How to configure network connection with Ultimaker 3?

For some time now, many manufacturers of desktop 3D printers boast the ability of connection of their devices via WiFi. Unfortunately, in many cases the way of setting up a network connection is quite complicated and the devices themselves are devoid of video cameras, which makes this functionality quite poor. The Ultimaker, along with the launch of the third generation of its 3D printers, ensured that in this case it was solved in a very simple way. We decided to test it out.

In the upper right corner of CURA there are two icons – the first switches to the virtual table image, where we prepare the 3D printing models, the second switch to the control panel of the device. In fact, this formulation is strongly on the rise – all we can do is pause or pause 3D printing, but we also have a preview of the device as well as the temperature information of the head and the work table. Of course, you can also see the time it takes to complete the entire 3D print.

Ultimaker 3 is by default equipped with a video camera mounted in the upper right corner of the device. The image is transmitted in real time (not in a time) to the CURA control software.

How to configure the connection?

To set up a connection to Ultimaker 3 via WiFi, select the third SYSTEM item from the main menu of the 3D printer.

Then search for NETWORK and click on it.

Select RUN WIFI SETUP.

The 3D printer begins to create its hotspot. It may take a few minutes, but it actually takes just over a minute.

When this is done, we need to select the network created by the 3D printer on the computer.

Once connected to the device, open a web browser where the connection wizard displays with instructions on how to do this.

We choose the local network to which our 3D printer is assigned – in our case it is “CD3D”. We open CURA and select a 3D printer from the list and connect to it.

The last step is to allow CURY 3D printing. We do this from a 3D printer.

After this step the configuration is complete. The whole process takes less than 5 minutes.

Remote Work with Ultimaker 3

When we connect to the 3D printer from the computer and switch to the viewer, we will display the video camera image.

When you switch to the spatial modeling window, the “PRINT OVER NETWORK” button appears instead of the “SAVE TO FILE” button by default. Of course, we can change this from the drop down list.

After cutting the model and clicking on the button, GCODE is sent to the 3D printer. It takes very little time. From this point on, 3D printing starts and we can only pause or stop.

Disadvantages…?

For the moment we have noticed three:

• Connection to a 3D printer is only possible on a local area network; So if you want to have a constant look at the work of the device – whether it is from home or from anywhere in the country and in the world, we have to create a VPN connection, which is unfortunately no longer so simple and requires a public IP address on the one hand and more advanced Router (or Raspberry Pi, which we configure ourselves); The same applies to a mobile app that we can install on a smartphone – it will work, but only within a local network.
• If the printout is over, we have to remove it from the table and click on the “PRINT REMOVED” printer; This is obvious – we can not run another print if the table is still old; However, it is only after some time that we remember that after clicking on the printout remember to click on the above option; So far we’ve done double jobs to a 3D printer room in order to run a reprint …
• CURA 2.6 does not allow you to queue prints; The one who prints at the moment must end in order to be able to release the second (third, fourth, fifth, etc.); We have to wait for the infamous PRINT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM that has such functionality.

Advantages…?

Well, we have a constant preview of the 3D printer and we do not need to check from time to time whether everything prints as we need to, or how much time is left to finish work? It’s a big profit. Well, and probably the most important thing – setting up a connection with a 3D printer is as simple and trivial as with other office equipment. Even the greatest layman will be able to handle this.