After getting into 3D printing, I came across terms such as firmware, Marlin, flashing, and upgrading which was pretty confusing at first. I did some research about 3D printer firmware and found out what it all means, so I wrote an article about it to assist other people.
This article will discuss firmware-related topics such as what firmware is, how to flash and upgrade the firmware on your 3D printer, and more, so stay tuned for some useful info.
What is Firmware in 3D Printing? Marlin, RepRap, Klipper, Repetier
Firmware in 3D printing is a specific program that controls the functioning of your 3D printer by reading G-code instructions from the sliced model. It is located on the printer’s mainboard, and comes in many types, such as Marlin and RepRap that each have their own set of features and perks.
The most fundamental actions of your 3D printer, such as the movement of the stepper motors, the heaters switching on, and even how fast your 3D printer prints requires millions of calculations that only the firmware can make.
Without firmware, your 3D printer wouldn’t know what to do and how to do it. For example, consider a G-code command “M109 S200.”
Once you enter it in your G-code terminal, it’s the firmware of your 3D printer that will recognize it and know what to do. In this case, it will set the target temperature for the hot end to 200°C.
That was just a basic explanation, but the firmware, in truth, is capable of handling G-code commands far more complex than that. It’s basically how it runs your 3D printer and makes those magical prints as we know them.
There are many 3D printer firmware out there that people usually use to 3D print with. Let’ take a look at some of the most common ones below.
What is Marlin Firmware?
Marlin is the most famous 3D printer firmware that the majority of the community is currently using on their unit. Most 3D printers ship with Marlin as their default firmware, although you may want to update it as time goes on.
Marlin is popular because it has a number of desirable features that other firmware does not have. First off, it is highly customizable, meaning that you can add your own features to Marlin easily.
In addition, it has excellent documentation and great community support. This means that setting up Marlin is easy with a large number of guides and tutorials available online, and since most people use Marlin, it’s painless to find like-minded people to help you on your 3D printing journey.
Marlin is a reliable firmware and is recommended to all those who have just started out with 3D printing because of its ease of use.
What is RepRap Firmware
The RepRap firmware is another big name in the world of 3D printing that originally came out for the 32-bit Duet control board, which is an advanced and expensive motherboard with several premium features.
Many people prefer RepRap over Marlin because of how it’s so easy to configure. There’s a dedicated web configuration tool that connects to your firmware and allows you to modify it very easily. This isn’t something that Marlin can do.
However, RepRap isn’t as widely compatible as Marlin and only works on 32-bit boards whereas Marlin can also be used on 8-bit boards.
What is Klipper Firmware?
Klipper is a relatively new 3D printer firmware that’s best known for its high calculation speeds. This, in turn, makes the 3D printer print faster, hitting speeds no less than 70-100 mm/s.
This firmware uses another single-board computer, such as the Raspberry Pi, and offloads the intensive calculations to it. Doing so helps the firmware print faster and with better quality using highly accurate stepper motor movements.
Klipper firmware is also supported by most Cartesian and Delta 3D printers and can work on 8-bit boards, unlike RepRap firmware. It’s easy to use but doesn’t have the same level of support as Marlin.
What is Repetier Firmware?
Repetier is another great option if you’re looking for a reliable, high-quality firmware with loads of features. It’s widely compatible and has support for most boards out there, and can be easily customized to your preferences.
Like RepRap, Repetier also has a web-based configuration tool so you can make modifications to the firmware with ease and comfort. There’s also a slicer from the developer of Repetier called Repetier-Host.
The combined usage of the Repetier firmware and Repetier-Host attributes to an efficient printing experience with fewer errors. It’s also an open-source firmware that gets regular updates, and newer features from the developer consistently.
How to Change/Flash/Upgrade the Firmware on Your 3D Printer
To upgrade the firmware on your 3D printer, you will first need to download the latest Marlin release and open it in the Arduino software, which is a platform for upgrading 3D printer firmware. After connecting your printer with the computer, you’ll simply verify and upload the firmware using a few easy steps.
If you’re a newcomer to 3D printing, flashing the firmware on your 3D printer may seem like a difficult task at first, but doing so is definitely worth it to get all the latest features for your printer, and print more reliably and consistently.
The following steps are going to explain how you can upgrade the firmware on your 3D printer, so be sure to follow each of them carefully.
When you’re there, click on the dropdown arrow on the “Code” button and then select “Download ZIP.” That should begin the download for you.
Step 2. The file will come in a ZIP format, so you will need to extract it to continue. Once done, open it and click on the “config” folder.
