40 posts tagged with "OctoPrint"

Introduction​

3D printing is a fascinating technology that's changing the way we make things. It allows you to transform digital designs into real objects, and it's becoming more accessible with the help of Android apps designed for 3D printing.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the world of 3D printing and show you how Android apps can make your 3D printing journey even better. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, this article will help you understand how these apps can take your 3D printing to the next level.

We're going to explore various Android apps that cover different aspects of 3D printing. You'll discover apps for controlling your printer remotely, creating intricate designs, getting amazing STL designs, scanning real objects into digital models, and much more. By the end of this guide, you'll have a clear understanding of how these Android apps can enhance your 3D printing experience and enable you to create incredible things.

So, let's dive into the world of Android 3D printing apps and unlock the full potential of your 3D printer. Your 3D printing journey is about to get a major boost!

Introduction​

The world of 3D printing is a fascinating one, filled with endless possibilities and innovations. As 3D printing technology advances, the role of software and firmware becomes increasingly vital in achieving the best results. In this comparative analysis, we will delve into the heart of 3D printing and explore the two key players in the software and firmware arena: OctoPrint and Klipper.

Unveiling the 3D Printing Universe​

Navigating the realm of 3D printing technology In recent years, 3D printing has evolved from a niche hobby to a transformative technology with applications spanning various industries. Whether you're a hobbyist, a DIY enthusiast, or a professional, 3D printing opens doors to creating objects with unprecedented precision and customization.

The pivotal role of software and firmware Behind every successful 3D print lies a carefully orchestrated symphony of software and firmware. These digital components translate your designs into physical objects, making the choice of software and firmware critical to your 3D printing experience. They control the movement of the printer's motors, the heating of the extruder, and the deposition of material layer by layer.

Gone are the days in 3D printing where you constantly need to be tethered to a 3D printer. There are now automated software tools that allow you to monitor and control your printer without being present in the same room. Some of these applications give you unrestricted access to your machines and let you operate them from anywhere in the world.

In this article, we’ll look at eight remote 3D printing software you can use to run your 3D printers remotely. These programs are suited equally well for hobbyists and professional 3D printing farms and can be a great way to ease out the manual workload in your workflow.

Let’s power up your remote 3D printing setup!

Update on the Orange Pi Zero 2 for OctoPrint Project​

In an ongoing effort to get find an easy way for makers to install OctoPrint with the Raspberry Pi shortage ongoing, we developed an easy to install raspberry pi alternative for OctoPrint using the Orange Pi Zero 2.

Installation works similarly to installing OctoPi on a Raspberry Pi. You can get a complete OctoPrint Kit that includes a webcam and everything you need to get started, or just the Orange Pi Zero 2 Board in our online store (available for U.S and Canada only).

3D Printer Failures/Courtesy: Fabbaloo

If you are new to 3D printing, we are sure you have encountered numerous print failures. Thankfully, this is not something new or unique. It happens to even the most seasoned users. But obviously everyone wishes to improve their 3D printing skills and so knowledge of 3D printer failure detection becomes essential, and this is exactly what we will cover in this article.

3D printing and failures​

Because 3D printing is rapidly becoming popular in a variety of industries, it is critical that every student, as well as manufacturing and design professionals, understand the technology. Though you may not need to understand its complexities, having a working knowledge will help you in your career.

3D printing is a manufacturing process that converts a digital CAD file into a three-dimensional physical model by layering thin layers of material one on top of the other. This is also known as additive manufacturing because material is added rather than removed, as is the case with most conventional technologies.

However, 3D printing is still in its early stages and thus prone to failure. DIY and desktop 3D printing, in particular, frequently fails, and users must use a trial-and-error approach to eliminate or reduce failed prints.

What is OctoPrint and why would you want it?​

OctoPrint Bed Level Visualizer plugin display screen/Courtesy: OctoPrint

We are all aware of how critical, yet difficult, it is to level a 3D printer bed. All of your prints will fail if you don't have a level bed, wasting your time, materials, and money. Even having an auto-bed leveling feature is not always sufficient, and your prints may still fail. To solve this issue, OctoPrint's Bed Level Visualizer plugin is the only tool you need to easily level your print bed.

To help you understand this useful OctoPrint plugin, we've written a complete guide on the Bed Level Visualizer to help you set it up quickly and eliminate your bed leveling issues.

What is the OctoPrint Bed Level Visualizer Plugin?​

Bed level visualizer is a useful OctoPrint plugin that converts the bed topography report into a comprehensive 3D map to show the varying elevation (height) across a 3D printer bed, assisting users in leveling the same. This plugin also assists you in determining whether your bed is warped or simply tilted. Thus, the bed is leveled by carefully tightening or loosening the leveling screws at peaks and valleys respectively, to make it as flat as possible for a successful print.

The Bed level visualizer plugin was created by jneilliii (GitHub page). This plugin was installed on at least 35.84k instances in the previous month (August 2022), with at least 759 new installations in the previous week (at the time of writing this article).

The core of 3D printing is a 3D model. 3D modeling for 3D printing is important as all 3D prints start with a digital CAD model that is "sliced" in a slicing software which the 3D printer prints. Being an integral part of 3D printing, having a working knowledge of 3D modeling and the various tools becomes crucial.

