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I'm interested in finding online APIs where you could perform a call to some third party service with some print preparation request with my model (i.e. "heal a model" or "set up support") and get in return GCODE file I can send to a 3D printer. My input will be :

  • The 3d model (obj, stl)
  • My printer (makerbot, ultimaker, whatever) or a printer profile
  • A printing profile

This is opposed to all the classical 3D printing processes we have right now. Currently when printing in a 3D printer you would need to go through these phases:

  1. Create/Download a model
  2. Prepare the model for printing with some 3rd party desktop software
  3. Export the model as gcode
  4. Save the file to some flash drive
  5. Plug the flash drive into the printer
  6. Print the model with the printer interface

I would like to know if this process can be simplified to a point where you can just print your model directly from your web browser without going through all these steps. I know I'm over simplifying things here, but I would still want to see if solutions like I suggested exist?

Thanks

Gregra
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2 Answers2

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WiFi

A few of the newer machines are coming stock with WiFi connectivity such as MakerBot Replicator(s)/Z18, da Vinci Jr., Kudo3D, and some others that I'm forgetting.

However, these WiFi enabled machines essentially emulate what OctoPrint and AstroPrint provide. While wirelessly connecting might save the hassle of not saving a G-Code file to an SD card/Flashdrive, then plugging in said memory device, then selecting the program to run, the wireless solution still requires a slicer to do the work.

Both OctoPrint and AstroPrint allow building up a queue of sliced prints and I know that OctoPrint will even slice a 3D Print-ready model and place it in your queue.

The only application that I'm aware of that seems to reduce the most amount of work is MakerBot Desktop with a MakerBot Replicator/Z18. While MakerBot does not have a great reputation (as of 2016), they have produced some great software. As I understand, here's how you can utilize MakerBot Desktop:

Printing from Thingiverse

  • Log into Thingiverse from MakerBot Desktop
  • Find the model you want to print
  • There should be a handy Print button located in the interface
  • The software will preview the model. Most models that have been uploaded to Thingiverse will be in print-ready orientation/scaling
  • Continue by pressing Print
  • Now the software will slice the model and send the G-Code via USB or WiFi

Really, the only step that MakerBot Desktop skips is downloading the model from your web browser.

There are some rare cases that models found on the internet (such as Thingiverse) will also have the sliced G-Code, but you'll have to be careful to make sure it's the correct flavor for your machine.

Maybe in the future?

Currently, Microsoft is working on a new 3D printing file format called .3MF which theoretically could negate the need to slice a 3D model. I'm assuming that you would need a machine that specifically can interpret the file. This project is still very much in the works and it may be years before we see full support as the format needs to be agreed upon by both software companies like SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Catia, etc. AND the 3D printer manufacturers like MakerBot/Stratasys, 3D Systems, and other big-named companies.

If you combine the benefit of no longer needing to slice a model and WiFi/USB connection, then most of the "manual" work you describe will no longer be necessary.

Community
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tbm0115
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There are a few methods to simplify your workflow. Two solutions are outlined below and both feature a documented API you can use to further customize your workflow.

OctoPrint was mentioned by other users. OctoPrint will allow you to configure your printer, print profiles and upload STLs for printing from a web interface. You can configure profiles, slicers and slicer profiles for OctoPrint to use to complete your workflow.

Astroprint offers cloud slicing services in addition to features allowing you to manage printers and print profiles.

tamarintech
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