1

Hello,

First of all my printer is the Flashforge finder, it works perfectly with the native Flashprint software but i’m currently working on a project of a home made slicer that i could use with multiple printers (including the Flashforge finder that i’m doing my tests with).

At the moment my slicer is generating the Gcode as wanted, i can “find” the 3d printer through my USB cable but i’m unable to load Gcode file or anything to the printer.

I’m using Java and i would like to know if it’s possible do such things or if the Flashforge finder is only usable with Flashprint softare.
If no, is my only way to use this printer “directly” (without using USB key) is through the native software ?

Thanks for answers !

Quentin

2

Maybe look for the source code for Sailfish http://www.sailfishfirmware.com/ That’s the mostly likely firmware running upon your printer.

Other slicers do connect to the flash-forge such as Simplify 3d but runs the GPX plugin to convert the gcode file into a .x3g file which sailfish understands.

It’s seems that you are halfway there as your slicer can see the USB port and printer, maybe load the file upon the SD card (within the printer) and then use the printer’s menu system to start the print rather than send it by USB.

3

No. Only Creator and Creator Pro run Sailfish. The Dreamer and Finder run on a different chip and don’t talk x3g any more. I think there is a way to talk gcode to them, but it’s not quite like other printers. I think you have to send a particular line to start in order to get it to listen to USB. This discussion on a Dreamer plugin for Octoprint might be helpful: [Brainstorming]Adding support for Dremel Idea Builder (i.e. FlashForge Dreamer) · Issue #1263 · OctoPrint/OctoPrint · GitHub

4

.g and .gcode files can be accept by the Finder without the use of Flashprint. It may be a simple as an “~M32 filename.gcode” but then you would have to path that file somehow. I would see if your commands are accepted first by a sending an unbuffered status command like “~M119 (get machine status)”. Just a few thoughts.