3D Printer Makergear M2 Reminders: Difference between revisions

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Other [[ Reminders ]]
= Makergear M2 3D Printer (the black 3d printer) Reminders =
= Makergear M2 3D Printer (the black 3d printer) Reminders =


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printer.
printer.


== 2) plug in the power supply, a large black box at the back of the table. ==
== 2) Plug In The Power Supply ==
 
The power supply is  a large black box at the back of the table.


Confirm that the smaller fan on the extruder head is running after you
Confirm that the smaller fan on the extruder head is running after you
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needed.
needed.


== 3) run the Repetier software, it's in the dock. ==
== 3) Run the Repetier software ==
 
Iet's in the dock.


== 4) Click "Connect" ==
== 4) Click "Connect" ==

Revision as of 22:46, 13 January 2016

Other Reminders

Makergear M2 3D Printer (the black 3d printer) Reminders

WARNING:

This reminder file is NOT a substitute for being trained on the 3D Printer by a qualified HackPgh member.

This reminder file is NOT a substitute for using your brain and taking appropriate precautions.

The Makergear M2 extruder has a 0.35 mm diameter nozzle.

The M2 is running ABS.

Using the printer costs $0.05/gram of printed object, primarily for the plastic used and some for upkeep (regularly replacing kapton tape on the bed, etc).

If you use your own filament, HackPittsburgh recommends using DC Plastico filament.

Note: HackPgh members get a 10% discount from DC Plastico.

1) clean off the CAPTON-tape coated glass bed with acetone.

The can of acetone is on the black shelf to the left of the printer. Get a paper towel, get some acetone on it, wipe down the bed, wipe the bed dry.

The yellowish coating on the glass bed is CAPTON tape. The paper towel won't harm it, but be careful not to use anything that can scratch it, like a metal tool. It's a pain to replace (the process is similar to putting reflective tint foil on a window). There is a large roll of CAPTON tape on the black shelves to the right of the printer.

2) Plug In The Power Supply

The power supply is a large black box at the back of the table.

Confirm that the smaller fan on the extruder head is running after you plug in the power supply. The larger fan will turn on and off as needed.

3) Run the Repetier software

Iet's in the dock.

4) Click "Connect"

The "Connect" button is in the upper-left corner of the Repetier window.

It's probably also a good idea to start warming up the machine now, as it takes a long time (10 minutes) to warm up. See step 13, "Warm Up The Machine" further down, for details.

5) Open the File in Repetier

In Repetier, open the STL file you want to print. (You can download designs in STL format from Thingiverse).

6) Adjust Repetier Object Placement Settings

In the Object Placement tab of Repetier, adjust the object's placement, scale, etc.

Note, each grid square is 1 centimeter.

Note, at the time this document was written, the Repetier display's print bed size did not match the physical print bed size of the M2.

7) Adjust Repetier Slicer Settings

Go to the Slicer tab in Repetier and adjust the settings.

A fill of 25% to 40% is good for typical use.

The "-support" fill settings, e.g. "60-support" will configure Repetier to generate instructions to print supporting brackets, etc, that will hold up the print while printing, and can be broken off relatively easily after printing.

Support is necessary to print any overhangs at greater than 45 degrees of angle.

8) Click "Slice" Button

Click on the large "Slice with Slicer" button at the top of the Repetier window.

Wait a couple minutes while Slicer generates the printing layers.

9) Review Layers

Review the layers displayed by Slicer to make sure it looks good. Odd errors can happen, it's much better to catch them now, rather than after half an hour of printing.

10) Click "Run" Button

Click the "Run" button, in the top left corner.

11) Note Options for Killing/Stopping Job

Note the "Kill Job" button, to the right of the "Run" button. This is a "soft kill" that stops the job in an orderly fashion.

Note the "Emergency Stop" button in the top right corner. This will stop all activity immediately.

12) Warm Up The Machine

On the "3D View/Temperature Curve" tabs, select "Temperature" to watch the machine warm up up.

The red line is the extruder, it won't start warming up until the bed is warmed up. The red line will warm up very quickly, a couple minutes.

The blue line is the bed, it will take 10 to 15 minutes to warm up.

You can use the "Print Panel" tab to start the bed warming up ahead of time.

13) Monitor the Printer

The bed will start printing. Watch the printer and pull some filament out of the spool. Keep an eye on the printer and make sure there is plenty of slack in the filament at all times.

There is a plastic tube that needs to be installed on the printer to guide the filament into the extruder. When this is installed, it should not be as necessary to keep the filament slack.

14) After Printing, Wait For Cooling

When the printer is finished printing, wait until the plastic cools down enough to handle safely.

The plastic should lift off the bed with a little effort. If it does not, turn off the printer and let it cool down. The plastic should shrink as it cools and separate from the bed.

15) Weigh Plastic Used

When you're done using the M2, weigh the object on the small, black electronic scale next to the M2 and pay $0.05 per gram for materials and upkeep.