In this article, we'll go over the fundamentals of 3D modeling for 3D printing, as well as the distinction between inorganic and organic 3D models, and the popular software for each type.

We've included 3D modeling software for beginners for those on a low budget, as well as a few high-end options for professionals.

But first, to make sure we're all on the same page, let's go through the fundamentals of 3D printing.

How does 3D Printing work?​

A CAD design (left screen), slicing software (right), and the finished print / Courtesy: Ultimaker

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a method of creating three-dimensional objects layer by layer using a computer-aided design, or CAD. 3D printing builds objects by layering materials such as polymers, composites, or biomaterials that vary in shape and size, as well as rigidity and color.

Even though 3D printing isn't new, there are some who will benefit from our guide to the most common 3D printing terms for beginners.

Regardless of the 3D printing technology being used, it all starts with a 3D CAD model. In this article, we will go through the fundamentals of 3D modeling and its different types, with a focus on 3D printing.

To further help you in selecting the best CAD software for your 3D models, we will also list out a number of 3D modeling software suitable for both beginner and advanced users.

So let's jump in!

3D printing is an evolving technology and engineers are constantly upgrading it to eliminate any primal issues in it. Till recently it was common to tether your 3D printer to your computer to run print jobs. But now, you can easily add WiFi to your 3D printer.

Adding WiFi to your 3D printer gives you an unprecedented advantage and we will be discussing the same in this article and how to set it up with ease.

The Basics of 3D Printing?​

Creality Ender 3 FDM 3D printer/Courtesy: Creality

3D printing is a manufacturing technology that creates three-dimensional objects by adding layers of material one on top of the other until the entire object is formed. Because it produces objects in an additive manner, the process is also known as additive manufacturing.

In comparison to traditional manufacturing methods, this process eliminates the need for tooling and reduces material waste.

The entire ecosystem of the 3D printing process can be used to explain how it works. Here's a quick rundown:

• Software: 3D printing begins with design software, which is used to create a 3D model. After that, the 3D model is sliced in a slicing software to generate a G-code file.
• Hardware: As the 3D printer can only read G-code files, the file is uploaded to the printer, which prints the designed object.
• Materials: Materials for 3D printing include filaments, resins, polymer or metal powders, and metal wires.
• Post-processing: After the 3D printer prints the object, the part usually needs to go through some sort of post-processing stage, such as support structure removal, sanding, acetone vaporing, UV curing, washing, coloring, dyeing, Hot Isostatic Pressing annealing, and so on.

One of the first things many makers to to improve their experience after buying a 3D printer is install Octoprint. And why not? It's one of the best upgrades you can get for your 3D printer because it lets you control and monitor everything about your 3D printer and print jobs right from your browser.

OctoPrint, however, only works on your local network by default, which could limit its use. And let's face it, sitting through hours of print time isn't something most of us look forward to. And, while life comes in the way and we have to travel, we can certainly do better than worrying about whether our print is on track or whether it has encountered any issues.

And simply being notified of an issue is frustratingly useless. You don't want to be a bystander when something goes wrong with your 3D prints. Instead, you want to be able to take the steps needed from wherever you are to make sure your 3D printing jobs stay on track.

Accessing OctoPrint Away From Home​

When you are away from home, you can access OctoPrint using a variety of methods; the easiest being with the use of OctoPrint Remote Access plugins. This method is ideal for people who aren't technical savvy and want a simple and quick setup process. However, you can also use other methods like direct access, port forwarding, or VPN and to know more about these techniques, you can read our guide.

Over the years, developers have created numerous plugins that allow OctoPrint Remote Access. This, however, makes it difficult for new users to choose the right plugin, one that is both simple to use and feature-rich.

But don't worry, we've got you covered with a list of the best OctoPrint remote access plugins so you can access OctoPrint and your 3D printer from anywhere!

What are we doing?​

We are planning to develop an easy to install, no compromise raspberry pi alternative for OctoPrint. We will bulk order an alternative single board computer. It will be equivalent to or better than a raspberry pi 3B+ 1GB. It will be guaranteed to let you easily install OctoPrint without any additional configuration. Aside from the fact that raspberry pi's are very hard to find, this alternative provides all of the following:

• Install OctoPrint through a streamlined process similary to the OctoPi image developed for Raspberry pi.
• Guaranteed to work with OctoPrint
• Monitor and control 3D printer using a camera that is guaranteed to work (if purchasing kit)
• Get customer support from the Obico team

Get on the list so we can let you know when it's time to place the order.

How much will it cost?​

We are planning to offer two options:

Board-only :​

$35 - $40 + Shipping

The board will include the board and the easily installable package to install OctoPrint. Customer support from the Obico team is also included. We are currently looking at the Orange Pi Zero 2 but this could change.

Kit :​

$80 - $95 + Shipping

The kit will include the board (currently looking at Orange Pi Zero 2) , power cable , case and a camera guaranteed to work with OctoPrint out of the box. The pre-built OctoPrint package for easy installation will also be included. Customer support from the Obico team is also included.

Take our short survey to get on the list to purchase a board or kit for OctoPrint. As soon as we have over 200 people interested, we will reach out to collect your payment so we can place the order.

When will I get it?​

We will place the order as soon as we have enough interest to place a bulk order (approximately 200 units to share this with your friends who might be interested too). Once the order is placed, we anticipate being able to receive the boards within approximately 3-4 weeks, and we anticipate we will be able to ship them out to you within the next week or two.

