Hi there!
I’m looking into getting myself a good printer and I am wondering if I need to install some platform-specific drivers for them to run. I am running Debian 12 (GNU/Linux) and I am afraid that I must run some proprietary blob to connect to the printer.
Could someone share their experience please? Even if you don’t use Linux, your feedback would be very appreciated!
(Also, while you are at it, please share some recommendations for printers, I don’t really know where to go (>v<) Have about ±500€ )
Hey! Most 3D printers don’t require special drivers on Linux — they usually show up as standard serial devices. I’ve used a few on Debian-based systems without needing proprietary software. Just make sure your user has access to the serial port (usually by adding yourself to the dialout group).
For slicing software, tools like Orca Slicer work well on Linux and support a wide range of printers. If you’re looking into printers, something like a Creality model could be a solid choice — they also provide their own Creality software if you want to try it out. With a ~500€ budget, you’ve got some great options!
Most 3D printers work fine on Debian without special drivers — just make sure you’re in the dialout group. For slicing, Prusa Slicer Free Download works great on Linux and supports many printers. The Ender 3 S1 is a solid option in your price range!
On most printers, the files are either uploaded over WiFi through a web browser or transferred with a flash drive. As long as the slicer runs on your computer, you will be able to print. There are a lot of open source slicers for FDM printers than run on Linux.
Try to run something like fusion360 or freecad to see if your device can handle those, they will come in handy once you’re ready for them.
I just use Blender. Any advantage to using FreeCAD?
Blender is more of an artistic tool. Not great at creating precise geometry. Tools like freecad make it much easier to create functional parts where the geometry matters. They are also easier to edit and adjust things after the fact as they tend to be parameterized - letting you update a value to update the model.
But they are terrible at more artistic things like miniatures or figurines or more organic shapes which is where blender shines.
So it really depends on what you are trying to create. But for a lot of people using 3d printers (which I believe tend to create more functional than atheistic prints - at least from designs they have created themselves) tools like freecad tend to serve them better then tools like blender.
I’ve started to learn FreeCAD and, while I still use Blender for current projects, I can already see why FreeCAD is more suitable for this stuff. From the small amount I’ve learned, I can already tell that it fixes a lot of headaches I had with creating models for 3D printing in Blender.
