How to Connect Network Printers to 3DPrinterOS
MakerBot 5th Generation Installation Guide v2.4
Follow the General Guide for Cloud Client Installation.
Recommended Connection Methods for MakerBot 5th Gen
(The same steps apply to MakerBot Z18 or MakerBot Mini):3DPrinterOS supports MakerBot 5th Gen printers over WiFi or Ethernet only, not via USB.
We recommend using a Raspberry Pi (3,4 or 5) because Macs and PCs need to stay online 24/7, which can cause issues.
One Raspberry Pi per 3D printer is ideal, but you can connect multiple printers to the same Raspberry Pi if necessary.
Connect both the MakerBot and the Raspberry Pi (or computer with the 3DPrinterOS Client) to the network using WiFi or Ethernet cables. Direct connection between the client and MakerBot 5th Gen is not needed
For new MakerBots, enable WiFi following this guide.
If automatic detection fails, record the IP address of the MakerBot from MakerWare.
Set Up the Cloud Client
Open the cloud client web interface at http://localhost:8008. If using a Raspberry Pi, use its local network IP address, e.g., http://10.0.0.234.
Click the "Detect Network Printers" button.
If the printers are detected, proceed to step 3.d. If not, follow step 2. e and then continue with steps 3.c.1-3.c.2.
Click the "Add Network Printer" button.
Paste the IP address found in MakerWare’s Device Preferences
If you encounter issues, use the "Forget Network Printer" button to start fresh and re-detect printers.
Once all printers are detected, you may need to follow additional steps depending on the printer settings. For example, you might need to press a button on the MakerBot 5th Gen Mini to confirm pairing.
After completing the setup, the printers will be listed with their statuses.
Voila! Your MakerBot 5th Gen printer should now be visible in the cloud on the "Printers" tab.