Printer control applications are designed to allow you to move the axis and turn on/off the heaters (extruder, bed), fans, and more. Most printer control software allows you to send ad hoc G-code commands to the printer. For example, you can check the status of the end stops or check the temperature of the extruder. The software for controlling a printer is becoming more of an option than in years past. It used to be that you had to have a printer control application to send the G-code files to the printer.
However, most 3D printers (and kits) have LCD panels that have a number of features, like setting the temperature for the extruder and print bed, moving the axis, and even reading from an SD card. As mentioned previously, printing from an SD card means you don’t need the printer control piece of the tool chain. However, there is still a need for this software. For example, if you want to set your Z axis end stop or check movement of an axis, I find it easier to use a printer control application. Perhaps it’s more likely you will want to issue a special command to interrogate some aspect of the printer—through custom G-codes. Another example is that some printer firmware allows you to preheat the printer, but doesn’t allow you to turn on only the extruder or bed—it turns on both at the same time. Printer control applications, on the other hand, give you finer control of the hardware. Following is the List of Some Popular Software used for Printer Control :
- MakerWare
- PronterFace
- Repetior Host
- OctoPrint
MakerWare
MakerWare is MakerBot Industries' host software for the Replicator 1 and Replicator 2 3D printers with support for the Thing-o-Matic "coming soon." It replaces the no longer maintained and officially depricated ReplicatorG host software. The software is considered a Beta version as of 2.0.
PronterFace
Pronterface is a Python-based application for controlling your printer. It is actually a suite of tools that includes Printrun, which includes a G-code protocol (Printcore), a command-line G-code protocol interface (Pronsole), a GUI printer controller (Pronterface), and a number of helpful scripts. Basically, when you use Pronterface, you are actually using many of the other pieces of the suite, but most people use only the Printrun application. Printrun provides a unique graphical interface for controlling the axes of your printer. You can set the temperature of the extruder and print bed independently to whatever value you want. You can also turn off the motors (great for cancelling a print in a hurry) and even set up your own custom buttons to execute G-code commands or other actions. You can also see a layer-by-layer view of the print job before it is printed.
Repetior Host
Repetier-Host is gaining a following, especially among the RepRap enthusiasts. Repetier-Host is actually more than a fully featured printer control application. In fact, Repetier-Host allows you to place objects on the build plate in any position (rather than always centered), manipulate them, and even slice them using either Slic3r or Skeinforge. You simply configure Repetier-Host to connect to one of these for use when slicing. If this sounds familiar, you’re right! This is the same workflow that the MakerWare software provides. However, unlike MakerWare, Repetier-Host is made for a wide variety of printers and has a much more technical feel to its interface.
OctoPrint
OctoPrint is an open source 3D printer controller application, which provides a web interface for the connected printers. It displays printers' status and key parameters and allows user to schedule prints and remotely control the printer.
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