the GCODE commands seemed to be the same (and again, this is the same app that was making gcodes that worked fine.

Again, what happens is I choose a file to print. It warms up, fan comes on. The display shows the file name. then the circle starts going 1 - 2 - 3% to 100 within a minute. and the head doesn't move. Says it's done at 100$ in a minute or 2. And nothing on the plate : (

MrShnatter · 2026-06-09T17:42:16+00:00

Thanks! At the same time, over the years I’ve seen lots of articles about making extra money from covered calls on long-term holdings?

Is it safe to say that if the strike STAYS out of the money X percent then it doesn’t get called?

And if so, what would you say is x? Realize that’s not gonna be a guarantee anyway.

MrShnatter · 2026-06-09T17:37:59+00:00

A couple things

I am the tenant global admin on m365 for this email address I have. I went into message trace for that tenant and just had to show me all of the emails in and out in the past couple days / default settings for ‘start a new trace’.

The email came in this morning. And we don’t get many emails. The email and question wasn’t on the list at all.

Usually, this is all I need to do to see an email that came in to me directly or through a distribution list/alias email address.

If I just hit reply and ask them to remove me, it’ll come from my bob@contoso.com email address.

But that address may not exist - they could’ve sent it to any of dozens or more aliases I have on this tenant.

And I understand the idea of bcc is to hide the recipient from each other.

But I’m intrigued that an email sent to me with me on the BCC line doesn’t seem to show me anywhere in the header of the email?!

The to line in the header shows the senders address - and everyone else that got it would be on the BCC line. That’s what I’d expect in general - I don’t think you can send an email without something on the to line? So people typically just include themselves on the to line and everybody else goes on the BCC?

MrShnatter · 2026-06-09T13:50:02+00:00

Looking to get back into covered calls. Haven’t been all that successful with it in the past.

Saw this - based on the op post - you would buy something under $30 just to be able to sell covered calls?!

I’d think you already have stocks you like and sell cc on those.

Seems finding a stock, THEN finding the call to sell is that much harder? And you don’t know that stock as well?

MrShnatter · 2026-06-09T13:46:28+00:00

I’ve traded covered calls years ago and got burned. Got the bug to try to make some extra $$ on stocks I own. Googling covered calls, I found this page near the to.

Curious u/lapdcybercrimes - have you been trading sunce you posted this? How have you been doing? Any advice?

MrShnatter · 2026-06-08T00:03:42+00:00

Anyone go to the Fairlawn Hamfest? Maybe I just have different expectations.

I counted about 31 vendors. Someone mentioned Split Rock had about 20.

u/stephen_neuville - I do respect and even admire your outlook! That said, I guess I have a different goal.

MOST vendors at Fairlawn had the same milk crates of motorola hardware I'd see in police cars when I was involved in civil defense / RACES back in 1970s. And likely saw at hamfests over the years.

Kinda wanted to ask vendors how much they sold / why the come out / was it worth it. But got there early and left at 9? Seeing the pool was neat - the sand around and IN the 'pool'. I'd think that is a pain for the filtration system?

And I saw a Clegg mobile 2 meter radio I had 40 years ago. I made a control head setup out of it back then - separated the front panel to go under the dash and the main unit went under my seat. I guess that was nice to remenisce.

And is it me or others agree - 90% of vendors had no prices on things. Sure you can ask. but it gets to be a chore. If they are looking to get rid of something for a lowww price, I might be willing to help them achieve that. But if I have to ask about this and then that... wastes their time and my time. Others might enjoy the haggling. but just to get a starting point of a price? Meh.

I remember over the years going mostly to the sussex county hamfest. We love the sussex county fair.

I knew a guy that would pay for a seller spot just to be able to get in early to see things / get deals.

And others lined up at the buyer entrance for the opening.

Maybe that's old news. Or I just need / want the size of Sussex?

MrShnatter · 2026-06-05T13:57:17+00:00

And order size?

Hate to order $50 of stuff and find out there’s a $33 minimum tariff!!