Step 3. Once done, you will now need to copy the required information of your specific 3D printer and replace the default configurations files with it. To do that, click on the “examples” folder, find your 3D printer, and select your machine’s mainboard. The pathway given below is an example of how you should be doing this step.
Copy the “Configuration” and “Configuration_adv” files to continue.
Step 4. Next, you will simply paste the files into the “default” folder. If you’re on a Windows PC, the system will prompt you to replace the present files with your copies ones. Do that to continue. Now we have the latest Marlin firmware version that’s configured for your 3D printer.
Step 5. Now, you will need the Arduino software to upgrade your 3D printer’s firmware. Arduino IDE can be downloaded from the official website, and if you’re on a Windows PC, you can also install it comfortably from the Microsoft Store.
Step 6. Next, launch the firmware in your Arduino IDE using the Marlin.ino file in the folder. When Arduino opens up, make sure that you select the right board of your 3D printer in the “Tools” section to avoid running into errors.
Step 7. Next, all you have to do is click on the “Verify” button that’s shaped like a tick in the top-left corner. This will begin the compiling process for the firmware. If you’ve done everything right until now, you hopefully won’t see any error messages popping up.
Step 8. After the firmware update has done compiling, you will now simply connect your 3D printer with the computer using a USB connection if your printer has a bootloader. If not, there’s also a way to connect your printer and I’ve talked about it later on in the article.
Once connected, click on the “Upload” button that’s right beside the “Verify” button. Make sure the printer has been plugged out from the power outlet before doing that.
That’s it for upgrading the firmware on your 3D printer. There’s a small chance that some of your settings such as bed leveling offsets or acceleration limits might have been reset.
In that case, you can use the “Initialize EEPROM” option in your 3D printer’s interface to restore everything in your configuration files.
The following video thoroughly goes over the process, so do check that out for an in-depth visual tutorial.
How Do I Add & Install Marlin Firmware to a 3D Printer?
To install the Marlin firmware on a 3D printer, you’ll first have to download Marlin on your computer, edit the downloaded configuration files, then use the Arduino software to compile the Marlin project into a readable form for your 3D printer. Once done, you’ll simply upload it to add Marlin to your 3D printer.
The process of installing Marlin to your 3D printer is quite similar to the subtitle above. You can basically repeat all the steps highlighted in the previous section, even if you’re adding Marlin for the first time to a 3D printer.
To edit your 3D printer firmware, you will be using the Arduino IDE application right after you open up the firmware in it.
However, it’s recommended not to mess with the configuration files in the editor since most of the code is already pre-defined, and changing something without knowing what it is could potentially prevent you from flashing.
The following video by Teaching Tech is a great guide on editing your 3D printer firmware, so be sure to check that out for more details.
Can You Update Your Ender 3 Firmware With Cura?
Yes, you can update your Ender 3 firmware with Cura in just a couple of easy steps. First, you simply download the pre-compiled version of the firmware you want in HEX format and upload it to your 3D printer using Cura.
The Cura slicer makes it quick and easy to upload our firmware of choice to the 3D printer. You don’t even need to have a bootloader to use this method.
What you will be needing is a USB, the firmware that you need in HEX format, and, of course, Cura. The rest of the process is extremely painless to follow, so let’s get into that right away now.
The following steps are going to explain how to update your firmware with Cura.
Step 1. Go to DanBP’s Marlin Configuration page and scroll down to files to find packaged HEX files that correspond with your setup for the Ender 3. You can also search for your own firmware online, but make sure that’s it compiled already before downloading.
Here’s what the section looks like to scroll down to on the page.
Step 2. Connect your computer/laptop to your 3D printer using the USB connector that fits your machine.
Step 3. After downloading the file, you will need to extract it to continue. Once done, simply launch Cura and click on the dropdown area beside your 3D printer selection area. After that, click on “Manage printers” to continue.
Step 4. As soon as you do that, you will see the “Preferences” window appear. There’s going to be an option called “Update Firmware.” Click on it to get to the next step.
Step 5. Lastly, you will now simply click on “Upload custom Firmware,” choose the HEX file you just downloaded and let Cura upload the firmware to your Ender 3 printer.
You’re all done! You stuck to a fairly basic process and ended up updating your 3D printer’s firmware. Don’t forget to initialize EEPROM on your 3D printer to store the firmware.
The following video is a visual explanation of the process discussed above.
