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Monitor 3d printer with webcam
How to Monitor/Control Your 3D Printer Remotely for Free – 3D Printerly
I was sitting here with my Ender 3 wondering how people monitor their 3D printers properly.
Being able to keep an eye on your 3D printer is pretty important, especially for those longer 3D prints. There are a few ways to monitor and even control your 3D printer that I found out which I’ll detail in this article.
How Do I Monitor My 3D Printer Remotely?
Monitoring a 3D printer remotely has become very easy, especially if that 3D printer comes with wireless connection capabilities. With this technology, you can check up on the printer from anywhere in your network’s range.
Monitor 3D Printers with Software (Repetier Host)Checking up on the printer and using it remotely can be done with standard software that comes in the box with the printer. But in some cases, the print software doesn’t come with the printer, or sometimes you might want more functionality.
In this case, you can use third-party software like Repetier Host.
Repetier Host is free to use third party print software. It is used for controlling 3D FDM printers, and it works with a wide range of printers.
Repetier host comes with a lot of functionality such as slicers, bed levelers, print bed fillers, speed control, etc.
What do you need:
- A PC running Windows 8 and above, or a Mac running OS X, or Linux.
- An internet connection.
- An FDM printer.
Let’s go through the installation steps:
Step 1: Download and install the Repetier host software for your OS here.
Step 2: Install the software on your PC.
Step 3: Run the program and configure it with the settings for your PC from here.
And Just like that, you can print from the host using USB, internet, or SD card connections.
Monitoring your 3D printer with Repetier host is very easy. The publishers of Repetier host also published a software called Repetier server that helps with that.
Repetier server is a program built for controlling PCs remotely from a server created on your home network. The program is a web interface that can be accessed by any device on the network. Let’s take you through the installation process.
What do you need:
- A PC running Windows 8 and above, mac. Or a Raspberry Pi(This is the device that will host the server.)
- An internet connection
- A home router.
- A wireless PC.
Installation step.
Step 1: Download the Repetier Server software for your OS here.
Step 2: Install the software on your device with instructions here (PC, Mac, Raspberry Pi).
Step 3: Configure and set it up with instructions from here.
Now you’ve installed the Repetier server, as long as you have the login details, any device on your network can monitor the printer remotely. However, to monitor the printer from outside your home network, you have to install special tools like a VPN tunneler.
Even if your printer does not come with wireless technology, there are still several ways you can monitor the printer remotely.
These methods require you to purchase and set up some additional hardware but trust me it’s worth it.
Let’s look at some of the popular ways of monitoring 3D prints remotely:
Monitor 3D Printer With OctoprintOctoprint is an awesome way to monitor your printer remotely especially if the printer does not have wireless capabilities. Octoprint uses a Raspberry Pi board to create a USB proxy.
The USB proxy then connects the printer to a network, so it can be monitored and controlled via a web interface.
Octoprint also comes with a load of plugins that can increase the functionality of the 3D printer.
What do you need;
- A PC with wireless capabilities.
- A Raspberry Pi with a Wi-Fi adapter.
- An SD card for the Raspberry Pi(8Gb minimum).
How to get it done:
Step 1: Download and install the OctoPrint Software with Etcher.
- Download the OctoPrint image here.
- Download and configure the Etcher software.
- Insert the SD card in the PC and follow the instructions here to flash and configure the Octoprint image to the SD card using Etcher.
Configure the wireless settings using settings found here.
Step 2: Configure the Raspberry Pi
- Insert the SD card with the OctoPrint image into the Raspberry Pi.
- Connect the Wi-Fi adapter to the Pi and power it on.
Access OctoPi from your PC by connecting to http://octopi.local.
- Follow the first run instructions and create a username and password.
- Logout and disconnect the Raspberry Pi from the power supply.
Step 3: Connect the printer to the Raspberry Pi.
- Using a standard USB A cord, connect the printer to the Raspberry Pi.
- Power on the Raspberry Pi.
- Connect to the web interface with the PC
- You should be able to print from the web interface now.
AstroBox is another USB proxy option for remote monitoring. AstroBox’s high-end offering, the AstroBox touch offers the same functionality as the OctoPrint only with a simpler and easier to use package.
The AstroBox Touch comes with the preinstalled software, unlike the Raspberry Pi. It also comes with an LCD touchscreen making it easier to set up and use. You can find out more about the configuration and setup here.
