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klipper3d/klipper

★ 11,529CAudience · ops devopsComplexity · 4/5LicenseSetup · hard

TLDR

Open-source 3D printer firmware that runs the heavy math on a Raspberry Pi instead of the printer's own chip, letting you change settings in a text file without recompiling firmware.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((klipper))
    Architecture
      Raspberry Pi host
      Microcontroller client
      Split processing
    Key benefits
      Text file config
      No recompile needed
      Complex motion math
    Setup
      Flash microcontroller
      Install on Pi
      Write printer.cfg
    Audience
      3D printer hobbyists
      Custom printer builders
      Enthusiast modders
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Code map

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Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Replace the stock firmware on a hobbyist or custom 3D printer to get faster motion planning and easier configuration.

USE CASE 2

Tune your 3D printer's behavior by editing a plain text config file and restarting, without recompiling or reflashing firmware every time.

USE CASE 3

Run complex motion algorithms on a connected Raspberry Pi to unlock print speeds and precision not possible on the printer's own chip.

Tech stack

CPythonRaspberry Pi

Getting it running

Difficulty · hard Time to first run · 1day+

Requires a Raspberry Pi connected to the printer, flashing a companion binary to the printer's microcontroller, and writing a hardware-specific config file.

Free and open-source under a permissive license, use, modify, and distribute freely.

In plain English

Klipper is firmware for 3D printers, written primarily in C and Python. Firmware is the low-level software that runs on the electronics inside a machine and controls its physical movement. What makes Klipper different from most 3D printer firmware is its architecture: the computationally intensive work runs on a standard computer (like a Raspberry Pi) rather than on the small microcontroller chip inside the printer itself. The microcontroller only handles the time-sensitive signaling that actually moves the motors, while the heavier math and logic run where there is much more processing power. This split approach means Klipper can run more complex motion calculations, update the motion plan faster, and expose configuration through plain text files rather than requiring you to compile new firmware every time you adjust a setting. If you want to change how your printer behaves, you edit a config file and restart the software. Klipper supports a wide range of 3D printer hardware and is used as an alternative to the firmware that ships with commercial printers. It is popular in the hobbyist and enthusiast community, particularly on printers that people build or modify themselves. The full list of capabilities, supported hardware, and setup guides live on the project website at klipper3d.org rather than in the repository README itself. Installation involves running the Klipper software on a host computer connected to your printer and flashing a small companion piece onto the printer's microcontroller. The project is free and open-source under a permissive license and is maintained with sponsor support.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
I am setting up Klipper on my Ender 3 with a Raspberry Pi 4. Walk me through the installation steps: flashing the microcontroller, installing Klipper on the Pi, and creating the initial printer.cfg.
Prompt 2
My Klipper config has a stepper motor running at the wrong speed. Show me which sections of printer.cfg control motor steps per mm and how to calibrate them.
Prompt 3
Using Klipper's pressure advance feature, explain what it does and give me the config snippet to enable and tune it for a direct-drive extruder.
Prompt 4
Help me write a Klipper macro in printer.cfg that homes all axes, heats the bed and nozzle to printing temperature, and purges a line before starting a print.
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