Why is the Obico team doing this?​

The purpose of this project is to establish a no compromise Raspberry Pi alternative that allows for easy OctoPrint Installation. Traditionally, OctoPi, a Raspbian based SD card image for the raspberry pi that includes everything needed to run OctoPrint.

If you've tried to buy a raspberry pi in the past year, you know that buying one at msrp is not at all easy. You may be able to get lucky through the Raspberry Pi locator, but even this is not at all guaranteed.

There are a number of options for using OctoPrint without a raspberry pi, including using an android device with Octo4A, installing on a Mac or Windows device, among other non raspberry pi single board computers. All of these options work, but they all come with their own set of unique disadvantages and increases the level of difficulty required for users who aren't familiar with Linux.

What is the Obico team actually doing?​

Our plan is to:

1. Source a comparable alternative to the raspberry pi and purchase in bulk
2. The board will be minimally equivalent to the Raspberry Pi 3b+ with 1GB ram
3. Take pre-orders for the boards and ship them to users when they arive. We will not make any money on the boards. See pricing example breakdown below.
4. Develop an easily installable Octoprint image that allows easy installation through the Raspberry pi Imager (this is a non-trivial task)

Board Only​

Kit​

Note:

As mentioned above, we have not finalized the exact board we will purchase in bulk due to the rapidly changing supply chain conditions. Because, of this prices may change slightly.

Add your email to the list so we can let you know when it's time to place your order!.

This article will go over these websites, as well as the various benefits and drawbacks of various 3D model sites. There are numerous lists available, but this article will focus on sites that have a majority, or at least a large number, of models designed specifically for 3D printing.

Printables.com​

Printables is a 3D printing models repository from Josef Prusa, a well-known name in the 3D printing industry. Earlier this year (2022) the Printables platform was launched as a rebranded version of the earlier PrusaPrinters. With this new brand, Prusa is attracting users from outside the Prusa ecosystem.

Printables has a large collection of free 3D models that anyone can download and use under the terms of the license.

Features​

3D Model Repository: Printables has a large 3D model repository and a huge global community. It has over 235,000 registered users, 120,000 models published, and 550,000 monthly visitors.

Reward System: It has a designer reward system. Designers are rewarded with either actual filaments or website badges.

More than a Repository: Printables is much more than a 3D model repository because you can interact with its large and active community, enter contests to win exciting prizes, and join regional groups to connect with people in your area. Users can also participate in educational projects, read high-quality Prusa blogs, and shop at the Prusa Eshop.

Pros​

• All 3D models are available for free download.
• On the Printables platform, any designer can upload and share their models.
• Contests are held on a regular basis, and anyone can enter to win great prizes such as Prusa 3D printers.
• It has a simple user interface.
• The 3D models can be viewed using a 3D viewer.

Cons​

• Designers cannot monetize their models at this time.
• The number of options available on the site may overwhelm new users.

Example Models​

Keychain Pill Box

Keychain pill box by Gard7

A small keychain pill box to keep your medications close at hand. The creator's recommended settings for printing this model are 10mm detail settings with PETG.

Bottle Holder Crutches

Printables Bottle Holder Crutches by STEP

This is a crutch bottle holder. The creator recommends printing this model with 0.2mm resolution, 20% infill, and PETG material. You'll also need 4x M6x25 screws and 4x M6 nuts.

Introduction​

OctoEverywhere and Obico are two of the most popular Octoprint plug-ins developed to let you access your 3D printer virtually anywhere in the world. Both these plug-ins have great functionality and features that enhance the overall experience of using your 3D printer remotely.

In this article, we'll take a detailed look at these plug-ins and understand them inside-out. Towards the end, you'll have a complete understanding of Obico and OctoEverywhere, and will be able to choose the best plug-in that matches your remote 3D printing necessities.

Why do you require Octoprint plug-ins for remote 3D printing?​

Octoprint by itself is a fantastic 3D printer host software that lets you remotely access your 3D printers. You can monitor and control your printer from your desktop without having to be near the printer. But, this remote functionality is limited solely to your local network.

It denotes that your Octoprint 3D printer and the device should be connected to the same wireless network for you to access your 3D printer. This limitation prevents you from accessing your 3D printer on a mobile network or when you're far away from your printing area.

Moreover, Octoprint's User Interface is not optimized for use on smartphones and small tablets. And while using Octoprint on the phone is technically possible through a browser, it will result in a poor user experience. This restriction also means that you're limited to accessing Octoprint via a laptop or desktop.

Obico and OctoEverywhere plug-ins help you to overcome these limitations by letting you access your 3D printers from anywhere and on any device. They're easy to set up, have a user-friendly interface, and feature various functions mainly designed for remote 3D printing.

Obico for Octoprint​

Obico is the successor to the popular The Spaghetti Detective (TSD) plug-in for Octoprint. It improves vastly over TSD while retaining the core AI detection functionality. It is entirely open-source and designed to integrate seamlessly with Octoprint.

Obico for Octoprint gives you complete and secure remote access to your 3D printer, and you can use it to monitor, control and record time-lapse videos of your printing process. In addition to these basic functionalities, Obico comes with AI detection technology for recognizing and stopping failed prints.

