KlipperWrt

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A guide to get Klipper with fluidd, Mainsail or Duet-Web-Control on OpenWrt embeded devices like the Creality Wi-Fi Box.

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Before starting...

Click to expand!

Why Klipper on a Router ❓

( 🔴 Click to expand!)

• OpenWrt is so much more efficient than other linux distros.
• On a single core 580MHz cpu (with moonraker, klippy, nginx and mjpg-streamer) I get ~20-25% cpu load while idle/not printing and max 35-40% cpu load while printing and watching stream (640x480 30fps mjpeg).

• I've tried octoprint on this box as well but unfortunately it was too resource intensive. Test prints speak for themselves.

What is the Creality Wi-Fi Box?

(Click to expand!)

• A router box device released by Creality in 2020 meant to add cloud based remote control to your printer. Creality Cloud App is a contraption between social media and 3d printing that you have to use to be able to print and monitor.

  Sounded like a good ideea. Unfortunately, the unpolished idea was not very well received by the public. Creality recently (July 2021) added Cura integration and custom gcode upload. Webcam support finally got released but it seems to only work with their new proprietary webcam. Everything is still cloud based and you can't use it offline. This raised a lot of concerns in terms of privacy and transparency. Putting all your trust in a company is not necesarily the best idea and although they seemed to have improved the app and user experience the full control is not in the user's hands yet.

  It's hard to please everybody when creating a product/service but actually listening to the public's feedback is a good start. People need privacy, full control and reliability to actually consider using the product over the alternatives. Klipper and it's UI clients come as open source and 100% transaprent alternatives to remote printing.

Specifications (Click to expand!)

(taken form figgyc's commit)

• SoC: MediaTek MT7688AN @ 580 MHz

• Flash: BoyaMicro BY25Q128AS (16 MiB, SPI NOR)

• RAM: 128 MiB DDR2 (Winbond W971GG6SB-25)

• Peripheral: Genesys Logic GL850G 2 port USB 2.0 hub

• I/O: 1x 10/100 Ethernet port, microSD SD-XC Class 10 slot, 4x LEDs, 2x USB 2.0 ports, micro USB input (for power only), reset button

• FCC ID: 2AXH6CREALITY-BOX

• UART: test pads: (square on silkscreen) 3V3, TX, RX, GND; default baudrate: 57600

What is OpenWrt?

(Click to expand!)

• A Linux OS built for embeded devices, routers especially. Light, Open Source with a great community and
  packages that gives your device the freedom it deserves.

What is Klipper?

(Click to expand!)

• A 3d-printer firmware. It runs on any kind of computer taking advantage of the host cpu. Extremely light on cpu, lots of feautres

What is fluidd / mainsail?

(Click to expand!)

• These are free and open-source Klipper web interface clients for managing your 3d printer.

What is Moonraker?

(Click to expand!)

• A Python 3 based web server that exposes APIs with which client applications (fluidd or mainsail) may use to interact with Klipper. Communcation between the Klippy host and Moonraker is done over a Unix Domain Socket. Tornado is used to provide Moonraker's server functionality.

What is duet-web-control

(Click to expand!)

• Duet Web Control is a fully-responsive HTML5-based web interface for RepRapFirmware. Stephan3 built a socket to make it communicate with klipper as well (klipper is not a RepRapFirmware). This is a standalone webserver and client interface - so no need for moonraker or nginx.

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🎬 Check out the video tutorial Kruze17 has made on his Hyper Makes YouTube channel.

❗ Open issues or join the server for extra support.

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Automatic Steps:

Click to expand!

Installing Script method

Installs everything fresh and up to date. Possibly unstable, sometimes new dependencies are added and I might not have updated the script by then.

Click for STEPS!

This method uses 2 scripts to foramt an sd card and make it extroot and another one that installes everything from the internet.

