OctoPrint makes you wireless! Outside of all our joy in printing upgrades for our printers, the one thing that makes it even more enjoyable is going wireless. I guess wireless is a bit misleading. It means sending a print from your computer to the printer without using the SD card, a USB, or tethered. Here is a description quoted straight from their site: "OctoPrint is the snappy web interface for your 3D printer that allows you to control and monitor all aspects of your printer and print jobs, right from your browser." Using an interface from your browser is a big deal but not having to be wired or using a card is right up there in the best thing since sliced bread.
Octoprint does so much more I don't know where to start. I can control every aspect of the machine. The one drawback is having to buy a raspberry pi for every printer. I didn't notice the first couple, but that was a few years ago when they were available and cheap. I have seen pi's go for almost $200 these days! You'll probably have a few already if you're anything like me, but the cheapest we can get is a pi 3b. You can use smaller, cheaper pi's, but I have heard they have issues. The last thing you want is weird issues that are hard to track down.
Let's move on to what Octoprint can do for us. Octoporint can manage our files much better. We can use a camera and watch from our computer. A huge bonus is the phone apps that use Octoprints API. I use Octopod for an iPhone, and I love it. I can see what's going on can set up a myriad of plug-ins for even more functionality. I can remote view and control the printer. I can shut down, add files, view g-code, add g-code, take time-lapses, and so much more!
I mainly use Octoprint as an easy way to control the essential functions. I add files and hit print, and use the movement controls. The UI is all in front of you instead of clicking and turning a knob a thousand times and constantly going the wrong way. I have never used the time-lapse feature, but I can see the appeal. I have set up just a few plug-ins because I know it becomes overwhelming when you have too many, and then I never use any of them. I like SimplyPrint because it allows me to view things while away from my home network. SimplyPrint enables me to do the basic things I need to do while away. I can also store files and slice. It is free for two printers, but there is a paid version if you need more. SimplyPrint will be in a blog post all its own shortly, as I like it so much.
After everything said here, your next question is probably how. It is straightforward, and anyone who can get a 3d printer too print can get Octoprint to work. Basically, you go to this site, download the file, plug in the pi and open a browser window. It is slightly more complicated, but it is pretty freaking easy. If you want me to go through the steps in depth, leave a comment. Thanks for reading, and let's make sure we have fun printing!