Obico's designed for multiple platforms comes with a free mobile application letting you access your 3D printer on Android and iOS devices. It's easy to install for Octoprint, and you can refer to this detailed guide to configure your Octoprint 3D printer with Obico.

OctoEverywhere for Octoprint​

OctoEverywhere is similar to Obico in several aspects and gives you all the essential features for remote monitoring of your 3D printer. It lets you access your Octoprint instance on a browser interface and is tightly integrated with other Octoprint applications (OctoApp, Printoid, Polymer, Octopod), which you can use on your mobile phones.

It's designed for ease of use, and the user interface is highly intuitive to access all of its features. You can use OctoEverywhere to control the printer, send Gcode files, and receive notifications about your printer's status. Quinn Damerell - the developer behind OctoEverywhere, has recently introduced an AI failure detection feature for the plug-in. However, it's still in the Beta stage and might take a while before a full-proof release.

Like Obico, OctoEverywhere for Octoprint is quick to set up, and you can connect your printer with the plug-in in under 10 minutes. You can refer to this guide to configure the OctoEverywhere plug-in for your 3D printer. We'll compare all of the features in detail below.

DLSR camera connected with 3D printer/Courtesy: 3DWithUs

For the 3D printing community, cameras have become an integral part of the 3D printing process. They are handy for both live monitoring of 3D prints and recording timelapses of their creation.

However, connecting a camera to your 3D printer is a challenge for many. So, to make things easier, we've come up with two solutions.

Why you might want to connect a camera to your 3D printer​

3D printing is not an exact science. Despite having the perfect g-code, printer, model, and planning, things don't always go your way. The most common 3D printing issues include print not sticking to print bed and calibration issues. Both cause spaghetti of filament around your half-formed model. It can waste filament and time, as well as damage your printer.

The safest course of action is to never leave your 3D printer unattended, but really, that's impossible.

This is where the 3D printer camera enters the picture (sorry for the pun). If something goes wrong with a print job, these cameras can be very helpful for finding out what went wrong and when. With a camera, you can not only keep track of your 3D prints, but with services like Obico via OctoPrint or Klipper, you can also monitor and remotely control your 3D printer. Additionally, if your printer is acting up, you'll know it right away, thanks to Obico's AI-powered failure detection. (but more on this later)

And who doesn't enjoy watching time-lapse videos of 3D printed objects? Even if you're not interested in 3D printing, you have to admit that watching a 3D print appear to grow autonomously over time is fascinating.

The bottom line is that adding a camera to your 3D printer setup is a must-have to get the most out of your 3D printing experience.

We're sure you've often thought about accessing OctoPrint over the internet and that too from anywhere in the world from any device. Controlling your 3D printer over a local network is simple, whereas establishing a remote connection is more difficult. If you're curious about how it's done easily, you've come to the right place

This article addresses this question and provides a how-to guide for accessing OctoPrint while away from home.

What is OctoPrint?​

OctoPrint is one of the best free and open-source 3D printer remote monitoring and control software applications. It allows you to better manage your 3D printer activities and run it more efficiently. The software with its wide range of plugins enhances your 3D printing output.

If you are new to OctoPrint, you can get started by reading our guide on how to set up OctoPrint.

How does it work?​

OctoPrint is typically run on a Raspberry Pi that is linked to your 3D printer. It connects to your 3D printer via USB cable and essentially takes control of it. It can send commands to control and operate the 3D printer. These can range from simple tasks like moving the printhead in the three axes or starting/stopping prints to more complex tasks like converting linear g-codes to arc codes, accessing your 3D printer from remote locations, even outside your local network, and more.

In short, OctoPrint simplifies and gives you more control over your 3D printer operations, allowing you to print more efficiently.

To run OctoPrint, OctoPi, an OctoPrint image preconfigured for the Raspberry Pi with pre-installed OctoPrint, mjpg-streamer as a webcam server, and a couple of scripts is commonly used to allow for simple initial setup.

Why is a remote access solution for OctoPrint needed?​

This question has been addressed in several articles about the need for an OctoPrint remote access solution. To understand this, consider a situation in which you start a print and monitor it to ensure that it does not fail, but you suddenly need to go out for work. But as you leave the house, one question lingers in your mind: what's going on with my print?

We've all been there, and this is just one example of when a remote access solution comes in handy.

But did you know that OctoPrint is only available on your local network?

While what we said is correct, it is also true that there are multiple ways to access OctoPrint over the internet to give you access from anywhere, which we will discuss in this article.

Before we proceed, if you are the inquisitive type and want to understand why you can't use OctoPrint anywhere but on your local network? Then read our article on Accessing OctoPrint Remotely, which will explain the issue.

If you are new to OctoPrint, then you have come to the right place. We bring you a detailed FAQ guide that will answer all of your burning questions about OctoPrint to help you get started.

Table of Contents​

What is OctoPrint?​

OctoPrint Interface/Courtesy: OctoPrint

OctoPrint is a free and open-source software application that allows you to monitor and control your 3D printer from a remote location. It's typically installed on a Raspberry Pi board and connected to a 3D printer. Many users chose the software because of its simplicity and ease of use, and the features and functionality it offers to enhance the overall 3D printing experience.

