I have yet to install Farm Manager. I am trying to choose if it is worth it.
I only use one X1C. I have a few other brands I have not used in a long time. Only one user. I am wanting the software for it’s Que function. To not have to wait for the print to finish to send the next job.
A few questions:
It sounds like there are two active components. A server, and client. Server needs to be running all the time to feed the files to the printer. I assume it sends the entire print file to the printer. so the connection to the server is not required, except for monitoring. so something like a reboot does not affect the print.
What is the minimum computer needed to run the server? I assume I will use some small cheap computer to act as the server. I see the minimum requirements is listed as Win 10 or newer. Think Raspberry Pi. (last I checked Win 10 would not run on a Pi. but I am refering to an equivalent power). Is the only downside slow send? Might have issues with many printers.
I am often using recourse hog programs (cad, video editing, photo editing). Is this a problem to run the Server and or client on my main system? Is a separate server needed?
I assume the client is referring to affectively a print driver on the sending computer.
In an industrial or commerical environment, you don’t want your print server running anything else apart from the print server software. This will help ensure reliability, security, and predictable performance. Typically they will use something called an “industrial PC” which is a basically a small brick-sized machine with good ingress protection and cooling.
The client enables you to monitor and control the server. You could probably run the client software on the server as well but see above. You especially don’t want Timmy The Temporary Techician from being to touch the server.
If you imagine how your broadband router works, that little box does all the work and you admin the thing from your laptop or desktop by a remote connection.
CAD should be on your personal workstations. CAD can also be also heavy on resources and probably needs more hardware than a printer server has.
I don’t know if Octoprint works with Bambu. It’s an open source solution that does the above. It can do print Q.
EDIT I would just buy a cheap second hand PC or laptop for the server
Just a FYI, you can already do this if you add storage to the printer (SD/USB) by using the “Send” function in Bambu Studio. The caveat is that you have to select and start the job from printer interface which shouldn’t be a huge deal as you already have to be in front of the printer as you have to manually unload it.
Jon, I assume you are referring to the ability to upload all and when you want to print the second plate you need to select the file and select the plate. If there is a different way please let me know.
What I want is similar to a print que for a 2d printer. Even If a job is printing you can send another. It would be a little different for a 3d printer, you need to change the plate. But I want to reorder the que to fit my schedule, when I can change the plate.
Eponymous The server is a little more complicated than a switch (router). But not a lot. Needs data storage that most switches (routers) don’t have. The major difference is the details are defined in a language that runs on a particular OS.
With If it works the way I expect, that “farm manager” sends the entire print job. The server would not need to be up all the time. If it needed to reboot printing would continue. Monitoring would be delayed. Not saying it would be an unreliable system. Just that it was not a server quality system.
I don’t believe that Octoprint works with Bambu. I believe that Octoprint sends each movement to the printer. Not the entire print. If someone knows differently, please let me know.
One can use Send (instead of Send All) to send individual files or plates in the order they want to the printer. The files will be shown in that order on the printer display. Tip: Give the files short and meaningful names to make it easier to tell which file is for what model or part.
I use send all the time now. I understand “send all” getting it to the printer is not the issue. the list of prints to be made, and the order they are made in is the main issue I am trying to solve.
I want to train someone to change the build plate, then press next. Being able to squeeze an important job in as needed. Or, readjusting the order to end at a good time to change plate. Avoiding a finished print just after I go to bed.
The problem with the ways I have seen so far is choosing the next print has multiple steps. That I can’t train someone to do. What is next? It is complicated to know. Lets say it is noon, and I have a 4, 8, and 12 hour print in the que. What order should I print them in? An ideal que program would put them on a clock timeline so I can choose 8, 12, 4 to fit with my time. Being able to change the bed, then say “next” is reasonable. The best alternative is change the bed and let me know to start the next. And I need to reassess when I am available. Maybe I am in a meeting for a few hours, or driving…
Even it it was not on a clock timeline, the ability to say “next” would be trainable. Not if the next has multiple plates,… or find the one that was just printed, do the next… too many conditions.
I don’t see a way to designate the next file to be printed using the word “Next”.
Furthermore, the farm manager won’t know your schedule for the day and what time you want the printing to finish or start at. You will have to look at the files and their printing time and make that decision yourself.