STEPS:

• Make sure you've flahsed/sysupgraded latest .bin file from /Firmware/OpenWrt_snapshot/ or from latest release.
• Connect to the OpenWrt access point
• Access LuCi web interface and log in on 192.168.1.1:81
• (optional but recommended) Add a password to the OpenWrt access point: Wireless -> Under wireless overview EDIT the OpenWrt interface -> Wireless Security -> Choose an encryption -> set a password -> Save -> Save & Apply
• (optional but recommended) Add a password: System -> Administration -> Router Password
• ❗If your home network subnet is on 1 (192.168.1.x), in order to avoid any ip conflicts, change the static ip of the box LAN from 192.168.1.1 to something like 192.168.3.1. To do that access the luci webinterface -> Network -> Interfaces and edit the static ip -> Save -> press the down arow on the Save&Apply button -> Apply Unchecked. You can now access luci on the new ip and continue configureing Client setup.
• Connect as a client to your Internet router: Network -> Wireless -> SCAN -> Join Network -> check Lock to BSSID -> Create/Assign Firewall zone then under custom type wwan enter -> Submit -> Save -> Save & Apply
• Connect back to your router and either find the new box's ip inside the DHCP list.
• ❗ Access the terminal tab (Services -> Terminal) ❗ If terminal tab is not working go to Config tab and change Interface to the interface you are connecting through the box (your wireless router SSID for example) -> Save & Apply.
• Download and execute the 1_format_extroot.sh script:

cd ~
wget https://github.com/ihrapsa/KlipperWrt/raw/main/scripts/1_format_extroot.sh
chmod +x 1_format_extroot.sh
./1_format_extroot.sh

• You'll be prompted to reboot: type reboot

• Download and execute the 2_script_manual.sh script:

cd ~
wget https://github.com/ihrapsa/KlipperWrt/raw/main/scripts/2_script_manual.sh
chmod +x 2_script_manual.sh
./2_script_manual.sh

• Follow the prompted instructions and wait for everything to be installed

• remove the scripts when done: rm -rf /root/*.sh

• Done!

• When done and rebooted use http://openwrt.local or http://box-ipto access the Klipper client

• Done!

Setting up your printer.cfg

• put your printer.cfg inside /root/klipper_config

• delete these blocks from your printer.cfg: [virtual_sdcard], [display_status], [pause_resume] since they're included inside fluidd.cfg/ mainsail.cfg

• add these lines inside your printer.cfg depending on your klipper client (mainsail/fluidd):

• Fluidd: [include fluidd.cfg] [include timelapse.cfg]

• Mainsail: [include mainsail.cfg] [include timelapse.cfg]

• Under [mcu] block change your serial port path according to this[Optional]

• Build your klippper.bin mainboard firmware using a linux desktop/VM (follow printer.cfg header for instructions)

• Flash your mainboard according to the printer.cfg header

• Do a FIRMWARE RESTART inside fluidd/Mainsail

• Done

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Notes:

• If the box doesn't connect back to your router wirelessly connect to it with an ethernet cable and setup/troubleshoot wifi.
• Check here for how to set your TIMELAPSE_TAKE_FRAME macro inside your slicer layer change.

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OR

Cloning script method

Untarrs an already working image(outdated).

Click for STEPS!

This uses the preinstalled extroot filesystem archives I've uploaded to Releases.
They come preinstalled with either fluidd OR Mainsail and Klipper, Moonraker, mjpg-streamer (for webcam stream) and Fry's timelapse component (for taking frames and rendering the video).

STEPS:

• Make sure you've flahsed/sysupgraded latest .bin file from /Firmware/OpenWrt_snapshot/ or from latest release.
• Connect to the KlipperWrt access point
• Access LuCi web interface and log in on 192.168.1.1:81
• (optional but recommended) Add a password to the KlipperWrt access point: Wireless -> Under wireless overview EDIT the KlipperWrt interface -> Wireless Security -> Choose an encryption -> set a password -> Save -> Save & Apply
• (optional but recommended) Add a password: System -> Administration -> Router Password
• Connect as a client to your Internet router: Network -> Wireless -> SCAN -> Join Network -> check Lock to BSSID -> Create/Assign Firewall zone then under custom type wwan enter -> Submit -> Save -> Save & Apply
• Connect back to your router and either find the new box's ip inside the DHCP list.
• ❗ Access the terminal tab (Services -> Terminal) ❗ If terminal tab is not working go to Config tab and change Interface to the interface you are connecting through the box (your wireless router SSID for example) -> Save & Apply.
• Download and execute the install script:

cd ~
wget https://github.com/ihrapsa/KlipperWrt/raw/main/scripts/KlipperWrt_install.sh
chmod +x KlipperWrt_install.sh
./KlipperWrt_install.sh

• Follow the script prompts to install either fluidd or Mainsail automatically
• Wait until it prompts you to reboot
• remove the script when done: rm -rf /root/*.sh
• When done and rebooted use http://klipperwrt.local or http://box-ipto access the Klipper client
• Done!

