Written By: Sabrina ShankarFirst click on the "Primary Extruder". Under the box labeled "Pre-Layer Temperature Setpoints" you will have a Layer 1 and a temperature associated with

MakerGear M2 3D PrinterThis is a basic tutorial guide for proper and safe use of the MakerGear M2 3D Printer.

Written By: Sabrina Shankar

MakerGear M2 3D Printer Release: MakerGear [major] 2019-02-26Guide ID: 62 -

This document was generated on 2019-09-20 09:18:16 AM (MST).

© 2019 bucknellmakers.dozuki.com/ Page 1 of 18

INTRODUCTION

3D printing is a fairly new and very exciting way to create a multitude of products and prototypes forall of your needs. Whether you are an engineer looking to print a specific size screw or circuit board,an artist looking to print a mock prototype sculpture, or just looking for a great custom gift, 3D printingcould be perfect for you! For your own unique creations, use any 3D modeling software (Solidworks,SketchUp, Rhino, etc.) to model your creation. For a quick start, check out thingiverse.com whichhas thousands of free, pre-made creations that are yours to download.

This tutorial was written by Sabrina Shankar with contributors: Tavian Vassar, Hamza Shittu, LiamPearce, Brian Picarillo, Nathan Raeker-Jordan, Daniel Vasquez, Muxi You, Dunni Adenuga, JaeLee, Joe Meiser, Emily Malmquist, Kevin Fine, Omar El-Etr, Nathan Mast, Nate Siegel.




Step 1 — Preparing an STL File

In order to print on one of theMakerGears you must have an .stlfile.

This is important because this isthe file type that will be importedinto Simplify 3D.

Files that are created in any of the3D modeling programs can besaved as an stl or a binanary stl.

Files downloaded fromthingiverse.com will automaticallydownload as an stl.




Step 2 — Turn on the Printer

Underneath the MakerGears are four black boxes (the power supply). Each box corresponds toeach of the 3D printers located above. (You can differentiate them based on the colors found onthe machine and then on the power supply.

Turn on the power supply. Once you turn it on, you should hear the motor of the 3D printer running.

Connect the 3D printer to the computer by pressing the button on the black switch on the tableassociated with your printer. For example, all of the gold stickers are all connecting to the sameprinter.

This button solely connects the printer to the computer. We will end up turning it off when yourprint begins.




Step 3 — Launch Simplify 3D

Once the printer is up and running, open the Simplify 3D application from the desktop of thecomputer.

If using the software with the MakerGear M2 for the first time, download this file.

The file that you are downloading is a MakerGear FFF Profile. This profile is a coded documentthat contains information such as PLA/ABS temperatures, the size of a MakerGear bed, andother pertinent information to ensure our file prints correctly.

After the FFF profile is downloaded, click "File" in the upper left corner of Simplify 3D, then “ImportFFF Profile”. Go to your Downloads folder and select the file "MakerGear M2.fff".

Once you select this document, it will add it to your profile list in Simplify 3D which we will later addto your file.

This step only needs to happen one time per user. Once you download it once, you should notneed to download it again.




https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9u_99FwdHGRZ2VnNnRFQ1FRbE0/view

Step 4 — Importing the STL file

In the top left corner, there is an“Import” button which you click inorder to upload your document.

Navigate to the location of your STLfile, select the file, and click open.




Step 5 — Support Material

Now that you have imported your file, it's important to make sure the file is orientated correctly tomaximize our printing time and material. One important step in this is using as little support aspossible. Learn about support and its importance below!

When you are positioning your object it is typically best to have your object lying horizontal inorder to use little supports (see supports definition below).

3D printing supports are pieces of filament incorporated into your print to essentially support theobject you are printing. Objects that have an overhang of 45 degrees or greater need support. Inthese example images, you can see that without support the T does not print cleanly.

The Y letter in this image does not need supports because its angles are less than 45 degrees.If these letters were orientated horizontally and not vertically they wouldn't need any supports!!!

Supports are easy to remove with your hands but at times might require the assistance of pliers.To remove small flakes that may stay behind on your print, you can use Acetone to help smooththe image. Remember, it is plastic so it won't be perfect and that's okay!

What is a raft? A raft is the bottom most layer printed slightly larger than your file size to helpyour file adhere to the bed and prevent any future warping. You typically want to have a raft onall of your prints which you can add in later steps.




Step 6 — Object Orientation

In order to change the orientation, double click on your 3D model to open the model settings tab.Under "Change Position" you can manually move the part. Under "Change Scaling" you can adjustthe scale of your image. Under "Change Rotation" you can change the orientation of your image.

Make alterations to the orientation until the part is placed correctly. Click the “center and arrange”button located under the "import" button to position your one (or multiple) objects in the mostoptimal printing position.

To optimize the print speed, use of support material, and strength of the part, position withconsideration of how your part will print. The blue motor image that is horizontal would requireminimal support and would print much faster than if it was positioned vertically because of all of thesupport it would need.




Step 7 — Process Settings

Once your piece is oriented and ready to be printed, you need to set the printer to the correctsettings. This is where we come back to the MakerGear FFF Profile that we downloaded earlier!

In the bottom left corner, click the “Edit Process Settings” to open the settings menu.

Step 8 — Choosing ABS vs. PLA

The first thing you want to checkwith your printer is the type offilament you are using. Check thisby looking at the side of the filamentspool. If you wish to change out thetype (ABS or PLA) or the color youmust follow the guide for changing3D printer filament found on anotherdozuki tutorial.




