Cloud / Digital Factory Usage Model Alternative?

[calinb 11]

I'm thinking about finally retiring my highly modified UMO that I purchased in 2012, but I don't believe in using "the cloud" for controlling my 3D printing (or much of anything else, really). Is the only current Ultimaker product line alternative a tethered computer via USB or perhaps a memory stick (no better than my 9 year-old UMO)? It's a shame to waste Ethernet and wifi hardware on a cloud-only solution! This may be an Ultimaker deal breaker for me.

Edited August 2, 2021 by calinb

[Smithy 1,144]

The UM product line is not cloud only, that's wrong. Every UM printer can print directly from SD card or USB stick. Nearly every printer which is network enabled (ethernet, wifi) can also be used to directly send the print job from Cura to the printer - locally, no cloud. An exception is the UM2+Connect, this printer can only be used via the Digital Factory (Cloud) or USB stick. But with every other printer it is up to you if you want to use the printer locally, fully isolated if you want or if you want to use the cloud. Both is possible and if you want, also both together. So if you connect the printer to the cloud, you can decide in Cura if you want to print directly, print via cloud or save the gcode to USB.