How can I automatically pull Ultimaker use statistics?

[Zenaf 0]

Hello all!

 

I'm trying to figure out how I can acquire Ultimaker data such as print time, material used, etc. This data has important manufacturing/industrial engineering implications that can be used to track & monitor the value of the printers in the manufacturing environment. Has anyone found a good solution for downloading Ultimaker data automatically, storing it in a database, and then visually displaying it via applications like Tableau, etc? I know that certain industrial printers like the Stratasys Fortus can do this easily, but I have not yet found an easy solution for the Ultimaker. 

 

Right now I have two S5s, and one 3 Extended. 

 

Best Regards!

[ahoeben 1,948]

You could create a copy of the SliceInfo plugin, and modify it to send its data to a server/database that collects the usage data for you:

https://github.com/Ultimaker/Cura/blob/4.2/plugins/SliceInfoPlugin/SliceInfo.py#L31

[Zenaf 0]

So I have minimal knowledge of coding, etc. I'm new to the game and a bit in over my head with setting something like that up. Do you have a more basic tutorial you can point me in the direction of that I could learn how to do something like this? 

[ahoeben 1,948]

No, sorry, I don't have something more basic.

[geert_2 557]

Maybe like in the old days? Put a paper logbook next to the printer, and for each print, write down username, date, begin and end time, estimated print time (from printer display), meters of used filament, type of filament, etc. And a separate column for total times. This method has worked well for hundreds of years, and is likely to be more stable than electronic means.

 

The data would have to come from the printers anyway, not from Cura. Often a sliced model is printed numerous times. And some others are not printed at all, when changing our mind or improving the model. Cura doesn't know this.