How to Hook Up a Camera/Webcam to 3D Printer
Hooking up a camera or a webcam to your 3d printer can come in handy.
You can set up the camera to monitor your prints live, or even record and make some pretty cool time-lapse videos. There are many ways to connect a camera to your 3D printer, we’ll be going with some of the common ones.
Connect Creality Camera to 3D Printer
The Creality camera comes with quite a lot. It’s a wireless camera that doubles as a USB proxy. This means that while it’s connected to your 3D printer via a USB cable, you can not only watch the live camera feed, you can also control the printer.
All this can be done in the companion app that comes with it.
Connect Octoprint Camera to 3D Printer
As we mentioned earlier, Octoprint comes with a lot of accessories and plugins that can be used to extend the functionality of the printer.
One of these accessories is the camera. A simple web camera can be connected to the Raspberry Pi board to give the user remote monitoring capabilities.
For the Octoprint, you can either get a Raspberry Pi camera or a web camera like the Logitech. Let’s show you how to set it up.
Step 1: Connect the camera module to the pi board.
Step 2: Power up the Octoprint and connect to it.
Step 3. Open the Octoprint software and click on the control tab, you should see the live feed of the camera in the tab.
Connect Camera Through AstroBox
AstroBox also supports web cameras. Any type of web camera as long as it has a USB connection can be used with AstroBox. All you have to do is connect the camera to the AstroBox module via the USB and access the live feed in the interface.
Connect Camera Through Repetier Server
The Repetier Server also works with a wide range of USB cameras. Just connect the camera to the server hardware, and you can get a live feed of the print.
You can find detailed instructions for configuring the camera here.
Lastly, to get a great feed from the camera, its mounting position is very important. You can print some brackets from Thingiverse to get the best viewing angles and stability.
Can I Monitor My 3D Printer From My Phone?
Yes, you can monitor and control your 3D printer from your phone. All the remote monitoring software mentioned up there have settings that make it possible to monitor the printers from your phone. Let’s go through each of them.
You can use an old smartphone as a webcam, whether that’s an iPhone or an Android.
The video below shows a method of using a Skype video call with your PC to monitor your 3D printer. You can video call from your mobile phone and see directly what’s going on with your 3D printer.
Repetier Host
Repetier host comes with a mobile companion called the Repetier informer.
Repetier Informer can be set up to deliver alerts about the status of ongoing prints. This is useful but is still somewhat limited.
On the Repetier server, you get greater control from the mobile device as you can control and monitor the print in real-time. As long as your phone is connected to the same network as the printer, you can access and control the printer.
Octoprint
Octoprint Makes it possible for the print to be accessed from any device, whether mobile or PC. As long as the device accessing the print is on the same network as the Octopi hardware, there should be no problems accessing it. You can access the printer by typing http://octopi.local in the browser.
AstroBox
AstroBox comes with a mobile app that can be used to monitor prints remotely. No matter where you are, all you have to do is just log in to the app, and you can see how the print is going. You can also print and get print updates from the app.
Hopefully this article gives you a clearer idea on how to monitor and even control your 3D printer remotely, giving you a better 3D printing experience.
Best Camera for 3D Printer (2022) - 7 Options to Consider
When your 3D models have started to print, you don’t need to sit close by to watch the entire 3D print. You can go about your business as you watch the printing from a camera. Here are the best cameras for watching your 3D prints.
In this Guide
How to Monitor Your 3D Prints
Generally, high quality 3D models take a couple of hours to print. As the models print, you may want to go about your business. However, you still want to be able to watch the creation from wherever you are.
You can watch your 3D prints through by using a camera, software (OctoPrint), or both.
In this guide, we’ll focus on the best cameras you can use to monitor your 3D prints.
Installing a camera on your 3D printer is one of the ways you can keep an eye on the printing, just in case things go south. Should your models not print as expected, you can review the camera footage to find out what when wrong and at what time.
Apart from watching your prints, the 3D printer cameras can be used to document the printing process. You can even create cool time-lapse videos of your prints. These videos are easy to make after setting up the camera properly.
