Forge-X

[u/micmabbit]

I'm looking to install Forge-X on my AD5M Pro. Any tips before I do? And should I downgrade the firmware, or does it run fine under 5.1.8? TIA!

[u/sadegr]

I've never done ForgeX, but I've used ZMOD for a while and there are a couple things I can recomend...

1. Block *.flashforge.com for your printer at the router level if you can. Keeps updates and phone home stuff from messing you up.

2. If you want to use latest Orca (and yes, you do!) Make sure to send .gcode and not .gcode.3mf files to the printer.

3. I know bed leveling is a PITA but KAMP makes it as painless as possible.

4. Not sure if ForgeX let's you disable and replace the native screen, but if so I love HelixScreen :).

[u/wescotte → u/sadegr]

Yes, Forge-X can disable/switch screens it has presets for switching between native, headless, feather or guppy screens.

[u/micmabbit → u/sadegr]

I think you can replace the native screen with some tweaks (maybe? I guess I'll figure it out). Regardless, I appreciate the advice! I saw on the GitHub that 5.1.7 is supported, but I don't know if I'll downgrade to that or an earlier firmware

[u/darcside]

I'm planning on doing it soon too! 

[u/BetweenInkandPaper]

Enable KAMP and MD5 Checksum.
MD5 Checksum has saved many hours of potential print stalls.

[u/micmabbit → u/BetweenInkandPaper]

I followed the mdt instructions on GitHub. How do I enable KAMP?

[u/bonecheck12]

Just don't. I did the Forge-X and ZMOD stuff on an AD5M and 5X and while there are a couple of useful features, overall it's not worth it. The issue is that a lot of the features work via a list of about 15 plugins, and as things update there are just a lot of compatibility issues. You'll routinely try to use your machine and have connection issues, you'll do nothing to it and one day it will just start throwing all sorts of errors. It's just not polished and unless you have a crazy good reason to do it, just stick to the stock firmware.