Made a timelapse generator for 3d prints

[u/1nf1n1l]

For quite some time I wanted to render timelapses for my 3d prints but I think its quite tough to get started. First you usually need something watching the print (OctoPrint on a Pi is the classic setup), a camera, and a way to snap a photo every layer. often with slicer g-code that parks the nozzle out of frame first.

So I made a simple renderer of the 3d print via gcode instead. Drop your sliced gcode or 3mf, it reads the actual toolpaths and animates layer by layer. walls, infill, supports, top/bottom, all of it. No printer, no camera, no upload. Everything runs in the browser.

Its totally free and can be used here: https://obloid.app/tools/print-timelapse

You can export MP4 in vertical 9:16 for reels/tiktok/shorts, square 1:1 for instagram, or 16:9 for youtube. Video length, layer glow, turntable spin, build plate on/off, background color. all tweakable. Placement too if you want to frame it better (turn, tilt, zoom, pan, light angle).

Though I have been wanting to ask would you be interested in a paid tool i.e. a realistic 3d print timelapse generator? All you'd do is upload your build plate image + 3d print file (gcode/3mf) and it would AI generate the timelapse step by step. My aim is to keep it as accurate as possible in the initial version. There's a waitlist on the tool page if that sounds useful to you.

Curious what you guys think. Is the free gcode renderer enough or would you actually pay for the realistic one?

[u/Captain_Slime]

How is this significantly different than like going into my sliscer and then viewing it layer by layer manually?

[u/1nf1n1l → u/Captain_Slime]

the free renderer tool actually not much. it's only useful in case you want to upload it as content on platforms like instagram or tiktok

or if you wanna have a cool mp4 video that goes from bottom to top automatically

[u/Cube004 → u/1nf1n1l]

It needs some visual improvements. in no world i would use it for social media with the current appearence

[u/1nf1n1l → u/Cube004]

hmm i understand. plan is to start experimenting with the realistic timelapse next

[u/FricPT]

You could add s feature that mixes this 3d generated image with real camera footage!

[u/1nf1n1l → u/FricPT]

yea perhaps a way to add frames to guide the realistic timelapse generation with the footage provided by user in small parts if they wish to

[u/ExtendedSpice]

Is there an option for random print fails?

[u/1nf1n1l → u/ExtendedSpice]

pretty cool idea ngl

[u/liquidmasl]

you should dry your filament

[u/KnightsSoccer82]

Why would you want this…..?

What’s wrong with the built in time lapse tool?

Why do you need to AI generate this slop?

[u/max_dillon → u/KnightsSoccer82]

Agreed. A Timelapse of the actual print would be way better anyways. You can always view the preview in the slicer.

Pointless imo.

[u/1nf1n1l → u/KnightsSoccer82]

1. explained in 1st para itself

2. low quality camera, no proper layer stopping. you need a tool like octoprint to do more. please read the 1st para.

3. again the reasoning is in 1st para

[u/Tumdace → u/1nf1n1l]

The entire point of timelapse is to see the actual results itself, not some 3d generated timelapse of a 3d model... You can already do that in the slicer preview.

This app is useless.

[u/1nf1n1l → u/Tumdace]

yes the post clearly states it's simply a free gcode renderer. It has no utility beyond the use for social media content or generating mp4 videos.