Setting up your printer.cfg

• put your printer.cfg inside /root/klipper_config

• delete these blocks from your printer.cfg: [virtual_sdcard], [display_status], [pause_resume] since they're included inside fluidd.cfg/ mainsail.cfg

• add these lines inside your printer.cfg depending on your klipper client (mainsail/fluidd):

• Fluidd: [include fluidd.cfg] [include fluidd_macros.cfg] # include your macros inside this file

• Mainsail: [include mainsail.cfg] [include timelapse.cfg]

• Under [mcu] block change your serial port path according to this[Optional]

• Build your klippper.bin mainboard firmware using a linux desktop/VM (follow printer.cfg header for instructions)

• Flash your mainboard according to the printer.cfg header

• Do a FIRMWARE RESTART inside fluidd/Mainsail

• Done

---

Notes:

• If the box doesn't connect back to your router wirelessly connect to it with an ethernet cable and setup/troubleshoot wifi.
• Check here for how to configure timelapse inside Mainsail dashboard and slicer. Fluidd currently requires editing the moonraker.conf variables since it doesn't have a UI for that component yet.

Manual Steps:

Click to expand!

OpenWrt

Click for STEPS!

1. Build OpenWrt image

Click to expand!

• Only neccesary until the port gets merged and officially supported.

  • I recommend following figgyc's post. You'll find there his experience and a guide to compile OpenWrt. Here is his OpenWrt branch with support for the Creality Wi-Fi Box and the PR pending to merge to main OpenWrt.

  • ❗ This is an OpenWrt snapshot (aka not officially supported) and kernel modules can't be installed with opkg. You NEED to choose some required kmods inside make menuconfig:
    kmod-fs-ext4 kmod-usb-storage kmod-usb-ohci kmod-usb-uhci kmod-usb-serial kmod-usb-serial-ch341* kmod-video-core kmod-video-uvc
    *(chose this because my printer has the ch341 serial usb convertor. You might want to choose kmod-usb-serial-fttdi if your mainboard uses that - check this before building/compiling)

  OR use the provided image I built located inside Firmware/OpenWrt_snapshot - Be aware though that this was built with only the kmod-usb-serial-ch431 - if your mainboard is different -> use the above instructions to compile.

2. Install OpenWrt to the device

Click to expand!

Flashing:

1. Rename factory.bin to cxsw_update.tar.bz2
2. Copy it to the root of a FAT32 formatted microSD card.
3. Turn on the device, wait for it to start, then insert the card. The stock firmware reads the install.sh script from this archive, the build script I added creates one that works in a similar way. Web firmware update didn't work in my testing.

3. Setup Wi-Fi

Click to expand!

• If the flashing was successful you should be able to ssh to the box through ethernet. Plug it in your PC (prefered way) or router and do ssh [email protected] in Windows PowerShell or any unix terminal or use putty.
• Edit /etc/config/network, /etc/config/wireless and /etc/config/firewall. I've uploaded these to follow as a model (inside Wi-Fi).
• Use iw dev wlan0 scan to scan for near wi-fi networks and look for the bssid specific to your 2.4Ghz SSID.

4. Enable extroot (to expand the storage on the TF card) and enable swap.

Click to expand!

• Extroot

opkg update && opkg install block-mount kmod-fs-ext4 kmod-usb-storage kmod-usb-ohci kmod-usb-uhci e2fsprogs fdisk
DEVICE="$(sed -n -e "/\s\/overlay\s.*$/s///p" /etc/mtab)"
uci -q delete fstab.rwm
uci set fstab.rwm="mount"
uci set fstab.rwm.device="${DEVICE}"
uci set fstab.rwm.target="/rwm"
uci commit fstab

mkfs.ext4 /dev/mmcblk0p1

DEVICE="/dev/mmcblk0p1"
eval $(block info "${DEVICE}" | grep -o -e "UUID=\S*")
uci -q delete fstab.overlay
uci set fstab.overlay="mount"
uci set fstab.overlay.uuid="${UUID}"
uci set fstab.overlay.target="/overlay"
uci commit fstab
mount /dev/mmcblk0p1 /mnt
cp -f -a /overlay/. /mnt
umount /mnt
reboot

• swap (though the existing 128mb RAM seemed more than enough)

run this once:

opkg update && opkg install swap-utils

dd if=/dev/zero of=/overlay/swap.page bs=1M count=512
mkswap /overlay/swap.page 
swapon /overlay/swap.page
mount -o remount,size=256M /tmp 

put this inside /etc/rc.local above exit so that swap is enabled at boot:

###activate the swap file on the SD card  
swapon /overlay/swap.page  

###expand /tmp space  
mount -o remount,size=256M /tmp  

fluidd /  Mainsail

Click for STEPS!

