Screenshot of Monkeyprint DLP printer software running on Windows 7

Monkeyprint DLP printer software now on Windows

Hoooorrrayyy! After diving back into Monkeyprint DLP development for a couple of weeks I can finally announce that my 3D DLP printer software now runs on Windows!

Making it work

Neglecting Windows users was the biggest point of critique concerning my DLP printer software Monkeyprint. This was mainly due to the fact that I decided for GTK as a graphical user interface toolkit — which was missing an essential bit to display the 3d view on Windows. To make this work I had to rebuild the whole GUI using the Qt framework which took me quite a while. Hopefully, the effort pays of and Monkeyprint DLP will gain some users as the Windows version seemed to be a feature much asked for!

To make things even better, Windows users can now download a pre-packaged exe  file that contains all the necessary libraries. Download and run, that’s it 🙂

The readme file on my github provides some updated installation and usage instructions as well.

Screenshot of Monkeyprint DLP printer software running on Windows 10
Monkeyprint now comes pre-packaged for Windows and has been tested on Windows 7 and Windows 10

Stripping it down

I took the opportunity to think about which features Monkeyprint DLP should provide. In consequence, I’ve stripped much of the fancy stuff that has not been working 100% reliably anyways — like the Raspberry Pi server — and focused on the parts that are absolutely necessary for Monkeyprint DLP to be useful. These are:

  • Model import, translation and rotation
  • Support generation
  • Slicing & slice image export
  • Print process control using G-Code exclusively

I’ve removed the design files for my printer board and also the custom control commands that were used by my firmware. This stuff only made things more complicated. In my opinion, the easiest way for anyone building a DLP printer is to use one of the readily available G-Code boards out there.

Feedback wanted

Making Monkeyprint available for Windows was a fair amount of work. To make it work in the future, I’ll be needing some help from you guys. Download it, test it, report bugs on github and tell me how it behaves with your printer!

And as usual, feel free to comment below and subscribe if you like this 🙂

Best,
Paul

20 thoughts on “Monkeyprint DLP printer software now on Windows”

  1. Hello Paul,

    thanks alot for taking the time. I was browsing your website once in a while, looking for updates even though i should have gotten an email when anything new pops up 🙂
    However, i will give it a try and share the word. In the meantime, there have been quite decent findings/features added to some slicers, with the new market of Windows user, i hope there will be enough interest to keep things growing.

    Thank you very much!
    Daniel

    1. Hi Daniel,
      thanks for you comment!
      You are right, some decent slicers have popped up over the last year. I’ll have to see how many people are using Monkeyprint and if it makes sense to continue the effort.
      Best,
      Paul

    1. Hi Zack,
      I compiled it using 64-bit python and libraries as I didn’t expect 32-bit to still be around… I’ll release a 32-bit version on Saturday. Sorry about the inconvenience…
      Paul

      1. Thank you so much Paul!!! And yes, most Windows mobile platforms like tablets and laptops still run on the 32 bit version. I tried to upgrade to 64 bit as 99% of processors made over the last decade are 64 bit capable but it didn’t work. Can’t wait to get the 32 bit version and start printing!!! Thanks again

          1. Paul, got it and it works great for 32 bit Windows. Now I just need to add my g code and give it a print. Thanks again. I’ll keep you posted on how it performs.

            Zack

  2. Hi Paul!
    not a big issue, if I change some settings on config panel (like resolution com ports etc ) Software is not able to update the config file created by the software, running on win10 with administrator privileges, exe on desktop. regards

      1. Hi Paul,
        still testing mnkprt; when I launch the program on win and I try to “Add” a stl model to print, vtk debug console appear showing this :
        “ERROR: In ..\..\VTK5.10.1-Qt\Filtering\vtkDemandDrivenPipeline.cxx, line 727
        vtkStreamingDemandDrivenPipeline (000001AEF35A13D0): Input port 0 of algorithm vtkAppendPolyData(000001AEF35DE570) has 0 connections but is not optional.”
        Model seems to be imported correctly and appear on the build platform, you are able to slice it,too.
        (tested on 3 different pc – mnkprt win64 version only)
        Another issue, something seems to be wrong on your Marlin firmware generation procedure you described in “mnkprt sftw now speak g-code”: if I folllow your instruction, generating the firmware and uploading the compiled hex to arduino I get “mintemp triggered error” on serial monitor and the marlin stop the printer, (temp protection on id 0 extruder).
        hope it help!
        All tbe best,
        Maurizio

        1. Hi Maurizio,

          again, thanks a lot for testing!
          Regarding the VTK debug console: you can simply ignore that error/warning, nothing’s wrong with the model. There is already a solution at the horizon that simply deactivates the VTK message window, I just did not have the time to implement it…
          I’ll also have a look at the Marlin mintemp error, I think I’ve encountered it before…

          Thanks again for testing!

  3. Very cool indeed, thanks!

    Could you please tell what kind of a projector I should purchase for
    curing the resin.

    Thanks,
    Risto

    1. Hi Risto,
      When I built a printer some years ago I used an Acer H6510BD. But there are probably many better options nowadays. Make sure it is a DLP projector instead of LCD though…
      Best wishes,
      Paul

    2. if you don’t want to make modifications to the projector (loosing product warranty) and you need high resolution under 80/100 microns , just find a DLP by Acer, like suggested by Paul H6510BD worked out of the box… but Acer not sell this model anymore. I’ m a owner of Acer P1500 (same product of the above without few and not needed additional ports) I can confirm that it is able to focus at really close distance to print down at 50 microns XY without mods. Sure You can use a little more expensive choice like Vivitek, Optoma or other HD 1920×1080 DLP projector with very powerfull lamp (…or go with 4k models $$$!!), but you wukk need to disassemble the projector and remove the “hot mirror” part near the lamp, than use 4x closeup in front of the projector to reach resolution under 50 microns, once modified these models give better projection area near the edges with less or not distortion than HD6510BD or P1500. If you don’t need to print around the entire area .. Acer is the way to go! With an HD projector you’ll get a max printable area of 19,2×10,8cm at 100micron resolution.

  4. hi paul
    congarass!!
    lot of time i am wetting your windows version,
    monkeyprint window software version 0.14.1 worked your old recommended (schematics) hardware yes or no, if no so pleas guide new schematics and hardware detail for windows software version 0.14.1, i will interesting develop new 3d printer for mankeyprintor base you print control is good
    best regard
    vijayraje

  5. Hi Paul. Thank for this excellent job.
    I’m trying Windows 32bit version but I get some error when trying to execute the installation exe.
    It refers to a c:\python27_w32\….. like it is had coded in the exe.
    I have prior installed Python 2.7.0 as instructed but I keep getting this error. I am not a Python expert so I might be doing something wrong.

  6. Hi~ Paul Bomke.

    I m looking for firmware software but I can not find it

    where can I find firmware ?

    Please Thank you very much.

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