Blog Creating a Direct Connection to a Stratasys 3D Printer
In the case that your network is down, or you are otherwise unable to connect to your 3D printer remotely, you can establish a direct 1 to 1 connection with the printer using your computer.
You’ll need a crossover cable, which you’ll connect directly between the printer’s Ethernet port and your computer’s port. After that you’ll need to adjust the IP settings of either the printer, the computer, or both. Stratasys printers can change the IP address through the maintenance selections on the front screen. Make sure that it is a static connection, to allow you to change it to whatever you’d like.
On your computer, open the control panel and access the Network and Internet settings, then find the Network and Sharing Center. (These may have different names depending on your version of Windows.)
In that menu you’ll see your current network connections. If you’re still on wifi you’ll see that in addition to an Ethernet connection. Select the word Ethernet, for the connection to the printer we’re trying to configure.
After clicking Ethernet you’ll see the status, and you’ll want to select properties, which give a long list of different networking properties. The only one that concerns us now is Internet Protocol Version 4 
Double click that option and you’ll be brought to the screen where you can change the IP address of the network connection between your computer and your printer.
Select the button for “Use the following IP Address” and the boxes below will become enabled.
Whatever IP address is on your printer, you’ll want to select an IP address that is one off from it.
For example, if the printer’s IP is 10.10.20.1, you should set the computer to be 10.10.20.2.
After changing the IP address you can test this connection by using the command prompt on your computer. You can usually find this by searching for CMD. Once you have that open type in ping followed by the ip address of the printer.
Hit enter and if there computer receives a reply, you should be able to connect as usual through GrabCAD, Insight, or Catalyst by manually typing in the printer’s IP address.
Creating a Direct Connection to a Stratasys 3D Printer
In the case that your network is down, or you are otherwise able to connect to your 3D printer remotely, you can establish a direct 1 to 1 connection with the printer using your computer.
You’ll need a crossover cable, which you’ll connect directly between the printer’s Ethernet port and your computer’s port. After that you’ll need to adjust the IP settings of either the printer, the computer, or both. Stratasys printers can change the IP address through the maintenance selections on the front screen. Make sure that it is a static connection, to allow you to change it to whatever you’d like.
On your computer, open the control panel and access the Network and Internet settings, then find the Network and Sharing Center. (These may have different names depending on your version of Windows.)
In that menu you’ll see your current network connections. If you’re still on wifi you’ll see that in addition to an Ethernet connection. Select the word Ethernet, for the connection to the printer we’re trying to configure.
After clicking Ethernet you’ll see the status, and you’ll want to select properties, which give a long list of different networking properties. The only one that concerns us now is Internet Protocol Version 4 
Double click that option and you’ll be brought to the screen where you can change the ip address of the network connection between your computer and your printer.
Select the button for “Use the following IP Address” and the boxes below will become enabled.
Whatever IP address is on your printer, you’ll want to select an IP address that is one off from it.
For example, if the printer’s IP is 10.10.20.1, you should set the computer to be 10.10.20.2.
After changing the IP address you can test this connection by using the command prompt on your computer. You can usually find this by searching for CMD. Once you have that open type in ping followed by the ip address of the printer.
Hit enter and if there computer receives a reply, you should be able to connect as usual through GrabCad, Insight, or Catalyst by manually typing in the printer’s IP address.
Travis Testerman
Field Service Engineer
Computer Aided Technology, Inc.