How to Choose a Camera for Your 3D Printer
Not just any camera would be suitable for monitoring your 3D prints. When looking for a camera to attach to your printer, you want to check the following:
i) Compatibility with a Raspberry PI
Raspberry PI is a popular hardware solution for monitoring and controlling 3D printers. When looking for a camera, get one that can plug-and-plat with a Raspberry PI and your preferred software, for example, OctoPrint.
ii) Popularity
Look for a camera that is recommended by other 3D printing professionals. The camera should have suitable printable setup mounts and brackets for different 3D printers/
iii) Community Support
Majority of cameras are not specially designed for working with 3D printing software. As a result, most manufacturers don’t offer setup and installation support with regards to 3D printers. This is what you want a camera that is used widely and recommended by the 3D printing community.
Here are the best cameras for 3D printers.
Best Cameras for 3D Printers
Check Price on Amazon
The best camera for 3D printer that can you buy is the Logitech HD Pro C920. This webcam shoots and streams in full HD at 30 fps. The camera features five-element glass lenses that provide crystal-clear footage. The camera has a built-in standard tripod screw and also supports other mounting options.
The Logitech C920 is excellent for recording time-lapse videos.
Its 15MP camera produces high-quality still images.
Features
| Manufacturer | Logitech |
| Connection Type | USB |
| Video Resolution | 1080p at 30 fps |
| Focus | Variable with autofocus |
| Price | Check on Amazon |
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2. Wyze Cam
Check Price on Amazon
The Wyze Cam is wireless, shoots great images and can livestream from anywhere. This camera shoots videos at 1080p Full HD and has night vision. The camera works with Alexa and Google Assistant. Therefore, you can use your voice to find out whether your 3D printer has finished printing.
You can get the Wyze Cam app on your phone or tablet to watch the progress of your printing from anywhere. You can also add an SD card for continuous recording or you can record in the cloud for $2 / month.
Features
| Manufacturer | WYZE |
| Connection Type | USB |
| Video Resolution | 1080p at 30 fps |
| Focus | 8x digital zoom |
| Price | Check on Amazon |
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3. GoPro HERO 7
Check Price on Amazon
Another excellent camera for 3D printers is the GoPro Hero 7. This model has a 12MP sensor, a wide-angle lens, and shoots 4K videos at 60fps. The camera features HyperSmooth technology, which helps in stabilizing videos, even when shooting at 60fps.
The camera has 12MP, is waterproof and has a fixed focus range of 0.3 to 1.5m
Features
| Manufacturer | GoPro |
| Connection Type | USB |
| Video Resolution | 4K |
| Focus | Variable with autofocus |
| Price | Check on Amazon |
Check Price on Amazon
The Raspberry PI Camera Module V2 is specially designed for a Raspberry Pi.
The camera measures 25 x 24 x 9 mm and weighs just 3 grams. You won’t find a smaller camera for 3D printers than this.
This camera offers good resolution and can take full HD videos (1080p) at 30 fps (frames per second).
The Raspberry Pi camera is popular in the 3D printing community. There are even 3D printed mounts and stands for the camera which can be directly mounted on various 3D printers’ beds, to give you real-time footage of your print’s progress.
Features
| Manufacturer | Raspberry Pi |
| Connection Type | Ribbon cable (compatible with a Raspberry Pi, usually included when you buy it) |
| Video Resolution | 1080p at 30 fps |
| Focus | Fixed |
| Price | Check on Amazon |
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5. Logitech C270
Check Price on Amazon
Also on the list of the best cameras for 3D printers is the Logitech C270.
This entry-level webcam shoots at 720p resolution and 30 fps. While the camera has an autofocus, you can also manually adjust the focus.
The Logitech C270 comes with a built-in mount that is, unfortunately, not versatile. Most 3D printing professionals replace the mount with a 3D printed setup that is more flexible.
There are hundreds of printable mounts and mods for the Logitech C270 at Thingiverse.
Features
| Manufacturer | Logitech |
| Connection Type | USB |
| Video Resolution | 720p at 30 fps |
| Focus | Fixed, but can be adjusted to manual |
| Price | Check on Amazon |
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6. PlayStation Eye
Check Price on Amazon
While the PlayStation Eye is specifically designed for use with the PlayStation 3, it can also be used to monitor 3D prints.
The camera can not only take videos but also has other features such as a microphone with background noise reduction and motion control.
This cheap camera works with Raspberry Pi and can stream at 640 x 480p resolution. While the resolution is not the best, the camera works great for monitoring prints.
