Print Archiving

Bambuddy automatically archives every print with full metadata extraction, creating a searchable history of all your 3D prints.

How It Works

When a print completes on any connected printer:

1. Detection: Bambuddy detects the print completion via MQTT
2. Download: The 3MF file is downloaded from the printer via FTPS
3. Extraction: Metadata is extracted from the 3MF (layers, filament, settings)
4. Storage: Everything is saved to the archive/ directory
5. Display: The print appears in your Archives with a thumbnail

What Gets Archived

Files

• 3MF File: Complete print file (can be re-printed later)
• Thumbnail: Preview image from the slicer
• Timelapse: Video if enabled on printer (auto-attached or manual)
• Finish Photo: Automatic camera capture on completion

Metadata

Field	Description
Print Time	Estimated vs actual duration
Filament	Material type, color, weight used
Layers	Total count and layer height
Temperatures	Nozzle and bed temperatures
Printer	Which printer completed the job
Result	Success, failed, or stopped
Colors	Multi-color prints show color swatches

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Archive Features

3D Model Preview

Click any archive to open an interactive Three.js viewer:

• Rotate, zoom, and pan the model
• View from different angles
• See the actual geometry that was printed

Duplicate Detection

Bambuddy automatically detects when you've printed the same model before:

• SHA256 hash matches exact file content
• Purple badge indicates duplicates
• "Duplicates" filter shows all duplicate prints
• View duplicate history in archive details

Print Time Accuracy

Compare estimated vs actual print times:

• Green badge: Accurate (within 5%)
• Blue badge: Faster than estimated
• Orange badge: Slower than estimated
• Per-printer accuracy statistics available

Photo Attachments

Document your prints with photos:

• Automatic finish photo: Camera captures when print completes
• Manual uploads: Add your own photos
• Multiple photos per archive supported

Failure Analysis

When a print fails, document what went wrong:

• Add failure notes
• Attach photos of the failure
• Track failure patterns over time

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Managing Archives

Filtering & Search

• By Printer: Show prints from specific printers
• By Date: Filter by time range
• By Status: Success, failed, stopped
• By Collection: Custom collections you create
• Search: Find by filename

Context Menu Actions

Right-click any archive card for:

• Re-print: Send to any connected printer
• Schedule: Add to print queue
• Project Page: View/edit MakerWorld metadata
• Scan for Timelapse: Find matching timelapse
• Delete: Remove from archive

Collections

Organize archives into custom collections:

1. Right-click an archive
2. Select "Add to Collection"
3. Create or select a collection
4. Filter archives by collection

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Project Page Editor

3MF files from MakerWorld contain embedded project pages with:

• Model title and description
• Designer information
• License details
• Preview images

Viewing Project Pages

1. Right-click an archive
2. Select "Project Page"
3. View all embedded information

Editing Project Pages

1. Open the project page
2. Click "Edit"
3. Modify title, description, or other fields
4. Click "Save" (changes are saved to the 3MF file)

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Re-printing Archives

Send any archived print back to a printer:

1. Right-click the archive
2. Select "Re-print" or "Schedule"
3. Choose a target printer
4. Optionally set a scheduled time
5. Confirm to start the print

The 3MF file is uploaded via FTP and the print starts automatically.

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Storage

Archives are stored in the archive/ directory:

archive/
├── {printer_id}/
│   ├── {archive_id}/
│   │   ├── model.3mf
│   │   ├── thumbnail.png
│   │   ├── timelapse.mp4 (if available)
│   │   └── photos/
│   │       └── finish.jpg

The SQLite database (bambuddy.db) stores metadata and indexes.

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Tips

• Enable timelapse on your printer to automatically capture print videos
• Enable camera capture in settings for automatic finish photos
• Use collections to organize prints by project or client
• Check duplicate detection before reprinting to see previous results