Difference between revisions of "Frequently Asked Questions"

Revision as of 16:11, 14 December 2015

Will MatterControl work with my printer?

This mainly depends on the language your printer speaks. Currently, MatterControl supports two languages for communicating with the printer; GCode and S3G/X3G. GCode 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 GCode.

In addition, you will need appropriate slice settings for your printer. MatterControl has built in profiles for many printers. Here is the complete list. 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`.

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. Edit the part, then choose Scale from the bar on the right. There is a drop down menu that will let you from many common conversion factors.

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 what the last version to work with XP.

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 mean time, 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