Download MatterControl's newest release here: MatterControl.com

I would like to be able to increase the refresh rate as well.

The MatterTouch isn't seeing an update available for 1,5 it is currently at 1.4.1.5565

I have read through the instruction for adding google drive to the MatterTouch. It basically says to hit the icon to cascade the windows and then pick an icon circle with squares in it.

It does cascade the windows when the cascade icon is selected and I do see the brain background but the only icons I see at the bottom of the screen (from left to right) is the sound decrease, back, home, cascade, and sound increase. What am I missing?

MatterControl Touch 1.5 was released this week - the Touch should update. If you are having any issues send us an email at support@matterhackers.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you don't find an answer here, please also have a look at the MatterControl Wiki.

Will MatterControl work with my printer?

This mainly depends on the language your printer speaks. Currently, MatterControl supports two languages for communicating with the printer; G-Code and S3G/X3G. G-Code is the standard language used by RepRaps and most other printers. S3G is a condensed language used by Makerbot and Flashforge. In all likelihood, your printer speaks G-Code.

In addition, you will need appropriate slice settings for your printer. MatterControl has built in profiles for many printers. Here is the complete list. If your printer is not on the list, don't worry. You will just need to fill in the settings yourself. Obtain specifications from the manufacturer and input them into MatterControl under 'Settings & Controls -> Settings -> Printer' as well as a few under 'Settings & Controls -> Settings -> Filament'.

Why are my objects the wrong scale?

STL files do not store any information about what units their dimensions are in. MatterControl (and all other 3D printing software) expects the dimensions in STL files to be given in mm. Most CAD software, though, will export STL files with whatever units they were designed in (usually inches). Thus, when you bring your designs into MatterControl they will be the wrong scale.

The best solutions is to figure out how to get your design software to export STL files in millimeters. In SolidWorks, for instance, the Save As dialog has an Options button, that allows you to set many parameters for exporting an STL.

If you cannot get your design software to do this, though, you can still rescale the part once you have it in MatterControl. Edit the part, then choose Scale from the bar on the right. There is a drop down menu that will let you from many common conversion factors.

Does MatterControl Work on Windows XP?

New versions of MatterControl are not compatible with Windows XP; support was dropped with the release of version 1.2. You can still download MatterControl 1.1.3, which was the last version to work with XP.

How do I install the drivers for my printer?

If you are on a Mac or Linux, the drivers are already built in to the system and you do not need to install anything.

If you are on Windows, MatterControl will automatically attempt to install the necessary drivers when you add your printer. Sometimes this doesn't work. To install the drivers manually, do the following:

1. Open the Windows Device Manager. You can find it by just opening the Start menu and typing in "Device Manager."
2. Find your printer. Usually it will be under the category "Ports (COM & LPT)", but if the driver is not installed it may be listed as an unknown device.
3. Right click on it and choose "Update Driver Software."
4. Choose to "Browse my computer for driver software."
5. Choose the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\MatterControl\StaticData\Drivers
6. Click Next and the drivers will install

Where can I get alpha or beta builds of MatterControl?

Alpha and Beta builds of MatterControl are available for users that want to test the latest features at the risk of experiencing bugs or crashes. Alpha builds are published several weeks before a stable release. If no bugs are found, it will be promoted to Beta and eventually to Stable.

On MatterControl Desktop, go to the Help menu at the top, then choose Check for Update. Switch the Update Channel to Beta or Alpha.

On the MatterControl Touch, go to Options. Under Application Settings, switch the Update Notification Feed to Beta or Alpha.

If you experience an issue with an alpha or beta build, please report it either to the GitHub issue tracker or to support@matterhackers.com. Be sure to include the build number. It can be found at the bottom of the About screen. The last four digits are the important part.

Experimental builds are also available. These contain the absolute latest code, and are offered to select users in order to get feedback on new features and ideas. They are intended only for testing and should not be considered reliable, stable or even working (from time to time). To request an experimental release, send an email to support@matterhackers.com. If you are using this version to gain access to a new feature please update to the stable version as soon as the feature is available. Advanced users can also compile MatterControl from source.

How do I clear the application data?

On Windows, MatterControl keeps the user's library and settings in C:\Users\{user}\AppData\Local\MatterControl. On Mac and Linux it is in ~/.local/share/MatterControl. This data will persist, even after MatterControl is uninstalled. Remove that folder if you want to completely reset MatterControl to a clean slate. You can also temporarily rename the SQLite database file (MatterControl.db) to see if your settings are the cause of a problem.

