Does Octoprint Work with Resin Printer?

The 3D printing space has advanced to a considerable level such that it has become easy to monitor your printing process with instant feedback. This is a remarkable improvement that is possible with a snappy web interface.

Octoprint is an excellent web interface that allows you to control and monitor every aspect of your 3D printer and the entire 3D printing process. You will also get to detect faults in your printer early to attend to them as soon as possible.

However, Octoprint does not work with all types of 3D printers. This article will answer whether or not it can work for your resin 3D printers; just continue reading.

Overview of a Resin 3D Printer

When purchasing a 3D printer, you primarily have two options: the filament 3D printer, also known as FDM or FFF 3D printer, and the resin 3D printer, also recognized as SLA or MSLA 3D printer. The SLA resin 3D printer uses a technology called “stereolithography.”

If you compare the quality of the models produced by these two methods, you will notice a significant difference. Resin 3D printers can print 3D objects with extremely smooth surfaces and delicate details. Because of the positioning precision, nozzle size, and broad layer height capabilities of FDM 3D printers, they may not be able to produce models of such high quality.

How a Resin Printer Works

Resin printers create pieces out of liquid resin that cures (solidifies) when exposed to UV light. Resin printers, like filament printers, create components in layers by exposing each slice to a UV light pattern to harden the resin in the correct areas.

The printing process begins when the build platform is lowered into a resin bath, leaving a gap between the build plate and the bottom of the tank equal to the layer height. A laser is directed towards two mirror galvanometers, which concentrate the light upwards into the bottom of the tank and cure a layer of resin by directing it to the right coordinates on a series of mirrors.

You can see that a high-quality FDM 3D printer can print at a layer height of 0.05-0.1mm (50-100 microns), but a resin printer can print at as low as 0.01-0.25mm (10-25 microns), resulting in far superior details and smoothness.

Because the size of pixels determines the resolution of each layer on the LCD screen, which is generally 70 microns for consumer DLP 3D printers, resin printers may capture extremely fine details. Resin printers require significantly fewer settings to set up, and they are simple to use once they are constructed.

Only the layer duration and the material support parameters will ever need to be changed. For resin printers, print orientation is also critical to ensure that the print remains stuck to the bed during the print.

What is Octoprint?

Gina Häußge founded OctoPrint in 2012, intending to use it to serve her first 3D printer. OctoPrint is a fork of Cura that uses the same AGPL license as Cura. OctoPrint is a web interface for operating 3D printers that allow users to initiate a print job by sending G-code to a USB-connected 3D printer.

OctoPrint keeps track of the print job's status and the printer's, including the temperature of the print head (hot end) and, if the printer's bed is heated, the bed's temperature. OctoPrint can also display the output of a connected camera to watch the print's progress and visualize G-code in real-time or sequentially.

Features

1. Remote Monitoring and Control: From your browser, Octoprint manages and monitors every element of the 3D printer and all printing jobs; you’ll be able to:
2.  Access to the inbuilt camera stream to see how your printer is making your latest creation from afar.
3. Receive continuous updates on the status of your print project.
4. To see a depiction of the GCODE you're presently printing, use the integrated GCODE visualizer.
5.  Monitor the temperatures of your hot ends and print bed, and make adjustments as needed.
6. Extrude, retract, or just design your custom controls to move the print head along all axes.
7.  You have complete control over your current print job and may start, halt, or just pause it at any time.
8. Compatibility and Extensibility: OctoPrint works with most consumer 3D printers right out of the box. Its powerful plugin system allows it to be expanded in various ways. Here are a few examples:
9. Use the Bed Level Visualizer to see how your bed is leveling.
10. Octolapse allows you to create amazing time-lapses that appear to sprout out of the print bed.
11. With Themeify, you can completely customize the look and feel of OctoPrint's UI.
12. Firmware Updater allows you to upgrade your printer's firmware directly from OctoPrint.
13. Add support for specific printers, such as older Flashforge printers and Makerbots and contemporary Flashforge, Dremel, and PowerSpec machines.

