__NOTOC__Are you building your own printer? Do you need to create a customized printer profile? MatterControl can easily help you out with just a few quick steps - check out our new guide!Making MatterControl an intuitive, easy to use 3D printing software solution has been the central goal of the MatterControl development team since its inception. That’s why we work directly with printer manufacturers to preload their optimal print settings into a drop-down menu to get you up-and-printing on the most popular makes and models in just a few clicks.<div style="float:right;">__TOC__</div>
But what if you’ve built your own printer, or you are an advanced user and want to create a custom profile? To show some love to these innovative users, we've created == Who is this step-by-step guide on how to integrate a custom printer profile into MatterControl.page for? ==
== Step 1 == *Users who have their own custom printers and want to create profiles for them in MatterControl so they can use the functionality of the program as if the profile was packaged with the program*3D printer manufacturers or users who want to create a profile for their printer(s) so they can send them to the development team for inclusion in MatterControl so all users can benefit.
[[File:Cp1== Create a .png|right]]Navigate to the “PrinterSettings” folder in your MatterControl packageprinter file ==
Below In version 1.6, profiles are stored in a 'MakeModel.printer' file containing default values set to the locations specs of your machine for all settings used in MatterControl. Instead of having separate configuration files for default settings, material, and quality presets (as was the “PrinterSettings” folder on different operating systemsprocess in previous versions of MatterControl), all of your settings will now be contained in this single .printer file.
{||-| '''Windows''If you haven' t already, [[Downloads|| || <code>Cdownload MatterControl]] and install. Open the program and follow these steps to create a profile:\Program Files (x86)\MatterControl\StaticData\PrinterSettings</codebr clear=all>|-| '''Mac''' || || <code>/Applications/MatterControl.app/Contents/MonoBundle/StaticData/PrinterSettings</code>=== Create a new printer ===|-[[File:cp1.png| right]]Navigate to the 'Printers…'drop down menu and choose the 'LinuxAdd New Printer…''' || || <code>/usr/lib/MatterControl/StaticData/PrinterSettings</code>|}menu item.
Once you’ve located the “PrinterSettings” directory, create a new folder and name it “Custom Manufacturer." Now go into the “CustomManufacturer” folder, create a new folder and name it “CustomPrinter."
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== Step 2 ==
Navigate to the “OEMSettings” folder === Select Make and open the Settings.json fileModel ===
Below are [[File:cp2.png|right]]Once the locations 3D Printer Setup Wizard appears select a Make and Model and click 'Save & Continue’. The generic 'Other / Other' profile is provided as a good base to build off of the “Settings, but any profile will work.json” file on different operating systems:
{||-| '''Windows''' || || <code>CNOTE:\Program Files (x86)\If you are a printer manufacturer with existing profiles in MatterControl\StaticData\OEMSettings\Settingsit might be easier to select your previous printer in the setup wizard and make adjustments from there.json</code>|-| '''Mac''' || || <code>/Applications/It is not necessary to do so, however, and you can base your new settings off of any existing printer in MatterControlregardless of Make and Model name.app/Contents/MonoBundle/StaticData/OEMSettings/Settings.json</code>|-| '''Linux''' || || <code>/usr/lib/MatterControl/StaticData/OEMSettings/Settings.json</code>|}
Open the Settings.json file and add “CustomManufacturer” to the PrinterWhiteList.<br clear=all>
[[File:Cp2.png]]=== Navigate to SETTINGS ===
Now when you open up MatterControl and attempt to add a printer[[File:cp3.png|right]]From the QUEUE, you will see your custom printer appear in click the 'Settings & Controls' button to show the Make and Model drop down menuSETTINGS pane.
[[File:Cp3.png]]<br clear=all>
== Step 3 = Show all settings ===
Create [[File:cp4.png|right]]Navigate to the default settings file for your custom printerSETTINGS pane and choose the Advanced view from the [[Settings#Settings_Level_Menu|Settings Level Menu]].
