Klipper print time estimator

klipper_estimator is a tool for determining the time a print will take using the Klipper firmware. Currently it provides two modes:

• estimate mode outputs detailed statistics about a print job
• post-process mode can be used as a Slicer post-processing script, updating the gcode output file with corrected time estimates.

The estimation is done using an implementation of Klippers kinematics, but may in some cases be slightly off due to rounding modes. If the timing is far off(e.g. more than a minute over a >12 hour print), this is considered a bug.

Note that currently delta kinematic limits are not implemented.

Usage

Basic usage info can be found by running klipper_estimator with no arguments.

Configuration

In order to provide accurate times, klipper_estimator needs printer settings including maximum velocity, acceleration, etc. It can take these either from a config file(--config_file option) or grab them directly from Moonraker(using the --config_moonraker_url option).

To experiment with settings, one can use the dump-config command together with --config_moonraker_url to generate a config file based on the current printer settings. The config file can then be modified and used as input for the other commands.

To dump a config, use e.g.:

$ ./klipper_estimator --config_moonraker_url http://192.168.0.21 dump-config
{
  ...
}

The config file format is Hjson and thus allows normal JSON with some extensions(see https://hjson.github.io/).

After generating a config, one can use this in other commands like so:

$ ./klipper_estimator --config_file config.json estimate ...

estimate mode

Estimation mode is useful for determining statistics about a print, in order to optimize print times. It gives a high level summary, and can optionally also give a detailed output of every single move when using the --dump_moves option.

Basic usage:

$ ./klipper_estimator [config options] estimate ~/3DBenchy.data
Sequences:
 Run 0:
  Total moves: 42876
  Total distance: 73313.01640025008
  Total extrude distance: 3407.877500000097
  Minimal time: 1h29m9.948s (5349.947936969622)
  Average flow: 1.5321468696371368 mm3/s
  Phases:
    Acceleration: 27m4.291s
    Cruise:       35m1.116s
    Deceleration: 27m4.291s
  Moves:
  Layer times:
         0 => 2.536s
         ... [some lines omitted for brevity]
        48 => 4.834s
  Kind times:
   4m23.463s            => FILL
   2.639s               => Other
   18m0.185s            => SOLID-FILL
   28m29.706s           => WALL-INNER
   38m13.706s           => WALL-OUTER

The calculations are done based only on the commands found in the file, with no regards for macro expansions. This means that print_start type macros will count as zero seconds, as well heat up times, homing, etc. Therefore the time output should be considered a "minimal time", assuming these extra factors take no time.

post-process mode

In post-process mode klipper_estimator directly modifies the filename passed in in-place, updating time estimations in the file.

When using klipper_estimator in post-process mode, simply add a post-processing script in your slicer like so:

/path/to/klipper_estimator --config_moonraker_url http://192.168.0.21 post-process

Change the path and config options to fit your situation.

Currently the following slicers are supported:

• PrusaSlicer
• SuperSlicer
• ideaMaker

In PrusaSlicer and SuperSlicer Post-processing scripts are set in Output Options under Print Settings:

Building

klipper_estimator is written in Rust. Assuming a Rust toolchain is installed, along with git, one can build klipper_estimator by running:

$ git clone https://github.com/dalegaard/klipper_estimator.git
$ cd klipper_estimator
$ cargo build --release
// Resulting binary will be at `target/release/klipper_estimator`(.exe on Windows)

For Linux and Windows binaries are provided in each release.

Acknowledgements

This project is in no way endorsed by the Klipper project. Please do not direct any support requests to the Klipper project.

• Klipper by Kevin O'Connor
• Moonraker by Arksine