How do I get files to my 3D printer?
QCould you explain to me how to download files to a microsd card? I want to download STL files to use on a Monoprice 3D printer, and I just don't have a clue about how to proceed. My HP PC runs Windows 7. Thanks for any help you are able to give me. Ken Dunn
AThe short answer is that you’d need to slide a microsd card into a reader slot on your PC. When you do this, the card will appear as just another drive on your PC. Then, you can save downloaded files directly to the inserted card, or use Windows Explorer to transfer them from the save location on your computer’s hard drive to the card. To do the latter, press Windows key+e to launch Windows Explorer, then drag and drop the relevant STL files.
Many modern laptops have cardreader slots built in. Sometimes these are multi-format, meaning they’re compatible with a variety of card types and sizes (see image below left). However, some only accommodate full-size SD card cards, so you might need an adapter for micr microsd cards – such as this £3.50 example from Sandisk ( www.snipca.com/28586). It is less common for desktop PCS to have such slots, but some do. Again, some will be multi-format, while others will accept only the original SD card size, so you’d need an adapter.
If your computer doesn’t have any such slot – and it sounds like it doesn’t – then USB readers are widely available, and pretty cheap. Anker, for instance, makes a model that has slots for both standard and microsd cards (pictured above left), and a few others besides. It’s around £9 from Amazon ( www.snipca.com/28587).