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Computer requirements for M2
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2016 6:01 am
by Tombot
Can anyone recommend a decent desktop computer for my M2 ? How about a laptop ?
Re: Computer requirements for M2
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 1:23 am
by insta
(assuming this isn't a spam post...)
Really any modern machine will work for printing. The technical grunt is required when making the parts themselves, once the printing starts it's pretty hands-off. If you're running on 8-10 year old hardware you may want to save to an SD card and print that way -- your M2 will support that out of the box.
Laptops DO work, but you need to disable the power-saving features so they don't go to sleep midway through the print.
If you can buy it for $300 at Walmart it's probably going to work fine.
Re: Computer requirements for M2
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 1:18 pm
by willnewton
Do you need one for designing? You can use about anything that is a couple of years old.
Need one for running the printer? You can use about anything that is a decade old or a Raspberry Pi with Octoprint or just an SD card.
You thinking Mac or Windows? My studio runs 95% on Mac Minis of various vintages. I just happen to also have a decent PC that I use as well for one 3d printer/laser cutter because my laser software needs a PC and I had one around.
Most of your 3d printing needs can be met with very affordable computing power, using about any OS. If you are doing very high end design/rendering/animation then you will need more horsepower. Laptops work fine.
Re: Computer requirements for M2
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2016 7:14 pm
by Neep
If it's just for the printing, I recommend a Raspberry Pi with OctoPi. Total cost about $50. You just use the web interface to upload your gcode files to it and tell it to print. You can put a webcam on it and print from anywhere (technically).
I use it to print from my office to my printer (which is in my garage) without having to get up and go in there (unless I need to change spools or something).
https://octopi.octoprint.org/