Ulendo improves the operation of 3D printer farms with new software

Ulendo announced the launch of Ulendo Calibration-as-a-Service, a cloud-based software solution that enables 3D printer farm operators to double their printing capacity without having to purchase additional printers.

CaaS is initially aimed at operators of large print farms, as it can double the capacity of such facilities without additional printers. For users, this means increased capacity utilization, improved margins and shorter printing times. CaaS is used via a print management system, and the solution will also be available as an OctoPrint plugin from 2024. The plugin offers a simple one-button solution for data capture and calibration.

Currently, CaaS supports ADXL345 accelerometers, while support for ADXL356 and LIS3DH is expected in the third quarter of 2024. Future versions will also enable the integration of the Arduino Nano, eliminating the need for an accelerometer connected to a Raspberry Pi. The current version of CaaS is compatible with Marlin firmware from version bugfix-2.1.X and support for Duet is planned.

The company is continuously working to improve the motion control algorithms that drive vibration compensation and plans to introduce additional features such as extrusion control and predictive maintenance. For FDM printer manufacturers, CaaS offers the opportunity to deliver new printer models with a subscription to the calibration service, which can both help build customer loyalty and generate additional revenue as a paid upgrade.

Ulendo Technologies has established itself as a pioneer in the field of software-controlled vibration compensation. The importance of this technology for increasing printing speed was first highlighted by research at the University of Michigan led by Professor Chinedum Okwudire in 2017. The 3D printing community was then encouraged to explore alternative approaches such as Input Shaping to circumvent the complexity of the more advanced Filtered B-Splines (FBS) method.

With the launch of Ulendo Calibration-as-a-Service, Ulendo Technologies is setting an important milestone in the advancement of FDM 3D printing, offering a powerful solution for optimizing print performance that could be significant for the entire industry.