Hi, I am considering buy my first entry level 3D printer but am using Mac OS 10.7.5, can anyone recommend a printer that is going to be compatible with this operating system?
Hi,
I’m no expert as I have just purchased my first 3D printer, an Anet A8 and as far as I can tell it should be compatible with Mac systems, I don’t have mine connected to the computer in any case I print directly off a SD card.
The reason I went with the Anet was because there is so much info available and also spare parts and the price was better that many of the “No Name” Pruca clones that didn’t seem to have any real backup of resources.
And so far I am more than happy with the resulting prints, one point, it comes as a Kit you have to assemble it yourself, they provide good instruction and there is a wealth of info on the net and You tube to help you out, besides when you build yourself you then know a lot about the printer to deal with any future problems that are sure to arise.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Max
Most peole don’t connect the computer to the printer. They creat the g-code file then save it to an SD card and place the SD card in the printer. This seems like more work but a print might take 5 or even 24 hours and I would not want my MacBook tied up that long. (You can’t turn the MacBook off or unplug the USB cable while the print is running so it is best to use the SD card.)
G-code is what goes on the SD card and it is just a human readable text file. Any OS can write text to SD cards.
So printers really do not have a compatibility issue.
What you WILL need to slicing software that runs on 10.7.5 You can use the older version of Cura (it runs on 10.7) or use Slic3r because it is open source and you can build it to run on you older Mac.
Then depending on what you want to to you might have trouble getting software o 10.7 OK, you can slice the models to g-code but how to you create the models? What 3d CAD software do you use. Without CAD or modeling software you can only print files you download from the web.
I have an iMac running macOS High Sierra version 10.13.2, I ordered a QIDITech Dual Extruder in December, it certainly works with the iMAC. You have two options, either print via USB using MakerBot or transfer the files to print to the SD card that comes with it and print directly from the printer with the SD card installed.
Hi, thanks, that’s all really helpful. In terms of CAD software, I am using Sketchup, which although it is clunky seems to work all right for what I am doing. What I now realise it’s the slicing software I need to find that’s compatible with Mac OS 10.7.5. I shall investigate futher. Thanks again.
I think you have two options the old version of Cura and Slic3r. Both are good.
The OP’s concern was not printing using a Mac, but using Mac OS 10.7 This is old enough that a lot of current software no longer works. I don’t think this will be an issue for him.
