I am beginning to understand what the issue is with the printer, and it's very insidious.

First with support I exchanged emails back and forth all week, 1 exchange each day.  This makes any progress very slow.  Finally at the end of the week I got a CNA to make a video to send to support, which shows nothing more than what I explained but he seems to think a vid will help him diagnose the problem.  I doubt it and here is why.

After making it, I messed around more trying other ways to network it.  I discovered that my desktop computer has a mobile hotspot function that allows you to share it's internet connection with another device.  So, instead of connecting the printer to my phone hotspot with my computer also hooked to the phone, I hooked my computer to the Gulag WiFi for a net connection and then the printer to my computer with its hotspot.

Doing it this way, an "unknown device" appeared in the device list with its own unique IP address.  It still was not visible as a device in my 3D CAD programs though, either the one I use for design or the one produced by the printer company you are supposed to us with the printer called "Orca FlashForge.  What I did get though was a prompt asking me to login, but I couldn't find anywhere to login nor have I registered with them.  I skipped over that because in setting up the printer when it prompted to load their app to my phone, no android version was available, only iphone.  So my printer is not logged in to their website, and now I believe that is why I don't see it.

What they have done I think is kept all the driver software for the printer on the cloud, and in order to use it you must be logged in to their website.  That is why you can't even hardwire the printer to your computer, and to use it you MUST have an internet connection.  They are trying to control your ability to do 3D printing, and also be able to monitor whatever you make.  The next time I exchange emails with support, I am going to get him to admit this.

Now, possible work arounds.

The printer is controlled by a touch screen module with a bus with about a dozen tiny leads.  If I can find a match to that bus, I believe the computer itself could control the printer with some type of generic software for 3D machines.  The module they provide isn't actually a controller, it's a communication device that communicates with their server.

The other possible work around is to load files directly to the machine in "gcode", which is basic code that runs CNC machines and was developed by MIT years ago.  To do this, I would have to export a file as .stl or .3ds or .obj, then us a free online converter to convert it to gcode, drop that file on a USB stick and plug that into the USB port of the 3D printer.  Obviously, this is a very cumbersome and impractical method.

What I really hope to do is once I get the support guy to admit this is what is going on, I will tell him I need to use this printer in a remote location without a net connection, and I want a control module for it that doesn't require a net connection.  I'm sure they make one, they still have older models for sale and I think this bullshit is very new, which is why they don't even have the Android app available and why there are so many glitches.

On the positive side, I'm learning a whole lot about 3D printing due to having to diagnose and troubleshoot this problem.  This bullshit of forcing you to have a net connection and not providing the driver software for a piece of hardware they sell is total crap.  It raises the bar on control beyond information to the physical world.  It's similar to what they are doing with EV carz now also.  I'm not sure if Tesla does it, but EV cars that are leased can be shut off remotely so the leaseholder can't operate the car.  If you're late on your payment, they just turn off the car from the corporate headquarters.  This is also long standing practice with cell phones.  It's also done with farm equipment.

Essentially, they are making it impossible to actually own a functioning machine of just about any type. Whatever the machine is, whatever it does is all centrally controlled over the net and the machine can be turned off by the manufacturer.  TVs, Refrigerators, Carz...any so called "smart" device is never really yours, even if you buy it outright.  Thew software running it always requires updates, and after 5 years they require the update and stop supporting older versions.  Microsoft will stop support on Windows 10 in 2025, so if you want support you'll have to update to Win 11, which sucks.

Anyhow, one way or the other I will eventually get this thing to work the old fashion way without the net.  The machne itself, the frame and platrform and servo motors all work fine.  I just need to get a hold of some older control module from the 1st or 2nd generation machines and get it wired up right.  I know an EE who knows something about this stuff, so hopefully he can help.  ;D

RE