Introduction: How to 3D Print Directly From Your Smartphone Using MyMiniFactory & OctoPrint

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About: MyMiniFactory is the world’s largest curated 3D printable object-sharing platform, where 3D printer owners can discover and download over 55,000 free or premium guaranteed 3D printable objects to print at home…

3D printing allows users to download designs online and print them in 3D at home using a 3D printer. And though the outcome is incredible, the process can be tricky.

MyMiniFactory, the world’s largest inventory of guaranteed 3D printable objects from 3D designers around the world, developed a plugin for OctoPrint, in partnership with Jneiliii to make using a 3D printer easier and more accessible for all (see this video).

With a couple of clicks you can start 3D printing in seconds directly from your Iphone without the usual process of slicing your files.

Now 3D enthusiasts can share their passion for printing with friends, family and even children without having to teach them the technicals!! Pick from thousands of objects on the MyMiniFactory App on iOS or GooglePlay to print with one click.

Step 1: What You'll Need

Hardware:

  • Raspberry Pi with WiFi (Pi Zero W or Pi 3 B+ for example)
  • A micro SD card
  • If you chose a Raspberry Pi Zero W, a micro USB to USB adapter
  • Micro USB / USB cable (for alimentation)
  • A micro SD card USB adapter (to connect the SD card to your PC)
  • USB cable to connect to your printer to the Raspberry
  • A computer
  • A 3D printer (in our case the Creality Ender 3)
  • Some PLA filament
  • A smartphone

Software:

For this instructable we will be covering the installation of Octopi on the Raspberry Pi Zero W - which requires a micro USB to USB adapter. Adapters will vary based on the Raspberry Pi and the computer you choose to use.

You'll need the Raspberry Pi and a micro SD to install Octopi: a small python program connecting your printer to your WiFi.

You will need the micro-USB to USB cable to power your Raspberry Pi and the USB cable to connect it to your 3D printer (it might have been provided when you bought it).

Step 2: Install Octopi on Your Raspberry Pi

If you already have Octoprint installed on your 3D printer, you can jump to step 4

  1. Download Octopi on Octoprint.org
  2. Format your SD card (Find "this PC” in your File explorer, right click on your "SD card", select "format", untick "Quick format")
  3. Install a disk image installer
  4. Unzip the octopi image
  5. Write Octopi disk image on your SD card (when it is done, you might receive an alert message from Windows asking you to format the device. Click on "Cancel")
  6. Go in the "Boot" folder in your SD card
  7. Open the file octopi-wpa-supplicant file with the code editor you chose
  8. Add your wifi name and wifi password inside the quote of the correct security type (most common is WPA / WPA2)
  9. Delete the # from lines with 1 # (only for the correct security type, in our case WPA / WPA2 ) *see photo*
  10. Insert your SD card into the Raspberry Pi
  11. Power your Raspberry Pi by plugging in the micro USB cable into the power port (written on the Raspberry Pi)

Step 3: Connect to Octoprint

  1. Download a SSH client like putty
  2. Download “bonjour” for Windows (**might not be mandatory for everyone and you might need to restart your PC)

    You can try the next step without installing Bonjour. If it doesn't work, install it and try again
  3. Open Putty and enter octopi.local as host, keep default port. Default username and password are "pi" and "raspberry". When connecting to the Raspberry Pi, you will have a security message. Don't worry about it. **see picture 2**
  4. You are now connected. You can see the local IP address for connecting to your octopi server. In our case 192.168.1.132.

Step 4: Set Up Octoprint and Connect to Your Printer

  1. Type octopi.local ( or the IP address you saw in the previous step) in your browser tab
  2. Follow the set-up instructions (We strongly advise having access control activated)
  3. Connect the Raspberry Pi to your printer with the USB cable
  4. Click on "Connect" on the OctoPrint interface (auto serial port and auto baudrate usually work)

Step 5: Install and Set-up MyMiniFactory Plugin

    1. Go to the plugin manager and look for "MyMiniFactory"

    OR

    1. Use this link: https://github.com/jneilliii/OctoPrint-MyMiniFact...


    2. Restart your Octopi server (it should ask that automatically)
    3. Go to "settings"
    4. Click on the MyMiniFactory tab
    5. Select your printer manufacturer and model
    6. Click on "Get QR code"
    7. If your printer is not yet supported, you can send a message to info@myminifactory.com and we will try to add it

    Step 6: Connect You Printer to Your MyMiniFactory Account

    1. Download MyMiniFactory app (play store or app store)
    2. Login or register (to access free and exclusive guaranteed 3D printable objects from around the world)
    3. Click on the "profile" icon in the bottom right corner (looks like a person)
    4. Click the "settings" gear on the top right
    5. Select "connect a printer" from the menu
    6. Scan the QR code generated from your printer in Octoprint settings in the MyMiniFactory tab

    Step 7: Instantly Print in 3D With Click & Print

      Browse and discover thousand of object on MyMiniFactory and instantly Print in 3D through the app

      1. Click on the object of choice
      2. Notice a "print" icon below the object on the left (if it doesn't appear the object is not click & print ready)
      3. Select your printer from the dropdown menu
      4. Select the scale and number of copies
      5. Click on the "Print this Object" button
      6. Click on "print" again to confirm

      Octoprint will then download the gcode from the MyMiniFactory server and start loading the file to print

      You can monitor everything from your Octoprint web interface

      Wait for the printer to heat up and watch the reactions of your loved ones as their object begins to come to life!