I've got my 3d printing equipment up and running, I have now 4 sets of Elegoo Rooks, the machine and all it's peripheral equipment are running well. The air removal and filter system I made keep the mild odor out of the household atmosphere fine.
BUTt... I'll be damned if I can get a printable file from either the Chitubox or Lychee slicers to go onto a memory stick, the cheezy one that came with the machine (Elegoo Mars 3 Pro) or either of two different, formatted, SanDisk "sticks", so I can print something. All the hours of videos and tons of experimenting have failed to allow any of the magic dust of knowledge to fall upon me. It just seems to be glossed over, or just assumed to occur. What is the proper format to save in, I've assumed .stl but the printer will read no image prints save for the rooks already preloaded on it.
I'm on the verge of heading to eBay and changing hobbies.
:'( :-\ :( >:( ??? ::)
Karl, is the problem that the file won't go onto the stick, or that once it's on the stick, the machine can't find it?
Is there a way (like a slider) on that stick to lock it that would prevent a file being loaded?
Also, double-check the 3D printer documentation to find out what format it's expecting for the memory stick (FAT32? NTFS?) If the printer can't read the stick, that might be the problem.
dave
Dave's advice is good. My first question is: Once the stick is in the USB port, can you navigate to it in whatever M$ calls the file finding window these days?
I can't answer for Elegoo as my resin printers are all Anycubic but the process should be the same.
Anycubic uses it's own slicing software but the process is the same, I load the .stl file into the slicer make any modifications I need , slice it and then save it to my SD card. Anycubic uses ".pwscene" as the file type foir the sliced file. I believe newer Elegoo resin printers use ".goo" while the older printers use ".ctb"
Hope that helps
Howdy Karl,
I use the .ctb files with my Elegoo Mars 3. In Chitubox, after you add supports, there is a selection on the bottom right side for either Slice or Slice and Save. I use the latter and save it to the thumb drive.
Does that help?
Good luck,
mike
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/586-011125121400.jpeg)
Karl;
I have that printer, and I think I see your issue:
You first download the part you want from the website (Thingverse or other such site) unless you are creating your own parts. In either case the file needs to be .stl. Now you open the slicer, I use Chitibox, make sure Chitibox is set for your 3D printer, that is critical, in this case the Mars 3 Pro. Import the .stl file you want to print into the slicer program and rotate the part as you want, Add the supports either manually or using the auto add function (then correct as needed the auto support program never gets it right 100%.) Finally duplicate as many parts you want to print and move around the plate as needed. Once all is how you want, you save the file directly to the USB stick, Chitibox will save the file based on the machine you told it you will be printing on. Insert the stick into the Mars 3 machine and the file should show on the screen. Touch picture of the file, print and away you go. If supports were placed correct you will have your part. Let me know if that helps or message me and I can set up a time to call you and walk you through it.
Jim
Lots of info. I've used the method Mike said.
My issue, I can't see any file to select in the window on the printer when I put the sticker in. Just square rectangles.
I'll keep plugging away. Thank you all.
Howdy Karl. Can you see the castle files in the screen when you print them? Sounds like a hardware issue if not. One solution might be only to put one file on the thumb drive, then the square that shows up is the one to print... Have fun and don't give up, mike
The original Elegoo Mars uses the older .cbddlp file format.
The Elegoo Mars Pro (along with the Mars 2 Pro and later models) uses the newer, more efficient .ctb file format.
When I upgraded to the pro the old .cbddlp wouldn't work because it was a 2.0 thumb drive. I had to reslice all my files because after slicing and loading into the 2.0 thumbdrive the Elegoo Pro printer didn't recognize the file. So I loaded the cut file onto the 3.0 and it finally printed. PIA.
Are you folks saving your files to the thumb drive that came with the printer?
I save my supported items or STL files to the desktop/my documents.
You guys confirm the point that this dog is too old to learn new tricks with computers.
Rephrased question. What memory stick do you use to insert your prepared files in the printer? My Geek Squad computer master was perplexed by all this. He mentioned FAT32 vs NTSC vs exFAT formated memory sticks...the Elegoo stick is apprently FAT32.
I'm swinging over toward Dave's view. Mentioned to the Doll I believe I've lost something betwixt the ears in all of this. [/font]
Karl, if the memory stick is in the wrong underlying format (FAT32 vs NTFS, vs exFAT), I would expect the printer to say "unreadable." It seems the printer can read the stick, but doesn't find anything on that stick it likes. That tells me the stick is in the correct format, and the problem is likely the file is not in the format the printer wants.
dave
Given lazy enough programmers, it could be that Karl's filename simply doesn't have the right extension: e.g., it wants ".ctb" but the file has no extension, or its extension is .CTB (upper case) etc.