5. Install dependencies

Click to expand!

• for Klipper and moonraker - check the requirements folder.

• Installgit-http with opkg update && opkg install git-http gcc unzip htop

• ❗ Python2 packages are not available by default for this snapshot A workaround I found was to use the v19.07 OpenWrt release feeds (this version still has python2 packages) for the same target (ramips/mt76x8) and cpu architecture (mipsel_24kc) as the box. I make a backup of the original /etc/opkg/distfeeds.conf and create another distfeeds.conffile with the v19.07 url feeds. Don't forget to run opkg update everytime you make modifications to that file. After finishing with installing the packages that are only available for the v19.07 and below (like python2 packages) I switch back to the backup distfeeds.conf file.

• The distfeeds.conf file with openwrt v19.07 feeds should look something like this:

src/gz openwrt_core https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/19.07.7/targets/ramips/mt76x8/packages
src/gz openwrt_base https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/19.07.7/packages/mipsel_24kc/base
src/gz openwrt_luci https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/19.07.7/packages/mipsel_24kc/luci
src/gz openwrt_packages https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/19.07.7/packages/mipsel_24kc/packages
src/gz openwrt_routing https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/19.07.7/packages/mipsel_24kc/routing
src/gz openwrt_telephony https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/19.07.7/packages/mipsel_24kc/telephony  

• Do opkg update
  ❗ If you get wrong signature errors, comment the option check_signature line under /etc/opkg.conf - you can uncomment this after finishing with v19.07 distfeeds
• After you add the v19.07 distfeeds.conf -> install python2 packages:

opkg install python python-pip python-cffi python-dev

• Install 250k baud pyserial:

cd ~
git clone https://github.com/ihrapsa/pyserial
cd pyserial
python setup.py install
rm -rf /root/pyserial

Note!

_ The official pyserial python package is not configured to work with 250000 baud on MIPS platforms (only 230400 max). Luckly someone fixed that in a fork and used his work to bring the repo up to date_

pip install greenlet==0.4.15 jinja2 python-can==3.3.4  

• ❗ Switch back to original distfeeds.conf, opkg update -> install python3 and packages:

opkg install python3 python3-pip python3-pyserial python3-pillow python3-tornado python3-distro libsodium --force-overwrite 

• Update setuptoolspackage to latest version otherwise inotify-simple will fail installing.

cd ~
git clone https://github.com/pypa/setuptools.git
cd setuptools
python3 setup.py install
rm -rf /root/setuptools

pip3 install inotify-simple python-jose libnacl paho-mqtt==1.5.1

*Install lmdb and streaming-form-data

Note!

Those can be found inside Packages as a single *ipk file. I cross-compiled them while building the OpenWrt image as I couldn't install it with pip (they need gcc>=8.4 which is not available for OpenWrt yet).

cd ~
wget https://github.com/ihrapsa/KlipperWrt/raw/main/packages/python3-lmdb%2Bstreaming-form-data_packages_1.0-1_mipsel_24kc.ipk
opkg install python3-lmdb%2Bstreaming-form-data_packages_1.0-1_mipsel_24kc.ipk

• Install nginx with opkg install nginx-ssl

6. Install Klipper

Click to expand!

• 6.1 Clone Klipper inside ~/
  - git clone https://github.com/KevinOConnor/klipper.git.
• 6.2 Use provided klipper service and place inside /etc/init.d/

wget -q -O /etc/init.d/klipper https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ihrapsa/KlipperWrt/main/Services/klipper
chmod 755 /etc/init.d/klipper

• 6.3 Enable klipper service:

/etc/init.d/klipper enable

• 6.4 Prepare your printer.cfg file:

mkdir ~/klipper_config ~/klipper_logs ~/gcode_files

• Locate your .cfg file inside ~/klipper/config/ copy it to ~/klipper_config and rename it to printer.cfg

• Inside printer.cfg under [mcu] replace serial line with serial: /dev/ttyUSB0

• Add these lines at the end of the file:

[virtual_sdcard]
# for gcode upload
path: /root/gcode_files

[display_status]
# for display messages in status panel

[pause_resume]
# for pause/resume functionality. 
# Mainsail/fluidd needs gcode macros for `PAUSE`, `RESUME` and `CANCEL_PRINT` to make the buttons work.

