3DPrinting

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3DPrinting is a place where makers of all skill levels and walks of life can learn about and discuss 3D printing and development of 3D printed parts and devices.

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[newbie] Does one need special drivers for running 3D printers? (lemmy.blahaj.zone)

submitted 3 days ago by Smorty@lemmy.blahaj.zone to c/3dprinting@lemmy.world

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Hi there!

I'm looking into getting myself a good printer and I am wondering if I need to install some platform-specific drivers for them to run. I am running Debian 12 (GNU/Linux) and I am afraid that I must run some proprietary blob to connect to the printer.

Could someone share their experience please? Even if you don't use Linux, your feedback would be very appreciated!

(Also, while you are at it, please share some recommendations for printers, I don't really know where to go (>v<) Have about +-500€ )

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[–] empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 3 days ago

Ok, so a vast majority of 3d printers do not connect directly to a PC these days. They have a self contained microcontroller.

The workflow is:

You design or download a 3D model you want to to print.
Open the 3D model in a slicer software. The slicer takes a 3D model and, using a profile designed for a specific printer's nozzle size and controller, converts the solid volume of the model into G-Code, or machine readable code that is a series of coordinates and move rates. This tells the printer where and how to put plastic.
Export the G-code to a .gcode (or other) file. Save that file onto an SD card.
Put the SD card in your printer.
Select the file on the printer display and away you go.

Now, some printers use a network connection component, eg Bambu printers have a wifi adapter. This let's them download firmware updates and receive print jobs from a computer remotely without needing to move SD cards. This does require the right software, e.g Bambu printers require proprietary Bambu Studio (or it's open source fork OrcaSlicer) that has the networking module to talk to it. This doesn't require special driver setup though.