Home » Misc » 3D printer for ipad

3D printer for ipad


Can You Use an iPad, Tablet or Phone for 3D Printing? A How To – 3D Printerly

You can use a 3D printer in many ways, with the normal process being from starting with your computer, transferring a file to an SD card, then insert that SD card into your 3D printer.

Some people wonder whether you use an iPad or a tablet for 3D printing, so I decided to write about it in this article.

Keep on reading for some more detailed information about using a tablet or iPad for your 3D printing.

Can You Run & Use an iPad, Tablet or Phone for 3D Printing?

Yes, you can run and use an iPad, tablet or phone for 3D printing by using software such as OctoPrint which controls the printer from a browser, along with a slicer that can send files to your 3D printer wirelessly. AstroPrint is a great online slicer to use for your mobile device or tablet. 

The part users have trouble with is getting the direct file to be sent to the 3D printer.

When you just have an iPad, tablet or phone, you need to be able to download the STL file, slice it, then send the file to your 3D printer.

Preparing the G-Code file that your 3D printer understands is fairly straightforward, but the file transfer to the printer itself is another step that is needed which confuses people.

Slicer software that give users the most capabilities and options are the ones you’ll find that require a desktop and operating system like Windows or Mac.

The ones you’ll be able to use on an iPad, tablet, or Mac are ones usually controlled through Cloud software that gives you fairly basic functions, enough to process the file.

You can easily model 3D prints through different modeling apps for iOS or Android (shapr3D), as well as export to an STL file, load the files to the printer and manage prints.

If you want to get into 3D printing seriously, I’d definitely recommend getting yourself a PC, laptop or Mac to set yourself up for the best 3D printing experience. Slicers that are worth your while will be controlled through a desktop.

Another reason why you’d want a desktop is for any new 3D printer firmware changes, which would be a lot easier to do through a desktop.

How Do You Run a 3D Printer With an iPad, Tablet or Phone?

To run your 3D printer with an iPad, tablet or phone, you can use AstroPrint on your iPad through the Cloud to slice files, then plug a USB-C hub into your iPad, copy the .gcode file to your SD Card, then transfer the memory card to your 3D printer to start the printing process. 

One user who does this method said it works really well, but there is sometimes an issue of the file being copied and creating a “ghost copy” of the file which can be hard to identify within the 3D printer’s display.

When you choose the “ghost file” instead of the actual file, it won’t print, so you’d have to select the other file the next time.

Many people advise for you to get a Raspberry Pi, along with a touchscreen to operate it. This combination should allow you to handle basic slicing of models and other adjustments.

Having a separate touchscreen with your Raspberry Pi also allows you to control the 3D printer pretty easily with OctoPrint installed. It’s a very useful app that has many features and abilities that can make your 3D printing experience a better one.

Running Your 3D Printer With OctoPi

To run a 3D printer with an iPad, tablet or phone, you can also attach an OctoPi to your 3D printer. This is a popular software and mini computer combination that can be used to effectively control your 3D printer, similar to how a computer world.

It provides you with a nice interface that allows you to easily manage your 3D prints.

One user mentions how they use OctoPi to control their 3D printer, as well as send it STL files from any device that has a web browser.

It requires a few items:

  • OctoPrint Software
  • Raspberry Pi with built-in Wi-Fi
  • PSU for Raspberry Pi
  • SD Card

When set up correctly, it can take care of your slicing and sending G-Code to your 3D printer.

Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Format an SD Card and transfer OctoPi on it – input the relevant settings within the config files by following OctoPrint’s instructions.
  2. Put your SD Card into the Raspberry Pi
  3. Connect your Raspberry Pi to your 3D printer
  4. Turn on the Raspberry Pi and connect to the web interface

You don’t even need an app to make use of this process, just the browser. It has fairly limited slicing function, but enough to get some 3D prints going.

One user talks about how they use their iPad Pro and the shapr3D app to design their 3D prints, then they airdrop Cura to their laptop to slice. Using a laptop or computer does make the 3D printing process a lot easier to handle, especially with larger files.

Another user has OctoPrint running on an old netbook. They have 2 3D printers that are connected to the laptop via USB, then they use the AstroPrint plugin.