OctoPrint was created and is maintained by Gina Häußge, a German software engineer. Since its launch in 2012, it has evolved into a tool for users to improve their 3D printing experience. The software can now assist you in wireless 3D printing, monitoring and controlling 3D printers and even print farms from anywhere in the world, slicing 3D models, detecting failures, receiving notifications, and much more.

OctoPrint is a free, open-source program that enables you to remotely control and monitor your 3D printer. And with the right plugins, you can also get 3D printer status notifications. Octoprint was developed a decade ago in 2012 by German software engineer Gina Häußge and is commonly run on a Raspberry Pi single-board computer (SBC).

With OctoPrint, you can move the bed and extruder, control the temperature, and more. Even better, you can use a mobile app or a cloud server to set up job scheduling and keep a close watch on its progress. You may even see your print work live from anywhere in the world if you connect a webcam. While running a 3D printing farm, its advantages become even more prominent.

OctoPrint not only simplifies everything, but it also boosts the quality of 3D printing.

All the features are possible because of its large repository of Plugins allowing users to go above and beyond.

However, when you install the necessary plugins that provide 3D printer status notifications, all of the capabilities are enhanced.

Why would you want OctoPrint 3D printer status notifications?​

We all lead busy lives, and few people would have the luxury of being close to their printer during print jobs. When a print begins and you are not present, it might be unsettling to not know how the print is progressing.

This is where notifications come into play. A simple email or text message is enough to put our minds at ease.

Although many plugins offer notification support, not all plugins are created equal.

We're here to help you in choosing the best plugin for 3D printer status notification that will undoubtedly enhance your 3D printing experience. Keep reading to learn about a number of different ways to get 3D printer notifications using OctoPrint.

We know you all enjoy timelapse videos in which everything appears to run fast. With reference to OctoPrint, a timelapse video would refer to the videos where the product appears to grow out of thin air. It is almost surreal, which is what makes it all the more appealing. You may know how to create a timelapse, also called Octolapse, but do you know the best camera for an Octolapse? Well, choosing a camera itself is complicated, let alone the best one.

Well, we have decided to list down a few good ones to help you choose the best camera for Octolapse.

What is Octolapse?​

OctoPrint simplifies the control and management of 3D printing. The software's capabilities are enhanced by a diverse set of plugins, making it simple to monitor and control your prints. Furthermore, if you wish to take your remote 3D printing experience to the next level, you should check out the OctoPrint Mobile apps.

There are numerous mobile apps that provide OctoPrint mobile accessibility, so you have a lot of alternatives. This also means new users find it difficult to choose the ideal app for their needs.

But, like always, we have your back, and we don't want you to spend time checking out each and every app. Instead we have compiled a list of the top 7 mobile apps – 4 Android and 3 iOS apps – to help you with the selection process and save you time. With this list, you will be one step closer to accessing OctoPrint on the go!

Why do you need a mobile app for OctoPrint?​

For the uninitiated, OctoPrint is one of the best 3D printer remote monitoring, management, and control software tools. With the plugins, the software transforms into a monster, giving you greater control over your printer and making 3D printing entertaining and engaging.

While OctoPrint is a capable piece of software, it may occasionally leave you wanting more. Consider two scenarios: one in which you are weary of sitting in front of a computer for the duration of the print but still want to check the progress and monitor your print. And a second scenario in which you are travelling and do not have access to a computer from which to operate your 3D printer.

The solution to both of these issues is the same: a mobile app for accessing OctoPrint on the go.

A smartphone is something you carry with you everywhere and is easy on the eyes. This level of freedom is appealing to many who use 3D printers on a regular basis. Using a smartphone app can help you save a lot of time, not to mention improve your 3D printing experience.

We will now explore the 7 mobile apps for OctoPrint. All of these mobile apps allow you to access your OctoPrint connected 3D printer from your phone, and the Obico mobile app even allows full remote access from anywhere without any additional configuration.

If you are someone who has not yet installed OctoPrint, you can take a small detour to learn how to set up OctoPrint to and get it up and running. Don't worry, it's simple.

In less than a decade, Raspberry Pi (Rpi) has caught the imagination of 3D printing enthusiasts the world over. It has enabled makers like you to monitor and control 3D printers remotely. OctoPrint and Raspberry Pi, paired together, is a deadly combination and gives you an unprecedented control over your entire 3D printing process.

Sadly with so many versions of the credit-card sized computer available on the market it becomes difficult for enthusiasts to choose the best Raspberry Pi for OctoPrint. And yes, the choice will determine the performance of your 3D printer and the amount of control you have on it.

So read along as we bring you a guide to help you solve this very conundrum of choosing the right Raspberry Pi model for your needs and requirements.

Installing OctoPrint on a Raspberry Pi​

OctoPrint is usually installed on a Raspberry Pi, which is connected to your local network. Once connected, you can access OctoPrint from any web browser or mobile app on your smartphone. If you want help in getting started with OctoPrint, refer to our guide on how to setup OctoPrint.

OctoPrint is compatible with a wide range of operating systems and platforms. All it needs is a suitable Python environment. It can also run on a regular computer and different operating systems, but it takes a few more steps than simply installing it on a Raspberry Pi. Also, since you probably want it to run all the time, the Raspberry Pi is one of the most power-efficient and cost-effective ways to run it.