[gcode_macro CANCEL_PRINT]
description: Cancel the actual running print
rename_existing: CANCEL_PRINT_BASE
gcode:
	TURN_OFF_HEATERS
	CANCEL_PRINT_BASE

[gcode_macro PAUSE]
description: Pause the actual running print
rename_existing: PAUSE_BASE
# change this if you need more or less extrusion
variable_extrude: 1.0
gcode:
	##### read E from pause macro #####
	{% set E = printer["gcode_macro PAUSE"].extrude|float %}
	##### set park positon for x and y #####
	# default is your max posion from your printer.cfg
	{% set x_park = printer.toolhead.axis_maximum.x|float - 5.0 %}
	{% set y_park = printer.toolhead.axis_maximum.y|float - 5.0 %}
	##### calculate save lift position #####
	{% set max_z = printer.toolhead.axis_maximum.z|float %}
	{% set act_z = printer.toolhead.position.z|float %}
	{% if act_z < (max_z - 2.0) %}
		{% set z_safe = 2.0 %}
	{% else %}
		{% set z_safe = max_z - act_z %}
	{% endif %}
	##### end of definitions #####
	PAUSE_BASE
	G91
	{% if printer.extruder.can_extrude|lower == 'true' %}
	  G1 E-{E} F2100
	{% else %}
	  {action_respond_info("Extruder not hot enough")}
	{% endif %}
	{% if "xyz" in printer.toolhead.homed_axes %}
	  G1 Z{z_safe} F900
	  G90
	  G1 X{x_park} Y{y_park} F6000
	{% else %}
	  {action_respond_info("Printer not homed")}
	{% endif %} 
	
[gcode_macro RESUME]
description: Resume the actual running print
rename_existing: RESUME_BASE
gcode:
	##### read E from pause macro #####
	{% set E = printer["gcode_macro PAUSE"].extrude|float %}
	#### get VELOCITY parameter if specified ####
	{% if 'VELOCITY' in params|upper %}
	  {% set get_params = ('VELOCITY=' + params.VELOCITY)  %}
	{%else %}
	  {% set get_params = "" %}
	{% endif %}
	##### end of definitions #####
	{% if printer.extruder.can_extrude|lower == 'true' %}
	  G91
	  G1 E{E} F2100
	{% else %}
	  {action_respond_info("Extruder not hot enough")}
	{% endif %}  
	RESUME_BASE {get_params}

• 6.5 Restart klipper - do service klipper restart or /etc/init.d/klipper restart
• 6.6 Build klipper.bin file
  - Building is not mandatory to be done on the device that hosts klippy. To build it on this box you would need a lot of dependencies that are not available for OpenWrt so I just used my pc running ubuntu: On a different computer running linux (or VM or live USB) -> Clone klipper just like you did before -> cd klipper -> make menuconfig -> use the configurations specific to your mainboard (Check the header inside your printer.cfg file for details).
  ❗ use custom baud: 230400. By default 250000 is selected. If you want/need that baud, remove the python-pyserial package and install this version of pyserial instead - check Requirements directory for details about installation process.
  -> once configured run make -> if succesfull the firmware will be inside ./out/klipper.bin -> flash the mainboard:(check header of printer.cfg again - some mainboards need the .bin file renamed a certain way) copy the .bin file on a sd card -> plug the card with the printer off -> turn printer on and wait a minute -> Done (Depending on your mainboard/printer/lcd you will probably not have a sign that the mainboard got flashed so don't worry) - if at the end of this guide the client cannot connect to the klipper firmware usually the problem is with the .bin file building or flashing process.

7. Install moonraker + fluidd/mainsail

Click to expand!

• 7.1 Clone Moonraker

cd ~
git clone https://github.com/Arksine/moonraker.git

• 7.2 Use provided moonraker.conf file and download chosen client

For fluidd:

mkdir ~/fluidd
wget -q -O /root/fluidd/fluidd.zip https://github.com/cadriel/fluidd/releases/latest/download/fluidd.zip && unzip /root/fluidd/fluidd.zip -d /root/fluidd/ && rm /root/fluidd/fluidd.zip
wget -q -O /root/klipper_config/moonraker.conf https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ihrapsa/KlipperWrt/main/moonraker/fluidd_moonraker.conf 
wget -q -O /etc/nginx/conf.d/fluidd.conf https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ihrapsa/KlipperWrt/main/nginx/fluidd.conf

For Mainsail:

mkdir ~/mainsail
wget -q -O /root/mainsail/mainsail.zip https://github.com/meteyou/mainsail/releases/latest/download/mainsail.zip && unzip /root/mainsail/mainsail.zip -d /root/mainsail/ && rm /root/mainsail/mainsail.zip
wget -q -O /root/klipper_config/moonraker.conf https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ihrapsa/KlipperWrt/main/moonraker/mainsail_moonraker.conf 
wget -q -O /etc/nginx/conf.d/mainsail.conf https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ihrapsa/KlipperWrt/main/nginx/mainsail.conf

Note: The [update_manager] plugin was commented out since this is curently only supported for debian distros only. For now, updating moonraker, klipper, fluidd or mainsail should be done manaully.

