Problems with FlashForge 3D printer resgistration?

In My Humble Opinion
1

My “big present” from my wife was a FlashForge Adventurer 5M 3D printer. To get it set up and running, even just to proceed to leveling, I need to create a FlashForge account and then scan the QR code on the display. I’ve been trying for two days to do this, but all I get on my cell phone with the FlashForge Flashmaker app is…nothing. I’ve set up two different accounts with two e-mail addresses on the website, but the app says “No such account.” I’ve never received a verification code for any attempt to register. I’m basically stuck.

The support forum and Reddit says this is pretty much normal. “Servers are unavailable 99 times out of a 100.” My wife is getting a teensy bit frustrated since I basically unpacked it, plugged it in, and then have ignored it ever since.

I’m open to suggestions about alternate approaches. Can I get around the registration and proceed with set-up? And, honestly, if this is going to be an ongoing problem, I’d just as soon send it back and exchange it for something else. Overall, there seems to be agreement that the printer is decent but FlashForge servers and support ALWAYS suck. I’m not up for that as I try to learn to 3D print.

2

Is it a cloud based printer? If it’s handled locally, either via your local network or USB or SD Cards, then I wouldn’t be overly concerned as long as you can still print.
My printer, a Bambu X1C, OTOH, is cloud based. Files I send to it go through their cloud so if they’re having issues, so are we.

Something else to check, while this is hopefully sorting itself out, is that even if it is cloud based, there may be a way around it. On my printer I can force it into some sort of ‘home network’ mode and I think I can still use SD cards.

Personally, as frustrated as I would be over something like this, I’d give it a few days or a week since you’re not the only one setting up your new christmas present, so they might just be a bit overloaded right now.

I’m not familiar enough with Flash Forge to know how willing it is to work with 3rd party apps, but if it can be controlled by a different program, bypassing the part you’re having trouble with, that could be an option as well. Something like Ocra Slicer or OctoPrint might be able to talk to it.

And, FWIW, while using something like OctoPrint or Orca Slicer will make your learning experience slightly different, they’re so incredibly common, at least for the printers I’ve worked with, it’ll be just as easy, if not easier to learn due to them being so popular.

3

Thanks for the suggestions. Very helpful. I will be looking at several software options.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that I can get past the initial set-up without registering the printer. It’s on my WLAN and works fine in that respect, since the very first step when you power it up is to connect it to the local network/internet. But I can’t see a way to progress beyond the QR code/registration on the unit itself without a working account.

I’m trying to be patient, but the numerous postings on other sites that suggest this is the norm make me a bit cautious about committing to a manufacturer that is clearly behind the curve.

4

Update: After restarting a few times,the unit now allows me to go past the QR code and skip registration. Maybe I wasn’t holding my tongue the right way. (I am still unable to register, but I don’t know what this might affect. Firmware updates?)

5

But what you need to find out (or you know and I’m trying to find out) is if it’s normal to have problems getting it registered, but after that it’s fine, or if this is going to interfere with printing as well, and that’s normal.

So, if you can get it to print, the question I’d have is if it’s printing via the cloud or locally and if it’s going through the cloud, can it be done locally?
If you can print locally, I think you’ll be okay since internet problems would stop you from printing.

For starters, yes. These machines will get firmware updates from time to time. But a good reason to get something like this registered is in case of a recall. Given that these printers have multiple heaters, very hot nozzles and flammible-ish filament, you really want them to be able to get a hold of you if there’s a risk your printer might start a fire.

6

It is printing through the local network, not the cloud. But I do suspect that firmware updates will probably require an account. And, as far as I can tell, the android app requires an account to even be opened, though I’m not sure why I might want to use an app on my cell phone for printer control and admin.

Anyway, I’ve been able to send a couple projects to the printer through my WLAN and it seems to be working correctly. Hope it doesn’t start bugging me to register every time I print a job.

Guess I can be patient about registering or activating an account. My wife is relieved.

7

I wanted to suggest, if it keeps giving you shit, or forces you to sign up with some sort of online account, to try reflashing it with some open-source firmware (or try it anyway—maybe it’s better than the stock firmware. If not, just flash the manufacturer’s version again.)

8

TLDR, seems like you’ve got it up and running. Firmware updates are likely worth making sure you’re able to download at some point. When asking for help online, especially on reddit, consider the motivation of the person answering the question. Are they answering the question or defending their team?

Then, I think you’ll be fine. I’d still attempt to get it registered, both for firmware updates as well as recalls. Also worth noting that in the world of 3D printers, especially given the size of the online 3D printing community and their tendency to use open source software, means updates tend to deliver real improvements and new features that the end users are looking for and not the fluff that no one wants.

But as long as you can get files from your computer to the printer, you can worry about getting it registered later. Also, I’m just assuming you have to be registered to get the firmware updates, you might not. The printer might pull them from the internet regardless of whether or not it’s registered, I’m not sure.

I mentioned OctoPrint and Orca Slicer upthread, and for partially the same reason, that they may even be better than the factory interface. As I said earlier, I’m unfamiliar with Flash Forge, at least beyond being aware of them, so this might not be an issue, but one of the nice things about using popular 3rd party, open source, software is the size of the community. When I had my Ender, I could seek help in the Ender communities, but also the general OctoPrint communities. Some of my questions may have been answered by people that don’t own Enders, but they still know OctoPrint well enough to help.

One last thing for the OP to keep in the back of their mind when looking for help within 3D printer communities…they used to be amazing, now not so much, at least on reddit. A good chunk of my knowledge has it’s roots in the Ender3 subreddit. 5 or 6 years ago it was a great place to learn. Then a few years ago I got a new printer, which is an improvement in almost every possible way, except the online community. The Bambu sub was, and I believe still is, a dumpster fire. Don’t dare say anything negative about their printers or you’ll get downvoted or people will come right out and post nasty comments about it. And by ‘anything negative’ I mean something as simple as “Yes the printer will sound like it’s rattling itself apart when you start a print, it’s 100% normal” and a full year later someone downvoting my comment and saying “Worst comment ever. So off the mark lol”.
That doesn’t make me too keen to continue participating in that sub. Also, it means tools like that are likely answering questions, and probably incorrectly. Looping back to third party software, that interaction was in a Bambu sub and it’s why I usually find non-Bambu specific communities to get help with print issues that aren’t directly related to the Bambu brand.

Anyways, my point being that you need to pay attention to what people are saying online. Are they answering questions or blindly defending their brand? This is a problem I’ve been seeing for the last few years and a popular youtuber, Teaching Tech, even commented on it in a recent video.

PS, as you’re learning more about the hobby, Teaching Tech is one of the best channels you’ll find for this. His videos are very in depth, but very easy to follow and cover a very wide range of topics from absolute beginning to very advanced.

9

Thank you very much for the advice. Sounds wise.

Some of my original concern was that the printer wanted me to use their cell phone app to proceed with initialization and set-up, and the app definitely does not let you proceed without creating an account and registering. The simple solution was to not use the app at all.

I suspect that I will be using the printer mostly for my N-scale train layout, which is very modest. For example, I need some approach ramps to raise the track slightly above grade at one point. Being able to print some buildings will be nice as well.

Thanks to all who have responded to me in my initial despair!