Does someone use a smartphone to control their printer?

3D Printing
,
1

Does someone use a smartphone to control their printer? i have an old smartphone which I would like to use as a controler for my Anet A8.
Which app do you use for it?

2

Yes and no. I have a Raspberry Pi connected to my printer and have it running OctoPi which has OctoPrint as part of it. I then use my cellphone or tablet to connect to OctoPrint.

3

I also use OctoPrint on Raspberry Pi to control the printer through it by phone, tablet or PC. On mobile devices there is a handy Touch UI which is turned on on mobiles/tablets automatically (Google Workspace Updates: New community features for Google Chat and an update on Currents) or you can use great app Printoid: https://printoid.net/

4

@Tomas_Vit I found Printroid (at least I think that was the one) to be redundant when you have the Chrome browser for Octoprint. Octoprint does not seem to work as well through generic webkits found on older phones.

5

i thought of something like this: https://plus.google.com/+BenVanDenBroeck/posts/QRgqVYVVxHt
instead of the stock lcd screen from my prusa the smartphone as a Controller.

6

If you want it to be a direct host, it needs to have USB host functionality and to be able to charge while acting as a USB host, otherwise if the phone dies during sending g code real time, you’re screwed.

7

Some phones and tablets have very poor USB OTG functionality. One tablet that I had did not want to talk to a USB keyboard over USB OTG without being sluggish.

8

There’s also GCodeSimulator https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.dietzm.gcodesimulator
and

GCodePrntr https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.dietzm.gcodesimulatorprinter

They also have a G+ Group at https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/116436892101925074251

I’ve used the simulator and it seems to work well.

9

Thanks for your help!

10

@Jeff_DeMaagd this should be the solution https://www.amazon.com/Micro-Cable-Samsung-Player-OTHERS/dp/B00CXAC1ZW