Due to their open source nature, strong community support, and ability to integrate with a variety of platforms, OctoPrint and the Raspberry Pi make a fantastic pairing to efficiently operate your 3D printer.

Which Raspberry Pi is best for OctoPrint?​

Right now, Raspberry Pi is available in at least a half a dozen different configurations, if not more. The processing speed, memory, and wireless and Bluetooth connectivity of each vary. Finding a Raspberry Pi model that works well with OctoPrint can be challenging. For instance, you run a higher risk of getting low-quality prints and longer loading times when using an older model, especially if a webcam or other plugins are active.

Thankfully, we did the research making it simpler for you to select the best Raspberry Pi for OctoPrint.

OctoPrint is open-source software that gives you an easy way to monitor and control your 3D printer from your computer. With it’s robust plugin structure, you can expand it’s functionality so you can monitor and control your printer from anywhere, get added peace of mind with AI failure detection and much more. In this article I will discuss five ways Obico for OctoPrint can enhance your 3D printing experience. Lets get started.

Obico, formerly The Spaghetti Detective is an open-source software that streamlines your 3D printing workflow, gives you the ability to monitor and control your printer from anywhere and added peace of mind with AI faiure detection. Obico now works for 3D printers with klipper firmware running fluidd or mainsail, but in this video we will focus on Obico for OctoPrint.

Prusa, a leading 3D printing company, is the inventor of DIY desktop FDM (and, more recently, SLA) 3D printers. It is a well-known brand in the industry, synonymous with dependability and quality.

Prusa has produced numerous award-winning 3D printers over the years, none more so than the Prusa i3. The Prusa i3 is the company's most popular printer, and the MK3S+ is the most recent variation on the i3 model.

The Prusa is a solid 3D printer, but it lacks some features that OctoPrint can provide. OctoPrint gives you the ability to remotely monitor and control your 3D printer. And this is one feature that improves your printing experience regardless of how good your 3D printer is.

If you want to know which 3D printers are the best from a data-driven standpoint, you can take a breather and read our unbiased and data-driven 3D printer review.

Regardless of the best 3D printer, in this article, we will walk you through the process of installing Octoprint on your Prusa i3.

Creality Ender 3 desktop FDM 3D printer/Courtesy: Creality

The Creality Ender 3 is a fantastic 3D printer. It is the ideal balance of quality and affordability. The Ender 3 has many features, but there is one that can make it even more feature-rich. The addition of OctoPrint (OctoPi) has the potential to take it to the next level.

OctoPrint empowers you by allowing you to control your 3D printer from a remote location. If your Ender 3 is linked to OctoPrint, you will be able to extract even more value from this already great machine.

If you're not sure how to set up OctoPrint on the Ender 3, follow this step-by-step guide to get started.

Prefer to watch a video to guide you through the process? Check out our video on setting up OctoPrint and getting started with OctoPrint plugins!

OctoPod is a popular iOS mobile app for accessing your OctoPrint connected printer with your phone so you can now use the app from anywhere for free! Learn more about the integration below:

Source: OctoPod Github

Creality Ender 3/Courtesy: Creality

The Creality Ender 3 is a popular and widely used desktop FDM 3D printer. It is ideal for beginners, students, hobbyists, and makers, especially given the features it offers for the price. It consistently produces high-quality prints with dependable precision.

However, there is a significant disadvantage to this printer. It is not a powerful 3D printer right out of the box. To compensate, you can upgrade your Ender 3 with the appropriate mods that will improve your 3D printing experience. The mods are an excellent way to boost overall performance and bring your 3D printer up to the level of premium printers at a fraction of the cost.

In this article, we'll discuss the following Ender 3 upgrades:

1. Fans And Silent Mainboard
2. BLTouch Auto-Leveling
3. Update Marlin for Advanced Functionality
4. Install OctoPrint
5. Install OctoPrint Plugins

We will also answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the Ender 3 3D printer.

OctoPrint interface/Courtesy: The Spaghetti Detective

OctoPrint is widely known in the maker community as one of the best 3D printer remote monitoring, management, and control software applications. It was created in 2012 by Gina Häußge, a German software engineer, and has since been improved by its devoted community to include a plethora of advanced features.

With over 277 plugins available in OctoPrint, the features are limitless, as are the ways you can use the software to improve your 3D printing experience. OctoPrint provides a plethora of advantages to its users.

It is difficult to find a single plugin that stands out in this vast library of plugins, but there is one that is likely the most advanced and probably the best OctoPrint plugin – The Spaghetti Detective. This OctoPrint plugin is ahead of its time, with powerful and one-of-a-kind features that no other plugin provides.

You can experience 3D printing like never before by combining your OctoPrint applications with The Spaghetti Detective. But don't just take our word for it; let us paint a picture for you of why it's the best OctoPrint plugin.

OctoPrint has a huge user base that has already realized the benefits of the software, but many people have yet to be introduced to OctoPrint and are unaware of what the software can do for them.

Those who want to learn how to install and use OctoPrint can do so by reading our guide on how to set up OctoPrint and experience the ease of 3D printing.

Failed 3D print/Source: The Spaghetti Detective

3D printing is still a technology that relies heavily on trial and error. It's nearly impossible to master the technology without getting your hands dirty. As there are no globally recognized standards in the 3D printer, material, or software manufacturing, it is vulnerable to a variety of printing problems. A multitude of 3D printer issues results in failed prints, which leads to a loss of business, if not your interest in the technology.

