About
The PrintLapse App enables you to capture timelapses of your 3D prints using sound cues. By leveraging the microphone on your mobile device, the app detects specific beep sounds generated by your 3D printer and captures images at each layer change, creating a comprehensive timelapse of the printing process.
How It Works
It uses audio detection to trigger image capture. By configuring your slicer software to emit a beep sound at every layer change, the app recognizes this sound through the microphone and instructs the camera to take a photo.
Detailed Guide
To enhance your experience with the PrintLapse app, we offer a step-by-step guide with images that will help you better understand each part of the process.
Step 1: App Installation
Download and install the PrintLapse app from your mobile app store.
Search for "PrintLapse" in the App Store or Google Play.
Step 2: Custom GCODE
Integrate the specified GCODE into your slicer software to include a beep at every layer change.
;PRINTLAPSE GCODE START G1 X0 Y0 F3000; ; Move the print head away from the object G4 P1; ; Wait until the movement ends M300 S1000 P500; ; Play a 1000Hz beep for 0.5 seconds M300 S0 P4000; ; Wait for 4 seconds to allow the app to capture the photo ;PRINTLAPSE GCODE END
Integrating this GCODE sequence ensures that at every layer change, your printer moves the print head away, plays a distinct beep sound, and pauses briefly before continuing. This allows the app to reliably trigger image capture, creating a seamless timelapse video of your 3D printing project.
(* optional) To facilitate the recording of the beep sound, consider adding the specified GCODE at the beginning of your print job. This will trigger a beep sound at the start of the printing process, making it easier to capture the reference beep without waiting for a layer change.
(* optional) Additionally, you may want to include this GCODE at the end of your print job as well. Doing so will emit a final beep once the last layer is complete. This can be particularly helpful for signaling the end of your printing process, ensuring you capture the entire printing session right up to the last moment.
Step 3: Record the Beep
Open the app and prepare to record just before your printer emits the beep sound. This captured beep will serve as the reference for the app to identify and capture images during each layer change in the print process.
Step 4: Start the Capture
Press the "START CAPTURE" button within the app. This will initiate the live detection process, where the app identifies each beep sound during layer changes and captures an image accordingly.
Step 5: Sound Matching and Image Capture
This step involves using the app to match the recorded beep with live sounds. The blue line represents the saved beep sound using the RECORD function, showcasing both its frequency and duration; in this case, a 1000 Hz sound lasting 0.5 seconds. The red line illustrates a live sound that the app picks up, which is similar to the recorded one.
When the live sound (red line) overlaps the recorded beep (blue line), the app analyzes the match. If the similarity exceeds a certain threshold, it's considered a MATCH. At this point, the app captures the image, as it confirms the correct stage in the printing process to create a timelapse.
Step 6: Live Camera Monitoring
This step focuses on the live camera feed, which allows you to see what the camera is currently capturing. The interface displays key information such as the image resolution, shown here as 1280x720, and the number of captures taken since the live capture started, indicated here by 'Captures: 1'. You also have the ability to control the zoom level, with options like 1x, 2x, 3x, and to flip the image horizontally if needed.
Interactive features include tapping on the screen to focus the camera on a specific area. This is especially useful if you need to adjust the focus to a particular part of your 3D printing project.
Advanced Settings
For users looking to optimize their 3D Print Timelapse experience, the following advanced settings can provide additional customization and efficiency:
- Custom Head Positioning: The default GCODE moves the print head to X0 Y0. However, you can customize these coordinates (e.g., X0 Y210 F3000) to suit your printer's setup and preferences. Adjusting the head's position ensures it doesn't interfere with the image capture and allows for more consistent timelapse photos.
- Varying Beep Frequencies: While the standard beep frequency is set for optimal detection, you have the flexibility to experiment with different frequencies. Lower frequencies might be less intrusive, while higher ones could be inaudible to humans yet still detectable by your mobile device. Keep in mind that not all printers can produce every frequency due to their built-in speaker capabilities. Adjusting the beep's frequency and duration can tailor the timelapse process to your preferences and environment.
Note: When experimenting with these advanced settings, consider the capabilities and limitations of your 3D printer and the PrintLapse app's sound detection range to ensure optimal performance.
Features & Benefits
The app's ability to differentiate the specific beep from background noise ensures uninterrupted operation, allowing you to go about your daily tasks without worry. It remembers your last audio and video settings for convenience and stores the captured images on your device for easy access and timelapse compilation. The app is free and adds a watermark to the images, which can be removed through an in-app purchase.
Additionally, the app features a smart rotation function. Whether you rotate your device to the side for a landscape view or keep it upright for a portrait orientation, the UI and the camera view will automatically adjust to match the new orientation. This ensures that you can always view and capture your 3D printing projects from the angle that works best for you, without having to manually adjust settings or disrupt the printing process.
Functionality Demonstration
This section is designed as a demonstration to showcase how the PrintLapse app detects and records sounds. It is not a test of your previous setup but rather a way to familiarize yourself with the app's sound detection capabilities using a simulated beep sound from this webpage. Remember, this demonstration does not replicate the exact process for detecting sounds from your 3D printer. To monitor your 3D printing projects, you'll need to record the beep sound emitted by your printer using the app.
- Open the PrintLapse app on your device.
- Select "RECORD" in the app to ready it for sound capture.
- Click the button below to play a 1000-Hz beep sound. Ensure your device's volume is up and close to the sound source for optimal capture.
- Once the beep has played, press "STOP" in the app to conclude the recording session.
- Hit the "PLAY" button within the app to playback the recorded sound. The app will assess the sound and compare it to the recorded sample.
- If the sounds match, a "DETECTED" alert will appear, indicating the app's readiness for live sound detection in real 3D printing scenarios.
Note: This functionality demonstration is best performed in a quiet environment to prevent any sound interference. It's intended to help you understand how the app captures and recognizes sounds, but for actual use, please ensure to record the printer's beep sound within the app.