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Topic: Install Solidoodle 2 via print server for mac

I have an issue trying to install the Solidoodle 2 via the print server.

Is there any way to link the Solidoodle 2 to the mac through WiFi? I tried to add the IP at the Print & Scan window but couldn't locate the driver as shown on the attachment image.

I connected the Solidoodle 2 to the print server which connects to the router and accessing the Solidoodle 2 through WiFi using a mac (as attached image). The issue is that I can't find a way to connect to the Solidoodle 2 from the mac in order to print. The print server I'm currently using is TP-LINK: TL-PS110U

Thanks!

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2 (edited by grob 2014-07-04 05:54:51)

Re: Install Solidoodle 2 via print server for mac

Welcome to the forum!

OK, although it might be called a "3D printer," this isn't actually a printer like ones you've previously used. It doesn't use normal printer drivers. It needs to be connected directly to the computer by USB, which runs special software to control it. It will not work through a wireless router's print server.

Here are the set-up instructions, please follow them to get started: http://www.solidoodle.com/start-here/set-up/

Making this work via wifi is a whole new ballgame, please don't worry about that right now...

SD3. Mk2b + glass, heated enclosure, GT2 belts, direct drive y shaft, linear bearings, bowden-feed E3D v5 w/ 0.9° stepper
Smoothieboard via Octoprint on RPi

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Re: Install Solidoodle 2 via print server for mac

Thank you for your reply.

Just to clarify, even with the print server which is connected directly to the 3D printer by USB, it doesn't work at all? Even though we are able to detect the 3D printer through the print server on the network?

4 (edited by grob 2014-07-07 04:35:33)

Re: Install Solidoodle 2 via print server for mac

The solidoodle usb driver creates a COM port on the computer that the host software (e.g. repetier host, as comes with the solidoodle package) uses to communicate with it - it's basically a usb-serial adapter underneath.

Normally a network print server can only share things it knows how to talk to - and yours, according to the brochure, will only talk to generic printers and mass storage devices. Depending on which it detects, it then runs a network print server or samba share drive itself so you can access them over the network. As a rule these print servers don't know how to deal with serial adapters, a brief look around the net came up with a few people trying this unsuccessfully for various applications (older printers that use serial ports, mainly).

The reason it's showing up in 'shares' is that your print server doesn't know what the solidoodle is, and perhaps has defaulted to thinking it's a storage device. You can't connect to it, as when the print server tries to speak mass-storage-device-language via usb to the solidoodle, the solidoodle will ignore it.

In short, this is not going to work. Please connect it directly to the computer by USB.

(If you want to access it via wifi, the current best method is to put a dedicated host computer on the printer (e.g. a $40 raspberry pi single-board computer), running it's own 3d-printing host software that provides a network/web interface (e.g. octoprint), with a wifi connection (the pi needs a usb dongle for this). It's a more involved project, but not insurmountable. There are many guides on the internet about doing this.)

SD3. Mk2b + glass, heated enclosure, GT2 belts, direct drive y shaft, linear bearings, bowden-feed E3D v5 w/ 0.9° stepper
Smoothieboard via Octoprint on RPi

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Re: Install Solidoodle 2 via print server for mac

Alright then. Thanks hmm

6 (edited by grob 2014-07-07 06:19:22)

Re: Install Solidoodle 2 via print server for mac

No worries, it was an interesting idea! smile

SD3. Mk2b + glass, heated enclosure, GT2 belts, direct drive y shaft, linear bearings, bowden-feed E3D v5 w/ 0.9° stepper
Smoothieboard via Octoprint on RPi