Guide to your first 3D print

Written By: Kerry

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Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

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Introduction

3D Printing is a revolutionary emerging technology that will change the way we undertaken design and manufacturing and with profound geopolitical, economic, social, demographic, environmental, and security implications.

The 3D Printing Process begins with a 3D model of the object, usually created by computer-aided design (CAD) software. Specialized software slices this model into cross sectional layers, creating a computer file that is sent to the 3D printing machine. The 3D printer then creates the object by forming each layer via the selective placement (or forming) of material.

Step 1 Guide to your first 3D print

Double click the file 3D printer desktop icon. Now printer tool kit main user interface will be opened.

Select COM 4 or Higher COM number (ie., COM 5 or 6 or … 9)

Double click the file 3D printer desktop icon. Now printer tool kit main user interface will be opened.
Select COM 4 or Higher COM number (ie., COM 5 or 6 or … 9)
Click Connect to printer, when Green light glows it shows you are connected to 3D Printer. Set target temperature 180 degree Celsius.

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Step 2

Click X-axis, Y-axis & Z-axis home position

Check X-axis, Y axis & Z axis limit switch is in correct position.

Click X-axis, Y-axis & Z-axis home position
Check X-axis, Y axis & Z axis limit switch is in correct position.

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Step 3

Set 'Extruder Speed' to 1000 ['Print' tab] - and 'Length' to 800, set the printer XY speed to 1000 [Printer Settings' button on print option tab]

Wait for heat to meet 180 - before trying to turn the extruder "Run Extruder" button' NEVER RUN THE EXTRUDER BELOW 180'

Adjust heat and or speed up by 10 steps. Eg: Heat up to 190' if still not flowing well then turn up again by 10' and increase 'Extruder Speed' by10 repeat this/fine tune this until the plastic flows straight & does not curled.

Set 'Extruder Speed' to 1000 ['Print' tab] - and 'Length' to 800, set the printer XY speed to 1000 [Printer Settings' button on print option tab]
Wait for heat to meet 180 - before trying to turn the extruder "Run Extruder" button' NEVER RUN THE EXTRUDER BELOW 180'
Adjust heat and or speed up by 10 steps. Eg: Heat up to 190' if still not flowing well then turn up again by 10' and increase 'Extruder Speed' by10 repeat this/fine tune this until the plastic flows straight & does not curled.

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Step 4

Do not try to print anything until the plastic flows straight.in the homing position. The analogy is this:- If you turn a water tap on too much eg. The extruder driver 'speed' to fast, than the plastic/just like water flowing too fast out of a tap, will spray wildly / curl.

Also the plastic filament driver, if pushing/turning too hard/ fast on the filament- will become a grinding wheel- tearing strips off the filament- which will lead to a loss of filament driver traction. Resulting in the extruder stopping to extrude plastic. Always start with these low settings- before venturing to faster settings.

Do not try to print anything until the plastic flows straight.in the homing position. The analogy is this:- If you turn a water tap on too much eg. The extruder driver 'speed' to fast, than the plastic/just like water flowing too fast out of a tap, will spray wildly / curl.
Also the plastic filament driver, if pushing/turning too hard/ fast on the filament- will become a grinding wheel- tearing strips off the filament- which will lead to a loss of filament driver traction. Resulting in the extruder stopping to extrude plastic. Always start with these low settings- before venturing to faster settings.

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Step 5

For nozzle size 0.4mm use a layer height of about 2/3 eg 0.25 to 0.3mm.

Once the plastic flows straight, measure the output of plastic in say 5 seconds. Repeat this and obtain an average extrusion length eg 90, 105, 100 = 295/3 - 98.33mm/5 seconds.

For nozzle size 0.4mm use a layer height of about 2/3 eg 0.25 to 0.3mm.
Once the plastic flows straight, measure the output of plastic in say 5 seconds. Repeat this and obtain an average extrusion length eg 90, 105, 100 = 295/3 - 98.33mm/5 seconds.
Adjust xy- to be travel the same distance eg 98.3mm over 5 seconds. This established a ratio between the plastic extrusion length and the distance traveled by x or y. eg extruder 'speed' 1200' xy 900mm/minute (this number will vary with the extrusion plastic used).

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Step 6

Once you have established a ratio between extrusion length and xy travel, you can double it or half it to obtain different print speeds.

Now that the plastic is flowing straight in the home position, press the 'Print' button. Press this button whilst the extruder test is still producing a good plastic flow. This will prime the print head to be ready for printing.

Once you have established a ratio between extrusion length and xy travel, you can double it or half it to obtain different print speeds.
Now that the plastic is flowing straight in the home position, press the 'Print' button. Press this button whilst the extruder test is still producing a good plastic flow. This will prime the print head to be ready for printing.

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Step 7

LOADING YOUR DRAWING: The drawing file must be in STL format (file extension .stl) First click the 'Input file' Tab

Click Load STL for new window to open. You can now load any of your STL format designs from your drawing folders.(*.stl) Click Ok after selecting your file.

LOADING YOUR DRAWING: The drawing file must be in STL format (file extension .stl) First click the 'Input file' Tab
Click Load STL for new window to open. You can now load any of your STL format designs from your drawing folders.(*.stl) Click Ok after selecting your file.
Now your design file is loaded