MatterControl Touch Will Not Download an Update and Cloud Services Do Not Work

Sometimes the tablet fails to get the correct time from the NTP servers. Without the correct date and time, a TLS connection to MatterHackers cannot be established. Cloud Sync will not work and updates will fail to download. Swipe down from the top left to see the current date and time. If this is not correct you will need to go into the Android settings app (gear icon on home screen) and adjust it accordingly. The tablet has no RTC battery, so the time will be reset whenever you reboot.

"Slicing Error" When using Slic3r

You may be able to determine what is going wrong by running Slic3r independently. For every print, MatterControl generates a config.ini file that it provides to the Slic3r executable. This is in ~/.local/share/MatterControl/data/gcode/. Run Slic3r, import this config file, and slice your STL. On Windows, the Slic3r executable provided with MatterControl is in C:\Program Files (x86)\MatterControl\Slic3r\bin.

I have Intel integrated graphics and MatterControl crashes

There is a known issue with MatterControl and the Windows drivers for certain integrated Intel graphics chipsets. If you are having crashes or graphics related issues, please send an email to support@matterhackers.com. Include the following information in your report:

• The make/model of your computer
• Your GPU model number
• Your OS version
• The version number of your Intel graphics drivers

In the mean time, there is a workaround. You can launch MatterControl with the FORCE_SOFTWARE_RENDERING option, which disables all 3D graphics. Add the parameter FORCE_SOFTWARE_RENDERING to the Target field of the MatterControl shortcut. To do so, right click MatterControl shortcut either in the start menu or elsewhere. Select 'Properties' and edit the 'Target' field. Just add FORCE_SOFTWARE_RENDERING after the quotes. The whole target should read like this:

"C:Program FilesMatterControlMatterControl.exe" FORCE_SOFTWARE_RENDERING

Reasons you would want to adjust the motor current

• Motors running too hot. This is especially a problem when its the extruder motor, since it can soften and deform the filament before it reaches the hot end and cause a jam.
• Shifts in the middle of prints / skipping steps. This happens when the printer is trying to run faster than the motors can keep up. Increasing power to the motors can help with this, however it is not advised to drive the motors past their rated limits. In this case you should reduce your acceleration instead.
• Pausing / slowing after printing for a while. Most motor driver ICs have thermal shutdown circuitry. They will shut themselves off if they begin to overheat. Often what will happen is the the driver will get hot and shut itself off, but then after a while it will cool off a little and turn on again. The cycle repeats. If you see the motors start to pause after printing for a while, and the pauses become longer and more frequent, then your drivers are probably overheating. You can easily tell by feeling them. Either reduce the power, or provide better cooling.

Digital vs Manual Current Control

Some printers have digipots for digital current control. For these printers, the current is set through your firmware configuration. On other printers the current is adjusted via trimpots on the motor drivers themselves. This goes for any printer using modular Pololu style stepper drivers. Below is where you can find the firmware settings on printers with digipots. For the rest of this guide, we will focus on printers with manual trimpots

Marlin firmware: Configuration_adv.h setting called DIGIPOT_MOTOR_CURRENT

Repetier firmware: Configuration.h setting called MOTOR_CURRENT

Boards with digital current control:

• Rambo
• Azteeg X3 Mini

Boards with manual current control:

• RAMPS
• Brainwave Pro
• Azteeg X5 (optional)

Getting Started

In this guide we will be using a Robo 3D R1 as an example, but the steps are applicable for any printer. You will need a Phillips head screwdriver, a multimeter, and preferably some alligator clips.

Step 1 — Connect Meter

• Use your alligator clips to connect the negative lead of the meter to one of the ground pins on the board.
• Check the pinouts for your board to find a ground pin to clip on to. The best place is probably a negative terminal on the main power connector.
  • RAMPS Pinouts
  • Azteeg X3 / Pro
  • Brainwave Pro

• Touch the positive lead of the meter to the probe point on the motor driver (VREF).

Step 2 — Alternatively, Connect the Meter to Your Screwdriver

• The metal cap of the trimpot can also act as a test point. This means you can just clip the positive lead to your screwdriver while you are making the adjustments.

