ClearCue User Guide

ClearCue sits next to a printer and shows its status at a glance: red while the printer is busy or the build plate needs clearing, green when it's idle and ready. Clear the plate, press the button, and your farm manager marks the printer ready.

What you need

• A ClearCue for each printer
• A USB-C cable and any USB power source (phone charger, powered hub, USB port). USB-PD is not required.
• 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. ClearCue can't join 5 GHz-only networks.
• A running Watchtower or Bambuddy server reachable from that Wi-Fi network
• An API key from that server (see step 3)
• A phone, plus a computer if you want the easiest setup

Setup

1. Power it up

Plug in the USB-C cable. A new ClearCue lights solid blue and creates a Wi-Fi network named ClearCue-XXXX, where XXXX is unique to your button.

2. Connect it to your Wi-Fi

1. On your phone, join the ClearCue-XXXX network.
2. The setup page should open on its own. If it doesn't, open a browser and go to http://192.168.4.1.
3. Pick your 2.4 GHz network and enter its password.
4. Write down the device address the phone shows, such as http://clearcue-1a2b.local, and its IP address.

While it connects, the light alternates red and green quickly. A slow blue blink means it's on your Wi-Fi and waiting for server details.

3. Create an API key on your server

• Watchtower: create a key with the control scope and set_ready permission. Watchtower keys start with wt_.
• Bambuddy: create a key with printer read and clear-plate permissions.

4. Point it at your printer

On a computer on the same network, open the device address from step 2 (or its IP address). Fill in:

Click Save, then Test connection. If the test passes, the light switches to red or green to match your printer.

No computer handy? Choose Set up everything on this phone instead on the phone setup page in step 2.

5. HTTPS servers: trust the certificate (recommended)

If your server uses HTTPS, open HTTPS certificate check on the settings page and choose Trust this server. Compare the fingerprint it shows with your server's certificate or CA before accepting. Without a trusted certificate the connection is still encrypted, but ClearCue can't verify it's talking to your server.

Using ClearCue

What the light means

Pressing the button

After you clear the plate, press the button once.

• Watchtower: marks the printer ready. This only works when the printer is online, not printing, and not already ready.
• Bambuddy: clears the plate. This only works when Bambuddy is waiting for a plate clear.

Settings page

Open http://<device-name>.local (or the device's IP address) any time to change settings. You can set an optional password; the username is admin. The page footer shows the firmware version, device name, and MAC address.

Firmware updates

• Over the network: on the settings page, go to Firmware → Check for update.
• From a file: upload a clearcue-<version>-app.bin file on the settings page.
• Over USB: use the ClearCue web installer in Chrome or Edge. Your settings are kept unless you tick Erase device.

Official releases from us keep your warranty. Custom builds are welcome, since the firmware is open source, but aren't covered.

Factory reset

Hold the button for 10 seconds. The light flickers white after 3 seconds; keep holding. ClearCue erases its settings and returns to solid blue setup mode. You can also reset from Device actions on the settings page.

Please factory reset before returning a ClearCue so your Wi-Fi and API key are erased.

Troubleshooting

I don't see the ClearCue-XXXX network. Make sure the light is solid blue. If it's showing another color, it has already been set up; hold the button 10 seconds to reset.

The setup page didn't open. Stay connected to ClearCue-XXXX and browse to http://192.168.4.1. Some phones drop networks with no internet; if asked, choose to stay connected.

My Wi-Fi network isn't listed. ClearCue only sees 2.4 GHz networks. If your router combines 2.4 and 5 GHz under one name, ClearCue will join the 2.4 GHz band.

The .local address won't open. Some networks and devices don't support .local names. Use the IP address shown during setup, or look the device up in your router.

Slow red blink. ClearCue is on Wi-Fi but can't reach your server. Open the settings page and run Test connection; it explains what failed. Check the API base URL, the API key, and that the server is reachable from the Wi-Fi network.

Solid blue after it was working. ClearCue lost Wi-Fi for more than 5 minutes and turned its setup network back on. It keeps your settings. Check your Wi-Fi, or join ClearCue-XXXX to enter new Wi-Fi details.

Pressing gives 2 green blinks. There was nothing to do, for example the printer is already marked ready or (Bambuddy) isn't waiting for a plate clear.

Pressing gives 3 red blinks. The request failed. Check that the printer is online and finished, that the API key has the right permissions (step 3), and that the printer name or ID is exact.

Warranty and support

ClearCue has a 90-day warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. Unused items can be returned within 14 days of delivery. Email support@theprintbench.studio with your order number and the MAC address from the settings page footer.

Open source

ClearCue firmware is GPLv3 and fully public at github.com/ThePrintBench/ClearCue, including build instructions and source for third-party components.