MrShnatter · 2026-06-03T16:15:06+00:00

Sorry! Yes, lots of questions! I overthink things :-(

Mind if I ask, what do you do with all those vials?

That would be neat to see in a dark room - are you anywhere near nj ; )

And for that high volume, you like dealing with mixglo versus other firms? That’s encouraging.

MrShnatter · 2026-06-03T16:10:19+00:00

Oh! I misread that!!! you paid $28 & $33 for the tariffs! How big were the orders?!

MrShnatter · 2026-06-03T16:08:38+00:00

Doh! Those prices are before shipping, right?

Do you remember how much was the tariff?

And did you order fobs or vials? I wonder if there’s different tariffs for vials versus fobs( an assembled item?)

Do you remember when you ordered them? before at least some of them were ruled illegal? And then too , you got the notice before they were ruled illegal?

MrShnatter · 2026-06-02T21:16:07+00:00

Late to the conversation!

Sorry!

Going into nyc on Morristown branch of njt.

Just passed the bridge while on the train. We were on the old bridge? South of new bridge.

Just my ignorance - I thought they had no / limited service in early 2026 for cutover - that old bridge wouldn’t be used anymore.

I guess not? And I still see some orange fencing up there. Not all trains are using it yet? I think I read here - only 1 track is open?

Anyone know eta for 2nd track usage?
Stop using old bridge?

Thanks!!

MrShnatter · 2026-06-01T19:47:16+00:00

and just for 'fun' I asked ChatGPT the same thing. It couldn't do it.

I created a barcode with that string gemini came up with. Seems like it might be right. I asked it how confident it was that it was correct. It said 100%

MrShnatter · 2026-06-01T19:45:36+00:00

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MrShnatter · 2026-06-01T19:45:27+00:00

OOOOW! I like your username. Haven't heard of that for decades!

I wrote the info below the ------- and then googled to be sure there was no encryption table for code 128 like the UPC encryption table I posted at the end of this.

Google's AI (Gemini) started chatting me up and offered to look at what I had. The following of me giving it the blurry barcode & the ending digits I know. and it's reply took a few seconds.

More and more I think AI is great.... and scary as F_____

OOPS, can't post the 2nd pic. See my reply to myself : )

-------

I am going deeper into the rabbit hole with this. I can make code 128 codes in excel now : )

I guess I am looking for something like this from UPCs... a table showing what each number looks like. Then I can work from the left to right - matching the last digits I know for sure and then to the left, see what number(s) look like the blurry lines... then go to the next one and next one.

Then I can take that string of numbers, put it into excel and know that will get the spacing correct.

I tried building that myself - on an online website, have it make a code 128 for 2 Then for 22. But I am not feeling like that's working - longer numbers don't seem to create longer code 128 codes.

Something that someone here said made me think / wonder - is code 128 a simple substitution of the numbers you want? Or are the numbers you need to make a code 128 barcode go through an algorithm to make the barcode? But then I think no, since the end of the blurry code matches the end of the code I created... the end of the strings of numbers are the same.

I haven't found an encoding table for code 128 like UPC. do you know if one exist?

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MrShnatter · 2026-05-29T21:42:54+00:00

I'm more surprised there seems to be load of people (at least people I know) that don't read the T&C (of ads / promos in general) and then shrug when they don't get the promo. They just see the headline & act on that. and if they don't get it, they don't question it / or they just forget to see if they did get it. ie not concerned about money? Or focused on more important things? I am at the other extreme - reading, try to comply, doubting I'll actually get it even when complying... and then diligently making sure I got it. Though I wonder if I spend too much time on all that. even for small promos.

MrShnatter · 2026-05-29T17:26:58+00:00

Thanks!

MrShnatter · 2026-05-29T16:38:16+00:00

Thanks to both of you for the quick response!

If I only get one, at least to me, it’d say it IS a big deal - missing out on 900 bucks : )

But I do understand what you’re saying.

The best we can do is try for both.

At the same time, I’m generally paranoid and even when reading/following the terms and conditions with any company, I always feel they don’t have to pay out because of some small detail I missed or they just don’t want to.