3.                  100% open source

• OctoPrint is 100% free and open-source software distributed under the GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL).
• Its source code is available on Github, and anybody can alter it to suit their requirements.

Can A Resin Printer Work with Octoprint?

It is possible to use Octoprint with a resin printer. You can choose from other alternatives below. This section will discuss the requirements you need to use Octoprint with your resin 3D printer. Any printer with a Chitu Board would work for this set-up, and here are some examples of resin printers you can use:

Printers

• Elegoo Mars – (Chitu Board L V3 sans ethernet port)
• Anycubic Photon Voxelabs Proxima 6
• Mars Pro Elegoo
• Mars 2 Elegoo
• Mars 2 Pro by Elegoo
• Saturn Elegoo
• Sonic Mighty 4K Phrozen
• Sonic Mini 4K Phrozen
• LD-002H Creativity
• LD-002R Creality
• Phenom L Peopoly
• EPAX E10/X10

Requirements

• Raspberry Pi 2/3/4 B+ or Raspberry Pi Zero W ½
• MicroSD Card (8GB+)
• Pin Headers (Optional, if you need them. Chitu Board V3 has headers pre-soldered).
• Jumper Wires for powering the Pi4 plus for connecting to the printer motherboard.

Octoprint Alternatives

Octoprint is not built to work with resin 3D printers, so you may want to consider other alternatives, which are listed below:

1. MatterControl

MatterControl is MatterHackers' free and open-source software, and It includes everything you'll need to create your 3D printing. Unlike the others on this list, this solution isn't designed for large operations; instead, it offers a suite for the typical hobbyist.

The software bundle includes anything from creating and slicing your 3D image to printing and tracking it. The design suite isn't a complete CAD program; it's suitable for making rapid changes to existing print models.

The slicer also has enough setup options for numerous printers and filament types. In terms of connection, their Cloud Sync allows you to save files online and track prints.

Special features: Great for rapid adjustments, can monitor and store prints with Cloud Sync.

Best for: Individuals and small-scale projects.

Cons: Remote printing isn't outstanding.

Cost: Free of charge

2. Repetier

Repetier is a software bundle that contains firmware, a host, and a monitoring app. Interestingly, most of the same functions in OctoPrint are available in the server portion. The Repetier-Server, which may be installed on a Raspberry Pi or another PC, only offers a local network connection, not a cloud service.

Repetier has a lot of functionality and can handle anything from one printer to a network of printers managed by different users. It has two levels; the free and pro. A few added capabilities in the Pro edition include firmware uploading and camera usage.

Special features: Allows many users to print to numerous printers.

Best for small or large-scale projects

Cons: Difficult to set up, zero cloud service

Cost: The basic program is free; the Pro software has a one-time charge of $70.

3. AstroPrint

AstroPrint is a more extensive service based on OctoPrint's capability. It takes the concept of wireless control and applies it to an entirely cloud-based connection. AstroPrint, for example, enables you to save the prints online and even export designs directly from 3D print suppliers like MyMiniFactory.

They also provide online Cura slicing, allowing you to print via their app from any location, including your phone. AstroPrint excels in usability, with a user-friendly interface and mobile-friendly settings.

They've concentrated on making things as straightforward and uncomplicated as possible. AstroPrint, on the other hand, favors basic settings over granular ones due to its user-friendly design.

Best for: Beginners, as well as small and large enterprises, will benefit from this.

Specifications: Cloud-based, print from anywhere (even your home), and manage many printers

Cons: Requires an AstroBox (which may be purchased) or a Raspberry Pi and provides less control than other options.

Price: Free for residential users; $10 per month for additional printers and file storage.

Conclusion Octoprint is a good option for people who want to keep close tabs on their 3D printers. However, it is not built to work with resin 3D printers. Although, you can make it work with your resin printer if you insist. We've discussed several alternatives with the same features as Octoprint.