Mar 31, 2016 | By Benedict
MatterHackers has unveiled the MatterControl Touch T10, a 10.6” touchscreen 3D printing “brain” which enables user to control their 3D printer without a computer. The device comes bundled with free access to MatterControl Cloud Sync’s wireless capabilities.
3D printers are incredible machines, but have long been subservient to computers, whether via USB cable, WiFi connection, or memory card transfer. To get anything out of a 3D printer, one first needs to source or design a 3D model, which then needs to be “sliced” and optimized for printing. These operations are traditionally performed on a standalone computer, where a user has the luxury of a large screen, several input options, and processing power.
Occasionally, however, using a computer can be a hindrance, slowing down the 3D printing process by demanding focus on two machines instead of one. That’s why MatterHackers has cut out the middleman and created a new version of the MatterControl Touch, a touchscreen minicomputer for 3D printers on which users can obtain 3D models, slice them, and print. The device is simple to use: just connect via USB, follow the setup wizard, and the 3D printer becomes a standalone device, no longer dependent on an external machine. “It’s super duper easy to connect to your printer and get up and running,” said Lars Brubaker of MatterHackers.
With the MatterControl Touch T10, connectivity is key. Wi-Fi connects the device to the MatterControl Cloud, from which users can source their 3D printable designs with ease. The large, HD, 10.6” touchscreen enables easy sourcing of files and control of the 3D printer, while the 2Ghz Octa-Core processor permits super-fast onboard slicing. Other cool features include a 5.0 megapixel camera, which users can use to remotely keep an eye on their 3D print job or take a picture once it has finished, online progress checking, and SMS/email notifications for informing makers when their print is ready.
The T10 is able to take control of every aspect of a 3D printer. With more than just the ability to obtain and trigger 3D prints, the device is able to monitor and control every minute setting of the connected 3D printer, removing any need for computer-based configuration. “Just like the T7, [the T10] has all the functionality that you need to control your 3D printer,” Brubaker explained. “You can view your parts, you can look at all the different things you’ve set up, and you can control all the settings of your printer.”
The T10 caters for advanced 3D printing techniques such as multi-material printing, mid-print tuning and adjustment, and the configuration of custom macros and eeprom settings. Additionally, the entire MatterControl package is powered by open source software and libraries, such as MatterControl, MatterSlice, the agg-sharp graphics engine, and the Android operating system.
The MatterControl Touch T10 is currently available for $329, with MatterHackers offering free U.S. shipping.
MatterControl Touch T10 technical specifications:
- RAM: 1GB
- GPU: 2GHz Octa-Core
- Internal Storage: 8GB
- External Storage: SD Card
- 5.0 megapixel Onboard Camera
- IPS Touchscreen
- WiFi Connectivity
- Standalone Control
- Web Monitoring
- Remote Print Start & Stop
Posted in 3D Printing Technology
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Octoprint offers this since years for free
RobinLeech wrote at 4/1/2016 12:05:03 AM:
They didn't enable 3D printing "without a computer"- they made a dedicated tablet computer optimized for 3D printing.
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