Step 3 — Calculate Voltage

• When your printer comes from the factory, it will probably not be set up to run the motors at their rated limits. The current will be throttled down in order to run the motors cooler, quieter, and more efficiently.
• In general, you should give your motors the minimum power necessary to do the job.
• Your stepper drivers datasheet will have a formula for converting between the reference voltage (Volts) and the current limit (Amps). Here are the formulas for some common drivers:
  • Pololu A4988: Current Limit = VREF × 2.5
  • Panucatt SureStepr SD8825: Current Limit = VREF x 2
• Remember to set your meter to 20 V DC.

Step 4 — Adjust Potentiometer

• Clockwise increases
• Counterclockwise decreases
• Be careful not to turn the pot too far. Some do not have stops on the ends.

More Information

Stepper Driver Data

• Pololu A4988: Product Page, Datasheet
• SureStepr SD8825: Product Page, Datasheet

For more information about adjusting your motor current, check out https://bootsindustries.com/portfolio-item/pots-ad...

This guide is also available at matterhackers.dozuki.com.

Yes, depending on how much work you are willing to do. The E3D is not a plug and play replacement for the original hot end on any printer we are aware of. Installation will require some modifications to your machine. We have installation guides for many printers at matterhackers.dozuki.com.

• Lulzbot Mini
• Lulzbot TAZ 5
• Printrbot Simple Metal
• SeeMeCNC Rostock Max V2
• Makerbot Replicator 2

If your printer is not on the list, you should still look through the guides to get an idea of what is involved. Here are the general steps:

1. Find a way attach the hot end. This usually involves printing some kind of mounting piece.
2. Modify your firmware configuration.
3. Find a way to power the fan.

Here are some questions you should ask yourself when trying to determine if the E3D will work with your printer:

• How does my hot end attach to the printer?
• Can I modify my printer's firmware?
• If you want to use the Chimera, Cyclops, or Kraken, you must also consider how many motor drivers, thermistor inputs, and heater outputs your controller board has.

Here are some questions you should ask when choosing which E3D hot end to buy:

• Does my printer use 1.75 or 3 mm filament?
• Does my printer run on 12 V or 24 V, or some crazy combination of the two (i.e. a 24 V PSU with the hot end throttled down to 12 V using PWM).
• Is my printer a direct drive or bowden setup?

MatterControl Touch is the ultimate upgrade for your 3D printer. Learn how to use some of the unique features with this 'Getting Started' guide.

In this guide we'll be going over the ins and outs of using MatterControl Touch to guide your 3D printer. If you have experience using the Desktop version of MatterControl (for Mac, PC and Linux), many of the concepts will be familiar, but some of the specifics may be different. We'll also cover new exclusive features like picture notifications and how to transfer files to your MatterControl Touch.

So, you’re the proud new owner of MatterControl Touch. Well what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!

By now, I’m sure that you have opened your MatterControl Touch box and discovered all the goodies inside, including the:

• MatterControl Touch Tablet
• Power Adapter
• USB Host Cable
• MatterControl Touch Quick Start Guide

If you haven’t already, go ahead and follow the steps in your MatterControl Touch Quick Start Guide. Have you misplaced the guide already? Don’t worry - you can find the steps right here, too:

Initial Setup

1. Plug Power Adapter into a wall outlet.
2. Plug Power Adapter into MatterControl Touch. After a few seconds, MatterControl Touch will automatically power on.
3. Press, hold, and slide the lock icon to the right to open MatterControl Touch.
4. Insert USB Host Cable into MatterControl Touch.
5. Insert your 3D Printer’s USB Cable into USB Host cable.
6. Power on your 3D printer.
7. Follow the Setup Wizard to connect your 3D printer to MatterControl Touch.

MatterControl can be launched automatically by connecting a 3D printer, or by selecting the big 'PRINT' icon on the home screen:

Connecting to Printer

1. The prompt "Open MatterControl when this USB device is connected?" will appear; select “Use by default for this USB device” then press “OK”.
2. Follow the Setup Wizard.
3. Select Make/Model.
4. Press ‘Connect’.

Congratulations! You have connected MatterControl Touch to your 3D Printer. The next step is printing, so first, we need an object to print. To get a printable file to MatterControl Touch, you have a few options - you can send files wirelessly, download directly from free model databases, or use a micro SD card.

MatterControl Touch is wifi enabled, but not required. If you are connected to the Internet, you can take advantage of Cloud features, like sending files wirelessly, downloading files directly from free model databases, receiving SMS/Email notifications as to when your print is ready, remote print monitoring, and most importantly, you can receive free updates.

