Automatic RFID spool system#181
A way to place RFID stickers onto the spools, and have the system automaricly detect which ones are on the printer. Much like bambu labs.
We did actually have this in the app for a while - I think it may even still be in the codebase, just not enabled.
The issue is, that the filament space is very fractued; some, like Bambu Lab, Makerbot and I think Ultimaker, do use RFID - but in vastly different ways info-wise, making it difficult to integrate with.
Last week, we had a brainstorming session with whatt.io (https://discover.whatt.io/) about trying to get more of the AM space onboard with a global 3D printing AM filament database, with a set standard.
Right now, SimplyPrint has a filament database, Cura has one, PrusaSlicer, OrcaSlicer, BambuStudio, some OctoPrint plugins, and probably more… Wouldn’t it make more sense to gather this in one place, with all the information needed? Then, all of these platforms - SimplyPrint included - could use this database, and take just the info we need.
We’re pitching this idea to some different filament brands in our network, while working with whatt.io to try and come up with a prototype for an open source, unbiased and free-for-all material database.
This is what’d be needed for us to properly implement NFC reading back in to SimplyPrint, as well as expanding our own filament system - otherwise, it’s simply too big a task, or we’d have to only support a couple of brands well.
So, it’s a great idea! Something we’d love to do, and something that I believe could be a game-changer for print farms, if implemented correctly - and we’re working on making it possible!
Thanks for taking the time to post a suggestion :)
Thanks for the response. Would it be also possible for users to add rfid/nfc stickers to their spools?
That’d be the plan, yes; allowing users to put NFC stickers on their own spools that may not have any from the manufactuer’s side.
But again, this is probably quite far away, as the market is looking right now. We’re in need of standards.