How Do You Find Out & Know the Firmware of Your 3D Printer
To know and find out the firmware of your 3D printer, you need to send the M115 G-Code command to your printer using a software like Pronterface. Some 3D printers including the Ender 3 also have an “About” or “Printer Info” section in their LCD menu which can tell you what firmware is installed on them.
Most 3D printers ship with either Marlin or RepRap firmware, but it’s worth knowing for sure which one is installed on your machine.
The M115 command is basically a command for “requesting the firmware version and capabilities of the current microcontroller or mainboard. It can be entered in the terminal window of any software that can send your 3D printer G-Code commands.
On the other hand, if you’re using the Makerbot Print slicer software, you can easily find out the firmware version you’re using by heading over to the Print Panel, selecting your 3D printer, and then clicking on “Utilities.”
Finally, you would click on “Firmware Update” and all the relevant information will pop up, including the current firmware version that your printer is using.
Can You Extract Firmware From a 3D Printer?
Yes, you can extract firmware from a 3D printer once it has been compiled and uploaded. However, after you get the .hex file for your firmware configuration, it becomes pointless in the long run, since you won’t be able to edit or configure your firmware since it has been compiled already.
Before it’s compiled, firmware is either in the .h or .ino format. After you compile it, the format is converted to either .bin or .hex, depending on whether you have an 8-bit board or a 32-bit board.
Think of this like a dish you prepare. Before you cook, you have all the ingredients laid out on the table for you, allowing you to replace them with whatever you like. After you’ve cooked, you cannot go back to the ingredient stage. This is how it is with firmware as well.
Does Your 3D Printer Have a Bootloader?
Your 3D printer may or may not have a bootloader, depending on what printer you have. Budget-friendly 3D printers such as the Creality Ender 3 don’t ship with bootloaders because they take up extra storage space on the microcontrollers inside your printer’s mainboard and also cost more to include.
The following are some 3D printers that have a bootloader.
QIDI Tech X-Plus
Monoprice Maker Select V2
MakerBot Replicator 2
Creality Ender CR10-S
Flashforge Creator Pro
Can You Flash Firmware Without a Bootloader?
Yes, you can flash firmware without a bootloader by using an external programmer that writes the firmware to the ICSP of your motherboard. The ICSP is present in most boards, so you should have no problem flashing firmware without a bootloader that way.
A bootloader is a software that allows you to flash firmware easily with a USB. It takes up minimal space inside your mainboard’s microcontroller, which is a specific component storing everything related to the 3D printer firmware.
Although minimal, the bootloader does take space in the microcontroller, which could potentially be utilized by other more important features, such as automatic bed leveling.
This is the reason many manufacturers avoid putting bootloaders inside the 3D printer’s mainboard, so users can fully utilize the space for more features.
Doing so makes flashing firmware definitely more complex because you cannot simply use a USB connection anymore. However, several people consider the trade-off worth it to increase their printer’s functionality.
The following video by Thomas Sanladerer is a great tutorial on flashing firmware without a bootloader, so do look into it for a thorough guide.
RepRap Vs Marlin Vs Klipper Firmware
RepRap, Marlin, and Klipper are all very popular choices when it comes to choosing a firmware for your 3D printer. However, the three of them differ fairly from each other, so let’s dive into the differences and see which one comes out on top.
Architecture
RepRap: The RepRap firmware is written in the C++ programming language and is strictly made to run on 32-bit processors only, such as the Duet controller boards. In doing so, it can be used on 3D printers, CNC machines, engravers, and laser cutters. RepRap is also based on Marlin.
Marlin: Marlin is based on the Sprinter firmware also written in C++ but is fairly versatile and can run on both 8-bit and 32-bit processors. Like RepRap, it handles most of the detailed G-Code calculations that control the components of the 3D printer itself.
Klipper: The Klipper firmware focuses on important components like stepper motors and bed leveling sensors, but leaves the complex G-Code calculations to another, more capable board, which is Raspberry Pi in most cases. Therefore, Klipper uses a combination of two boards to run 3D printers, and this is unlike any other firmware.
Category Winner: While architecture doesn’t pose an apparent benefit or downside, Marlin takes the win here because it’s the most experienced firmware, forming a strong foundation for many other firmware to be built upon.
Features
RepRap: RepRap is jam-packed with features, including high-end ones for advanced 3D printing users. Some of these include precise step time generation and dynamic acceleration adjustment, both of which are extremely helpful for speedy, accurate, and high-quality 3D printing.
Another key feature of RepRap is its web configuration tool that makes customization a breeze and painless to deal with, unlike Marlin where you have to edit everything in the Arduino IDE.
