3D Printer Folgertech I3 Reminders: Difference between revisions

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= Overview =
= Overview =
Things:


* Folgertech I3 3D printer, on 3D printer shelves
* Folgertech I3 3D printer, on 3D printer shelves
* Octoprint, printer management, runs on the Folgertech laptop, accessed via web UI.
* Octoprint, printer management, runs on the Folgertech laptop, accessed via web UI.
* Ultimaker Cura, gcode generator, runs on your computer.
* Ultimaker Cura, gcode generator, runs on your computer.
Steps:
# Create or select your design.
# Download and set up Ultimaker Cura
# Use Cura to generate gcode from your design
# Check gcode for temperature values.
# Set temperature values in Octoprint
# Create your folder in Octoprint
# Upload gcode to your folder in Octoprint
# Select and load filament into Folgertech
# Turn on Folgertech
# Wait for Folgertech to come to temperature
# Hit Print
# MONITOR PRINTER WHILE IT IS PRINTING
# When done printing turn off Folgertech
# Wait for piece to cool
# Remove piece from printer bed


== Folgertech I3 3D Printer ==
== Folgertech I3 3D Printer ==
Line 64: Line 84:
# Save the gcode so that you can load it into Octoprint.
# Save the gcode so that you can load it into Octoprint.


= Uploading Your Design To Octoprint Folder =
= Uploading Your Gcode To Octoprint Folder =


# Every member has a folder in Octoprint.  If you don't have one yet, create one so that your projects don't clutter mine.   
# Every member has a folder in Octoprint.  If you don't have one yet, create one so that your projects don't clutter mine.   

Revision as of 08:29, 9 July 2019

Other Reminders

WARNINGS

  1. This page is NOT a substitute for being trained on the too by a qualified HackPgh member.
  2. This page is NOT a substitute for using your brain and taking appropriate precautions.
  3. It is YOUR responsibility as a user of the tool to check and make sure there have been no important changes to that tool since this page was last updated.

Overview

Things:

  • Folgertech I3 3D printer, on 3D printer shelves
  • Octoprint, printer management, runs on the Folgertech laptop, accessed via web UI.
  • Ultimaker Cura, gcode generator, runs on your computer.

Steps:

  1. Create or select your design.
  2. Download and set up Ultimaker Cura
  3. Use Cura to generate gcode from your design
  4. Check gcode for temperature values.
  5. Set temperature values in Octoprint
  6. Create your folder in Octoprint
  7. Upload gcode to your folder in Octoprint
  8. Select and load filament into Folgertech
  9. Turn on Folgertech
  10. Wait for Folgertech to come to temperature
  11. Hit Print
  12. MONITOR PRINTER WHILE IT IS PRINTING
  13. When done printing turn off Folgertech
  14. Wait for piece to cool
  15. Remove piece from printer bed

Folgertech I3 3D Printer

The Folgertech I3 is located on the shelves in the center of the clean side of the space.

Octoprint Printer Management App

Octoprint is the software used to manage prints on the Folgertech I3. It has a web interface available at:

http://octoprint.lan/jeremy_i3

Note: The access credentials for octoprint are the same as the wifi access credentials at HackPgh.

To use the Octoprint web UI you need to use the Firefox web browser. WebKit browsers lose their mind when you try to post to a non-SSL host.

Ultimaker Cura Gcode Generator

https://ultimaker.com/software/ultimaker-cura

You'll need to download and install Ultimaker Cura on your computer.

Alternatively, Ultimaker Cura should be installed on the shop PC, over by the window. It probably needs to be upgraded.

Ultimaker Cura Setup Process

To setup Cura after installing it on your computer you'll need a printer profile from Octoprint.

  1. Go to Octoprint and download and unzip the curiously named zip file: CuraProfiles.zip.gco
  2. This zip contains 3 printer profiles for Cura: lite, standard and heavy.
  • Lite is for toys and test prints.
  • Standard is for utlities.
  • Heavy is for parts.
  1. In Cura go to File..Open File and choose the Calibration project, TODO: NAME TO BE ADDED LATER.
  2. Click [Open as Project].
  3. The Printer list now shows FolgerTech i3 2020 Lite.
  4. Click on that to import the other 2 profiles.
  5. Choose custom, manage profiles, import and import each of the remaining profiles that were in CuraProfiles.zip.gco.
  6. Then go back to the project screen.

Now the one time setup for Cura is complete.

Using Ultimaker Cura To Generate Gcode

TODO: Where's the step where you upload the design? TODO: Where's the step where you set the filament type?

  1. Choose a printer, probably lite for this demo project.
  2. Click [Slice] to generate the gcode.
  3. Save the gcode so that you can load it into Octoprint.

Uploading Your Gcode To Octoprint Folder

  1. Every member has a folder in Octoprint. If you don't have one yet, create one so that your projects don't clutter mine.
  2. Upload the gcode generated by Cura to your folder in Octoprint.
  3. Once the upload is complete, click on that item in your folder to open the project.
  4. Click on the load button under your project to load it into Octoprint.

Temperature Management

The bed and hot end temperature managment is still being debugged, so its best to manually set these temps and watch that the goal and actual graphs converge before starting the print.

To do this, you need to look at the gcode to find the temperature setting commands that Cura generated, and then manually enter them into the Octoprint web UI.

Look at your gcode file. Around line 12 or so of the gcode you should see lines beginning with 'M140', 'M104', 'M190', 'M109'. These commands are for setting and waiting for temperatures for the bed and hot end.

TODO: Insert snapshot of GCode

  1. M140: set bed temp.
  2. M104: wait for bed temp.
  3. M190: set hot end temp.
  4. M109: wait for hot end temp.

For PLA those values are probably 235 c for the hot end and 60 c for the bed.

Enter the values from the gcode into the respective fields in Octorpint.

Actually Printing

Confirm that the printer is ready.

Go over to the Folgertech and perform the following steps

  1. TODO: any proactive maintenance required, i.e. check that bed is clear, apply glue, etc?
  2. Power it on by turning on the powerstrip into which its power supply is plugged (to right and behind printer).
    1. TODO: add photo of printer with power strip indicated.
  3. Confirm that there is filament (see below).
  4. Wait for Octoprint's UI to show the temperature graphs have converged (TODO: In Octoprint?)..
  5. Hit print.
  6. YOU MUST MONITOR THE PRINTER WHILE PRINTING.
    1. Don't leave the shop while the printer is running.
  7. Once print is complete, remove filament (see below)
  8. Power down the printer by turning off the powerstrip.
  9. Wait for printed piece to cool, so it's easier to remove from the bed.
    1. TODO: Wait approx how long? Sure it will vary with the size but rough guidelines?
  10. Remove the piece from the printer.
  11. TODO: Any post-print cleanup of bed, etc, required?
    1. TODO: Remove the filament or leave it in? If removing, add note about removing while head is warm.

Filament

The Folgertech I3 as we have it configured will support PLA and PETG filament. (Reminder: you will have specified the filament type in Cura before slicing and creating the gcode).

To insert filament:

  1. Choose a spool and put it on the dispenser (spool holder)
    1. TODO: Add image of dispenser
  2. Use diagonal cutters to trim the end of the filament to a sharp angle.
    1. TODO: Should there be a pair of diagonal cutters on the printer shelf?
    2. TODO: add diagonal cutter photo
  3. Pinch the keeper on the extruder so that the keeper pulls away from the wheel.
  4. Insert filament in extruder
    1. Keep manually feeding filament into extruder until approximately 1.25" of filament is past the wheel and into the print head.
  1. Once the print is complete remove the filament from the head the same way that you put it by pinching the keeper away from the extruder wheel.