Installing OctoPi-TFT using the OctoPi Image

OctoPi-TFT Screenshot

This tutorial uses vi to edit files this can be replaced with nano or some other text editor.

Parts

Step 1: Connect the PiTFT to the Pi

You can connect the PiTFT before you start any of the other steps.

Step 2: Install and Configure OctoPrint

Follow the instructions form the OctoPrint website https://octoprint.org/download/

Step 3: Install Raspbian Desktop

sudo /home/pi/scripts/install-desktop

sudo reboot

Step 4: Install Dependencies

sudo apt-get install xinit
sudo apt-get install x11-xserver-utils
sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-input-evdev

Step 5: Move 40-libinput.conf

sudo mv /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/40-libinput.conf ~/

Step 6: Install PiTFT Drivers

Use the Easy Install method that Adafruit supplies

We’ve created a custom kernel package based of off Notro’s awesome framebuffer work, so you can install it over your existing Raspbian (or derivative) images in just a few commands. Our tutorial shows you how to install the software, as well as calibrate the touchscreen, display images such as from your PiCam and more!

Adafruit
cd ~
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/adafruit/Raspberry-Pi-Installer-Scripts/master/adafruit-pitft.sh
chmod +x adafruit-pitft.sh
sudo ./adafruit-pitft.sh
  • For the 3.5″ PiTFT select #4
  • If you want the HDMI port on top like I do select #3
  • Would you like the console to appear on the PiTFT display? No
  • Would you like the HDMI display to mirror to the PiTFT display? Yes

Step 7: Uninstall Lightdm window manager

sudo dpkg -r --force-depends lightdm

Step 8: Install OctoPi-TFT

cd ~
wget https://github.com/darksid3r/OctoPrint-TFT/releases/download/1.1/octoprint-tft_stretch_1.1.git91fa718-1_armhf.deb
sudo dpkg -i octoprint-tft_stretch_1.1.git91fa718-1_armhf.deb

Step 9: Edit OctoPi-TFT Configuration File

Edit you configuration file.

sudo vi /etc/octoprint-tft-environment

This is what mine looks like. You will need to change the OCTOPRINT_APIKEY to match yours. It can be found on the settings page in OctoPrint. I also removed the comments from here so it is easier to read.


 OCTOPRINT_CONFIG_FILE=

 OCTOPRINT_HOST=http://127.0.0.1:5000

 OCTOPRINT_APIKEY=YOUR_APIKEY_GOES_HERE

 OCTOPRINT_TFT_STYLE_PATH=/opt/octoprint-tft/styles/default/

 OCTOPRINT_TFT_RESOLUTION=480x320

Step 10: Reboot & Test

sudo reboot

Step 11: Check /boot/config.txt

You can disregard this step if everything is working as expected. My display resolution wasn’t correct so I had to change the last line of the /boot/config.txt file from hdmi_cvt=720 480 60 1 0 0 0 to hdmi_cvt=480 320 60 1 0 0 0.

sudo vi /boot/config.txt
sudo reboot

Resources

I used these resources to put together this tutorial.