At MakerBot, we’re helping people bring ideas to life with faster, easier ways to 3D print. With the MakerBot Mobile app, you have the freedom to control and manage your 3D printer from wherever you are. Professionals can easily travel or devote more time to other tasks while 3D printing projects. Educators can move from classroom to classroom, or focus on teaching while prints are being completed. To ensure that you get the most from on-the-go 3D printing, we’ve put together a list of five things you can achieve with MakerBot Mobile. Learn more, and enjoy new ease with MakerBot’s connected solutions.
1. Get Started with Guided Wireless Setup
From the very start, MakerBot Mobile helps you hit the ground running. You no longer have to setup your printer near a computer— all you need is MakerBot Mobile and a steady Wi-Fi connection. Now, you have the freedom to set it up in a place that might be more convenient for you. Once you’re ready to get started, just select Guided Setup on the app. In just a few steps, Guided Setup leads you with clear directions and helpful animations.
Guided Setup walks you through unboxing procedures, Wi-Fi activation, and connecting to your printer’s hotspot. After completing these steps, you can start testing ideas, iterating, and finalizing projects with MakerBot.
2. Monitor Your Prints From Anywhere
With MakerBot Mobile, you can actually be in two places at once. If you’re traveling to visit clients or you decide to work from home, you can still monitor the progress of your 3D print projects. You’ll have full access to your MakerBot 3D Printer’s on-board camera, which shares a live stream of your printer hard at work. Even if you have multiple printers working in different locations, your live stream allows you to monitor each one with ease. So, go ahead and book your next trip— you’ll still have everything you need to watch your ideas come to life.
3. Re-calibrate Your Z-Axis Offset Settings
Managing hardware settings may seem like something you can only do manually, but it’s not. If you spot an issue that’s affecting your print quality, like a model peeling off of the build plate during the print process, or filament that’s under extruding, your mobile app can help.
Your default print settings should be set so that you’re using a raft when you start a new print. Rafts establish a flat foundation so that your prints come out better. They ensure better print quality by helping your prints stick to the build plate. Using a raft can help you quickly identify problems with the flow of plastic from the extruder. As you watch your print start, do you notice the raft’s first layer looking wiggly or inconsistent? Do the raft’s corners seem to peel up, away from the build plate? These results would indicate that the extruder is too far away from your build plate surface. If there isn’t any filament extruding from the nozzle at all, or you hear a clicking noise when the print begins, your extruder may be too close to the build plate.
The Z-axis offset controls your extruder’s distance from the build plate. MakerBot Mobile helps you re-calibrate your Z-axis offset automatically to help ensure that your next prints are much more precise and consistent.
On MakerBot Mobile, you can begin managing these settings by going into “Utilities” and selecting “Z-Offset.” From there, you have the option of running a Z calibration to improve the homing location of your build plate or adjust the z-offset yourself. Once your adjustments are made, you can look forward to better, more precise 3D printing.
4. Update Firmware While on the Go
Downloading new firmware should be a convenient, easy way to access MakerBot’s latest features. MakerBot Mobile helps you get more done by allowing you to download firmware while you’re on the go. Feel free to go grab a cup of coffee or check in on other projects while you’re downloading the latest version— a typical update lasts around 15 minutes. By the time you come back, your MakerBot firmware should be up-to-date and you can access new features immediately.
To manage firmware, all you have to do is go into “Utilities,” and select “Update Firmware.” Our latest firmware, Firmware 2.2, has updated the design of the user interface for the app and introduces new icons and filament alerts for Tough PLA.
5. Start a Print from Thingiverse
With MakerBot Mobile, you can quickly start a print from Thingiverse. Print files from your Thingiverse Library, or search to download new Things you’d like to print. Once you’ve chosen your desired file, you can elect to give it rafts or supports before sending the file to the printer. After the print starts, you’ll receive an estimate of how long it’ll take to complete the print, so you can plan accordingly.
6. Stay Organized with 3D Printer Names
MakerBot Mobile makes it easy to name your 3D printers so you can more easily manage them. Naming your printer will help you manage and monitor multiple MakerBot 3D Printers at once.
To name your printer, just visit “Utilities” and select “Name Printer.” Once you’ve set your printer name, you’ll see your new printer name, the printer’s model, and its status, all at the bottom of your screen.
With these features and more, you have the power to shape your journey from idea to innovation, and enjoy a faster, easier 3D printing workflow. To learn more about how you can stay connected to your MakerBot 3D Printer and speed up iterative design while you’re on the go, download MakerBot Mobile today!