Welcome to the SeeMeCNC Community

I'm going to buy a second Rostock Max for work and was wondering if anyone has tried the new MatterControl Touch tablet for controlling their printer. Looks like a good idea in principle, I wonder if it has been implemented successfully.

I just noticed the post from stonewater, thank you for the information.

I haven't heard good things about the hardware that they've chosen. The guy on this forum who bought one actually ended up returning it after a week.

Why pay the MatterHackers guys $300 for a proprietary tablet with their software on it when you can just buy a cheap (like $80) windows tablet and run the free software?
The SeeMe guys have been doing this with a Surface tab for their PartDaddy (not $80, but same idea).

What I like even better is repetier server on my banana pro, a raspberry pi 2 would also be a good candidate. You can run it from any browser on any machine on the network and it has plenty of features.

Intel Edison with OctoPrint is also a good choise, works very well for me

A spare PC running remote desktop works for me, I can control it from another laptop, or my Android smartphone.

I sent it back, it just did not do what I wanted it to do. I ended up getting a little lappy for 250 that does everything I want and more. I replaced my old 32 bit dell with an asus netbook needed something 64 bit for mattercontrol. I have ended up using the SD card more and more.

Tom C

Thank you all for the replies and giving me some sensible options.

I'm curious about the Surface tablets. Can they reliably stream gcode jobs to 3d printers and cnc machines (shapeoko)?

heathenx wrote:I'm curious about the Surface tablets. Can they reliably stream gcode jobs to 3d printers and cnc machines (shapeoko)?

I have a Surface RT and the Pro 3. The RT would most likely not run anything do to the lack of power and the crap RT version of windows. The Pro 3, shouldn't have any issue at all but it might depend on the processor you have. I'll hook mine up with weekend and try a large print directly from USB. Never tried it, so it would be nice to know for sure anyhow. It's the i7 version with USB 3.0, I'm expecting it to do fine.

Alright, thanks KAS. I was thinking about getting another laptop to for use with cnc work. I've seen the See Me guys use a tablet but I've never really paid attention to what they were doing with it. It's a shame there aren't more android options. I have a gazillion of those tablets/phones lying around.

I am using a WinBook TW802 tablet to run my printer with repetier, streams over usb no problems. I have done 5 hour prints no problems.
FULL SIZE USB port, Windows 8.1, 2gb ram, etc. etc. Amazing value, I paid $100 but I see it is $119 now, but still WOW.
http://www.microcenter.com/product/4409 ... et_-_Black
I download files, slice, print everything!
Repetier, MatterControl desktop version, Cura, KissSlicer, netfabb, etc.

The only downside is navigating the tiny icons on the touch screen... just plug in a usb keyboard and mouse and your golden!
Or a folio case with a bluetooth keyboard.

I think it would work just fine for CNC control to shapeoko.

Awesome! Thanks, Brian. I'll look into that. $120 seems like a steal.

Just make sure you turn off all the power management features and keep it connected to USB power.

g.

geneb wrote:Just make sure you turn off all the power management features and keep it connected to USB power.

g.

Roger that!

Perhaps something like this will help me click on those teeny tiny icons.

Those winbook tablets are cheap tablets, quality too A friend of mine uses one for car diagnostic work, it works great for it but I think he's on his 3rd. He also has a computer repair business so he's not killing them accidentally.

I picked up a Asus EP121 for my diagnostic work - very nice tablet and I am tempted to pick up another for my linuxcnc machine interface.

heathenx wrote:

geneb wrote:Just make sure you turn off all the power management features and keep it connected to USB power.

g.

Roger that!

Perhaps something like this will help me click on those teeny tiny icons.

Yes, turn off all power saving features. It does have a 2nd mini usb port for the charger to plug into, I power it from that.

I tried a stylus but did not work any better, maybe worse. Could have been the wrong type of stylus? (it has a soft rubber nub like that SeeMe one.)
Let me know if you find a stylus that works.

I ordered this case http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VFY ... UTF8&psc=1
waiting for it to arrive

Also a bluetooth mouse http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Q7 ... UTF8&psc=1
but the tablet crashes when I use it ???

I ordered a tablet, keyboard, and a 4 port usb hub in case I want to plug in other things.

heathenx wrote:I ordered a tablet, keyboard, and a 4 port usb hub in case I want to plug in other things.

I wonder if it is the same as Best Buy's Insignia 8 tablet?

Everything is working great!

Keyboard and case all in one?

Mac The Knife wrote:Keyboard and case all in one?

Yes. Its the keyboard Brian linked a few posts above. The keyboard is Bluetooth and usb. Plus, the keyboard pops off. Held on with magnets. Handy.

yes, my keyboard finally came today.
works great.
the bluetooth mouse is working fine now to.

I am typing this on the keyboard right now.
awesome, like a tiny laptop now.


It does not have a hole for back camera, so I am considering trying to laser cut a hole in case.
I am hope to monitor prints remotely with camera.
not sure what sw to use for that. maybe repetier host will find camera?

If and when I buy one, my plan would be to use a remote desktop client.

And the tablets are now 129.

bvandiepenbos wrote:I am using a WinBook TW802 tablet to run my printer with repetier, streams over usb no problems.

That sounds pretty good, I could not find one over here so I got a HP Stream 8. Bad move, you can not charge it while the USB is being used. Tried two different hubs with power attachments and no good.

I have found a winbook TW802 and ordered one now, should be good when it gets here $135 then add the Australian conversion and freight!

Have to check the keyboard out too...