To make sure you don’t feel bogged down by the problems and abandon this revolutionary technology, we list down the most popular 3D printer problems and ways to troubleshoot them.

OctoPrint is a Raspberry Pi-based open-source software application that allows you to monitor and control your 3D printer remotely. It was created by Gina Häußge in 2012, and since then it is being constantly updated and upgraded by its active community of supporters and developers to include a wide range of features.

It is a free tool used by thousands of rookies as well as professionals to enhance their 3D printing experience.

What Is OctoPrint​

OctoPrint, created and launched in 2012 by German software engineer Gina Häußge, has grown to become one of the top remote monitoring, management, and control software applications for your 3D printer. The ease of use and simplicity of the software are the primary reasons for many adopters, and the features and functionality have converted adopters into lifelong loyal users.

While the community is growing, many beginners are still unaware of the benefits OctoPrint provides. So, we've compiled a list of genuine reasons why you should be using OctoPrint and why you need it.

If you are a newcomer who has not yet installed OctoPrint, you can take a brief detour and look at our guide on how to set up OctoPrint to get it up and running.

The Mantis 3D Printer​

All of us at The Spaghetti Detective love 3D printing, OctoPrint, and Raspberry Pi’s, so when we heard about a new 3D printer manufacturer offering a 3D printer with OctoPrint, and a Raspberry Pi pre-installed, we were interested! Mantis 3D Printer is using OctoPrint, a Raspberry Pi, and their own custom software with a goal of offering “the world’s easiest to use 3D printer.”

We connected with Joe a few months back and were intrigued because Mantis is one of the first 3D printers to come with OctoPrint pre-installed and a Raspberry Pi on board right out of the box. According to Mantis, their 3D printer fully automates the repair, slicing, orientation, temperature control, printer settings, and bed leveling process to make 3D printing easier than ever. Subsequently, they give users complete access to dive ‘under the hood’ through OctoPrint to control the Mantis like any other open source 3D printer.

While we haven’t tried the Mantis 3D printers ourselves, we think it’s a cool project, so when Joe offered to provide a special discount for The Spaghetti Detective users, we thought it would be a great deal for any users who might be interested in this printer, and for Mantis to get some feedback from our awesome community who also loves 3D printing, OctoPrint and Raspberry Pi’s!

Mantis 3D Printer Special Offer​

The Mantis 3D printer sells for $999, but Mantis is offering a $250 discount for users of The Spaghetti Detective! In addition, Mantis will pay for a 1-year Pro Plan subscription upfront to be used with the new printer. If this sounds like something you are interested in, learn more about the Mantis 3D printer here. When checking out, enter code TSD25 to receive 25% off The Mantis 3D Printer.

The deal is currently limited to the first five purchases, so if this is something you are interested in, definitely check it out soon! If you like these kinds of discounts in general, please let us know so we can find additional ways to offer you deals and discounts on interesting products. If you don’t like them, please let us know that too. You can leave a comment below or drop us an email at support@thespaghettidetective.com.

In this article, we will discuss the benefits of using a camera with OctoPrint and some of the options you can choose from.

OctoPrint is one of the best free and open-source software options for remotely monitoring and controlling a 3D printer. Thousands of users use OctoPrint daily to take advantage of its features and create higher-quality products on their 3D printers. The software is easy to learn and simple to use, so beginners using the most basic 3D printers can also benefit from using OctoPrint.

It will not be an overstatement to say that users, both new and old, recommend using the software because of the numerous benefits it provides to the overall printing experience.

More About OctoPrint​

OctoPrint, despite being marketed as remote monitoring software, does much more than that. It can simultaneously monitor and control multiple printers or print farms, capture pictures and videos, create viral OctoLapse videos, schedule jobs, set print parameters, control bed, and extruder movement; adjust temperatures; control extrusion, edit G-codes, update firmware, and even change display themes to create a personalized environment.

OctoPrint is relatively simple to set up. If you haven’t already set up OctoPrint you can check out our OctoPrint setup guide.

Why Use A Camera With OctoPrint?​

Remote Monitoring​

OctoPrint can effectively monitor 3D printers using its wide range of impressive plugins. However, having a camera adds a whole new dimension to the printing experience. The camera is mounted in and around the printer enclosure such that the printhead and print bed is sufficiently captured. The camera is connected to the OctoPrint software and so the feed from the camera is visible to the user who can then operate the printer as he wants. Adding a camera makes it much easier to monitor and control the printer altogether.

What is OctoPrint and why do I need it?​

OctoPrint is the most popular 3D printing software for wirelessly monitoring and controlling your 3D printer.

Hundreds of thousands of printers rely on OctoPrint's awesome snappy web interface daily to manage their workflows. In addition there are a ton of awesome plugins that take the power of remote 3D printer monitor and control to a whole new level. In this guide, we will tell you what you need to get OctoPrint set up with your 3D printer and how install it.

Prefer to watch a video to guide you through the process? Check out our video on setting up OctoPrint and getting started with OctoPrint plugins!

OctoPrint is one of the best tools you can get for your 3D printer. It provides you with a convenient way to send G-Code to the printer, kick off the print, monitor the print via webcam, and pause/cancel the print all in a beautifully structured user interface. There is a downside though - OctoPrint can only be accessed on your home network, not anywhere else.

