No network connection with MakerbotDesktop and 5th Gen Replicator

[Sascha Willems]

We're currently unable to connect to our 5th Gen replicator through our company network. The printer is getting a valid IP, I can ping it from my machine, see the tracert and access the printer via the browser, but Makerbot Desktop can't connect to it.

Even entering the IP manually won't work, the log of the background service only shows an exception :

jsonrpc.py:360: WARNING

conveyor.jsonrpc.JsonRpc:_invokemethod

2014-03-27 15:54:23,365

uncaught exception

Traceback (most recent call last):

  File "python\conveyor-2.3.0-py2.7.egg\conveyor\jsonrpc.py", line 350, in _invokemethod

    result = func(*args, **kwargs)

  File "python\conveyor-2.3.0-py2.7.egg\conveyor\server\__init__.py", line 1883, in direct_connect

    self._server.direct_connect(ip_address)

  File "python\conveyor-2.3.0-py2.7.egg\conveyor\server\__init__.py", line 489, in direct_connect

    return self.connect(machine.name)

  File "python\conveyor-2.3.0-py2.7.egg\conveyor\server\__init__.py", line 496, in connect

    machine.connect()

  File "python\conveyor-2.3.0-py2.7.egg\conveyor\machine\birdwing.py", line 364, in connect

    self.start_client_thread()

  File "python\conveyor-2.3.0-py2.7.egg\conveyor\machine\birdwing.py", line 344, in start_client_thread

    self._client_thread = _BirdWingClient(self, self._address, self._username)

  File "python\conveyor-2.3.0-py2.7.egg\conveyor\machine\birdwing.py", line 1216, in __init__

    connection = self._address.create_connection()

  File "python\conveyor-2.3.0-py2.7.egg\conveyor\address.py", line 171, in create_connection

    s = socket.create_connection((self._host, self._port), timeout=timeout)

  File "python\python27.zip\socket.py", line 553, in create_connection

    for res in getaddrinfo(host, port, 0, SOCK_STREAM):

gaierror: [Errno 11004] getaddrinfo failed

Any idea on how we can get the printer to connect to the Makerbot Desktop software? Is this a software problem or a hardware problem (maybe even with our network configuration?) 

[Jack Minardi]

I am having these same issues. The makerbot reports it is connected over ethernet and has an IP. I can ping this IP and get a response. This means my computer and makerbot can see eachother on the network. Here is the error I see in the log file:

```

jsonrpc.py:360: WARNING

conveyor.jsonrpc.JsonRpc:_invokemethod

2014-03-30 17:50:13,722

uncaught exception

Traceback (most recent call last):

  File "/Library/MakerBot/python/conveyor-2.3.0-py2.7.egg/conveyor/jsonrpc.py", line 350, in _invokemethod

    result = func(*args, **kwargs)

  File "/Library/MakerBot/python/conveyor-2.3.0-py2.7.egg/conveyor/server/__init__.py", line 1883, in direct_connect

    self._server.direct_connect(ip_address)

  File "/Library/MakerBot/python/conveyor-2.3.0-py2.7.egg/conveyor/server/__init__.py", line 486, in direct_connect

    machine = driver.direct_connect(ip_address)

  File "/Library/MakerBot/python/conveyor-2.3.0-py2.7.egg/conveyor/machine/birdwing.py", line 131, in direct_connect

    machine.start_client_thread()

  File "/Library/MakerBot/python/conveyor-2.3.0-py2.7.egg/conveyor/machine/birdwing.py", line 344, in start_client_thread

    self._client_thread = _BirdWingClient(self, self._address, self._username)

  File "/Library/MakerBot/python/conveyor-2.3.0-py2.7.egg/conveyor/machine/birdwing.py", line 1216, in __init__

    connection = self._address.create_connection()

  File "/Library/MakerBot/python/conveyor-2.3.0-py2.7.egg/conveyor/address.py", line 171, in create_connection

    s = socket.create_connection((self._host, self._port), timeout=timeout)

  File "/Library/MakerBot/lib/python27.zip/socket.py", line 571, in create_connection

    raise err

timeout: timed out

```

[Sascha Willems]

We tried everything, even hooked up a Panasonic Thoughpad via Crossover, tried with Mac OSX (not Linux, as there is no current version of the Makerbot Desktop software) and no way of getting the software to connect to the printer. That's sad, as Wi-Fi won't work too (anyone knows when it'll be enabled).

The support also can't help us, so it looks like some hardware problem.

But well, that's the "joy" of early adoptions I guess -.-

[Aaron Lyle]

Majow issues with this 5th Gen.  Sure wish they would have held out shipping a little longer to get things right than to have a useless $3k machine sitting on my desk.

[Tiffany Diorio]

Hi Sascha and Jack, 
 I'm sorry to hear that you both have been experiencing some trouble. I'm not sure if you both are still seeing this issue, but if you are please e-mail your logs to support(at)makerbot(dot)com. We'd like to take a look and see what's going on. 

