First Printer Setup¶

This guide walks you through adding your first printer to Bambuddy.

Prerequisites¶

Before adding a printer, ensure:

Bambuddy is running (Installation or Docker)
Your printer is powered on and connected to your network
SD card is inserted in the printer (required for file transfers)
Developer Mode is enabled (see guide)
You have the IP address, serial number, and access code

SD Card Required

An SD card must be inserted in your printer for Bambuddy to work properly. The SD card is required for file transfers, print uploads, and archiving. Without an SD card, prints cannot be started from Bambuddy and files cannot be transferred to/from the printer.

Adding Your Printer¶

Step 1: Open the Add Printer Dialog¶

Open Bambuddy in your browser
Go to the Printers page
Click the Add Printer button

Step 2: Enter Printer Details¶

Fill in the required information:

Field	Description	Example
Name	A friendly name for your printer	`Workshop X1C`
IP Address	Your printer's local IP address	`192.168.1.100`
Access Code	8-character code from Developer Mode	`12345678`
Serial Number	Your printer's serial number	`01P00A000000001`

Finding Serial Number

The serial number format varies by model:

X1 Series: Starts with 01S or 01P
P1 Series: Starts with 01P
A1 Series: Starts with 01A
H2 Series: Starts with 03W

Step 3: Save and Connect¶

Click Save
Bambuddy will attempt to connect to your printer
Wait for the connection indicator to turn green

Verifying Connection¶

A successfully connected printer shows:

Green Indicator¶

Connection is active and healthy

Live Temperatures¶

Nozzle, bed, and chamber readings update in real-time

HMS Status¶

Health Management System shows "OK" (green)

Understanding the Printer Card¶

Once connected, your printer card displays:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  [●] Workshop X1C                              [📷] [⚙️]   │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                             │
│  🌡️ Nozzle: 220°C    🛏️ Bed: 60°C    🏠 Chamber: 35°C     │
│                                                             │
│  ████████████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░  45%              │
│  Layer 120 of 267  •  1h 23m remaining  •  45g used        │
│                                                             │
│  ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐   │
│  │  AMS                                                 │   │
│  │  [🔵] PLA Blue   [🔴] PLA Red   [⚪] Empty   [⚪]    │   │
│  │  💧 45%  🌡️ 28°C                                     │   │
│  └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘   │
│                                                             │
│  HMS: ✅ OK                                                 │
│                                                             │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Card Elements¶

Element	Description
Connection indicator	Green = connected, Red = disconnected
Camera button	Open live camera feed
Settings button	Edit printer settings
Temperatures	Live nozzle, bed, and chamber temps
Progress bar	Current print progress (if printing)
Layer info	Current layer / total layers
Time remaining	Estimated completion time
Filament used	Grams consumed this print
AMS section	Filament slots, humidity, and temperature
HMS status	Health status indicator

Camera Setup¶

Bambuddy supports live camera streaming:

Click the camera icon on the printer card
A new window opens with the live feed
Toggle between Live stream and Snapshot mode

Camera Requirements

Camera must be enabled in your printer settings
Requires ffmpeg installed on the Bambuddy server for MJPEG streaming
Works over Developer Mode connection

Connection Issues?¶

If your printer won't connect:

Check These First¶

Is Developer Mode enabled? Re-check that both LAN Only Mode and Developer Mode are enabled
Correct IP address? Verify in printer network settings
Access code fresh? Codes change when Developer Mode is toggled
Same network? Bambuddy server and printer must be on the same LAN
Firewall rules? Ensure ports 8883 (MQTT) and 990 (FTPS) are open

Status Indicators¶

Indicator	Meaning
Green	Connected and communicating
Yellow	Connecting or reconnecting
Red	Disconnected or error

Still Having Issues?¶

See the full Troubleshooting Guide.

Adding More Printers¶

Repeat the process to add additional printers. Bambuddy supports unlimited printers - manage your entire print farm from one interface!

What Happens Next?¶

Once your printer is connected, Bambuddy automatically:

Monitors print status in real-time
Archives completed prints with full metadata
Captures camera snapshots on print completion (if enabled)
Tracks statistics for your dashboard

Start a print from Bambu Studio, Handy, or the printer itself - Bambuddy will detect it automatically!