PrintNext Connect Guide

1. Get ready

Use a Windows computer on the same trusted home network as your Kobra X. Keep the computer awake and the connector open while using PrintNext. You do not need Anycubic Slicer Next for this workflow.

• Sign in to PrintNext with the account that will own this printer.
• Check that your printer has a 0.4 mm nozzle and load PLA in the built-in slots you intend to use.
• Enable LAN mode on the printer and note its IP address. The Windows computer must be able to reach it on your home network.
• For your first test, choose a small, familiar model and stay beside the printer to watch the first layer.

2. Save your printer and download the connector

In My 3D Printers, choose Anycubic, Kobra X and the 0.4 mm nozzle, then select Add Printer. If it is already saved, use its existing card and select Connect printer.

1. Select Download PrintNext Connector. The Windows ZIP includes the app and its instructions.
2. Extract the entire ZIP into a folder before running it.
3. For printnext.app, open PrintNext Connector.exe. Keep this window open. Local testing.cmd is only for a localhost development setup.

Latest Windows release: 0.8.1. The beta build is unsigned. Download only from PrintNext; source and launch instructions are included.

3. Pair the connector with PrintNext

In the website’s connection setup, select Generate pairing code. Keep this code private and use it before the displayed expiry.

1. Copy the full pairing code and paste it into the connector’s pairing-code field.
2. Enter your Kobra X IP address in Printer / service IP address. Kobra X does not require you to fill in the API key or PrusaLink fields.
3. Select Check printer (read-only) to confirm that the connector can find the printer.
4. Select Connect printer in the connector and confirm the pairing prompt for your printer.
5. Return to My 3D Printers. After successful pairing, the connected dashboard appears. Check both the connection status and the printer’s activity.

4. Check your connection and loaded filaments

Connected means the connector is reporting. Idle means the printer is available. Preparing, Printing or Paused means it is occupied: you may prepare another model, but starting a conflicting print is blocked.

• Live temperatures and filament readings appear when the printer reports them. Stale readings are not live status.
• Spool readings refresh while the printer is idle. No reading does not prove a slot is empty.
• Optional manual colors are labels only. They do not change the printer, confirm loaded PLA or enable printing.
• For color mapping, check the actual PLA and color configured in each physical built-in slot.

5. Open your model in Prepare Studio

Select Prepare & Print on your saved printer to open Prepare Studio with that printer selected. Check Your build volume before continuing.

1. Use Open Workspace for a saved model, or Add STL / 3MF to import a file.
2. In Repair, review the model checks and inspect any repair result before continuing.
3. In Prepare, check size, orientation and placement. Keep the model within the build volume and place its intended base on the bed.
4. For multicolor, keep the intended part colors and review them before slicing. Painting a model does not assign physical spools yet.

6. Slice and review the print

Continue to Slice. Use the exact Anycubic Kobra X 0.4 nozzle profile and PLA for every color, then generate the slice with Orca.

• Review layer height, supports, temperatures and the layer preview. A 0.4 mm nozzle does not mean 0.4 mm layers.
• For multiple colors, review the prime tower and purge settings as well as the model. Keep them inside the printable area.
• Check that the preview contains the expected model and colors. If you change the model or settings, slice again.
• Continue to Export after reviewing the sliced toolpath. A generic or imported G-code preview alone does not verify printer compatibility.

7. Assign your spools and send the print

In Export, find Send to your printer and select your connected Kobra X under Send to. The printer must be idle and report fresh, valid loaded PLA slots.

1. For each sliced color, use Spool for color to select the matching physical built-in slot, numbered 1–4. Use a different slot for each color.
2. Check the displayed model color against the actual loaded filament. Do not assume a painted color or manual label is the spool assignment.
3. Confirm the plate is clear and seated, the printer has a 0.4 mm nozzle, and every color is assigned to the correct loaded PLA spool.
4. Select Start this print once. This uploads the file and then requests a start; no separate printer-screen start is required.
5. Keep this browser tab and the connector open while sending. Wait for the result and watch the printer’s first layer.

8. Follow the result

Upload confirmation means the file reached the printer. A start acknowledgement means the request was accepted. Physically printing is a separate activity reported by the printer.

• Check activity in My 3D Printers or Prepare Studio. Progress is shown only when available from telemetry.
• Printer-reported completion is activity information; do not assume every reported job was started in PrintNext.
• If sending times out, status is uncertain, or the browser loses connection, inspect the printer and connector before doing anything else. A missing response does not mean the print failed to start.
• Do not press Print again, re-upload, or expect a reload to resume an interrupted upload/start sequence. Automatic cross-device job recovery is not yet available.

Update PrintNext Connector

Latest version: 0.8.1. This release adds the PrintNext app icon. There is no automatic updater. If your connector shows an older version, download the newest ZIP using Download PrintNext Connector.

1. Let any active print finish before updating.
2. Close the old connector. Extract the new ZIP into a new folder.
3. Open PrintNext Connector.exe for the live website, or Local testing.cmd for localhost testing. Do not run both copies.
4. Updating in the same mode retains your saved pairing. You do not need to disconnect the printer first.
5. Return to My 3D Printers and wait for fresh connection status. Switching from localhost to the live website requires a separate live-site pairing.