What this allows him to do is make designs on an app like TinkerCAD or import files directly from Thingiverse, slice them online, and send it through to the 3D printer, all from his phone.

With this setup, he can also get status updates with images through alerts on his phone on Discord.

Thomas Sanladerer created a newer video on how to run OctoPrint through your phone, so check it out below.

Running Your 3D Printer With 3DPrinterOS

Using a premium 3D printer management application like 3DPrinterOS is a great solution to running your 3D printer remotely.

3DPrinterOS gives you the capability to:

  • Monitor your 3D prints remotely
  • Use Cloud storage for multiple 3D printers, users, jobs etc.
  • Secure and access your printers and files
  • Queue up 3D prints, and more

This can all be done via iPad, tablet or iPhone, where you can easily check the status of your 3D printers, as well as pause, cancel and resume the print job while you do your day-to-day activities.

One of the key features is how you can slice STL files and even send the G-Code to any of your 3D printers remotely. It’s designed to be used for larger enterprises like businesses or universities, but there is apparently a limited trial that you can use.

The video below shows how it’s done using AstroPrint, a mobile phone and your 3D printer.

Is an iPad Good for 3D Modeling?

An iPad is good for 3D modeling all kinds of objects, whether they are simple or detailed. There are several popular apps that you can use to model 3D objects for a 3D printer. They are generally easy to use, gives you the ability to share files and even work on models with other designers. 

Whether you are a pro or a beginner, there are lots of mobile apps on the iOS or android platform through which 3D modeling can easily be executed. Some of those apps include Shapr3D, Putty3D,  Forger3D and so on.

Several users are making use of their iPad Pros to create 3D models successfully, just as good as you could create on a desktop or Mac.

iPads are slowly getting more powerful with each new design. Improvements in processors, jumps, and graphics are easily closing the gap between what a laptop can do, and what iPads can do.

In some cases, iPads have been observed to be even faster with certain 3D modeling apps after you get the hang of it.

Many 3D designers have found the iPad Pro, for example, to be the ideal option for basic remote 3D work.

The apps are mostly free while some are paid (less than $10 ). Rather than using a mouse like you would on a desktop, they come with a precise and versatile stylus which allows you to mash, mix, sculpt, stamp, and even paint using it.

The more you use these features, the better you become at using them.

These apps are all known to be pretty easy to navigate, even for a beginner. You can quickly get the hang of them by either just practicing in the app, or by following some YouTube tutorials to create basic objects and work your way up.

A few reasons why people use iPads and tablets for their 3D designs are as follows:

  • User-friendly interface
  • Ease of sharing files
  • Quick wireless connection to printers
  • Portability
  • Ease way to edit models

Some great 3D modeling apps that are used for 3D printing are:

  • Forger 3D
  • Putty3D
  • AutoCAD
  • Sculptura
  • NomadSculpt

If you do have a laptop or computer that you want to use in combination with your iPad or tablet, there is actually a way to do this.

ZBrush is one of the more popular software programs that you can use on your desktop or laptop, but you can also connect it to an iPad Pro along with an Apple Pencil. This is done using an app called Easy Canvas.

Check out the video below which illustrates how you can get this setup done for yourself.

Can You Run Cura on a Tablet?

It is possible to run Cura on a Surface Pro tablet or other device that runs on Windows 10. Cura is not currently supported for Android or iOS devices. You can run Cura fairly well on a tablet, but it doesn’t work the best with touchscreen devices. You can install a keyboard and mouse for better control.

A tablet that has Windows 10 on it should be able to run Cura, but you are better off using a desktop or laptop for Cura. A Surface 1 or 2 should be more than enough to get slicers running on it such as Cura, Repetier, or Simplify3D.

If you do have a compatible tablet, simply go to the app store, search for Cura, then download the app.

If you just want to print, adjust certain settings for your 3D models before printing, and adjust other simple options, Cura should work well on your tablet.

Best Tablets for 3D Printing & 3D Modeling

Several tablets are compatible with the applications used for 3D printing. Let me give you my recommended tablets, my top 3 list if you would love to connect your 3D printer to your tablet for some awesome 3D printing.

