3D PRINTINGA step-by-step guide to the process

OVERALL GOALFROM DIGITAL: TO PHYSICAL:

OVERALL GOALTO USE THIS PRINTER: AS CASUALLY AS THIS PRINTER:

1.PRODUCT DESIGN

MEASUREDIMENSIONSAfter checking messages for orders, acquire sample or OE parts from the parts library. Calipers are suited for gleaning measurements from the part. International/metric units are preferable, but not required.

Whichever works for you.

NOTE: Although many OE parts have full dimensionals on record in the Engineering database, it is better to take your own measurements for the sake of consistency & accuracy.

2. MODELING SOFTWARE

CHOICESTHERE IS A WIDE ASSORTMENT OF 3D MODELING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE. MANY ARE FREE, A FEW CAN BE RUN IN A BROWSER, AND SOME ARE EVEN AVAILABLE AS APPS FOR A SMARTPHONE OR TABLET. SOME ARE MORE PRACTICAL THAN OTHERS, WHILE OTHERS ARE MORE ACCESSIBLE TO NOVICES.

SAVING WORKAfter the model is finished, two separate files should be saved.

1) The modeling software’s own format, such as .123D, .scad, .ipt, or a cloud save if available.

2) STL format. This is supported by most 3D printers

3. printing (taz & cura)

“LOAD MODEL” OPENS A DIALOG BOX WHEREUPON YOU MAY SELECT THE STL FILE TO BE PRINTED.

WHEN A MODEL IS SELECTED, AN ESTIMATED TIME OF COMPLETION APPEARS BELOW “CONTROL”. IF YOU ARE SATISFIED WITH HOW THE PRINT LOOKS, CLICK ON “CONTROL”. OTHERWISE, YOU CAN ADJUST THE PRINT POSITION, DENSITY, QUALITY, AND EVEN SCALE AS NEEDED.

THE FILL DENSITY IS ESSENTIAL TO PRODUCING A QUALITY PART. TEST PRINTS FOR FITTINGS OR CONCEPT REVIEW SHOULD BE AT A LOWER DENSITY (AROUND 10%) TO CONSERVE FILAMENT AND SHORTEN PRINTING TIME. THE STANDARD FOR A FINISHED PRODUCT IS 80%.

SUPPORT MATERIAL IS USEFUL FOR INTRICATE PARTS THAT HANG OVER THE BASE OF THE COMPONENT.

THE BRIM IS A THIN BREAKAWAY LINER SURROUNDING THE FIRST LAYER OF A PRINT. ITS PURPOSE IS TO PREVENT WARPING. WIDTH IS 5 TO 10mm.

BRIM

10%SUPPORT

VIRTUALLY HOLLOW -->

PREVENTS BAD OVERHANG -->

WHEN YOU ARE READY TO PRINT, CLICKING ON “CONTROL” WILL OPEN A NEW WINDOW. THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN CONTROL THE POSITION OF THE EXTRUDER FOR CALIBRATION OR REPAIR.

3. printing (Prusa & Repetier)

MUCH LIKE CURA, THIS WILL OPEN A DIALOG BOX AND ALLOW YOU TO SELECT YOUR STL FILE TO PLACE ON THE GRID. YOU CAN USE YOUR MOUSE TO POSITION THE OBJECT OR THE CONTROLS TO THE RIGHT TO TURN, FLIP, AND EVEN SCALE THE MODEL.

ONCE THE MODEL IS WHERE YOU WANT IT, SELECT THE TAB LABELED “SLICER”.

ONCE THE MODEL IS WHERE YOU WANT IT, SELECT THE TAB LABELED “SLICER”. SLIC3R COMPILES THE STL FILE INTO G-CODE, A SERIES OF X-Y-Z COORDINATES THE PRINTER FOLLOWS WHILE LAYING OUT THE FILAMENT, AMONG OTHER COMMANDS LIKE SPEED, ETC.