Don't forget to edit(if necessary) the moonraker.conf file you copied inside ~/klipper_config under trusted_clients: with your client ip or ip range (client meaning the device you want to access fluidd/mainsail from). Check the moonraker configuration doc for details.

• 7.3 Use provided moonraker service and place inside /etc/init.d/

wget -q -O /etc/init.d/moonraker https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ihrapsa/KlipperWrt/main/Services/moonraker
chmod 755 /etc/init.d/moonraker
/etc/init.d/moonraker enable
/etc/init.d/moonraker restart 

• 7.4 Download the rest of the nginx files inside /etc/nginx/conf.d*

wget -q -O /etc/nginx/conf.d/upstreams.conf https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ihrapsa/KlipperWrt/main/nginx/upstreams.conf
wget -q -O /etc/nginx/conf.d/common_vars.conf https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ihrapsa/KlipperWrt/main/nginx/common_vars.conf

Inside /etc/nginx/conf.dyou should have fluidd.conf OR mainsail.conf alongside common_vars.conf AND upstreams.conf (those 2 files are common for mainsail and fluidd)
Note!
You need to use either fluidd.conf or mainsail.conf file depending on your chosen client. Don't use both .conf files inside /etc/nginx/conf.d/. If you want to test both clients and easly switch between them check the ! How to switch between fluidd and mainsail: below.

Note!
It's ok to keep both client directories inside /root/ as these are static files. Careful with the .conf file inside /etc/nginx/conf.d.

• 7.6 Restart nginx with service nginx restart and check browser if http://your-ip brings you the client interface (fluidd or mainsail).

❗ How to switch between fluidd and mainsail:

1. switch between mainsail.confand fluidd.conf file inside /etc/nginx/conf.d (make sure the other one gets renamed to a different extension. eg: *.conf_off or moved to a different fodler.)
2. Switch between mainsail and fluidd moonraker.conf files inside ~/klipper_config. Find them inside my repo under moonraker directory.
3. Restart moonraker and nginx services: service moonraker restart and service nginx restart

8. Install mjpg-streamer - for webcam stream

Click to expand!

• install video4linux utilities: opkg update && opkg install v4l-utils
• use commands: opkg update && opkg install mjpg-streamer-input-uvc mjpg-streamer-output-http mjpg-streamer-www
• connect a uvc webcam, configure /etc/config/mjpg-streamer to your likings, enable and restart service:

/etc/init.d/mjpg-streamer enable
/etc/init.d/mjpg-streamer restart

• put the stream link inside the client(fluidd/mainsail) camera setting: http://<your_ip>/webcam/?action=stream

9. (Optional) Use hostname instead of ip

Click to expand!

• To change your hostname go to /etc/config/system and modify option hostname 'OpenWrt' to your likings.
• To use your hostname in browser and ssh instead of the ip do:

opkg update
opkg install avahi-daemon-service-ssh avahi-daemon-service-http
reboot

• Instead of http://your-ip use http://your_hostname.local

10. Enjoy

duet-web-control

Click for STEPS!

5. Install dependencies

Click to expand!

• for Klipper - check the requirements.txt file.

• ❗ Python2 packages are not available by default for this snapshot A workaround I found was to use the v19.07 OpenWrt release feeds (this version still has python2 packages) for the same target (ramips/mt76x8) and cpu architecture (mipsel_24kc) as the box. I make a backup of the original /etc/opkg/distfeeds.conf and create another distfeeds.conffile with the v19.07 url feeds. Don't forget to run opkg update everytime you make modifications to that file. After finishing with installing the packages that are only available for the v19.07 and below (like python2 packages) I switch back to the backup distfeeds.conf file.