If you use farm manager, you would have to set up the account and have the person you want to train to log in and know how to navigate and use the farm manager. They will have to click at the “Confirm print removal” button before starting another printing job. You will have to tell them which file to print next anyway.
Why can’t you use the Send feature to send those files to your printer (without using the farm manager), and then tell the “assistant” the name of the file to print next?
Will look into Bambu buddy. It appears that is not Bambu Labs. Could do what I want. Probably not have a “next” on the printer. Maybe. Not opposed to 3rd party, just potentially harder to get answers. and probably limited computer control. not printer control. Thanks for the suggestion.
After a print is finished, an option could be added to the reprint screen or after to start the next print. I don’t see what is hard about that. There are some changes added to the printer firmware. The wicky indicates that you can indicate complete from the client. But that says nothing about from the printer. That seams of obvious place to me. A Youtube video showed a change in printer firmware.
“Farm manager” says it has the que feature. I have not looked into how that was implemented. I assume there is a way to manage the que putting in the order I want. By definition of a QUE is an order of things. And I assume the reorder is an option. Not finding any conformation their definition of QUE is close to mine. Or if they have any of the obvious options for the QUE. the “Next” question is there a simple way to say start “NEXT” from the que.
I don’t expect that FM will have a clue of my schedule. But a list on a timeline would help me put them in an order that makes sense.
The problem with Send and telling my assistant to start a file at a time is: that is dynamic, changing. They will not now what is next. I need to figure out the “next” print. and write a complicated note depending on them to understand. Print que is very common for 2d printers. Many other bands of 3d printers have an option. Computers are good at lists. Why not use the computer.
I understand how it gets complicated with AMS. and different build plates. But that is predictable. Would be nice to have a check to confirm, but without the basic system of QUE. Why ask the complicated questions.
From the sounds of the answers nobody that uses, or have used “farm manager” is getting this. many other systems have a system for queing prints. I expected that to be part of the cloud services.
Using your example of three prints having 4,8,12 hour printing time, you can use the Send button in Bambu Studio to send the 12-hour print first, then the 8 next, then the 4 last. The 3 files will show up on the printer display neatly in the 4,8,12-hour order.
Or you can simply look at the printing time of each file in the display, with or without any order.
I thought dynamic is what you wanted, that you wanted to change the order at will, not the order in which the files are arranged on the time line. If you wanted a fixed order by printing hours, you could have done as I described above to have the files arranged beforehand.
After you figure out which file to print next, you can text the name of the file to them and tell them to print that file next. No need for a complicated note.
I just think that with only one printer, using the farm manager or any other app is adding unnecessary complexity to what is a very simple task.
But this is the last post from me on this. I hope you find a solution to your liking.
“Send” queuing is a totally reasonable way of seeding the prints onto the printer for you to select from while you’re already attending the thing cracking its plate. You get to name them. You seem to have a communications problem not a functional problem - see if you can come up with a system you and your assistant can use to manage what is next. “this one next lol” “after the handle” “the 1pm print”
True queueing doesnt help you unless you have automation ejecting that plate and setting a new one, and you’ve presented that you have an assistant not automation
I am guessing you have not used a que manager. It is so much simpler to print the same way and if it is busy, it adds it to the list to print next. It does not matter who is available to change the plate. Just change the plate and if there is no next print it will start the next thing added to the que.
maybe you have used a que manager and you where the only one changing the plate. It is easy to train anybody to change a build plate. It is much more complicated to tell a non technical to do something that is not the same every time. If the que manager is set up, it is not complex to use. you do the same number of steps. The big advantage is you don’t have to wait for the print to finish before the next one is sent.
I am sure you have used a 2d print que. from your word processor you tell it to print. No extra complexity.
youre not wrong but you also don’t need to feed a single piece of paper into a 2d printer every time you need to print a page, like you actually do have to do with a 3d printer. Just sayin you’re appleing your oranges a little.
It is very easy to train someone to change the build plate and push next.
the big advantage to an editable print que is predicting done that it needs to change. Very easy to put the long time to not matter and not end right after you leave.
I have been using 3d printers for 30 years and most have them have had que managers. Kind of like air conditioning once you get used to having it, it is hard to do without.
In my opinion with long print times it is even more important to adjust what prints. Standard to print a long print while a different is being printed. Then you can easily focus on how long it will be
I don’t think I am appeling an orange. The responses are you don’t need fruit. Not understanding fruit is part of a healthy diet.
