It’s common for your Elegoo Mars 2 Pro to show an error when you insert the USB drive. Because the 3D printer works in conjunction with many different settings, it could be that any one of those settings is off. This is difficult to diagnose because of the overwhelming settings involved in the process. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the reasons why your Elegoo may not be reading the USB drive and what you can do to fix it.
This error might occur because your USB drive is formatted incorrectly, or it may not be MBR partitioned, the file extension may be incompatible with the firmware, the USB drive or file may be corrupted, the file name or type may be incompatible, or your firmware might need updating.
Keep reading to understand more on why this is happening.
Common Reasons & Solutions
Incorrect Formatting
As opposed to exFAT or NTFS, make sure the device is formatted as FAT32. This will recreate the filesystem and clean out all the files on the drive. Only FAT32 is recognized! You will require a third-party program for drives larger than 32 GB.
Double Check Settings
As you are likely well aware, you can control whether the LCD’s settings search for files on the SD or USB; therefore, make sure the appropriate option is chosen.
MBR FAT Partition
Many users found that their drive was converted to GPT format. It’s important to make your USB drive an MBR FAT partition. You must wipe the drive and convert it to MBR using the disc part of the command prompt to fix this. In fact, you might be able to make several drives function in this way.
File Extension
It could be that the file extensions are not in accordance with the firmware your 3D printer is running. Numerous 3D file formats, such as stl, obj, cbddlp, photon, photons, zip, slc, wow, fhd, cwS, ctb, phz, svgx, lgs, and cfg, are supported by ChiTuBox. However, it would be worthwhile to make sure the file extension your files have is supported by the firmware.
Related: Here’s Why Elegoo Mars 2 Pro isn’t Recognizing CTB File
Corrupted File
Some users found that the file they were trying to run was corrupted. The best solution in this scenario is to delete the corrupted file and the rest of the files will be read like normal.
Faulty USB Stick
The printer has not recognized what you have inserted if you get a notice requesting you to insert a USB stick. This can be the result of an issue with the USB stick or the 3D printer’s reader. You can attempt to use a different USB stick in that situation.
The simplest option to verify this assumption is to use a different, FAT32-formatted USB device that is preferably brand-new. ExFAT cannot be used.
Unsaved File
The desired file might not actually be saved on the USB stick. Insert the USB into the computer and make sure the file you want is stored in the USB drive by looking through the files.
Flash the Firmware
A firmware problem is most likely to be the cause of the problem if the USB device is plugged in but is not immediately recognized. With each release, the handling of USB storage media gets better. Update the firmware once more, even if it is the latest one.
It’s possible that you’ll need to use a separate USB drive if the USB stick only functions for printing and not for flashing the firmware.
Related: Here’s How to Update Your Elegoo Mars Firmware
Filenames
The file name can be problematic for the printer. A file must begin with a letter or a number for the 3D printer to identify it. The printer will disregard it if it begins with a special character or a space.
There are special characters in several languages that make it difficult to read the drive. Additionally, printing errors have been brought on by this. Therefore, be sure to only use upper- and lower-case forms of regular Latin characters.
The number of characters that can be in a filename is not limited. However, if they are excessively long, they might not show properly. Therefore, be careful not to make filenames too long.
Folder Structure
The type and number of characters in folder names are also subject to the same limitations. It’s also critical to be aware that a folder tree can only include 10 levels of folders.
File Types
It’s possible that the printer won’t be able to read the file type you saved. The printer uses g-code files to operate. Your model will generate g-code files when you run it through slicing software. Your printer won’t know what to do with a model file that you take from a CAD application or download from Thingiverse since it is unable to read .STL or .OBJ files.
Any files that the printer is unable to read will be ignored. However, because the USB device is used to update the printer’s firmware, it is possible that you will always have different firmware files on it. To avoid conflicts, erase these and try to keep them around solely when flashing, after which you should delete them.
Related: Best Setting for Elegoo Mars 3 Chitubox
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Connect a 3d Printer with a Usb?
The majority of 3D printers may be connected to your computer via USB. Utilize only the included USB cable, and wherever possible, connect it to the same USB port. Check that this USB port is functioning correctly to prevent any communication issues in the future.
Why Can’t I Format the Usb to Fat32?
First, your USB drive can have more storage than 32 GB. It cannot, therefore, be formatted to FAT32. Your USB device may have been formatted using an alternative file system, such as NTFS, which is the second possible explanation.
What Is the Difference Between Fat32 and Ntfs?
While the NTFS file system is appropriate for big-capacity discs, the FAT32 file system is best for flash memory devices with lesser storage capacities (such as memory cards, USB drives, and other storage devices).
Final Words
In this article, we discussed the various reasons why your Elegoo Mars 2 Pro may not be reading the USB drive. We also discussed the various issues with individual files that may be causing the problem. Hopefully, this information will be useful to individuals experiencing the issue. Happy printing!