PRINTING FROM A COMPUTER??
Hello BFB forum, can someone help me print from my computer right to the BFB 3000 plus i have the cord but am unsure how get the BFB to recognize the computer.
Is there any way around this limitation?
Perhaps different firmware and/or a serial connection to the controller, bypassing the touchscreen.
I can program a (PC connected)microcontroller to emulate a USB flashdrive. That gets the file where it needs to be. The next problem is getting the printer to act on the file without a person there physically pushing the touchscreen.
Our 3D Touch triple head is connected to a networked computer in an office an hour away from my home where I do the CAD modeling. I have a webcam pointed at the printer, and remote desktop access to the office computer. I'd like to send a model to the printer and get it started printing while I am at home and have it ready by the time I get to the office. Better yet, I check the webcam periodically and call someone to remove the model when it is done printing; then I send the next thing to be printed, saving me from 2 hours in traffic and the gasoline that goes with it.
Dustin Maki
Crews Ventures Lab
University of Memphis
The Netfabb software engine has this ability.
However you are then (effectively) running a Netfabb printer, not a BfB unit, and all support will have to go back to Netfabb. It is a complete replacement firmware for the printer, and their own rendering software to go with this. It reprograms the unit to function just as a USB 3D printer.
Unfortunately, while some features work well, I gave up on it as it also introduced problems in other areas. It may well have improved since. Downside obviously is it means no printing without a computer on and running. It is smoother and faster in some areas though.
Best Wishes
You can't print directly from your PC to any BfB machines.. You must copy the .bfb file generated in the slicer program (axon) to a SD card (or USB stick for rapman 3.2 or 3d touch) and insert this into the appropriate slot.
the logic behind this is that it is independent of the computer and doesn't tie it up for the time that the print is taking place which could be several hours.
The USB socket on the machines is for upgrading the firmware installed in the machine.
Dave