In the same window that you just viewed your custom printer, select “Other” for Make and “Other” for Model and then click the “Save & Continue” button.<br clear=all>
[[File:Cp4.png]]=== Edit printer settings ===
The next window will prompt you to select a baud rate, but you can click Cancel[[File:cp5. Once you are back at png|right]]Choose all default settings for your list of printers, select the Other Other printer that was just created.At the very least, your profile should have the following settings specified:
*[[FileSettings/Printer/Connection/Description/Printer Name|Printer Name]]:Cp5'Make Model' is the standard naming convention.png*[[Settings/Printer/Connection/Details/Baud Rate|Baud Rate]]*[[Settings/Printer/Print Area/Size and Coordinates/Bed Size|Bed Size]]*[[Settings/Printer/Print Area/Size and Coordinates/Print Center|Print Center]]*[[Settings/Printer/Print Area/Size and Coordinates/Build Height|Build Height]]*[[Settings/Printer/Print Area/Size and Coordinates/Bed Shape|Bed Shape]]*Any applicable setting under [[Settings/Printer/Features|Features]]*Any applicable [[Settings/Printer/Custom G-Code|Custom G-Code]]*[[Settings/Printer/Extruder/Extruder X/Nozzle Diameter|Nozzle Diameter]]*If more than one extruder, [[Settings/Printer/Extruder/Extruder X/Extruder Offset|Extruder Offset]]
Now you can navigate to your Settings page in MatterControl and enter settings that are specific to your custom printer. The most important settings will be hardware specifications such as nozzle diameter, number of extruders, filament diameter etc..<br clear=all>
[[File:Cp6cp6.png|right]]Please note that starting in version 1.6 a blue overlay will appear on a setting when you change it.
[[File:Cp7.png]]<br clear=all>
After you have settings that you are happy with, click on the “Options...” dropdown and select the “Export” menu option.=== Presets ===
[[File:Cp8cp7.png|right]]Once you have default settings specified, set up any desired presets for materials or quality.
Once the file dialog window opens, rename the “default_settings.ini” to “config.ini” and save it to the “CustomPrinter” folder you created earlier.==== MATERIAL ====
== Step 4 ==Click the MATERIAL drop down menu and select 'Add New Setting...'
Create the setup.ini file so that you can connect to your printer<br clear=all>
Open up [[File:cp8.png|right]]Enter a text editor name you would like to be displayed for the preset and enter choose the information shown in the picture below:settings to specify.
An orange (or purple or green if you've [[File:Cp9.pngSettings/Printer/Features/Hardware/Extruder Count|specified more than one extruder]]) overlay will appear on a setting when it has been specified as a material preset.
If Once you have are satisfied with your choices close the MATERIAL presets editor. <br clear=all> ==== QUALITY ==== [[File:cp9.png|right]]Click the QUALITY drop down menu and select 'Add New Setting...' <br clear=all> [[File:cp10.png|right]]Enter a different baud rate set in name you would like to be displayed for the firmware preset and choose the settings to specify. A yellow overlay will appear on your printer, set a setting when it to that valuehas been specified as a quality preset. Save this file Once you are satisfied with your choices close the QUALITY presets editor. <br clear=all> === Export Printer Profile === [[File:cp11.png|right]]Click the 'Profile…' drop down menu and select the 'Export' menu item. <br clear=all> [[File:cp12.png|right]]Export as ‘setupMatterControl profile Select the MatterControl export option and click the “Export Settings” button <br clear=all> [[File:cp13.ini’ png|right]]Name Printer Profile and place Save In order to make the process easier on our end it in would be great if you could use the following naming convention for the “CustomPrinter” folder that was created earlier.printer file (MakeModel.printer) <br clear=all>
Congratulations...it’s a new printer profile! Whenever you open MatterControl, it will now discover and interact with your profile from the drop-down menu. If you’d like to tweak any of your settings down the line, simply return to the “CustomPrinter” folder and repeat the process, entering in your new settings. === Submit Your Files ===
Happy printing!Once you have your .printer file (which now contains all settings and presets) please email them to your MatterHackers representative or support@matterhackers.com and we can complete the integration into MatterControl.
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