3D printers and Raspberry Pi are good friends. Using Raspberry Pi to control a 3D printer is quite common as it brings many benefits (low power consumption, connectivity, remote access, etc.). I currently do not have a 3D printer, but I am interested in what applications can run on Raspberry Pi. Let’s discuss what I know.
You can download the AppImage file from the release section of the GitHub project to install Ultimaker Cura on Raspberry Pi. Although there is no official version for Raspberry Pi, a branch has been created for the ARM architecture.
So, the answer to your question is: yes, it is possible. Now, let’s learn how to install it. I will also provide you with some alternatives that can be used for 3D printing on Raspberry Pi.
Can Raspberry Pi run Cura?
What is Cura?
Ultimaker is a manufacturer that makes and sells high-end 3D printers for companies and individuals. Cura is the software they created to control these printers.
If you own one of their printers, you are very lucky, but they also provide free software to control almost any 3D printer: Ultimaker Cura. You can connect the printer to the software, import your 3D files, and print directly.
On a standard computer, this is really convenient, but the idea here is to see if it can run on Raspberry Pi.
Is Cura in the Raspberry Pi OS repository?
Cura is present in the default repository of Raspberry Pi OS and can be installed using apt or the “Add/Remove Software” tool. The installation process is smooth, but the current version of the software cannot start, so this is not a viable solution.
I was surprised to see many of us asking how to install Cura because it is already available in the repository, but now I understand. Although it exists, it is not usable, which is unfortunate.
There is a Linux version in the official GitHub repository, but it also cannot run on Raspberry Pi. You will receive a message like this:
-bash: ./Ultimaker_Cura-4.10.0.AppImage: cannot execute binary file: Exec format errorWhere to download Cura for Raspberry Pi?
To download the latest version of Cura for Raspberry Pi, go to the release section of the Cura GitHub project (forked by smartavionics) and download the AppImage file.
1. Here is the link to check the latest version:
https://github.com/smartavionics/Cura/releases
2. I recommend skipping beta and pre-release versions to find the “latest” version.
3. Then find the “Assets” section of that version and download the AppImage file corresponding to your architecture (32-bit for armhf, or 64-bit for aarch64).
You can download it using the following command line via terminal or remote SSH connection:
wget https://github.com/smartavionics/Cura/releases/download/4.20.18/Cura-4.20.18-mb-armhf.AppImagehttps://raspberrytips.com/ssh-guide-raspberry-pi/
Don’t forget to change the URL.
I have not used AppImage files on Raspberry Pi before, so if you don’t know what to do, I will understand. I will explain everything in the next steps.
How to install AppImage files on Raspberry Pi?
AppImage is a file format used for creating and distributing portable software on Linux. It is a self-mounting disk image that contains the application and does not require installation. Just add execute permissions and double-click to start the application.
Here’s how to install Cura on Raspberry Pi using the AppImage file:
1. You can save the AppImage file anywhere you want (in this tutorial, I will save it in the “Downloads” folder). Try to keep it in a safe folder (if you often delete the “Downloads” folder, move it to another location first).
2. Then, you need to add execute permissions to the file. The easiest way is to open a terminal and enter the following command:
sudo chmod +x Cura-4.20.18-mb-armhf.AppImageOf course, adjust the file path and version as needed. If you prefer, you can also do it via the graphical interface: right-click the file > Properties, then add “Execute” permission in the “Permissions” tab.
3. Then, you just need to double-click the file in the file explorer to start the application.
4. Click “Execute” to confirm.
If it doesn’t work, try starting it from the terminal. This way, you can see if there are any errors. I did not get any errors on my system, but I know some packages are needed, so you may need to install some packages if you are using a lightweight version.
Note: On Bookworm, you need to install these two packages for it to work:
sudo apt install libfuse-dev mesa-utils
Create a shortcut for Cura in the main menu
Cura can run, but it is not very convenient because you have to enter the folder every time you start it. Let’s add a shortcut in the main menu.
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Click the Raspberry Pi logo to open the main menu.
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Go to “Preferences” > “Main Menu Editor”.
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Select a category on the left, such as “Education”.
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Then click “New Item”.
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Enter the application name (Cura), then click “Browse” to specify the file location:
If needed, you can add an icon.
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Click “OK” twice to save.
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Now you can launch Cura directly from the main menu.
I previously told you that I am not an expert in 3D printing, but this application seems easy to use.
When you first start it, there is a wizard to help you configure everything (especially connecting the printer).
After that, you just need to transfer 3D files to Raspberry Pi or download them directly (Thingiverse seems like a good source).
Thingiverse:https://www.thingiverse.com/
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Download a template (like this one: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:604915 for printing a case for Raspberry Pi).
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You will receive a zip file, extract the files (right-click > Extract here).
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In Cura, use “File” > “Open File(s)” to open the file.
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Each case part has a file, select one.
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That’s it, you can now see it in Cura and proceed from there:
Can you really 3D print with Raspberry Pi?
Using Raspberry Pi to control a 3D printer is one of the most common uses of this small computer. Raspberry Pi is perfect for this task because it can run almost all 3D printing software, easily connect to the printer, and run 24 hours a day with low power consumption and no noise.
In the next section, I will introduce you to two other 3D printing software programs that can be used on Raspberry Pi. They are both good to use, and the hardware limitations of Raspberry Pi are not an issue.
3D printing does not require a good computer. You just need a basic workflow, at least 1GB of memory, and a minimum graphics card to preview your work. Basically, any computer that runs a supported operating system for mainstream applications is suitable for 3D printing. So, Raspberry Pi is the perfect choice.
Alternative software for Cura on Raspberry Pi
After discovering that Cura runs well on Raspberry Pi, I was curious and tried other applications.
Pronterface on Raspberry Pi
Pronterface is another popular 3D printing application. You can use it to prepare, slice, and print STL files.
Compared to Cura, its installation on Raspberry Pi is even easier because it is available in the repository and can run directly.
To install it, just enter:
sudo apt install printrun
OctoPrint on Raspberry Pi
OctoPrint is also a popular application in the 3D printing world (in fact, I only knew about this one before doing some research for this article). It is a bit different because it is not a desktop application but a web application. If your Pi is connected to the printer, you can monitor everything from your computer, which is very convenient.
In any case, the most common way to install it on Raspberry Pi is to use OctoPi, a custom Raspberry Pi operating system distribution that includes OctoPrint. So, if your Raspberry Pi is mainly used for 3D printing, I recommend downloading the OctoPi image here, flashing it to an SD card, and you’re good to go.
What is a Linux distribution?:
https://raspberrytips.com/glossary/distribution/
Download the OctoPi image:
https://octoprint.org/download/
If you need more guidance, I have a complete tutorial on how to install OctoPrint on Raspberry Pi:https://raspberrytips.com/install-octoprint-on-raspberry-pi/
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