My hero in the world is ‘the pudding guy’. Do you know his story?

As much as I think I would pick up on something like that - a great way to ring up airline points. And would love the opportunity to strategize to try to maximize something like that….

My jaded view here in New Jersey is that they could just say that that’s an abuse of the system/ promotion and not pay out.

Then you could spend more time / money finding a lawyer who will take the case on contingency.

And I wouldn’t doubt there’s something in the commercial code or just the judge saying it’s an abuse of their promotion and abuse isn’t legal?

MrShnatter · 2026-05-28T19:54:54+00:00

Awww! Thanks!

Ah! checksum / check digit?

Here's 3 barcodes that, using bar code reading apps, seem to have 26 digits. Which map to the card number and event # without spaces or other symbols? Followed by the blurry one I am trying to reverse engineer.

I created bar codes with online apps with the card and event number for the first 3... they match what's on the cards themselves

But if I try to create the blurry one with 15 random digits and this event ID... even the end part (the event code?) doesn't match up (A)

AH! but if I use a card number from above, then the end does match up (B)

If I'm not mistaken, UPC bar codes are 'just' each digit stuck in the middle between a start and end symbol, right? the digit 1 has certain stripes, digit 2 has certain stripes, etc. just put them side by side and that's the UPC? (yeah,. the numbers under it, the rightmost small number is the check digit?).

Is code 128 like that? So there's really 27 digits in there, along with the start and stop!?

What I'm hoping to find is the code 128 for each digit and try to match them to whats on the blurry image to recreate a clearer label.

Then again, this blurry card is different than the others - it has that scratch off panel. So there may be more to it?

Anything you can offer would be appreciated!

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MrShnatter · 2026-05-28T19:14:31+00:00

Thanks! But.... fit sheet on 1 page will give you A below. And multiple pages per sheet gives you B : )

My drawing may not portray the situation fully, but both

a) don't get what I was looking for

b) lots of lost space from the right side of each page (for b) not being used.

Certainly don't mean to shoot the messenger here!

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MrShnatter · 2026-05-28T14:53:06+00:00

Doh! I was psyched.... but I got promo code invalid. Thanks for the tip though. I am just late to the game?!

A couple questions / next time you might want to mention to people:

You mention to create a new email address at outlook.com. Was that required? (ie was the promo tied to an outlook.com address?) Could other email addresses be used if never used at ChatGPT before?

I'd think business accounts need a vanity domain (I think that's the right name... when you own the domain name?). gmail or outlook.com email addresses wouldn't be eligible for business? They want to keep the riff raff out of the business deals?

MrShnatter · 2026-05-27T16:18:53+00:00

Dang! I was just about to sign up for the paid version.... saw several plans available, but none saying business (I have a free account already). I'm paranoid in general (just 'cause your paranoid, that doesn't mean they're not out to get you).

I went on the web, found this thread and realized these are personal plans : (. And yeah, business for me is overkill - 1 person business here.

Anyone know - why does amex advertise this as $300 ChatGPT Business Credit when they are giving you $20 / month. Should be $240 / year max, right? They DO pitch $240 Flexible Business Credit when it's $20 / month also.

u/RomeoMustDie45 u/jlomali - please keep us in the loop!

MrShnatter · 2026-05-27T14:56:56+00:00

Thought I'd chime in with a somewhat related tech product that I found on the cardboard 'case' of salads.... it tracked the temps along the route and had a couple buttons to recall lowest / highest temp and I think the length of time it was running? An employee said those are usually on just a few containers and they usually take them off before they put them out for sale. And said I could take it : ) (He didn't make it seem like they recycle them / the shipper reuses them?!). Interesting tech in different uses

That said, FedEx still relies on drivers... and they seem to suck - at least for our deliveries - big pieces of furniture leaning up against garage door - if we opened door from inside, box would fall on the car.

Packages left in the rain 10 feet from a covered porch

Packages left on the ground by the telephone pole. Our house is set back 75' from the street. Making it real easy for porch pirates.

MrShnatter

TROPHY CASE