This article takes you through how to create Printer Types and add individual Printer assets within Flows. It also explains how to add a Modeler to each printer asset, enabling them to be connected via Echo to the physical machine on the production floor.

Printer Type

To create a new printer you first have to make sure that the right printer type is already available, otherwise you have to create that first. You can check that in the Printer Type section of the Asset Menu. A Printer Type is the model printer - for example an SLM 500.

You may have multiple such systems in your office, which would be added as below. You can check whether the printer type exists under Assets > Asset Types > Printer Type. If it does not, you can select an existing printer type from the database provided to pre-populate some fields, or create your own from scratch.

Enter a Name (such as SLM 500), Description, Manufacturer (a dropdown where new options are able to be created on the fly) and Materials (multi-choice possible). Work Checklists enable you to enter process steps that will carry through to workflows.

The Build / Packing dropdown enables you to enter Packing Type, Packing Distance, Build Volumes (X, Y, Z in mm) and any Buffer time that should be added to the scheduler before or after the calculated print time.

The Cost / Pricing dropdown enables you to enter the costs that will be applied throughout the bureau whenever this printer type is selected for a particular line item.

Printer

Now that you've added a Printer Type, you can add the printer that represents the machine that is on the production floor. This is designed for you to be able to add multiple machines of the same type, potentially in different locations. It can be accessed by Assets > Workstations > Printers

Individual Machines can be created within Flows by clicking Add Printer and then selecting the Name (can be serial number or an alias that the machine is known by, e.g. Frodo), Printer Type and Location of the machine.

If you want to be able to track the data from the printer automatically by connecting with Echo, then you also need to add the modeler address (see below).

Modeler

By connecting the printer in Flows through Echo to the printer on the production floor allows you to see automatic updates from the printer directly within Flows, such as printer status. However, this is an optional step - there is no requirement to have this link. A printer without this data connection will still be able to complete the same functionality within Flows.

Your Customer Success contact will help you to set this up correctly. Within the Printer Page, there is an option to Establish a data connection to see machine analytics details. Within this popup modal, enter the Name, IP Address and Serial Number of the printer. When setup, you will be able to see the current printer state, associated information and when the latest data collection point was captured.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact support@authentise.com.