3D Print Server how-to

THIS PAGE IS STILL IN PROGRESS!! --Eric Timberlake (talk)

Print Server Outline

Many inexpensive 3D printers forego the addition of expensive network connectivity and functionality. In other words, the only way to print is to generate a g-code file, transfer it to a memory card, then physically unmount this card and move it to the printer and from there, use the printer interface to chose the appropriate file, the select it for printing.

There is a better way.

For modest sums of money, inexpensive SBC's or "Single Board Computers" are available to run various FOSS or Free and Open Source Software to manage a network connection via a wire (ethernet) or via WiFi and connect directly to the printer. This enables being able to directly transfer files and control your printer from remote laptops and desktop computers elsewhere than in your shop or workspace.

Software

Most Popular SW in this case is a thing called Octo Print... This software package is HUGELY POPULAR and allows for an extensible format, ie; it supports "plugins" to expand basic functionality. It is UNIX based and runs on a number of base Linux and BSD derivatives and there are a large number of pre-built binary images that make installation a snap..

Octoprint Features

Expand this!

Hardware

Octoprint runs on nearly anything that will run Linux and there are a number of pre-built images available. With the advent of "The Chip Shortage", the availability of Raspberry Pi SBC's has been severely limited. But other vendors have stepped into the void.. A possible list of hardware might be:

• https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/
• http://www.orangepi.org/html/hardWare/computerAndMicrocontrollers/index.html
• https://rockpi.org/rockpi4

Amazon Hardware Ideas

You might consider this little bit of hardware:

• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TQZH4GJ/ (Reviews matching octoprint)

-boot/memory disk: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XYHN68L

• • Burn a boot image from the octo print download page: https://www.obico.io/docs/user-guides/orange-pi-for-octoprint-download-setup/
  • Recommended cheap web cam for remote viewing: https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Desktop-Widescreen-Calling-Recording/dp/B004FHO5Y6/

Bingo - $60 web interface with all kinds of features that would elevate at a minimum going from your slicer (and often directly from the slicer to the printer using an API key)..

What's an API Key?

More here later!!

--Eric Timberlake (talk)