3D Printing with Raspberry Pi: Complete Beginner’s Guide

Whenever you think of 3D printing, you immediately associate it with the IoT field, where you will find devices like the Raspberry Pi. And you are not very far from the truth; 3D printing and the Raspberry Pi are very good friends. Today, I will show you how to use the Raspberry Pi for 3D printing.

The Raspberry Pi can run various 3D printing software, such as OctoPrint or Cura, which controls the 3D printing machine and provides additional features like remote monitoring, real-time control, automation, and better print management.

Let’s dive in and learn how to use a Raspberry Pi for 3D printing. I will start by explaining the advantages of using the Raspberry Pi in 3D printing, then we will look at what you need to get started and finally, we will look at some of the software you need to install on your Raspberry Pi.

If you’re feeling lost in all the Raspberry Pi jargon, I’ve got something to help you out. I’ve created a free glossary that explains all the essential terms and abbreviations in a way that’s easy to understand. It’s a great resource to have by your side. Get your free copy here.

Why use a Raspberry Pi for 3D Printing?

A Raspberry Pi is great for 3D printing because you can control and monitor your printer. It’s small and affordable, making it the perfect companion for your 3D printer.

But if you are new to this, I might need to explain how 3D printing works before using Raspberry Pi. Basically, the typical 3D printing process consists of 3 main steps:

• Create or Download a 3D Model:
  This is always the first step. You can create a 3D model using applications like Blender or Tinkercad, or download pre-made models from websites like Thingiverse or MyMiniFactory.
  
• Slice the Model to Generate G-code:
  Since you can’t just provide the downloaded 3D model to the printing machine, you need to convert the model into something the printer can understand, known as G-code. G-code contains instructions or commands for the printer, including movement, temperature, and extrusion settings.
  
• Transfer the G-code to the 3D Printer:
  This is always the last step. Copy the G-code to an SD card or USB drive and insert it into the printer. From there, you can start printing the 3D model layer by layer.

While this 3-step process seems perfect, there are several issues better addressed by the Raspberry Pi:

• File Transfers:
  The first problem is that each time you want to print something, you must transfer the sliced G-code file to the printer using an SD card or USB drive. This can be quite tedious, especially if you frequently switch between prints.
  
  With a Raspberry Pi running software like OctoPrint, you can wirelessly send G-code files directly from your computer to the printer over your network.
  
• Lack of Remote Monitoring:
  The other issue is that once the print job starts, you must stay nearby (physically) to monitor it. If something goes wrong (e.g., filament tangling or print failure), you need to be there to notice and stop the printing before it’s too late which might result in wasted material and time.
  
  To solve this, you can connect a webcam to the Raspberry Pi to monitor your print progress in real-time through a web interface. OctoPrint also provides live status updates, so you can check on your print from any device (PC, tablet, or smartphone) without being physically near the printer.
  
• Limited Print Management:
  Managing multiple print jobs or queuing up prints is difficult. You need to prepare and load each print manually, which interrupts workflow and wastes time.
  
  With OctoPrint installed on your Raspberry Pi, you will have a centralized dashboard for managing all print jobs. You can queue multiple prints, start/pause/stop prints, and even manage multiple printers from a single interface if you have several Raspberry Pi boards connected to several 3D printers.
  
• No Automation or Smart Features:
  Traditional 3D printers don’t offer built-in automation features like remote shutdown after a print finishes or automatic notifications when a print job is complete.
  
  The Raspberry Pi enables several smart features:
  
  • Automatic Notifications: You receive notifications on your phone or laptop when a print job is done or if something goes wrong. Some notifications might require you to configure your Raspberry Pi more than the basic settings provided by OctoPrint.
    
  • Power Control: OctoPrint has built-in commands to automate power management, such as shutting down the printer and Pi after the print is complete.
    
  • Custom Plugins: OctoPrint supports numerous plugins for advanced functions like filament run-out detection, print quality analysis, and automatic time-lapse video creation.

Hardware requirements for 3D printing with Raspberry Pi

Here is what you will need to begin 3D printing with the Raspberry Pi.

