FlashForge Python API

A comprehensive Python library for controlling FlashForge 3D printers.

Features & Capabilities

Feature	Description
Printer Discovery	Automatic UDP broadcast discovery of printers on the network
Full Control	Movement (G1), Homing (G28), Temperature (M104/M140), Fans, LED
Real-time Monitoring	Live status (M119), Temperatures (M105), Print Progress (M27)
Job Management	Start, Pause, Resume, Cancel, File Upload & Listing
Advanced Parsing	Thumbnail extraction (M662), Endstop monitoring, Machine state
Dual Protocol	Modern HTTP API + Legacy TCP G-code support
Async Support	Native async/await implementation for all operations
Type Safety	Full type hints and Pydantic models for robust development

Supported Hardware

Model	Support Level	Connection Type
FlashForge Adventurer 5M / 5M Pro	Full Support	HTTP + TCP
FlashForge Adventurer 5X	Full Support	HTTP + TCP
FlashForge Adventurer 3 / 4	Partial Support	TCP (Legacy)
Other Networked FlashForge Printers	Experimental	TCP (Generic)

Compatible Slicers

Slicer	Compatibility	Notes
OrcaSlicer	High	Recommended for Adventurer 5M series
FlashPrint	Full	Official FlashForge slicer
Orca-FlashForge	High	Optimized for FlashForge printers
Cura / PrusaSlicer	Basic	Requires correct G-code flavor

Installation

Command
pip install flashforge-python-api

Usage Examples

Printer Discovery

Discover printers on your local network automatically.

from flashforge import FlashForgePrinterDiscovery
import asyncio

async def discover():
    discovery = FlashForgePrinterDiscovery()
    printers = await discovery.discover_printers_async()
    for printer in printers:
        print(f"Found: {printer.name} at {printer.ip_address}")

asyncio.run(discover())

Basic Control

Connect to a printer and perform basic operations like setting temperature and homing.

from flashforge import FlashForgeClient
import asyncio

async def control_printer():
    # Initialize client with printer details
    client = FlashForgeClient("192.168.1.100", "SERIAL_NUMBER", "CHECK_CODE")

    if await client.initialize():
        print(f"Connected to {client.printer_name}")

        # Set bed temperature to 60°C
        await client.temp_control.set_bed_temp(60)

        # Home all axes
        await client.control.home_xyz()

        await client.dispose()

asyncio.run(control_printer())

Real-time Status Monitoring

Monitor printer status, temperatures, and print progress.

from flashforge import FlashForgeClient
import asyncio

async def monitor_printer():
    async with FlashForgeClient("192.168.1.100", "SERIAL", "CODE") as client:
        # Get comprehensive status
        status = await client.get_printer_status()
        print(f"Machine State: {status.machine_state}")

        # Get temperatures via TCP
        temps = await client.tcp_client.get_temp_info()
        if temps:
            bed = temps.get_bed_temp()
            extruder = temps.get_extruder_temp()
            print(f"Bed: {bed.get_current()}°C / {bed.get_target()}°C")
            print(f"Extruder: {extruder.get_current()}°C / {extruder.get_target()}°C")

        # Check print progress
        layer_p, sd_p, current_layer = await client.tcp_client.get_print_progress()
        print(f"Progress: {layer_p}% (Layer {current_layer})")

asyncio.run(monitor_printer())

File Operations & Thumbnails

List files on the printer and extract thumbnails.

from flashforge import FlashForgeClient
import asyncio

async def file_ops():
    async with FlashForgeClient("192.168.1.100", "SERIAL", "CODE") as client:
        # List files
        files = await client.files.get_file_list()
        for filename in files:
            print(f"File: {filename}")

            # Get thumbnail
            thumb = await client.tcp_client.get_thumbnail(filename)
            if thumb and thumb.has_image_data():
                print(f"Thumbnail found: {len(thumb.get_image_bytes())} bytes")
                # thumb.save_to_file_sync(f"{filename}.png")

asyncio.run(file_ops())