Figure 10.36: Printer dashboard during direct (local) printing
Printers registered in the Polar Cloud may still be used in non-Polar Cloud mode: that is, while the printer is registered in the Polar Cloud (and even connected to the Polar Cloud via the Internet), you may still control the printer directly, without going through the Polar Cloud. In particular, direct printing on a Polar3D printer (whether via WiFi or via cable connection) is discussed extensively in Appendix C: Connecting the Polar3D printer directly to your device of the Polar3D Printer Guide.
However, an interesting feature is that when a printer is connected to the Polar Cloud, the Polar Cloud can “see” such direct printing operation of “its” printer. Indeed, the Polar Cloud printer dashboard may even be used to control certain operations during otherwise “direct” printing! In particular, the printer dashboard control buttons to change filament, or pause or stop a print job, as well as the printer dashboard temperature dial(s), are operational, as usual; and if the printer has a camera, its camera feed is visible to the Polar Cloud and will be displayed on the printer dashboard screen, as usual; see Figure 10.36.
Note in Figure 10.36 that the “Status:” shown is “ON SERIAL”. The exact status reported during direct (local) printing will vary with different makes of printer; but do note that the status while performing direct printing will be different than the usual “PRINTING”, etc., statuses reported during Polar Cloud printing.
When a printer is connected to the Polar Cloud, the completion or cancellation of a local print job will also be recorded with a “Local Print Job” entry on your account “ACTIVITY” screen.