Two years ago, to ensure unlimited 3D printing collaboration from anywhere, 3D printer manufacturer MakerBot unveiled its CloudPrint™ software. Designed to deliver a seamless 3D printing workflow, the free cloud-based 3D printing platform helps to ensure that the basic steps to conduct to achieve a fluent production workflow and minimize printer downtime between projects are carefully followed.
The manufacturer has worked on a 2.0 version of this software that brings enhanced interface for a smoother user experience and several new and upgraded features that enable users to go from CAD file to 3D-printed part faster than before.
According to MakerBot, CloudPrint 2.0 seamlessly integrates cloud-based print preparation and workspace management with an enhanced user interface and improved queuing and notifications. The new features include the ability to import multi-body parts and automatically adjust parts for the least support material used during printing with Smart Orient.
“The secret to successful 3D printing goes beyond just the hardware and includes the full ecosystem of materials, accessories, and software. The improvements we have made to MakerBot CloudPrint are designed to provide a more streamlined approach so that users can focus on other important tasks,” said Nadav Goshen, CEO at MakerBot. “CloudPrint takes the guesswork out of print preparation and workspace management. With an easy-to-use and secure workflow, CloudPrint gives users better control and management of their prints from start to finish.”
The company shares in a press release further details about each of the main added features:
- Faster CAD to Part Workflow: Several new features allow users to go from CAD file to printed part faster. Users are now able to import native, multi-body CAD parts and auto plate them on the build plate. This means users don’t have to convert their native CAD files and import them individually. With the New Smart Orient feature, parts can be automatically oriented, so they use the least amount of support material during the printing process, helping reduce print and post-processing times.
- Seamless Integration of Print Preparation and Workspace Management: MakerBot CloudPrint provides a fully cloud-based workflow for the entire 3D printing process, from print preparation to workspace management and print monitoring. Workspaces allow users to collaborate with other users and manage their printers and prints. The new updates to the user interface integrate print preparation and workspace management more closely. Users can now easily toggle back and forth between the two and the latest part will automatically be saved in the print preparation part of the application, so users can easily go back and make edits.
- Improved Queue Management: Users can maximize their printer usage by slicing and queueing print jobs for later. Once a print is done and removed from the build plate, the next one can be started from the printer display immediately. A user can now also add a print to the queue when the material selected in CloudPrint is different from the material in the printer. This improves the workflow by allowing users to queue more prints in advance and change the materials as needed.
- Improved Monitoring and Notifications: CloudPrint allows users to easily keep track of their printers and print jobs. In addition to seeing the status of a print and a camera feed from their printers, an updated printer detail page now also includes chamber and extruder temperatures as well as the ability to add user notes to a print. A new notification tab provides a centralized location to receive notifications about the status of a printer, queue, or print, helping to streamline the printing process for more efficient utilization and a reduction of downtime.
CloudPrint offers industry standard security and advanced encryption that protects data from unauthorized access. Team members can be added to workspaces and their levels of access can be tailored and adjusted. The easy-to-use dashboard and advanced reporting features offer a better glimpse into workspace activity, including past jobs, errors, and upcoming prints. Users also receive notifications when a print is added to the queue or if account details have changed, MakerBot concludes.
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