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.

Introduction​

Klipper is an upcoming and popular 3D printing firmware that's quickly becoming the standard in high-speed 3D printing. Its extensive feature set, vibrant community, and continuous development make it the go-to option for several new users and professionals.

Yet, Klipper is still in its nascent stages, and there's little information available on how to get the most out of the firmware. It causes new users to limit themselves to the basic functionalities and miss out on some valuable features of the Klipper firmware.

In this article, we'll go over some of the useful tips and tricks you can use with your Klipper 3D printer to get the most out of it. It'll help you use Klipper in the best way possible and improve your 3D printing experience.

Let's get started with some tips and tricks to optimize your klipping experience.

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!.

The 3D printing world and its terminology can be confusing at times, especially if you are new to 3D printing. We've gathered a collection of 3D printing industry terms and acronyms that you're likely to encounter along the way.

For each term, a small explanation is provided that should help you understand its definition and how it fits in the world of 3D printing.

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.

Introduction​

Remote monitoring of your 3D prints is, to date, one of the most challenging tasks to accomplish in 3D printing. And while applications like Octoprint and Klipper give you access to wireless monitoring, natively, these software are limited for use on the same network.

This is where Obico comes in handy and lets you experience the true meaning of remote, wireless 3D printing. In this article, we'll look at the Obico software in its entirety and understand its benefits to your 3D printing workflow.

What is Obico?​

Obico is a 3D printer monitoring and controlling tool that features AI detection technology to notify you about any failed prints. It's the successor to the popular Octoprint plug-in, The Spaghetti Detective. Obico builds upon The Spaghetti Detective and adds features like printing from anywhere, Octoprint tunneling, and improved AI print failure detection.

You can use Obico on Android, Apple, and any other browser based devices from virtually anywhere in the world. This cross-compatibility allows you to select any device and start with remote 3D printing. And it frees you from the bounds of your local wireless network, and you can access your 3D printer even over a mobile network.

Obico's AI detection capabilities quickly recognize print failures or discrepancies in your ongoing print and notify you about the print's status. This feature helps you to save considerable printing time, cost, and filament that you would've otherwise lost due to failed prints.

However, Obico is not a standalone software yet. Instead, it works alongside Octoprint and Klipper 3D printing applications. You'll need to install either of these software on your 3D printers before setting up Obico and experiencing remote 3D printing.

Setting up Obico is relatively easy on both these platforms, and there are detailed guides available on Obico's websites that you can refer to install Obico for your 3D printer.

Let's briefly explain the basics of configuring Obico for Octoprint and Klipper applications. It'll give you an insight into the installation process and help you to learn about the Obico software.

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.

Would you like to upgrade your 3D printer? There are several modifications you can make to your 3D printer to transform it into an impressive machine. These modifications apply to the hardware, software, and firmware features of the 3D printer. The beauty of it is some of these modifications can be 3D-printed directly at home. Others can be purchased and mounted on your 3D printer to improve specific aspects of your 3D printing activities.

We have compiled the best of these upgrades and modifications for the 3D printer in the list below. From a brand new automatic bed levelling sensor to a simple 3D printable extruder, you won't recognize your 3D printer once you're done with these upgrades. Unlike these Ender 3 upgrades, which are for a specific model, note that this is a general guide for various 3D printer upgrades that can help improve 3D printing quality and user experience. It isn't for any specific printer and will generally apply to most open-source 3D printers on the market.

When and Why Should You Upgrade Your 3D Printer?​

You should upgrade your 3D printer if, first, the stock firmware has some issues. You may also need to do this to make the printer faster, more accurate, and effective with its function. Upgrading the 3D printer is also done to protect the machine, user, the printed objects and make it easier to use.

But 3D machine upgrades and modifications are best left to the pros. If you're a new beginner, we recommend not doing a bunch of hardware upgrades. Instead, take some time to get to know the machine. Often, people do too many upgrades when first starting, but they don't understand why they are doing them or if they are even necessary at all.

You need to know the machine, its strengths, and its weaknesses. You should not necessarily upgrade when unsure what the problem is, as it is easy to misdiagnose issues this way.

Best 3D Printer Upgrades​

There are many upgrades and improvements for the 3D printer that you can print out yourself. However, for most of them, it will be necessary to buy them. In this section, we have listed the essential components, software, and firmware that will improve both your 3D printer and the quality of the prints.