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 (With Surface Pen)

This is a pretty powerful tablet that runs on a 10th Gen Intel Core processor, which is over twice as fast as the previous Surface Pro 6. When it comes to 3D printing and modeling, you can rely on this device to fulfill your needs.

Multitasking is made faster, along with better graphics, great Wi-Fi performance, and a good battery life. It’s an ultra-slim device that weighs under 2lbs and is easy to handle for your day-to-day activities.

Since it runs on Windows 10, you can implement all types of apps that are useful in 3D printing, Cura being one of the main software. This means you can design your 3D models in a modeling app, then transfer files to Cura to be sliced.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 even integrates with OneDrive, so your files are safe and secure in the cloud.

This bundle comes with the stylus pen, a keyboard, and a nice cover for it. Many users love the adjustable kickstand feature so you can adjust the screen angle with ease, perfect for modeling some new 3D prints.

Wacom Intuos PTH660 Pro

The Wacom Intuos PTH660 Pro is a trusted and reliable professional graphics tablet that was created to be optimal for model design for creative individuals. It can work wonders when it comes to creating 3D models for 3D printing.

The dimensions are a respectable 13.2″ x 8.5″ and an active area of 8.7″ x 5.8″ and it’s got a nice slim design for easy handling. The Pro Pen 2 has some serious pressure sensitivity, as well as a lag-free experience for drawing models.

It has a multi-touch surface, as well as programmable express keys and gives you the ability to customize your workflow to adjust things how you want them. The Bluetooth Classic feature measure that you can wirelessly connect to a PC or Mac.

You’ll have a compatibility with most 3D modeling apps. Most users mention how easy things are to set up and navigate, so I’m sure you’ll have a smooth experience with 3D modeling and 3D printing.

‎Creality Cloud - 3D Printing on the App Store

Description

Meet the completely new Creality Cloud, designed for 3D printing hobbyists.
Creality Cloud is the world's first all-in-one 3D printing platform that offers 3D model trading, cloud slicing, remote control printers and many more features to make 3D printing easier and smarter for over a million makers.

Main features:
3D Model Library
● Discover unlimited high-quality 3D printable things from talented 3D designers
● Profit from your hard work by selling your files
● Use a strict licensing system for uploads and sharing objects to protect copyright

Built-in Slicer
● Slice 3D models and generate G-codes on your mobiles and tablets
● Put multiple models in the slicer and dive into advanced settings for granular control
● Upload G-code files directly from Ultimaker Cura

Live Control
● Manage and monitor your printers wherever with a phone
● Modify settings as needed whenever during printing
● Virtually share your printer with friends to build objects together

Makers' Tools
● Moon Lamp Maker
● Image to Lithophane Generator
● Phone Number Plate Maker
● Laser Engraving

3D Photoscan
● Bring real physical objects into the 3D world with your phone
● Take photos of any objects and turn them into 3D printable files with photogrammetry

Communities
● Follow and stay in touch with your favourite designers from communities
● Stay on top of 3D Printing trends across various tags
● Create or join groups to discuss and dig deep into any 3D printing topics

Premium Experience
● Upgrade to a paid membership and elevate your printing experience
● Enjoy extra large storage, remote control, time-lapse videos, and 16 more benefits.

Creality Cloud is a free and open 3D platform for everyone to use, share, and discuss.
Have questions, suggestions, or feedback? Please email us at [email protected]
It doesn't matter whether you just entered the 3D printing game or are already 3D geeks. We look forward to hearing from you.

Also, we provide opportunities and perks for every skilled and talented designer. If you're interested, apply to join our Designer Partnership Program.
If you have any questions, please reach out anytime at [email protected].

Love Creality Cloud?
Follow us on Twitter: @CrealityCloud
Follow us on Instagram: @Creality_Cloud
Follow us on TikTok: @crealitycloudapp
Subscribe to us our YouTube channel: https://crealitycloud.tiny.us/38p3x2bw
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrealityCloudApp
Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crealitycloud

If you like the app, please consider leaving a positive review!

