So I have a 3D printer that relies on me to place the sliced images onto a micro SD card on my computer and then transfer it onto the micro SD card and place it back into my 3D printer in order for me top call it up to print.
Me being a geek, I would like to know if there is any way I can use the Arduino to transmit the spliced image that would be on the micro SD card using ethernet? Something like Micro SD to ethernet.
I know that the Arduino itself can READ micro SD cards by purchasing a micro SD shield but that's just for reading. And I also know the Arduino itself can be controlled over the network via a ethernet shield.
So the question remains - Is it possible to use the Arduino in order for me to send my sliced file over my network to the micro SD card inside the 3D printer? Perhaps just soldered the micro SD connections themselves inside the 3D printer?
Nevertheless, that is what the OP requested, and if the 3D printer can in fact be connected to the PC to obtain the data, that clearly fulfils his requirement.
Are you thinking that a Windoze machine may not be able to operate reliably for 20 hours? Or what would actually be the problem?
Actually I run Macs and that wasn't the issue. I was afraid I'd un-thinkingly shut off the computer or do something else that would interrupt the print. With the SD card I could let the printer(s) run by themselves.
And, when I was using them in production, I could leave a list on each printer with what we needed printed. My guys would check them now and then and keep them reloaded and printing. I was a great fan of the SD drive way of doing things.
Octoprint running on a raspberry pi would probably be a lot easier than trying to interface an arduino to the SD card simultaneously with the printer controller.