THE PULL-DOWN MENU AT THE TOP IS FOR VARIOUS PRESETS. EACH PARAMETER IS ADJUSTED INDIVIDUALLY IN THE LEFT COLUMN.THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES ARE INFILL AND SUPPORT MATERIAL. SLIC3R ALLOWS YOU TO SELECT DIFFERENT FILL PATTERNS, INCLUDING HONEYCOMB AND HILBERT CURVE.IF YOU MAKE ANY CHANGES TO ONE OF THE PRESETS, A MENU WILL POP UP BEFORE YOU EXIT ASKING YOU TO EITHER UPDATE THE CURRENT PRESET OR CREATE A NEW ONE.

ONCE YOU’VE FINISHED SLICING, YOU’LL BE SHOWN THE ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETION AND A PREVIEW OF THE FINAL PRODUCT, INCLUDING BRIMS AND SUPPORTS. FROM THERE, SIMPLY USE THE START AND STOP BUTTONS AT THE TOP OF THE SCREEN.

MANUAL CONTROLS WILL DISPLAY DURING THE PRINTING PROCESS AND ALLOW YOU TO MAKE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO TEMPERATURE AND SPEED OF THE EXTRUDER. THEY CAN ALSO BE ACCESSED BEFORE SLICING YOUR MODEL TO CHANGE FILAMENT IF ANOTHER COLOR IS DESIRED.

4. FILAMENTCOLORS AND TYPES

Primary filament typesPLA (polylactic acid)

Also called bioplastic, this is our preferred printing medium. It

requires relatively low temperatures, is less likely to

warp, can be extremely durable. Primary drawback is susceptibility

to damage from humidity over long periods of exposure.

ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)

The most commonly used filament for most 3D printers. The

advantages over PLA is its resistance to humidity. Drawbacks are needing higher temperatures, warping more easily, and possible

health hazards.

WHEN CHANGING THE FILAMENT IN THE TAZ, USE THE CONTROL PANEL TO SET THE TEMPERATURE OF THE EXTRUDER TO A LEAST 215F. THEN HAVE YOUR NEW ROLL OF FILAMENT READY TO SWAP OUT.

ONCE THE TEMPERATURE IS RIGHT, PUSH UP ON THE TWO ADJUSTMENT SCREWS ON THE PRINTER HEAD AND PULL UP ON THE FILAMENT. IT WILL STRETCH A LITTLE.

AFTER FEEDING THE NEW FILAMENT INTO THE HEAD, REPLACE THE ADJUSTMENT FIXTURE AND USE THE RETRACT CONTROL TO PUSH THE FILAMENT THROUGH THE NOZZLE.

WHEN CONNECTED TO THE PRUSA THROUGH REPETIER, USE THE MANUAL CONTROLS TO MOVE THE PRINTER HEAD AS NEEDED.

JUST LIKE CURA AND THE TAZ, USE THIS MENU TO SET THE TEMPERATURE TO AT LEAST 215F AND HAVE YOUR NEXT ROLL READY TO SWAP OUT.

UNLIKE THE TAZ, THE PAIR OF ADJUSTMENT SCREWS ON THE PRUSA NEED TO BE TAKEN OUT WITH A HEX KEY.

AFTER FEEDING IN THE NEW FILAMENT, REPLACE THE ADJUSTMENT FIXTURE AND USE THE CONTROL ON THE FAR LEFT TO PUSH THE FILAMENT THROUGH THE NOZZLE..

5. TIPS AND TOOLS

AFTER LAYING DOWN THE TAPE, SPRAY A SMALL AMOUNT OF HAIRSPRAY OVER WHERE THE PRINT WILL APPEAR. THIS WILL HELP THE PRINT STICK TO THE BUILD PLATE AND PREVENT WARPING.

BEFORE PRINTING, LAY DOWN A SQUARE OF PAINTER’S TAPE. THE TEXTURE HELPS THE PRINT ADHERE TO THE BUILD PLATE.

THE CLAM KNIFE IS USEFUL FOR SLIDING UNDER THE BRIM OF YOUR PRINTS AND PRYING UPWARDS TO REMOVE.

3D PRINTINGTHANK YOU FOR JOINING US. HAVE FUN