Version 4.15.5

V4.15.5
What’s new:
1. Added more filter items when selecting 3D models.
2. Adapted the user interface for printing to an iPad screen
3. Added the ability to search your favorite content.
4. Optimized the workflow of feedback, and added the ability to follow up on your problems and solution.
5. Bugs fixed and performance improved.

Ratings and Reviews

282 Ratings

Pretty solid, could use more features.

I love being able to control my printer on the go, and the newly implemented camera feature is pretty stable in my experience with it. One thing to note is that when I want to swap filament, I use the program to have the hotend at my temperature, then I have to manually pull the filament out because there is no extruder option in the move screen, and I haven’t been able to find one yet. So I’d‘ve liked to have the option of controlling my extruder motor from the move screen. Otherwise, my only other complaint so far is that there doesn’t seem to be an option to pause your print in the splicer at a certain layer. You just have to watch what layer the print is on and pause it yourself, which I could see as being a problem for people who want to embed stuff like magnets or electronics, or for people who want to switch filaments at a specific layer. This was a feature on the Creality splicer provided with my ender 3, and I’d love to see it implemented here soon, maybe I overlooked the option somewhere, but I wasn’t able to find it in the splicer options. Overall, I am not disappointed in the app, or the Creality cloud box I had to order for my printer, aside from those two requests, and my Camera cutting out occasionally, but that seems to have been fixed in the most recent stability patch.

Only getting better.

This app has made huge strides from when I first logged in and since has improved so much. They offered a firmware update for my Halot one and it all seems to work so perfectly now I have a hard time considering a printer from another company. If you had previously tried there slicing software and this app and ran away wondering if you made the right choice well the answer is you did and should give it another try. The social community and your feedback is essential to the future of this program. Also the software rewards you in coins for basic things that you’ll all ready be doing on a daily basis while you learn about your printer and how to become successful at printing. You can even sell your scans and other ideas through this app. In my experience you can’t get much closer to a complete ecosystem of images cloud storage, slicing and printing from any other company. You can even trade your coins for a new printer or printing supplies. How about a new home pod to listen to your favorite music while you print. Well that’s all possible with this app. Oh yeah, I love my Halot one printer too. This company is really great and I didn’t get a coin for saying this either. 🫶

Nice, but could improve.

Well, I like the app in general, but I don’t really understand the concept of cuvacoins. The fact that they only last a year confuses me because if you want like, 20,000 to get a new printer, you need to basically be addicted to the app and not get out to your real life. But otherwise, I like that the app has a built in slicer and it makes things so much easier to use. I also like that it’s not just about files and ideas, but there’s a community and it’s interactive and there are just so many ways to get productive content from people or reinforcement. I like the fact that there’s categories that let you choose what you want and definitely like the idea of the 3d photoscan. It does need some work, because my scans sometimes turn into shapeless lumps. In conclusion, it’s a good app that has room for growth and improvement and provides a positive environment in the 3Dd printing community.

Hello. Thank you for your feedback. We will optimize the Cuvacoins problem to help you get gifts easily.

The developer, CREALITY 3D (HK) TECHNOLOGY LIMITED, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy.

Data Used to Track You

The following data may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies:

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

  • Contact Info
  • Search History
  • Identifiers
  • Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

Seller
CREALITY 3D HK TECHNOLOGY LIMITED

Size
380.4 MB

Category
Utilities

Age Rating
4+

Copyright
Creality 3D © All Rights Reserved.

Price
Free

  • App Support
  • Privacy Policy

You Might Also Like

Best 3D Printable Ipad・Cults

Models

Elegant stand

Free

Book holder on the bed

2 €

Support iPad

Free

Case for iPad iBook

Free

iPad and tablet stand, audio system and charging option

Free

Phone stand

0,99 €

Charging station for Apple devices for MacBook and iPad Pro

1. 86 €

Apple cookie cutter

1.07 €

Ipad holder for stand K&M

0,50 €

nine0002 Hanging desk stand - office - home

€4.71 -fifty% 2.35 €

Mini 2 / Mavic Air 2 - iPad Air hook - just what you need

Free

Turn iPad into iMac

Free

nine0002 iMac M1 style iPad support

Free

Pencil holder for Pikachu tablet

2,50 €

Ipad car holder

1.50 €

iPad Stand

Free

IPAD 4 stand (minimum)