Features
| Manufacturer | Sony |
| Connection Type | USB |
| Video Resolution | 480p at 75 fps |
| Focus | Fixed |
| Price | Check on Amazon |
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7. LifeCam HD-3000
Check Price on Amazon
The LifeCam HD-3000 can shoot videos at 720p at 30fps. The camera captures videos at widescreen (16:9) and comes with a built-in stand that makes positioning it next to the printer easy. The camera’s lenses have a maximum optical zoom of 4X.
The LifeCam is a solid camera for monitoring 3D prints.
Features
| Manufacturer | Microsoft |
| Connection Type | USB |
| Video Resolution | 720p at 30 fps |
| Focus | Fixed, from 0.3 to 1.5 m |
| Price | Check on Amazon |
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8. Old Smartphone
If you don’t want to buy a new camera for monitoring your 3D printer, you can use an old smartphone. You’ll only need to install a webcam app in it. We recommend the IP Webcam (free) for Android or the IP Cam ($1.99) for iOS devices.
Original Creality Smart WiFi Box 3D Printer Monitor with HD 1080P Camera Remote Control Smart Assistant for 3D Printers Cloud Fragment Cloud Print Monitor Real-time Monitor with App Compatible with Most Creality 3D Printer CR-10 Ender-3 Ender-6( Item#: OS5115-1)
Original Creality Smart WiFi Box 3D Printer Monitor with HD 1080P Camera Remote Control Smart Assistant for 3D Printers Cloud Fragment Cloud Print Monitor Live Monitor with APP Compatible with Most Creality CR-10 3D Printers Ender-3 Ender-6- Computers and networks
- Office and school supplies
- Printers and Consumables
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Description
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Delivery and payment
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Warranty
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Q&A
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Bulk request
Features:
Efficient Transfer - Creality Box supports multi-terminal connection, is easy to operate, and can quickly transfer application commands and slicing files wirelessly to 3D printers, making the 3D printing process easier.
Real time remote control. Control the 3D printer remotely in real time through the Creality Cloud app, after connecting to the Creality Box, you can set the related printing parameters and monitor the instant printing status.
If an anomaly is detected during printing, you can pause it immediately.
Wide compatibility. Suitable for most Creality 3D printers, such as CR-10, CR-10 V3, CR-10S Pro V2, Ender-3, Ender-5 Pro, Ender-5 Plus, Ender-6, etc.
Best 3D printing partner. Creality Cloud has a variety of print pattern files covering culture, arts, education, industry, medicine, and more. Together with Creality Box, it becomes a mobile model library in the cloud.
Share the fun of typing. Multiple mobile devices can be connected to one Creality Box and be online at the same time. You can share with friends and family at the same time.
Compact size and amplifier; Easy to carry - Creality Box measures just 64x90x20mm while the camera measures 69.23x30.7x24.5mm. Will not increase the load on your luggage.
Specification:
Brand: Creality 3D
Reality Box
CPU: Mips24Kec, main frequency 580MHz
Input Voltage: Micro USB 5V/2.4A
Internal Memory: 128MB DDR2, 160MB Flash 4 Wired: 100M Ethernet
Working temp: -20℃~60℃
Usb2.
0: Connect and control 3D printers, cameras and other peripherals
Wireless: IEEE802.11b/g/n, 1T1R 2.4GHz
TF card slot: Support Fat32/EXFAT format TF card and firmware upgrade
Size: 64 x 90 x 20mm/2.5 x 3.5 x 0.8 inch
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Camera
Brand: Creality 3D
Name: HD 1080P Webcam
Size: 69.23 x 30.7 x 24.5mm/2.7 x 1 .2 x 1 inch
Input voltage: 5V
Video format: H.264/MJPG/YUY2
Signal-to-noise ratio: 36 dB
Processor: FH8852
Maximum effective pixel resolution: 1920(H) x 1080(V)
Video Format: H.264/MJPEG
Minimum Illumination: <10LUX
Viewing Angle: D=70.6°/H=63.6°/V=38"
Support standard: UVC/V4L2
Focus: 40cm
Operating temperature: -20℃~60℃
Compatible system: Windows/Linux/Mac
Package weight: 340g / 12oz
Package size: 13.5x10.5x5 .8cm/1.4x4.1x2.3"
Packing list:
1 x Creality Smart Kit (no TF card)
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