Basics

Here are the basic accessories you need for your setup:

• Raspberry Pi: Other than Raspberry Pi Zero and Zero W which have shown severe performance issues, you can use any other Raspberry Pi model to run software like OctoPrint or Cura. However, our top recommendations are Raspberry Pi 3B+, Raspberry Pi 4B, and Raspberry Pi 5.
• Storage: I recommend using an SD card or USB drive with at least 8 GB of storage. However, if you plan to queue many prints or record many time lapses, you should use at least 16 GB storage or higher.
• Power supply: I highly recommend that you use the correct power supply. You don’t want to mess your prints because of under-voltage issues. We have a post on this site about how to power the Raspberry Pi. It will guide you on getting the correct power supply for your Raspberry Pi.

3D Printers

Here are some popular 3D printers that are compatible with the Raspberry Pi. I selected these because they support applications like OctoPrint and Cura which you can easily install and set up on your Raspberry Pi.

• Prusa i3 MK3S+:
  Prusa 3D printers are well known for their reliability and high-quality prints. They come in different varieties including budget 3D printers and high-end printers. It includes native support for OctoPrint and the community provides many guides for setting it up with Raspberry Pi.
• Creality Ender Series:
  Here, I am talking of models like the Ender 3, Ender 3 Pro, Ender 3 V2, and Ender 5. They include native support for both Klipper and OctoPrint firmware. Additionally, there are many guides online on how to connect these printers with the Raspberry Pi.
  
  Another thing I liked about Creality Ender Series is that they have budget-friendly versions like the Ender 3 and you can get one for your home projects.

Webcams

Getting a Raspberry Pi Webcam is an optional requirement. However, it is essential for monitoring the printing process remotely.

The problem with 3D printing is that if something goes wrong, you will waste a lot of filament, time, and effort. However, if you have a webcam mounted on your Raspberry Pi, you can keep an eye on the print remotely and stop it immediately if an issue arises.

If you’ve never mounted a webcam before, we already have an article on installing a camera on the Raspberry Pi. It provides you with step-by-step instructions and also guides you in choosing the best webcam for your project.

Tools you can use for 3D printing with Raspberry Pi

As I stated previously, the role of the Raspberry Pi in 3D printing is running the applications needed to monitor and control and the 3D printing machine. In this section, I will guide you on how to install the necessary software.

There are many 3D applications that you can install on the Raspberry Pi. However, for this article I will only pick two popular applicatioins, and there are many resources online to help get solutions in case you run into any problems.

I’m talking about OctoPrint and Cura.

OctoPrint

Octoprint is one of the most popular 3D printing applications. It provides a web page that can be used to monitor and control your 3D printer remotely.

Some of the things that you can do include managing print jobs, monitoring progress via a webcam, recording timelapses and controlling printer settings. You can even use it to reboot/ turn on or shut down the 3D printer remotely.

There are two ways which you can use to install OctoPrint on the Raspberry Pi:

• Use the OctoPi Image: The OctoPrint image is a pre-configured operating system that includes the OctoPrint application already pre-installed and ready to use. It simplifies the installation by including all the necessary dependencies to run OctoPrint.
  
• OctoPrint snap package: Use this option if you already have the official Raspberry Pi OS installed on your system or if you don’t have the time to download the OctoPi image. You can download and install the OctoPrint snap package.

We already have an article with a step-by-step guide to installing OctoPrint on the Raspberry Pi. Be sure to check it out, if you want to use OctoPrint as your software of choice to monitor and control your 3D printer.

Cura

If you have a 3D printer from Ultimaker, Cura will be your go-to application. Cura was developed by Ultimaker and is used to monitor and control 3D printers from this manufacturer. However, that doesn’t mean it’s limited to Ultimaker printers.

It includes support for a wide range of 3D printers, including popular models from brands like Creality, Prusa, Anycubic, and many more.

There are two ways to install Cura on the Raspberry Pi.

• Install Cura from Raspberry Pi OS repository: Even though I have listed this method here, I DO NOT recommend it. Cura is available on the Raspberry Pi OS repository and can be installed using the apt command. However, when you launch it you will realize you are using the outdated version.
  
  That’s why if you do a quick search online, you will still find many people asking “how to install Cura on the Raspberry Pi.”
• Using the Cura AppImage file: An AppImage is a distribution-independent format for packaging applications on Linux which enables developers to develop a single application that can run on different Linux distributions.
  
  Therefore, all you need to do is download the Cura AppImage from their GitHub page and install it on your Raspberry Pi.

We already have an article on this site that provides a step-by-step guide for installing Cura on the Raspberry Pi. So, even if you have never worked with AppImages, don’t worry—all the instructions and commands are included in that post.

