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Olga Weis Olga Weis May 16, 2024

Remote 3D printing - easy and reliable solution

There’s no doubt that with their endless possibilities, 3D printers will change the way we manufacture things today. Considering all the hype attached to 3D printing, the problem of remote access and management of these devices is becoming crucial for both casual users and businesses.

FlexiHub


Windows, macOS, Linux, Android 4.8 Rank based on 386+ Reviews
Remote 3D printing
Typically, high end printing machines come with a built-in remote access technology, which allows printing something big and especially beautiful remotely. However, such equipment not only takes up a large chunk of desk space but costs a small fortune.

But what if there’s another way to share 3D printer through network? Well, the solution is simpler than one can imagine. A dedicated software like FlexiHub or USB Network Gate will help you expand the feature-set of more affordable machines and resolve the problem of remote access to 3D printers.

The best remote 3D printing solution - FlexiHub

FlexiHub is an advanced port virtualization software that offers the ability to network share USB 3D printers as well as other USB and COM port devices. This solution clearly helps access 3D printers and manage remote 3D printer over the network. With FlexiHub you’ll be able to connect to your 3D printer wherever you are.

FlexiHub

Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
4.8 Rank based on 386+ Reviews
The software is not limited by the distance and shares 3D printer over any network including Ethernet, WiFi, and the Internet.
FlexiHub

Advantages of software for remote 3d printing

  • Cross-platform support. You can share a 3D printer attached to a Windows machine and access it from a remote Mac or Linux and vise versa.
  • Secure connections. All communications established over the network with the help of FlexiHub are protected with advanced traffic encryption.
  • Intuitive interface. The software is easy to install and use. It will let you share devices and access them remotely with just a couple of clicks.

How to connect to 3d printer

1
Firstly, sign up for a FlexiHub account and start a free demo period.
 Register a FlexiHub account
2
Install FlexiHub on all machines that will communicate with the remote 3D printer.
 Install FlexiHub
3
Next, start the app on your local PC with the device attached. The 3D printer will appear on the list of devices available.
 Start the app on your local PC
4
On the remote computer, sign into your FlexiHub account, choose a remote 3D printer from the list of devices available for connection and click "Connect".
 Connection
5
That’s it! Now the remote 3D printer will appear in your computer as if it were physically connected to this machine.
Software For Remote 3d Printing
30-day demo period

Open source Solution - OctoPrint

OctoPrint is an open-source software solution that enables 3D printers to be controlled remotely. We think it is one of the best applications for remotely controlling 3D printers. You will need to connect a Raspberry Pi to your printer to use the software, but it is well worth the effort for the functionality the app provides.

OctoPrint web interface

OctoPrint’s features include the ability to start, stop, or pause a print job remotely and manage the position of the print head. There is also an embedded webcam feed for monitoring print bed temperatures. Using this software adds versatility to your 3D printer by making it accessible from any location.

Remote 3D printer access with USB Network Gate

USB Network Gate is a great alternative for sharing USB devices across the network. If you have no Internet connection and need to share your 3D printer over LAN, this software will be good for you. The ability to share multiple devices with multiple network users at a time as well as the support for USB devices of virtually any type is what sets USB Network Gate apart from much of other USB sharing software.

USB Network Gate

Why choose USB Network Gate?

  • Compatibility with virtualization software. USB Network Gate will easily redirect your 3D printer to VMware, VMware ESX, Citrix XenDesktop, or Microsoft Hyper-V guest OS.
  • Working in RDP sessions. The software allows you to not only work with any local 3D printer in a remote session but also set your remote computer to automatically detect and connect to shared USB devices.
  • USB device isolation in multi-user environment. With USB Network Gate you’ll be able to assign your 3D printer to a specific user while working in a multi-user environment of terminal servers.

How to use software for remote 3D printing:

  1. Download USB Network Gate and install it on both the device server (a computer with the 3D printer connected) and the client machine that will access the equipment remotely.

  2. On the server computer, launch the software, find the printer in the list of available devices, and hit "Share".

  3. On the client side, find the 3D printer in the “Remote USB devices” window and click "Connect" next to it.

This is it! Starting from this moment, you’ll be able to access the full functionality of the remote USB printer without having it physically attached to your PC.

Top choice
FlexiHub
  • 4.8 overall rank based on 386+ Reviews
  • Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and Raspberry Pi.
  • 10.76MB Size.
  • Version 7.0.15125. (3 Jun, 2024).