• The distfeeds.conf file with openwrt v19.07 feeds should look something like this:

src/gz openwrt_core https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/19.07.7/targets/ramips/mt76x8/packages
src/gz openwrt_base https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/19.07.7/packages/mipsel_24kc/base
src/gz openwrt_luci https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/19.07.7/packages/mipsel_24kc/luci
src/gz openwrt_packages https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/19.07.7/packages/mipsel_24kc/packages
src/gz openwrt_routing https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/19.07.7/packages/mipsel_24kc/routing
src/gz openwrt_telephony https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/19.07.7/packages/mipsel_24kc/telephony  

• Do opkg update
  ❗ If you get wrong signature errors, comment the option check_signature line under /etc/opkg.conf - you can uncomment this after finishing with v19.07 distfeeds
• After you add the v19.07 distfeeds.conf -> install python2 packages: with opkg install python python-pip python-cffi python-pyserial python-dev gcc.
  ❗ The official pyserial python package is not configured to work with 250000 baud on MIPS platforms (only 230400 max). If you want/need 250k baud, install this version of pyserial and install it with python2 setup.py install
• With pip install: pip install greenlet==0.4.15 jinja2 python-can=3.3.4
• Switch back to original distfeeds.conf, opkg update -> install python3 and packages: opkg install python3 python3-pip python3-tornado.

6. Install Klipper

Click to expand!

• 6.1 Clone Klipper inside ~/
  - do opkg install git-http unzip then git clone https://github.com/KevinOConnor/klipper.git.
• 6.2 Use provided klipper service and place inside /etc/init.d/ - find it inside Services -> klipper
• 6.3 Enable klipper service: Everytime you create a service file you need to give it executable permissions before enabling it. For klipper do chmod 755 klipper. You can enable it now by /etc/init.d/klipper enable
• 6.4 Prepare your printer.cfg file - do mkdir ~/klipper_config and mkdir ~/gcode_files . Locate your .cfg file inside ~/klipper/config/ copy it to ~/klipper_config and rename it to printer.cfg - Inside printer.cfg under [mcu] replace serial line with serial: /dev/ttyUSB0 and add a new line: baud: 230400 - (check requirements if you want/need 250000 baud)
• 6.5 Restart klipper - do service klipper restart or /etc/init.d/klipper restart
• 6.6 Build klipper.bin file - Building is not mandatory to be done on the device that hosts klippy. To build it on this box you would need a lot of dependencies that are not available for OpenWrt so I just used my pc running ubuntu: On a different computer running linux (or VM or live USB) -> Clone klipper just like you did before -> cd klipper -> make menuconfig -> use the configurations specific to your mainboard (Check the header inside your printer.cfg file for details).
  ❗ use custom baud: 230400. By default 250000 is selected. If you want/need that baud, remove the python-pyserial package and install this version of pyserial instead - check Requirements directory for details about installation process. -> once configured run make -> if succesfull the firmware will be inside ./out/klipper.bin -> flash the mainboard:(check header of printer.cfg again - some mainboards need the .bin file renamed a certain way) copy the .bin file on a sd card -> plug the card with the printer off -> turn printer on and wait a minute -> Done (Depending on your mainboard/printer/lcd you will probably not have a sign that the mainboard got flashed so don't worry) - if at the end of this guide the client cannot connect to the klipper firmware usually the problem is with the .bin file building or flashing process.

7. Get dwc socket for klipper

Click to expand!

• Download
  cd ~
git clone https://github.com/Stephan3/dwc2-for-klipper-socket

• Edit dwc2.cfg - set the web_root: path to absolute path: /root/sdcard/web

• Create dwc socket service
  Create a dwc file inside /etc/init.d/ with the contents of the dwc file inside my repo: Services->dwc
  Give it executable permissions: chmod 755 /etc/init.s/dwc
  Enable it: /etc/init.d/dwc enable

8. Get dwc

Click to expand!

• Download dwc version 3 web interface

mkdir -p ~/sdcard/web
cd ~/sdcard/web
wget -O DuetWebControl-SD.zip https://github.com/Duet3D/DuetWebControl/releases/download/3.1.1/DuetWebControl-SD.zip
unzip *.zip && for f_ in $(find . | grep '.gz');do gunzip ${f_};done
rm DuetWebControl-SD.zip

• Restart dwc socket service: service dwc restart or /etc/init.d/dwc restart
• Test: https:://<your_ip>:4750

9. (Optional) Use hostname instead of ip

Click to expand!

