How To Connect
This tutorial will help guide you through the process of connecting your Solidoodle 3D printer with the Repetier Host on your computer.
- Make sure you have the proper software installed, according to the instructions here. Also make sure you have the proper drivers installed.
- If, for some reason, you need to reset your settings in Repetier-Host, you can find the default values listed here.
- Plug the Solidoodle in to your USB port. Do not be alarmed if the standard messages do not appear. Because of the Solidoodle's drivers, it may show up as a generic USB device.
- Plug the Solidoodle into wall power. You should see the LED lights and fan come to life at this point. You may be able to hear the motors idling.
- Open Repetier host and ensure that you have a valid port selected for communications. To do this simply hit “printer settings” (Control-P on Windows or Command-P on Macs) to bring up the printer settings menu. If you have the “Virtual Printer” port selected, change it to a COM port (on Windows) or a USB SERIAL port (Linux and Mac.)
- Hit the red connect button in the upper left-hand corner. You should see the details of the connection in the console window in the bottom section of the screen. This log will list some information about the printer once connected, and the printer's status will be listed as idle in the bottom bar (as opposed to some commands waiting).
- Go to the manual control tab. This is located in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.
- Scroll down and view the heater controls. Activate both the bed heater and the extruder heater. The heat will gradually rise. The Extruder should be set to 190 and the bed should be set to 85 degrees. If you can achieve higher temperatures on the bed, this will be helpful, but is not required.
- Once full heat has been achieved do a few quick tests. Hit the X+/X- buttons to ensure that movement is possible. Hit the extrude button to ensure extrusion is possible.
- Once you are satisfied the printer is ready to go, hit the “Run Job” button and watch the Solidoodle roar to life, printing your part strand by strand.
If you are still having trouble connecting to the printer, see this page.