Free

Folding stand for Ipad STL file

4,99 €

Latop stand (add iPad stand)

Free

iPad WallMount (7th, 8th and 9th generation)

Free

Fixed angle tabletop flatbed easel

Free

iPhone 5C

5. 95 €

iPad/phone holder, wall mount

0.51 €

Battery cover for Logitech K480 keyboard

4.88 €

Ipad Stand Pro

1.38 €

Holder for smartphone/tablet/iPad

Free

Tablet Wall Mount

Free

Universal tablet wall mount

Free

iPAD STAND

1.25 €

iPad 2 wall mount

Free

nine0002 RESTDECK, TABLET STAND. FULLY 3D PRINTED, NO OTHER PARTS!

€6.58

Phone stand

Free

Apple Pencil Magnetic Case (old version, new link in description)

Free

Magnetic Case for Apple Pencil Case V2

Free

nine0002 Simple Apple Pencil Clip

Free

Wall mount for iPad mini

Free

Case for iPad mini 6 JoyCon

6. 22 €

Holder for iPad 2/3 on car seat

Free

iPad Wandhalterung / iPad Wallmount

Free

iPhone webcam (easy/no support)

Free

IPHONE DOCK STATION AIRPOD PRO

1,72 €

APPLE INTELLIGENT DOCKING STATION FOR IPAD, IPHONE AND APPLE WATCH

1.38 €

Arctic Flight Adapter for 2018 9.7-inch iPad

Free

Stand for Iphone from Batman

1.04 €

Customizable phone/tablet stand

Free

Minimalist iPad Stand 067A | 24 x 24 x 125 mm

1.25 €

Apple pen holder 066A | 20 x 7 x 177 mm

1. 25 €

Audio Hugger for iPad mini

Free

The 7 Best iOS Apps for 3D Printing

3D printing is arguably one of the top technologies of the 21st century along with robots. So far, everything is happening as part of experiments: they will print chocolate cookies, then a car, then a women's swimsuit, then blood vessels. However, at the level of home use, everything is boiling and growing. McRadar has prepared a selection of the best iOS apps for anyone interested in 3D printing. nine0199

MakerBot

Use this application to control your MakerBot Replicator, MakerBot Replicator Mini, and MakerBot Replicator Z18 3D printers: start, stop, and resume printing, and monitor the printer's operation. Printable models can be downloaded from the MakerBot Cloud library or downloaded digitally by finding it on the pages of Thingiverse, the largest community of 3D printing enthusiasts, and then transferred to the printer.

appbox fallback https://apps.apple.com/en/app/881138579

MakerBot PrintShop

Another app from MakerBot. With it, ordinary 2D drawings can be turned into 3D designs and immediately printed on a printer. In the model library you can find various bracelets, rings, vases, teapots, mugs and much more. To create your own object, it is enough to draw, for example, a flower on a piece of paper, take a picture of it with an iPad camera, and in a few seconds the flower model will be ready for printing.

appbox fallback https://apps.apple.com/ru/app/884304128

Thingiverse

The world's largest community of 3D printing enthusiasts. Works under a Creative Commons license - anyone can download their favorite model for printing. The collection of models is amazing: from ordinary buttons and wedding rings to spare parts for Porsche 928.

appbox fallback models. Of course, not all, but mostly motionless figures and faces, separate objects. Worst of all are models using glass, shiny metal and thin, even plastic. Photos are uploaded to the cloud, where they are transformed into ready-to-print objects. nine0005

appbox fallback https://apps.apple.com/ru/app/683053382

Cubify

Potentially very powerful app for mods. The use case is as follows: take pictures of the shoes you like and then print them on your home 3D printer. But this is rather a picture from the near future. So far, the capabilities of the application are more modest. It's like a social network with the ability to share your 3D models with each other. Good move.

appbox fallback https://apps.apple.com/ru/app/917671806

3DAround

No 3D printing fan or Instagram fan should be without this app. With the help of 3DAround, you can scan plates of food and share the resulting photos. Why you need to print plates of food on a 3D printer, I still can’t understand.

Learn more