Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
over a WiFi or USB connection. Many printers
are designed for operation in “untethered”
mode, in which the printer runs on its own
without a computer connection. In unteth-
ered mode, no client program is necessary;
the printer automatically reads and follows
CAM instructions from an SD card or USB
thumb drive plugged into it directly. Unteth-
ered printing can be useful, for instance, for
long-running prints during which you may
want to use your computer elsewhere, or if
you have more printers than computers to
run them. CAM information is usually stored
on removable media as G-code instruc-
tions. For a rundown of all the available print-
er control and slicing software, see
“3D Print-
er Frontends” on page 197
and
“Slicing Soft-
ware” on page 198
.
Now that you've got the basic workflow
down, you're ready to make anything! Re-
member that 3D design and printing is an
iterative process, and that things rarely turn
out perfectly the first time around. If you
aren't comfortable with any of the tools that
you tried, be sure to look at others—there's
no reason to limit yourself to only one work-
flow. Experiment, tweak, observe, repeat! Try
to learn something from each mistake, and
always remember to have fun.
Matt Mets is a maker who uses electronics to
create playful objects that teach and inspire.
Matt Griffin is the Director of Community &
Support at Adafruit Industries, a former Mak-
erBot Community Manager, and author of the
forthcoming MAKE topic
Design and Model-
What Next?
Your printed object will inspire improve-
ments and new ideas. The design pipeline is
really a cycle.
