You've connected a 3D Printer to AstroPrint and you've uploaded a design to print... Now it's time to start printing!
This walkthrough will take you through the steps of printing your first object with AstroPrint.
Step 1 - Select the file to print
After logging in via AstroPrint.com, click on Design Library. In your Design Library, click on the Design or Print File you wish to print. Not sure what to print? Impress all your friends and family with a 3D Printed AstroPrint Keychain. :-)
Note: If you are printing an existing Print File (i.e. GCODE or X3G file), you will automatically skip Steps 2 - 4, going directly to Step 5 (Selecting a Printer).
Step 2 - Establish Settings ("Slicing Options")
This is where you select the options for how your Print File will be prepared. In the 3D Printing industry, preparing a Print File is typically called 'Slicing.'
A) Printer Profile - Select which Printer Profile to use for slicing. If you haven't configured any Printer Profiles yet, simply click "+add printer" and add a Printer Profile to your account. If your Printer Profile is not in the list, select "Custom Printer." For Custom Printers, you'll need to make sure you put in all the proper settings for your printer! That's important!
B) Material - Select your Material Profile. If you haven't configured the proper Material Profile, click "+add material" and put in the proper settings.
C) Print Quality - Choose your Print Quality. Note: Lower print qualities will print MUCH faster than high print qualities.
D) Support, Adhesion, Density - Toggle Support Structures and Plate Adhesion. Set your Fill Density. If you don't know what this means, no problem, you can just leave these settings as default for now.
E) Advanced Slicer Settings - Advanced users can use this area to modify any/all slicer settings. You can even save those settings as a new Custom Settings profile, to use again later.
Step 3 - Create Print File
To create the print file and get ready to print, click Print.
If you just want to Slice the file, without printing, click Slice. This is best if you want to print the file later, or if you want to download the sliced file to an SD card.
Step 4 - Verify Printing Details
If everything looks fine, you have two options:
A) Print Now
B) Add to Queue - This option adds the file to one of your Print Queues. Check out our [Print Queue Guide] for more info on how Print Queues work.
Step 5 - Select the printer to run the print job
The file will be sent to the printer and it will start the print job, wirelessly.
Step 6 - Monitor the Print with AstroPrint (optional)
You will automatically be taken to the Print Monitor screen. You can always get back to the monitor screen by clicking on the Monitor App on your AstroCenter Dashboard.
However, the easiest way to monitor your printer is with the AstroPrint Mobile App! Learn more about it here.
How did your first print go? Let us know if you had any trouble getting started!