Difference between revisions of "Frequently Asked Questions"

Revision as of 18:38, 19 February 2016

Is MatterControl compatible with my 3D printer?

This mainly depends on the language your printer speaks. Currently, MatterControl supports two languages for communicating with the printer; G-Code and S3G/X3G. G-Code is the standard language used by RepRaps and most other printers. S3G is a condensed language used by Makerbot and Flashforge. Most consumer 3D printers speak G-Code.

In addition, you will need appropriate slice settings for your printer. MatterControl has built in profiles for many printers. A link to the complete list can be found below. If your printer is not on the list, don't worry. You will just need to fill in the settings yourself. Obtain specifications from the manufacturer and input them into MatterControl under `Settings & Controls -> Settings -> Printer` as well as a few under `Settings & Controls -> Settings -> Filament`.

Some newer G-Code printers are using intermediary boards to run web servers in order to control the prints. These printers, while they do speak G-Code, are not able to be controlled directly by MatterControl. G-Code generated in MatterControl can still be sent to the printer using its web-based interface.

LINK: Known compatible printers list.

Why are my objects the wrong scale?

STL files do not store any information about what units their dimensions are in. MatterControl (and all other 3D printing software) expects the dimensions in STL files to be given in mm. Most CAD software, though, will export STL files with whatever units they were designed in (usually inches). Thus, when you bring your designs into MatterControl they will be the wrong scale.

The best solutions is to figure out how to get your design software to export STL files in millimeters. In SolidWorks, for instance, the Save As dialog has an Options button, that allows you to set many parameters for exporting an STL.

If you cannot get your design software to do this, though, you can still rescale the part once you have it in MatterControl. View the part in 3D View, then enter Edit mode and choose SCALE from the bar on the right. A drop down menu offers many common conversion factors, or, axis dimension specifications can be entered directly in the appropriate fields.

I have a ROBO 3D printer. Where did the option for Automatic Print Leveling go?

You are probably getting confused about the different kinds of print leveling that are available. Your Robo has hardware leveling which allows it to probe the height of the bed before each print. Other printers don't have this feature, so for them MatterControl has the option to use automatic software leveling. This is where you measure the height of 3 points on the bed using the piece of paper. If you try to use both types of leveling at once, they will conflict with each other and cause problems. This is why the option for software leveling is now hidden if you have a Robo or any other type of printer with a probe. For more information on the various types of leveling, and how to configure them, look at our article on Automatic Print Leveling.

Does MatterControl work on Windows XP?

No. MatterControl dropped support for Windows XP with version 1.2. You can still download Mattercontrol 1.1.3, which was the last version to work with XP.

How do I install the drivers for my printer?

If you are on a Mac or Linux, the drivers are already built in to the system and you do not need to install anything.

If you are on Windows, MatterControl will automatically attempt to install the necessary drivers when you add your printer. Sometimes this doesn't work. To install the drivers manually, do the following:

1. Open the Windows Device Manager. You can find it by just opening the Start menu and typing in "Device Manager."
2. Find your printer. Usually it will be under the category "Ports (COM & LPT)", but if the driver is not installed it may be listed as an unknown device.
3. Right click on it and choose "Update Driver Software."
4. Choose to "Browse my computer for driver software."
5. Choose the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\MatterControl\StaticData\Drivers
6. Click Next and the drivers will install

Where can I get alpha or beta builds of MatterControl?

Alpha and Beta builds of MatterControl are available for users that want to test the latest features at the risk of experiencing bugs or crashes. Alpha builds are published several weeks before a stable release. If no bugs are found, it will be promoted to Beta and eventually to Stable.

On MatterControl Desktop, navigate to the HELP menu at the top, then choose Check For Update. Switch the Update Channel to Beta or Alpha.

On the MatterControl Touch, go to OPTIONS. Under Application Settings, switch the Update Notification Feed to Beta or Alpha.

If you experience an issue with an alpha or beta build, please report it either to the GitHub issue tracker or via email to support@matterhackers.com. Be sure to include the build number. It can be found at the bottom of the About screen. The last four digits are the important part.

Experimental builds are also available. These contain the absolute latest code, and are offered to select users in order to get feedback on new features and ideas. They are intended only for testing and should not be considered reliable, stable or even working (from time to time). To request an experimental release, send an email to support@matterhackers.com. If you are using this version to gain access to a new feature please update to the stable version as soon as the feature is available. Advanced users can also compile MatterControl from source.

How do I clear the application data?

On Windows, MatterControl keeps the user's library and settings in C:\Users\{user}\AppData\Local\MatterControl. On Mac and Linux it is in ~/.local/share/MatterControl. This data will persist, even after MatterControl is uninstalled. Remove that folder if you want to completely reset MatterControl to a clean slate. You can also temporarily rename the SQLite database file (MatterControl.db) to see if your settings are the cause of a problem.

MatterControl Touch Will Not Download an Update and Cloud Services Do Not Work

Sometimes the tablet fails to get the correct time from the NTP servers. Without the correct date and time, a TLS connection to MatterHackers cannot be established. Cloud Sync will not work and updates will fail to download. Swipe down from the top left to see the current date and time. If this is not correct you will need to go into the Android settings app (gear icon on home screen) and adjust it accordingly. The tablet has no RTC battery, so the time will be reset whenever you reboot.

"Slicing Error" When using Slic3r

You may be able to determine what is going wrong by running Slic3r independently. For every print, MatterControl generates a config.ini file that it provides to the Slic3r executable. This is in ~/.local/share/MatterControl/data/gcode/. Run Slic3r, import this config file, and slice your STL. On Windows, the Slic3r executable provided with MatterControl is in C:\Program Files (x86)\MatterControl\Slic3r\bin.

I have Intel integrated graphics and MatterControl crashes

There is a known issue with MatterControl and the Windows drivers for certain integrated Intel graphics chipsets. If you are having crashes or graphics related issues, please send an email to support@matterhackers.com. Include the following information in your report:

• The make/model of your computer
• Your GPU model number
• Your OS version
• The version number of your Intel graphics drivers

In the meantime, there is a workaround. You can launch MatterControl with the FORCE_SOFTWARE_RENDERING option, which disables all 3D graphics. Add the parameter FORCE_SOFTWARE_RENDERING to the Target field of the MatterControl shortcut. To do so, right click MatterControl shortcut either in the start menu or elsewhere. Select 'Properties' and edit the 'Target' field. Just add FORCE_SOFTWARE_RENDERING after the quotes. The whole target should read like this:

"C:Program Files (x86)\MatterControl\MatterControl.exe" FORCE_SOFTWARE_RENDERING

See also

• Settings FAQ
• Category:Troubleshooting