3D Printing With the MatterControl Touch

Welcome to my Instructables on "3D printing with the MatterControl Touch". This instructable will cover the basics of connecting the MatterControl Touch (MCT) to your 3D printer, and using the MCT with your 3D printer for computer-less slicing and printing.

I recently purchased my MCT from Amazon (http://amznly.com/1tk), although you can purchase this particular controller from MatterHackers themselves (http://www.matterhackers.com/store/printer-accesso... The MCT allows you, the end-user, to connect an Android-based tablet to your 3D printer, download a 3D part from a website (such as thingiverse.com), slice it and send the GCode to your 3D printer via a USB cable.

Luckily the MCT supports Delta printers, such as my 2013 SeeMeCNC Orion Delta printer, so I was able to download a test print from thingiverse, slice it, send the GCode to the printer and was printing within 15 minutes of unboxing.

Fairly simple, cut the tape and remove the box from the packaging sleeve.

Once the packaging sleeve has been removed, you can remove the tablet, power cable, and USB adapter cable.

If your 3D printer has an USB cable to connect to your laptop/desktop, you can use this same cable to connect to the MCT.

Connect the USB adapter cable to the MCT, then connect the adapter cable to the USB cable from your printer.

Once the USB cable has been connected, you can turn on your 3D printer, then connect the power cable to the MCT.

The MCT will begin the booting process, then you can select your printer model from a menu. The MCT will connect to the printer and will assume control over the printer. You should be able to adjust the hotend or bed temperatures, raise and lower the hotend, and even home all of the axises before printing.

Go to your favorite repository for 3D models, such as Thingiverse, and download a model to the MCT. By default the STL file will by located in the Downloads folder, unless you specified a different folder during configuration.

Once you have download the 3D object of your choice, you can open the MatterControl application (labeled "MC" in the main menu), then open the STL file.

If you are ready to start printing, press the "Print" button in the MatterControl application, and wait while the application slices the 3D object, writes the GCode to the 3D printer and activates the heating elements on the bed and hotend.

After a few minutes (depending on how fast the heating elements work, and if your 3D printer has a heated bed), the 3D printer will start printing, as the MCT streams the GCode in real time to the printer.

At this point, you can work on other tasks, while your 3D printer prints the 3D object. Depending on the object and how solid you want the part, the MCT will adjust the GCode to complete the print.

Once the printer has completed the print, you can power down the MCT (after the printer has begun its cooldown process!) and remove your print from the print bed.

If necessary you can remove any support, brim or raft material and enjoy your new 3D printed object!

Now that you have learned how to use the MCT, you can use it for larger projects, such as this Bottle Opener, this Coaster Set, or even this GoPro Handlebar Kit!

If you liked this Instructable, and you want more 3D printing worklogs/videos, you can go to my blog here:

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