Pros of Marlin

• Broader compatibility with various 3D printer hardware and configurations
• Extensive community support and regular updates
• Rich feature set including advanced motion control and thermal management

Cons of Marlin

• Steeper learning curve for configuration and customization
• May require more resources to run on lower-end hardware

Code Comparison

BIGTREETECH-SKR-mini-E3 (Configuration.h):

#define SERIAL_PORT 2
#define SERIAL_PORT_2 -1
#define BAUDRATE 115200
#define MOTHERBOARD BOARD_BTT_SKR_MINI_E3_V2_0
#define CUSTOM_MACHINE_NAME "SKR Mini E3"

Marlin (Configuration.h):

#define SERIAL_PORT 0
#define BAUDRATE 250000
#define MOTHERBOARD BOARD_RAMPS_14_EFB
#define CUSTOM_MACHINE_NAME "3D Printer"
#define X_DRIVER_TYPE  A4988

The BIGTREETECH-SKR-mini-E3 repository is specifically tailored for the SKR Mini E3 control board, offering pre-configured settings and optimizations. In contrast, Marlin provides a more generic firmware solution that can be adapted to various printer setups. The code comparison shows differences in default serial port settings, baud rates, and board definitions, reflecting the specialized nature of the SKR Mini E3 firmware versus the more flexible Marlin configuration.

Pros of Klipper

• Advanced motion planning and kinematics calculations offloaded to host computer
• Supports a wide range of 3D printer hardware and configurations
• Extensive customization options and features like pressure advance and input shaping

Cons of Klipper

• Requires a separate host computer (e.g., Raspberry Pi) to run the main software
• Steeper learning curve for setup and configuration compared to traditional firmware
• May have higher latency in some scenarios due to communication between host and microcontroller

Code Comparison

BIGTREETECH-SKR-mini-E3 (Marlin-based):

void loop() {
  idle();
  thermalManager.manage_heater();
  gcode.process_next_command();
}

Klipper:

def reactor_run():
    while 1:
        self.reactor.run()
        if self.reactor.is_exit():
            break

The SKR-mini-E3 uses Marlin firmware, which runs entirely on the board's microcontroller. Klipper, on the other hand, splits processing between a host computer and the printer's microcontroller, allowing for more advanced calculations and features.

Pros of Prusa-Firmware

• More comprehensive documentation and user guides
• Larger community support and active development
• Optimized for Prusa printers, offering better performance on those machines

Cons of Prusa-Firmware

• Less flexible for non-Prusa hardware configurations
• Steeper learning curve for customization and modification
• More complex codebase, potentially harder to troubleshoot

Code Comparison

BIGTREETECH-SKR-mini-E3:

#define X_DRIVER_TYPE  TMC2209
#define Y_DRIVER_TYPE  TMC2209
#define Z_DRIVER_TYPE  TMC2209
#define E0_DRIVER_TYPE TMC2209

Prusa-Firmware:

#define DEFAULT_AXIS_STEPS_PER_UNIT   {100,100,3200/8,140}
#define DEFAULT_MAX_FEEDRATE          {200, 200, 12, 120}
#define DEFAULT_MAX_ACCELERATION      {1000,1000,200,5000}

The BIGTREETECH-SKR-mini-E3 code focuses on defining driver types, while Prusa-Firmware sets default values for axis steps, feedrate, and acceleration. This reflects the different approaches: BIGTREETECH-SKR-mini-E3 is more hardware-focused, while Prusa-Firmware is more tuned for specific printer performance.

Pros of BIGTREETECH-SKR-V1.3

• More expandable with 5 stepper driver slots
• Supports a wider range of stepper drivers
• Offers more flexibility for custom configurations

Cons of BIGTREETECH-SKR-V1.3

• Larger form factor, may not fit in compact printers
• Requires more setup and configuration
• Generally more expensive than the mini-E3

Code Comparison

While both boards use similar firmware, the SKR V1.3 often requires more configuration. Here's a simplified example of defining stepper drivers in Marlin:

BIGTREETECH-SKR-V1.3:

#define X_DRIVER_TYPE  TMC2209
#define Y_DRIVER_TYPE  TMC2209
#define Z_DRIVER_TYPE  TMC2209
#define E0_DRIVER_TYPE TMC2209
#define E1_DRIVER_TYPE TMC2209

BIGTREETECH-SKR-mini-E3:

#define X_DRIVER_TYPE  TMC2209
#define Y_DRIVER_TYPE  TMC2209
#define Z_DRIVER_TYPE  TMC2209
#define E0_DRIVER_TYPE TMC2209

The SKR V1.3 allows for an additional extruder driver, providing more options for dual extrusion or other advanced setups. Both boards support similar firmware and features, but the SKR V1.3 offers more customization options at the cost of increased complexity and size.

Pros of BIGTREETECH-TouchScreenFirmware

• Provides a user-friendly graphical interface for 3D printer control
• Supports multiple languages and customizable UI themes
• Offers more direct user interaction and real-time feedback

Cons of BIGTREETECH-TouchScreenFirmware

• Limited to touchscreen functionality, not a complete printer control solution
• May require more frequent updates to maintain compatibility with printer firmware
• Potentially more complex to set up and configure compared to SKR-mini-E3

Code Comparison

BIGTREETECH-TouchScreenFirmware:

void menuInfo(void)
{
  const char* hardware = "BIGTREETECH_" HARDWARE_VERSION;
  const char* firmware = FIRMWARE_VERSION;
  uint8_t cur_item = infoSettings.info_page;

BIGTREETECH-SKR-mini-E3:

#ifndef BOARD_INFO_NAME
  #define BOARD_INFO_NAME "BTT SKR Mini E3"
#endif

#ifndef BOARD_WEBSITE_URL
  #define BOARD_WEBSITE_URL "github.com/bigtreetech/BIGTREETECH-SKR-mini-E3"
#endif

The TouchScreenFirmware focuses on UI-related code, while SKR-mini-E3 defines board-specific information. The TouchScreenFirmware implements menu functionality, whereas SKR-mini-E3 sets up board configurations. This reflects their different purposes: user interface vs. printer control board firmware.