On Thursday, March 27, 2014 10:59:17 AM UTC-4, Sascha Willems wrote:

NOTICE: This email may contain information that is confidential or attorney-client privileged and may constitute inside information or trade secrets. The contents of this email are intended only for the recipient(s) listed above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are directed not to read, disclose, distribute or otherwise use this transmission. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete the transmission. Delivery of this message is not intended to waive any applicable privileges.

[Joe Soap]

I had the same issue. I was able to bluster my way thru the process, to upgrade firmware via USB and then manually configure the bot's IP address. After that it worked fine.

I grant this ought to have worked as expected out of the box. However my criticism is more aimed at the lack of supporting documentation - to tell me exactly what to expect, and what to do if it doesn't. Right now the supplied instructions advise 'plug this in and it will work', and when it doesn't work you are in no-man's land.

In your case, remove and re-insert the USB cable on the bot. That ought to allow the Makerbot software to connect, after which you can set the IP address (in the Makerbot software) manually. And then printing via network works.

[Sascha Willems]

Thanks for the hint Joe. Could you tell me where I'm able to change the printer's IP adress in makerbot desktop? I don't see any options for that, and I can only change the device name in it's properties :

Another very odd thing that just happened :

I wanted to connect the printer via USB to my lenovo yoga as usual, and the connection refused to work. So I wanted to shot down the printer and just got that message displayed :

Had to turn it off via the switch on the back to get it connecting again. 

Looks like there's still some work to to by MBI ^^

[Joe Soap]

As I recall the request for the IP address came up when I clicked a connect button. That's after I had defined the printer (which you seem to have done since you can define device preferences). You will have to find a dialog which has a connect button. Sorry if memory fails, but I know I was stumbling around in the dark rather than following a yellow brick road.

It's not the most intuitive interface I have ever used. It seems a pity really - Makerbot are spoiling what might otherwise be an outstanding product by not attending to the lipstick and makeup of the software. Not everyone are technical wizards (and I'm not - but I probably have a little more technical expertise than most).

[Charles Palmer]

Similar problem here except I get a critical error instead of the WARNING.

error.py:501: CRITICAL
conveyor.server.__main__.ServerMain:guard
2014-05-07 09:17:25,029
[Errno 40] Operation not supported or unimplemented on this platform

Traceback (most recent call last):

  File "python\conveyor-2.3.0-py2.7.egg\conveyor\error.py", line 489, in guard
    code = func()
  File "python\conveyor-2.3.0-py2.7.egg\conveyor\main.py", line 72, in func
    code = self._run()
  File "python\conveyor-2.3.0-py2.7.egg\conveyor\server\__main__.py", line 64, in _run
    server.usb_scan_devices()
  File "python\conveyor-2.3.0-py2.7.egg\conveyor\server\__init__.py", line 1247, in usb_scan_devices
    iserial = usb.util.get_string(device, device.iSerialNumber)
  File "build/bdist.macosx-10.8-x86_64/egg/usb/util.py", line 246, in get_string
    0
  File "build/bdist.macosx-10.8-x86_64/egg/usb/control.py", line 169, in get_descriptor
    data_or_wLength = desc_size
  File "build/bdist.macosx-10.8-x86_64/egg/usb/core.py", line 731, in ctrl_transfer
    self._ctx.managed_open()
  File "build/bdist.macosx-10.8-x86_64/egg/usb/core.py", line 69, in managed_open
    self.handle = self.backend.open_device(self.dev)
  File "build/bdist.macosx-10.8-x86_64/egg/usb/backend/libusb1.py", line 835, in open_device
    return _DeviceHandle(dev)
  File "build/bdist.macosx-10.8-x86_64/egg/usb/backend/libusb1.py", line 691, in __init__
    _check(_lib.libusb_open(self.devid, byref(self.handle)))
  File "build/bdist.macosx-10.8-x86_64/egg/usb/backend/libusb1.py", line 644, in _check
    raise USBError(_str_error[ret], ret, _libusb_errno[ret])
USBError: [Errno 40] Operation not supported or unimplemented on this platform
main.py:87: ERROR
conveyor.server.__main__.ServerMain:main
2014-05-07 09:17:25,029
conveyord terminating with exit code 1

[doug poole]

I have had these connection issues from day one.

Only way i can get around it, is keep re-starting printer and software until it does connect.

One thing is for sure, this problem is a terrible one that stops you in your tracks, and there is little you can do.

If you cancel a print half way though, for example if an extruder gets blocked, i find comms also freeze up !

On Thursday, March 27, 2014 10:59:17 AM UTC-4, Sascha Willems wrote:

[Josh Jones]

Me too. I'm using a MBA with OS X 10.9.4 with a makerbot mini with firmware 1.1.1.104 and it hardly ever can find it on wifi. I have to always powercycle the printer, and sometimes powercycle the laptop. Pretty annoying! The iOS app seems to find it a little more frequently but not always. Even manually entering the IP doesn't do it.