Waiting for the printer is the hardest part

[SigmundOrlando]

I had a long print running last weekend and it reminded me how weird the in between time is in 3D printing. You are excited because the printer is finally doing its thing, but you are also just staring at it like it is going to speed up if you watch harder. I kept doing drive by checks like a nervous parent, then I’d walk away and immediately come back to peek again.

The funny part is I actually enjoyed the chill pacing once I stopped hovering. I ended up cleaning the workspace, sorting random parts, and watching a couple teardown videos to kill time. It felt satisfying coming back and seeing real progress without me messing with anything. What do you all do while a long print is running so you do not just babysit it for hours?

 

[Huxter]

printing overnight is scary to me! For the rest of the time, I put a cheap webcam on the printer to check in remotely (Pi 3 w octoprint).

Newer printers are starting to come w AI to keep an eye on prints. This should help our anxieties!!

During prints, I watch tv/stream, play online poker, build rockets...

 

[RufusAlbarea]

I end up doing small printer stuff that doesn’t touch the running job, like organizing nozzles, wiping down tools, or labeling filament. Sometimes I’ll watch a slicer tutorial and try to learn one new setting for the next print.