MatterControl is a continuously improving platform, and staying up to date with the latest developments is just a simple click away - we’ll get into that in just a bit.

Read More...

An exploration of the 'Cloud Library' in MatterControl - a new way to store and manage your 3D printable designs, available as of version 1.4.

The latest version of MatterControl, version 1.4, adds a nifty new feature for managing designs - the Cloud Library. This article examines the Cloud Library depth, showing how this new storage option works and can be used to make your life just a little bit easier.

Overview

MatterControl Cloud Services

The Cloud Library works by lazily syncing your files across any devices where you are currently signed into your MatterControl account. This means that when you add a file to your library it is uploaded to the cloud immediately and then downloaded as needed by any other connected device. So, for example, you can add a design to your library using your web browser and then 3D print it later from MatterControl on another computer.

The location of the Cloud Library

To start using the Cloud Library you will need to first navigate to the 'Library' tab. Clicking on 'Cloud Library' will prompt you to login. You must be logged into your MatterControl account in order to use the Cloud Libary. If you don't have an account already, setting one up is simple - just select 'Create An Account' on the login screen and follow the prompts.

Adding Files

Files can be added to the Cloud Library (or the Local Library), by selecting the 'Add' button at the bottom of the Library tab and choosing the file or files you would like to add. You can also add designs by dragging and dropping files from your desktop into the Library. Supported file formats are .stl, .amf and .gcode. For .stl and .amf design files MatterControl will automatically generate a thumbnail preview of the object for easy reference.

Folders and Navigation

The new MatterControl library introduces 'Folders', a file management concept that may be familiar to users of modern computers. Folders allow you to organize your design files into multiple separate directories or subdirectories. Navigating into a folder is a matter of double-clicking the folder or single-clicking the 'open' button.

You can navigate back to a previous folder using the breadcrumbs found at the top of the library. Selecting 'Home', for example, will take you back the the top level of the Library. You can also select 'back' to go up a single level from within a subdirectory.

Creating a folder in the MatterControl design library

Edit Mode

Edit mode is not new to version 1.4, but it does have new options. Putting the Library into edit mode by selecting 'Edit' (next to the search bar) allows you to select multiple folders or designs and take actions related to your selection. Folders and designs have different options, described below:

Putting the Library in 'Edit' mode allows you to take various actions

Folder Actions

Remove - Removes the folder entirely. Just a warning, this will delete any designs or subfolders that are currently located within the folder you are removing.

Rename - Change the name of the folder to the new name specified. Some folders, such as 'Shared with Me' are locked and their name cannot be manually edited.

Design Actions

Export - Brings up a dialogue of options allowing you to export your design file in one of several formats (such as .gcode or .x3g). This option may be disabled if a design has been shared with you as 'read-only'.

Edit - Opens the design file for editing. For example, parts can be scaled, rotated or moved prior to printing.

Remove - Removes the design from the current folder.

Share - Opens up sharing options for the designs (more on this below).

Rename - Allows you to change the name of the design as it appears in the library.

Add to Queue - Moves one or more selected items into the print queue to be printed.

Sharing A Design

As a new feature of the cloud library, it is now possible to share design files with someone - either directly or by creating a public share code. Shared users will have read-only access to the design, which means they can view and 3D print the design, but not modify or export it.

Sharing a design directly involves entering the person's email address which generates an invite specific to that person.

Unlocking a design using a share code

Once a share invite has been submitted, the recipient will receive an email that includes a link for accepting the invite. The person with whom a design has been shared will need to create an account if they do not already have one and then log in to accept.

Accepting a share invite on the MatterControl Sync site

You can also share a design by generating a share code. This code can be shared publicly or privately - anyone with the share code will be able to unlock the shared design with read-only access.

Using Share Codes

You can use a share code that has been shared with you by going to 'File' > 'Enter Share Code' and entering the code provided within the prompt. After entering the share code, you will see a 'Shared with Me' folder where all items that have been shared with you are stored.

Unlocking a design using a share code

Cloud Library on the Web

You can access your designs from the web using the MatterControl Sync site. Many of the actions and options on the website are similar to those found in both MatterControl Desktop and MatterControl Touch.

The Cloud Library can also be accessed from the web, via MatterControl Sync

Browsing Cloud Library contents from the web

Cloud Library designs can be previewed from the web