MatterHackers Announces Latest Version of 3D Printing Software, MatterControl 1.6

November 22, 2016 by Sarah Saunders 3D Printing 3D Software

Share this Article

It’s too bad that MatterHackers already had their Blue Friday sales event – you’ll probably want to stock up on filament and other accessories so you can do some holiday printing, because the company just announced the latest version of MatterControl, their free, open-source 3D printing software. MatterControl 1.6 comes only a few months after their MatterControl T10 3D Printer Controller was announced.

The MatterControl software is pretty popular with novices and experts alike, as it’s compatible with the majority of 3D printers. As always, if your printer isn’t on the website’s list of supported printers, send them an email and they’ll see what they can do about adding it. The 3D printing retailer is calling MatterControl 1.6 their most advanced version yet, with several fantastic upgrades and enhancements added to almost every feature of the user interface.

One of the most appealing new features of MatterControl 1.6 is the Print Recovery feature. This cutting-edge tracking system continuously monitors the state of your printer, and the print it’s currently working on. It has the ability to fix some of the most frequently-experienced failure conditions in 3D printing. For instance, it can catch and correct power or connection loss, and even those pesky unrequested system updates. It’s kind of like the MatterControl 1.6 guardian angel – if something bad or unexpected happens during a print job (MatterHackers’ example was canine sabotage, which I absolutely understand), the Print Recovery can fix the issue, and pick up printing right where it left off: no harm, no foul.

“Print Recovery is the type of innovation 3D printing needs. It enables every user to have the confidence that no matter what, their prints will come out great! Power failures, disconnections, midnight system updates – are all easily handled with MatterControl Print Recovery,” said Lars Brubaker, Chief Executive Officer of MatterHackers.

MatterControl’s connectivity features have always been industry-leading. You receive text notifications when your print is complete, you can start, stop, and monitor your prints from the palm of your hand using your phone, and you even can keep all of your digital designs close at hand wherever you go, with the Cloud Design Library.

But MatterControl 1.6 is making sure you stay even more connected than you were before, with MatterControl Cloud Printer Profiles. Existing printer profiles and settings can be saved and synced to your user account, so they’re accessible across all MatterControl platforms, from wherever and whenever you choose to log in. Any settings updates or modifications are now automatically synced to the cloud, and to every instance of MatterControl and MatterControl Touch that you’re logged into. With the improvements to the printer profiles, MatterControl is always there for you (cue the “Friends” TV show theme song).

The entire user interface of MatterControl has gotten a makeover, including the settings management. The slice settings editor tracks and saves all changes, so you’re able to easily see what’s been changed. No worries if you don’t like a change you’ve made to the settings and want to undo it – any setting changes can be reverted back to the default setting at any time. The print quality and material editors have also been improved, so any editing can be done in no time.

“MatterControl 1.6 is our most refined release yet, with enhancements to the core experience of managing printer settings, including automatic syncing across devices and the ability to restore previous versions,” said Kevin Pope, MatterHackers Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer. “With its many improvements, this update furthers MatterHackers’ ongoing mission of making 3D printing more accessible and reliable for users of all experience levels.”

Some of the other upgrades and special features of MatterControl 1.6, according to the company, include:

Smarter, faster MatterSlice slicing engine with improved support detection, easier support removal (air gap), and quality enhancing seam hiding
New setup wizards that help to guide printer setup, creating online accounts, and optional step by step printer calibration
Manufacturers and users can easily create and share custom printer profiles

For any additional information, and to download the new and improved MatterControl 1.6 for free, just visit their website. Don’t forget to check out the MatterHackers’ video below to learn even more!