Quick note: what is the differencebetween ABS and PLA? ABS hasa higher temperature in which itneeds to heat to before it canmelt and has a stronger andsturdier plastic then PLA (thinkLegos). PLA has a smoother andshinier print and heats at a lowertemperature but tends to be morebrittle than ABS (think plasticcups).

Our 3D printers are labeled with PLAor ABS Only! You may only use PLAon the PLA machines and ABSfilament on ABS machines. Thishelps eliminate print failures andmachine problems later on.

Now that you know the type offilament you are using, you canselect the material under the "Auto-Configure for Material” box.




Step 9 — Setting Printing Configurations

Next, select the quality of your print under the "Auto-Configure for Print Quality".

Selecting a higher quality will increase the time of the print drastically but will create a nicerprint.

Finally, click the “Include Raft” and “Generate Support” buttons in the “General Settings” box.

The raft and support material are used to better support the print and to lessen potential forwarping.

Set the infill percentage between 15-20%.

The higher your percentage infill, the more likely your print will warp and the longer your printwill take.

RARELY print over 50% infill. This high of an infill will cause warping and increase the chancesof your print failing.




Step 10 — Checking Temperature Settings

Now that we have set the basic settings, we want to double check our temperature settings toensure they are correctly set to our ABS or PLA filament.

First thing to do is click the "Show Advanced" button located in the bottom left side of the pop-upscreen.

Then click the header labeled "Temperature".

On the left side you will see a box that says "Temperature Controller List" and has two differentlabels: "Primary Extruder" and "Heated Bed"

The extruder is the nozzle in which the filament heats up and comes through. This is similar tothe tip of a hot glue gun. The bed is the surface in which the filament is being printed on.

First click on the "Primary Extruder". Under the box labeled "Pre-Layer Temperature Setpoints"you will have a Layer 1 and a temperature associated with it. For PLA this temperature should be200 degrees and for ABS it should be 235. You really only need one layer.

If you need to change the temperature, just double click on the temperature number and input thecorrect value.

Next, click on "Heated Bed" under the "Temperature Controller List". Repeat the same step as withthe extruder to make sure the temperatures are reflected correctly. PLA should read 70 and ABSshould read 110. All degrees are in Celsius.




Step 11 — Preparing to Print

Now that your print settings are all properly configured you can click "Ok".

Now, you are ready to set your file to print!

Click the "Prepare to Print" button located in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen.

A new screen will pop up that shows you how longer your print will take, how much material youare using, the cost of material, etc. Additionally, you can preview what your design will look like inthe printing process with all of the rafts and supports included.

If something does not look good to you, simply click the "Exit Preview Mode" button and head backto your file.




Step 12 — Export G-Code To SD Card

In order to print your file, you will need an SD Card. The SD Card is used to transfer yourdocument from the computer to the 3D printer.

There are many SD Cards located within the MakerSpace. Ask a student employee for help ifyou can't find one!

Pop the SD Card into the computer and click on the icon "Save Toolpaths to Disk".

Note, we save to an SD Card, NOT a USB.

Once you click this button a "Save as" window will pup up where you can create a file name (lessthan 8 characters) and save the file as a G-Code.

A G-Code is a written code that tells the machine what actions to perform. For this situation, it istelling the 3D printer the temperature to print at, what type of design to do, where to includesupports etc.




Step 13 — Preparing the Print Bed

Next to the printers, there is a smallbox containing scrapers, clippers,and a glue stick.

Apply a thin layer of this glue to theglass print bed in the area you willbe printing on.

We apply this glue because itallows the filament to adhere tothe bed properly. Note: this isonly done with the MakerGears!

Step 14 — Time to print your file!

Now, it is time to finally send your file to the 3D printer.

The first thing you should do is move the SD Card located in the laptop from the laptop to the 3Dprinter you are printing on.

In Simplify 3D, hit “Ctrl-P” to bring up the Machine Control Panel.

Connect to your printer by selecting the Port and pressing "Connect".

Click on “Print from SD Card”.




Step 15 — Select & send G-Code to Printer

Another window entitled "FileSelection" will pop up. From hereclick on your file (typically the lastone on the list).

Press "Ok". This will send the codeto the printer.

Within the next 10-15 minutes, theprinter will begin heating up andreading the file. Once is brings itselfto printing temperatures, it will beginyour print.

You MUST stay with your print fileuntil it prints the first few layers. Ifyour print is going to fail, it is likely todo so within the first layers it prints.Although this may take 15 minutes,it is better for you to stay for 15minutes now then to come backhours later and have to restart!




Step 16 — Disconnect USB BEFORE closing Simplify 3D

Now that your print is finally going, it's time for you to leave and let someone else use thecomputer.

You can now press the blue glowing button that you turned on early that connected the printer tothe computer. We can do this because the printer is relying on the SD Card and your GCode filenow, not the computer itself.

One you disconnect this, you can exit out of Simplify 3D and log off your account.

DO NOT PRESS THE BUTTON AGAIN FOR A PRINT THAT IS ALREADY RUNNING! This willstop that print and it will have to be restarted.




Step 17 — All done!

Now that your print is all done, wait at least 5 minutes until it has cooled down to remove it fromthe bed. Typically you can use your hands to pull it off the bed but if not, use a small chisel locatednear the printer to CAREFULLY remove your print.

Pull off the raft that was printed at the bottom and any other supports you do not want/need. (Youmay need some cutting pliers for this).




Documents

Written By: Sabrina ShankarFirst click on the "Primary Extruder". Under the box labeled "Pre-Layer Temperature Setpoints" you will have a Layer 1 and a temperature associated with