• To change your hostname go to /etc/config/system and modify option hostname 'OpenWrt' to your likings.
• To use your hostname in browser and ssh instead of the ip do:

opkg update
opkg install avahi-daemon-service-ssh avahi-daemon-service-http
reboot

• Instead of http://your-ip use http://your_hostname.local

10. Enjoy

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Flashing a new OpenWrt .bin file

(aka Sysupgrading)

Click to expand!

1. Downloadthe sysupgrade.bin file to your computer
2. Connect the box to your pc and make sure it's reachable by ssh
3. Transfer it to the box inside /tmp directory with WinSCP or through command in Powershell/UNIX Terminal: scp /path/to/sysupgrade.bin [email protected]:/tmp
4. ssh to the box and navigate to /tmp make sure the bin is there
5. Do sysupgrade -n -v *bin

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Troubleshooting

Click to expand!

• Open a separate ssh instance and run logread -f - you'll get real time log data of the running process.
• You can always open an issue or contact me if you get stuck or something doesn't work.

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💻 Useful commands

Click to expand!

• Creating a non-privileged user
  Check this guide All the tests I did were as root - some modifications would be necessary to not run everything as root.

  • Packages needed: shadow-useradd , sudo, shadow-groupadd, shadow-usermod

• Copy files to the box scp /path/file.ext root@<your_box_ip>:/tmp

• Watch realtime CommandLine log (open an aditional terminal instance for this)
  logread -f

• Services commands (Replace service with klipper/moonraker/nginx/mjpg-streamer respectively)
  /etc/init.d/service enable
/etc/init.d/service start
/etc/init.d/service restart

• Check CPU/system resources usage
  top

• Check webcam specifcations
  v4l2-ctl --all
v4l2-ctl --list-formats

• List installed packages
  opkg list-installed

• Reboot, Poweroff
  reboot
poweroff

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❗ Issues I had but solved:

Click to expand!

• If enabling the services returns an error, do: ls -l inside /etc/init.d/ and check if the service has executable permissions (x flag). If not do: chmod 755 service - replace service accordingly.

• I didn't manage to get the printer to communicate on 250000 baudrate (Official version of pyserial is unable to set a custom nonstandard baudrate - I found a fix by ckielstra in a PR that is not yet merged. I've added his changes to my forked pyserial as well which is updated more often. If you don't want to use 250k baudrate I solved this issue by using 230400 instead (you need to change this both while building the mcu klipper firmware AND inside printer.cfg under [mcu]:
  [mcu]
baud: 230400

• The Host and Services commands (Reboot, Shutdown, Restart Moonraker, Restart Klipper etc.) inside fluidd/mainsail did not work at first due to moonraker using debian syntax. I solved this by editing the ~moonraker/moonraker/components/machine.py. Use these commands inside self._execute_cmd("command"): "poweroff", "reboot", f'/etc/init.d/{service_name} restart' for host poweroff, reboot and services restart respectively.

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⚠️ Recovering/Unbricking OpenWrt

Click to expand!

1. Download a previowsly working SYSUPGRADE OpenWrt image.
2. Rename it to root_uImage
3. Put it on a FAT32 formatted USB stick (NOT sd card)
4. Insert it in the box while off
5. Press and hold the reset button
6. Power on the box while still holding the reset button for about 6-10 sec.
7. Release the button and wait for a couple of minutes. After a couple of seconds you should find the KlipperWrt AP. You should be able to ssh into it through ethernet or connected to it's wifi (ssh [email protected])

⚠️ Going back to stock (if ever needed) :

Click to expand!

1. Download a stock image (found inside Firmware/Creality_Stock folder as well)
2. Unzip the stock tar.bz2 and get the root_uImage file
3. Put it on a FAT32 formatted USB stick (NOT sd card)
4. Insert it in the box while off
5. Press and hold the reset button
6. Power on the box while still holding the reset button for about 6-10 sec.
7. Release the button and wait for a couple of minutes. After a few seconds you should find it on network.

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Credits:

• the ideea: Hackaday.com - for the article that set me on this journey
• the hard part: figgyc - for porting OpenWrt to the Creality Wi-Fi Box
• the essentials:
  • Kevin O'Connor - for Klipper
  • cadriel - for fluidd
  • mateyou - for mainsail
  • Eric Callahan - for Moonraker
  • Stephan3 - for dwc socket
  • Duet3D - for DuetWebControl
• the fine tuning: andryblack - for the OpenWrt Klipper service
• the encouragement: Tom Hensel- for supporting me into this

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You can find me on:

💬 discord: jonah1024#4422 or join the server
📧 email: [email protected]