Description
With the introduction of the Snapmaker U1, which includes a built-in camera, Snapmaker is entering the space of 3D printers with native timelapse capabilities. This is great to see, but there is an important improvement that would significantly enhance the quality of recorded videos.
Currently, in recorded videos, the printhead appears to glitch or jump around between frames. This breaks the visual effect and makes the timelapse look unstable.
Expected Behavior
Many modern 3D printers offer a smooth timelapse mode where the printhead moves to a fixed, predefined parking position before each photo is taken.
This creates the illusion that the print is growing by itself, with no visible printhead movement. The resulting timelapse is visually clean and professional.
Proposed Solution
Add a firmware-level option for Smooth Timelapse Recording, where:
The printer pauses briefly at specific layers.
The printhead moves to a consistent parking position.
I think it could be done in SnOrca via the “Timelapse G-Code” printer setting. I came here hoping to find someone had already done that and posted it… found this post instead If I’m right, just need to add g-code to save location, move print head out of the way, take a picture, wipe any accumulated drool from the nozzle, move back to saved location and continue. I’m sure I’m missing something important in there, and I am not familiar with the available variables to simplify this process - but if no one else has taken a stab at it, I guess I’ll probably end up trying to do it myself.
While this could be managed via G-code, it would require direct camera access or an external setup. In my opinion, a firmware-level solution is more efficient and user friendly. In SnOrca the time-lapse functionality can be set after upload the model on the printer or at the printer itself, there’s no need for additional G-code—the printer handles everything internally. This functionality has to be improved by @Snapmaker.
How are you guys even viewing your time-lapses? In snOrca, I see a list but nothing happens when I click them. In the phone app I always get some message about the network.
Just to report: there are mods out there which add a “pusher” to each toolhead, and mount a shutter trigger button for an external camera on the U1 frame. The end-of-layer G-Code is then modified so that the active toolhead is moved to press the button.
I don’t see that as an issue, particularly for multi-head printing, because the toolhead has to be parked anyway, and then when the next toolhead gets picked up it visits the wipe tower.
However, this scenario doesn’t work for prints that use only one nozzle. Nothing gets parked in that case.
Moreover, it would be a good solution to capture the image at the moment the nozzle change occurs. Then everything would be parked and nothing would be standing in the middle of the image. And it wouldn’t cost any extra time.
If I’m right, just need to add g-code to save location, move print head out of the way, take a picture, wipe any accumulated drool from the nozzle, move back to saved location and continue. I’m sure I’m missing something important in there, and I am not familiar with the available variables to simplify this process - but if no one else has taken a stab at it, I guess I’ll probably end up trying to do it myself.