Marlin: With constant updates over time, Marlin has also become a feature-rich firmware with functionality like automatic bed leveling, autostart, which sets the printer to a fresh state after you restart it, and linear advance, which generates the correct pressure inside the nozzle for precise movement and higher print speeds without the loss of quality.
Klipper: Klipper boasts an advanced set of features such as input shaping which reduces the impact of stepper motor vibrations on the print quality. By eliminating this rippling effect in prints, you can print at higher speeds and maintain awesome quality.
Klipper boasts another feature called smooth pressure advance that reduces oozing or stringing and improves how the corners of your model are printed. It also helps keep the process more stable and robust, so the print quality is never compromised. There are many more expert-
Category Winner: Klipper
Speed
RepRap and Marlin: Both of these firmware are more or less the same when it comes to speed. RepRap does boast that it has a high upload speed, about 800Kb/s to the SD card by either using a Wi-FI or Ethernet connection. If you increase the speed beyond normal values in Marlin or RepRap, you will have to settle for lesser print quality.
Klipper: Klipper is the fastest firmware out of the bunch, with features such as smooth pressure advance and input shaping allowing it to print at higher speeds, about 80-100mm/s while maintaining great print quality and precision.
I even found a YouTube video of someone printing using Klipper at a speed of 150mm/s effortlessly.
Category Winner: Klipper
Ease of Use
RepRap: RepRap is definitely the easier firmware to use in this comparison. File configuration can be done in a dedicated web-based interface and it can also be used to update the firmware.
The online configuration tool makes RepRap stand out, giving it the ease of use many 3D printer users desire in Marlin.
Marlin: For beginners, Marlin is easy to get the hang of. However, the firmware does get time-consuming and difficult as well when you need to configure your files.
If you need to make a certain change to the configuration, you would have to re-flash the firmware and compile it, basically repeat the process all over again. On the positive side, Marlin has great documentation, a huge community, and a wealth of material available online to learn and get help from.
Klipper: Klipper is also an easy-to-use firmware, definitely more if you’re well-versed with Raspberry Pi. It’s not necessary to re-flash it, unlike Marlin, and changes to configuration files can be easily made.
That said, documentation for Klipper does lack since it is a relatively new firmware, and you won’t find the same level of help online as you would for Marlin.
Category Winner: RepRap
Compatibility
RepRap: RepRap was originally made for the 32-bit Duet boards. Therefore, it can only function on a handful of other 32-bit boards, so it isn’t really the most diverse firmware out there.
Marlin: Marlin is the most widely compatible firmware out there, made to work on both 8-bit boards and 32-bit boards. It’s why people use Marlin when they build their own 3D printer.
Klipper: Unlike RepRap, Klipper supports 8-bit and 32-bit boards as well, and works with just about any board out there. Klipper is also becoming more preferable for those who start building a DIY 3D printer and they need a feature-rich firmware to install.
Michael Dwamena is the founder of 3D Printerly, a platform dedicated to simplifying 3D printing for hobbyists and professionals alike. Owns over 20 3D printers (filament and resin) and has plenty experience 3D printing. Michael has authored over 900 articles, helping millions navigate the exciting world of 3D printing.
2 Comments
“Step 6. Next, launch the firmware in your Arduino IDE using the Marlin.ino file in the folder.”
….I’ve checked every folder, and I have no such file? I even triple-checked your screenshots in this tutorial and found no mention of a Marlin.ino? Am I just missing something? Do I have to download something else?
Hi, my apologies, I realized that the article said to download Marlin but the link in there was pointing to a version which was within the main folder of Marlin. That folder didn’t have the file. You want to redownload the Marlin folder, but on this page – https://github.com/MarlinFirmware/Marlin rather than on the specific version. I’ve edited the article to this new link. After that, you’ll find the Marlin.ino file in the folder titled “Marlin”.
Reading Time: 16 minutes 
“Step 6. Next, launch the firmware in your Arduino IDE using the Marlin.ino file in the folder.”
….I’ve checked every folder, and I have no such file? I even triple-checked your screenshots in this tutorial and found no mention of a Marlin.ino? Am I just missing something? Do I have to download something else?
Hi, my apologies, I realized that the article said to download Marlin but the link in there was pointing to a version which was within the main folder of Marlin. That folder didn’t have the file. You want to redownload the Marlin folder, but on this page – https://github.com/MarlinFirmware/Marlin rather than on the specific version. I’ve edited the article to this new link. After that, you’ll find the Marlin.ino file in the folder titled “Marlin”.