Something else to look at. I found the memory sticks that came with the elegoo mar3 and 4 were flakey at best. When plugged into the machine, they would sometimes come up empty. When I put the stick into another of my elegoo machines, it worked. I also found that when I wiggled the drive in the slot it would also bring the files up sometimes. Other times just empty boxes like Karl mentioned.
My solution was to get new sticks and to bend the metal cover over the usb plug slightly so that it would be a tighter fit in the slot so that the pads were forced together better.
Quote from: jbvb on November 02, 2025, 10:42:30 AMGiven lazy enough programmers, it could be that Karl's filename simply doesn't have the right extension: e.g., it wants ".ctb" but the file has no extension, or its extension is .CTB (upper case) etc.
That is quite possible. I'll look into that when I get back at the conflict.
Thanks all adding info.
Howdy Karl,
IMHO, FAT32 is the best format for the thumb drive. It is what I use on the Elegoo Mars 3. I save my files to several thumb drives, all formatted to FAT32 with no problems.
Good luck and have fun,
mike
Shazam!
I've made great progress, thanks to all the positive suggestions here, I discovered that I do indeed need a Fat32 memory stick and a .CTB thpe file. The Geek Squad helped me with formatting an older memory stick we have into the FAT32 property and I removed all the files I'd fubared up and did a fresh start and save in the .ctb format ChiTuBox that runs on my Mars 3 pro.
I have that file running on the machine now.
IMG_2845.jpeg
IMG_2848.jpeg
Thanks again for the help!
Now, I "just" have to relearn how to draw. Anyone using ChatGTP for drawing anything yet?
One of the auto companies just "killed off" 400 graphic artists... :o
KSinthe Ether
Congrats on burning through the IT problems, Karl!!
dave
Great News!
I have the free version of chat and didn't really understand the procedure. They want me to go subscription to send a STl file. I think you still have to dump the stl into blender to clean it for printing. Model u has stl files for sale. Was thinking about purchasing the set with the figures moving burlap bags around.
Mill workers (https://www.modelu3d.co.uk/collections/digital/products/60007-mill-workers)
Tinkercad has added a revolve and sketch tool. I'm crawling trying to figure it out.
Anyhow, good news Karl.
What are the rules for the ModelU files? Could you print figures from those files for other people?
dave
Well, I did get a couple steps along the learning curve but have a way to go.
At the end of the day I definitely have learned that a Fat32 stick with a .ctb file works...
Now...learn to make a proper printable file
I got terrific supports..
IMG_2853.jpeg
The model, a pumpkin of sorts, IMG_2846.jpeg
had issues and laid down on the job
IMG_2854.jpeg
I need more work on my preparation work.
But, progress has been made! ;D
Howdy Karl :-[ , congrats and persist! ~mike
Dave, I think as long as you use them for personal use and not resell.
Looks like it needs more support Karl. I'll 2d the persist. congrats!
Having done my fair share of printing, I can say with certainty that it needs more supports.
Agreed, Craig. Trying to get a handle on slicer software now. Chitubox 'free' or pay or Lychee, will be in my testing regimen as the seasons change. :o :-\
Quote from: KentuckySouthern on November 06, 2025, 08:51:01 AMQuote from: friscomike on November 04, 2025, 01:57:31 PMHowdy Dave, congrats and persist! ~mike
Karl? ;D
I'm not sure if Karl should be complimented or insulted by this typo! :o
dave
Some progress has been made.
Supports added
IMG_2866.jpeg
Still partially failed so more supports
IMG_2865.jpeg
Smothered it. :o
Realignment and fewer supports and it looks better
IMG_2881.jpeg
So on to something else as life allows.
KS
Nov 10.
iPhone pix. Don't hold up so well on the 32" wide screen :o
(https://hips.hearstapps.com/vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1633625358-91vhsbqjual-ri-1633625312.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:*)
dave
More like this guy, even has my signature bibs on
IMG_2893.jpeg
Shows how long ago I started, a punkin' was still relevant, not seedy. :)
Maybe it's a tom-ah-to
Karl, congratulations on the progress.
Howdy Karl,
Success! Congratulations.
Have fun,
mike