Imagine: you just set up a print, turned the printer on, and see everything is perfect. You have some spare time so you leave the house, but one thought lingers – what’s going on with my print? Did it fail, how much time there is left for it to end?

No need to panic. Although you can't directly use OctoPrint outside your home network, there are plenty of ways to let you do that indirectly from anywhere as long as you have an Internet connection. It may be hard to choose which option is the best for you. In this article we try to help you with that, presenting the pros and cons of all possible ways to access your printer remotely.

OctoPrint is the most popular software for monitoring and controlling your 3D printer from another room. It's expansive list of plugins takes it to the next level. In this blog post, I will discuss my two favorite OctoPrint plugins, Octolapse and The Spaghetti Detective. As a content creator myself, I will highlight some of the benefits these plugins provide for creating content.

What is Octolapse?​

For those of you that do not know, Octolapse is a plugin for OctoPrint that was developed by FormerLurker. It is an easy to install plugin that provides seemingly magic time-lapses of your 3D prints. You can configure the time-lapses to work in a bunch of different ways. Some configurations make it look like the 3D print is growing out of the build plate, while others provide a satisfying animation effect. You can fully configure many settings to get the exact result you are going for (depending on your camera setup).

OctoPrint tab (Source: Octolapse page)

This article was updated on August 12, 2022

OctoPrint is a web interface dedicated to making 3D printing easier by allowing you to control and monitor the process. The software allows you to access and control virtually any parameter on your printer.

Moreover, in a heart-warming, traditional internet fashion, it’s open source.

There is a vast database of plugins developed by the 3D printing community that make your experience with OctoPrint even better, and here we list and explain the most popular ones.

Creality Ender 3 is one of the most solid and affordable 3D printers you can get. And OctoPrint is undoubtedly the best solution for monitoring your prints with a webcam.

This brief tutorial is meant to help someone who is interested in using a camera with their 3D printer to take advantage of OctoPrint's amazing monitoring capability with an inexpensive Pi Camera. This setup will work perfectly for The Spaghetti Detective too.

The first thing I realized soon after I owned a 3D printer was that prints can take a long time. The second thing I learned was that they can fail. I was concerned about leaving the house while a print was in progress and quickly discovered that others had recognized this problem and solved it. There are several methods to achieve this, I am going to describe what seemed to be the best solution for me. I will mention the software and hardware that is needed but defer to the many excellent YouTube videos available on the actual implementation of these. The focus here will be to document the steps and provide some tips that I learned in getting it all working. The printed parts were specifically for the Ender 3 V2 printer but most of the information is not printer specific.

The solution I chose involved purchasing a Raspberry Pi computer and installing OctoPi on it. This allows you to use OctoPrint to control the printer from your computer. OctoPi is an image that is put on an SD card and resides in the Raspberry Pi computer and provides the link between your computer and your printer. The Spaghetti Detective is a plugin available to be installed in OctoPrint. While it will work on older versions, I purchased a kit that included the Raspberry Pi 4B. The Raspberry Pi has a port for a “native” camera and USB ports where you could plug some other webcam in. I chose the Raspberry Pi Camera Module V2 as it was inexpensive but had decent specs. I mounted the camera on the z-axis cross beam which meant I needed a longer cable to insure it reached the top of the printer. All the mounting hardware was printed from items I found on Thingiverse (or to be honest were links in the YouTube videos I watched).

What is OctoPrint Tunneling?​

OctoPrint Tunneling is a secure way to access the full OctoPrint UI even when you are not on your home network.

The Spaghetti Detective provides the access to the most critical functions - webcam feed, pause/cancel, changing heater temperature, etc. However, we understand there are times when you want to access other OctoPrint functions while you are not home, such as using its PSU plugin to turn on/off power supply to your printer.

So we built OctoPrint Tunneling to make it possible for you. 🚀🚀🚀

Is OctoPrint Tunneling secure?​

Today we’re here to teach you about 3D print quality and some of the easy ways you can improve surface finish with minimal effort. Above are two 3D prints of the same exact GCODE done back to back on the same printer with the same filament. In this article we’ll discuss what caused surface blobs seen on the left and how you can avoid this in your prints!

Port-forwarding is a technique that gives you access to your OctoPrint from anywhere on the internet, not just when you are on your home network. This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step to show you how to set it up.

Important note: Port-forwarding may be a potential security risk for your home network. Please avoid it unless you know what risks you are taking by setting up port-forwarding. You may want to check other options for accessing OctoPrint from the internet.

We get it. Even if you have The Detective on the watch for you, you won't have a complete peace of mind until you see the webcam feed with your own eyes. That's why we just built the video feed and it's now in alpha testing. You can earn DG credits by enrolling in the alpha testing and reporting bugs to us!

OctoPrint is one of the best tool you can get for your 3D printer. It provides you with a convenient way to send G-Code to the printer, kick off the print, monitor the print via webcam, and pause/cancel the print all in a beautifully structured user interface.

Once you have indulged yourself in all the great benefits brought forward by OctoPrint, however, you will likely experience a panicking moment when all of the sudden you have lost access to OctoPrint.

That’s right! You can’t access OctoPrint when you are commuting, at work, shopping grocery, or anywhere outside your home wifi network.