After installation, which program to use?
I recently downloaded the firmware and drivers, but not sure which program to use for general printing. There are shortcuts for "PrusaControl" and "Slic3rPE". In either case, i do not see any "Print" button after I upload an image to the program. Please help.
RE: After installation, which program to use?
Printer does not need any program to print. In Slic3r you generate gcode, copy it to SD card and print from the SD card. Strongly recommend to read the printers manual to get familiar with very necesary basic knowledge before printing.
Milos
RE: After installation, which program to use?
Does it have to be loaded on the SD card or can I print directly via USB?
RE: After installation, which program to use?
You can print directly using Pronterface (i was a part of drivers package) but more stable is SD card. Using PC you risk it shuts down or restart and will loose the print. Elegant and stable solution is OctoPrint on Rasoberry Pi.
RE: After installation, which program to use?
Like he said. Print from the SD Card; some folk are using a WiFi SD card so they doesn't have to use a sneaker net to put files on it.
Others use an external dedicated microcomputer Rasberry or some such, with OctoPrint software, and then can print to the USB port in a "semi-dedicated" manner. But the USB is not the most reliable print method. A delay in getting commands to the printer can ruin a print. If the file is on teh SD, the risk of a delay is almost NIL.
Use the SD until you are comfortable printing. There is a LOT to learn, and you don't want to be faced with trouble shooting a print issue that could be the printer, the USB cable, the host computer, or something else.