Bonus article: Beginner’s Guide to Klipper on Raspberry Pi (3D Printing)

Tips for a Smooth 3D Printing Experience

Up to this point, I believe you now understand how to set up your Raspberry Pi for 3D printing. Now let’s look at a few tips and tricks for a smooth 3D printing experience.

Use a good-quality power supply

This is one important bit that most people overlook especially when dealing with the recent Raspberry Pi models that use a USB-C charging port. Sometimes you might be tempted to use your regular phone charger.

If you want reliable performance with the Raspberry Pi due to the printing process, you need a high-quality power supply. Failure to do that might result in unexpected shutdowns, poor performance, or issues with connected peripherals like webcams or USB devices.

We have an article on our site that gives all the details you need to know on how to power a Raspberry Pi.

Keep your Raspberry Pi cool

When running long printing jobs, there is a high chance that your Raspberry Pi will start overheating. There are several methods that you can use to tackle that.

The first is installing heat sinks. These are metal plates screwed on the Raspberry Pi board to dissipate excess heat. You can also install a cooling fan which operates normally to the cooling fans in laptops and desktop computers.

The other cooling option is to use a case that either comes with an inbuilt fan or acts as a huge heat sink. We already have an article on the best cases for your Raspberry Pi. Here, you will find cases that we tested and rated depending on their cooling performance.

Regularly update the software

As always with computers, it’s highly recommended to run your updates regularly for bug fixes and improvements. You can easily update your system using the apt package manager as shown below:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

You can also update the Raspberry Pi firmware once in a while. However, this should be done carefully, as instructed in the linked post.

Tip: Command lines can be a pain to memorize. I put the essential Linux commands on a printable cheat sheet so you don't have to keep googling them. You can grab the PDF here if you want to save some time.

Troubleshooting common 3D printing issues

Here, I am talking about issues like connection drops or print failures. Don’t leave your 3D printer working for extended periods without time-to-time monitoring. Whether it’s physically or remotely. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for that part.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are several Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that you might come across:

Can I use Raspberry Pi Zero for 3D printing?

While you can go ahead and install an application like OctoPrint on the Raspberry Pi Zero or Zero W, their limited resources make it quite impossible to run the application.

Remember, Raspberry Pi Zero comes with only 512 MB of RAM and a CPU that operates at only 1 GHz. Even if you don’t necessarily need the most recent one, a more powerful model is recommended.

Is it possible to monitor my prints remotely using my phone?

Yes. When you set up an application like OctoPrint, you can access the web page interface from any device connected to the network including your phone.

What’s the best Raspberry Pi case for a 3D printing setup?

There are many Raspberry Pi cases that you can use for your 3D printing setup. However, in this list, I am biased on cases that offer physical protection and an additional cooling mechanism, which comes in handy when working with long printing jobs.

• Argon NEO: We have tested many Raspberry Pi cases on this website and the Argon Neo is the best overall. It is an aluminum case that offers both physical protection and passive cooling. You can read the full review of the Argon Case on this site after using it for a whole month.
  
• The Flirc case: This is also an aluminum case that offers passive cooling. However, unlike the Argon Neo which has slots for a camera and easy access to GPIO pins, the Flirc case doesn’t offer.
  
  They state on their website that you can use a GPIO connector like this one but it doesn’t seem to be reliable. You can read the full review of the Flirc case on our website.

Whenever you’re ready, here are other ways I can help you:

Test Your Raspberry Pi Level (Free): Not sure why everything takes so long on your Raspberry Pi? Take this free 3-minute assessment and see what’s causing the problems.

The RaspberryTips Community: Need help or want to discuss your Raspberry Pi projects with others who actually get it? Join the RaspberryTips Community and get access to private forums, exclusive lessons, and direct help.

Master your Raspberry Pi in 30 days: If you are looking for the best tips to become an expert on Raspberry Pi, this book is for you. Learn useful Linux skills and practice multiple projects with step-by-step guides.

Master Python on Raspberry Pi: Create, understand, and improve any Python script for your Raspberry Pi. Learn the essentials step-by-step without losing time understanding useless concepts.

Master Linux Commands: Overwhelmed with Linux commands? This book is your essential guide to mastering the terminal. It includes practical tips, real-world examples, and a bonus cheat sheet to keep by your side.

You can also find all my recommendations for tools and hardware on this page.