Create or connect a CloudDock - BuildBee Support

Create or connect a BuildBee CloudDock

You can now make your own BuildBee CloudDock with existing Raspberry Pi hardware using the built in wizards in BuildBee Desktop. Simply launch the wizard and follow the steps.

Prep - Make sure you have all the required hardware

- Raspberry Pi 3B or 3B+ (with the appropriate power supply).
- MicroSD Card (minimum 4GB).
- A "Charge and Sync" type USB cable suitable for your 3D printer. Note that "charge only" cables do exist and cannot be used.
Please note that during this process, the microSD card will be formatted.
For the Raspberry Pi 4 and above and other devices you can install Octoprint and add the BuildBee plugin instead.
You can use older versions of the Raspberry Pi but is nnot directly supported or actively tested.

1 - Download and install BuildBee Desktop

- Go to  https://www.buildbee.com/desktop and download the correct version for your operating system (Windows or Mac).
- Install BuildBee Desktop and sign in with your acount.

2 - Start the wizard

- From BuildBee Desktop
- Click on banner "Click here to setup your printer>" or alternatively the printers icon, then "Add or Setup Printer"
- Select your printer type and give it a unique name to help identify it (these can be changed later).
- Select the "Raspberry Pi Connection" type
- Insert your microSD card into your computer.
- Select "Install CloudDock OS" to create a new printer connection, or select "Update Network" and skip to Step 4 to change the network settings.









3 - Complete the installation (flashing) of the BuildBee CloudDock OS

- Start the CloudDock OS download, the first time is around 2GB.
- Plug-in and select your SD card.
- Complete the installation.
- After a few minutes the installation will be complete
- Select "Setup network" to provide the network details and finalise the binding of the new CloudDock to your personal or enterprise account. 









4 - Setup your network connection

- Follow the prompts to setup the network connection on the CloudDock so that it can securely connect to the internet and BuildBee services.
- Custom contains additional options for Education and Enterprise customers.
- Select your network type and provide the connection details
- Select the "Save to SD card" to store the network details on the SD card.
- This step can be repeated if you are updating a fleet of printers.
For NSW DET customers, you can find specialised options under the Custom option for Edge and non-Edge school
Ensure your raspberry pi device is compatible with the type of network information you've provided.  WiFi networking was introduced with RP3B, 5.4GHz WiFi was introduced with the 3B+. 









5 - Follow the prompts to complete the physical connection.

- Remove the SD card from the computer and insert it into the Raspberry Pi 3/3B+
- Connect the USB cable between the Raspberry Pi and the Printer.
- Power on the 3D printer and the Raspberry Pi
- Binding can take around 2 minutes, after this your printer will be available in you printers list.
- You will now be able to send jobs remotely from BuildBee Desktop, BuildBee Webapp or the BuildBee mobile apps.

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