Makerspace - Chalon M3LAB

Lulzbot TAZ Workhorse 

Instructions, Manuals, Videos

To begin your 3D print with the LULZBOT:

1. Turn the 3D printer on
    
2. Login to the laptop using your Mount credentials
    
3. Find a file to print – You will need an STL file (STereoLithography) 
   Try the following:
   1. Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/
   2. Pinshape: https://pinshape.com/
   3. Sketchup: https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/
   4. You can also bring in your own model from a 3D modeling program, just make sure you have exported it as an STL.

4. Save the file to the Downloads folder or Desktop
   1. Save the file to a place where you can easily locate it
   2. It will most likely be a compressed or zipped file.
   3. Unzip the file – you may have to do some troubleshooting here.
   4. Drag and drop the unzipped file out of the temporary zip folder to either the Downloads folder or the Desktop.
       
5. Open CURA LUTZBOT software on the laptop.
    
6. Find your saved file: Locate the folder icon in the upper left corner to open your saved file (navigate to where you saved your file(s).
    
7. Drop your 3D image into the cube
   1. Note: you may need to delete the previous 3D image
   2. Set the cube where you would like it to print on the plate (most likely the center)
       
8. Adjust the settings:
   1. Material – PLA Verbatim (this is your filament type)
   2. Standard detail – for most prints
   3. Infill – 20% for most small items (this will ensure that it won’t print all solids, and will cut down on your printing time and filament use) for larger objects you may want to decrease the amount of solid infill by raising the percentage)
   4. Views – it will default to solid view – switch to the layer view to determine how the object will slice and how it will adhere to the plate. This will help you determine if a support is needed. You will need to generate a support if your bottom layer does not look like it will adhere to the plate.
   5. Standard thickness – ¼ mm
   6. Generate Support: check this box
       
9. Switch to the Monitor Window
   1. Select Print via USB Device – Start Print.
   2. You are looking for the bar at the top right side to say “Connected via USB”
   3. Clear the extruder with a paper towel if needed
      DO NOT TOUCH THE EXTRUDER WITH YOUR BARE HANDS! (HOT)
   4. The printer will heat to 210 degrees C – the bed/plate also heats up.
       
10. Troubleshooting: What if the print does not start?
    1. May need to reboot the CURA software to establish the connection between the laptop and the 3D printer
    2. Turn the Lutzbot off and on again
        
11. Troubleshooting: What if the print does not adhere?
    1. If the print begins and the filament does not adhere: (blob will start to form on the nozzle, with nothing sticking to the plate)
    2. Stop the print
    3. Remove the started piece
       DO NOT TOUCH THE EXTRUDER WITH YOUR BARE HANDS
       – IT IS STILL HOT!
    4. Use a glue stick in the center of the plate where the print should begin – swipe the area a few times to create a sticky surface
    5. Wipe off the plate and the nozzle
    6. Restart the print
        
12. Troubleshooting: What if the printer is not extruding any filament?
    1. Cancel the print
    2. Ask the M3Lab Student Assistant who is working to help you do the following:
       1. Clean the extruder nozzle with a paper towel – do not touch the extruder with your bare hands it is still hot!
       2. In the Lulzbot settings (on the printer) check to make sure that the temperature is high enough/matches the temperature on the filament spool (adjust the temperature if needed)
       3. Release the filament by gently pressing the black filament holder forward (towards you)
       4. Re-clamp the filament in place and feed it through as the nozzle heats up (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvtLRADdljY )
           
13. Wait and watch to make sure the print adheres correctly
    1. The estimated time to print may vary wildly (it may add or decrease time similar to a large download with a slow internet connection)
    2. Depending on the amount of time it will take to print you can walk away and let it do its job!
        
14. Finishing your print: When the 3D printer has completed its print and stopped moving and making noises, it is likely finished
    1. Wait for the print to cool
    2. When it has sufficiently cooled, pull your print off of the plate
    3. Carefully remove any supports that may have been generated with the red-handled spatula or an X-Acto knife (the piece may be delicate, take care not to snap any of the surrounding pieces, or hastily remove the support)
    4. You may need to file or sand your pieces to remove any rough edges
       1. Use a very fine sandpaper grade, block, file, or Dremel if necessary
    5. Clean the plate, remove any residue and discard
        
15. Turn off the 3D printer
     
16. Log out of the laptop

If you need to restart the filament or reload -- ask an assistant to help you:

QIDI X-Pro

Instructions, Manuals, and Videos

To begin your 3D print with the QIDI X-Pro:

1. GET STARTED – FIND A FILE
   • Turn on computer and log in with MSMU account
   • Open a browser
   • Find  thingiverse.com
   • Do a Search (find images/objects you want to print) – scan through to find something with only 1 file for your first project
   • Click download file, wait for it to load
2. EXTRACT YOUR FILE
   • Go to Downloads folder to find the file you just downloaded
   • Open folder named “Files”
   • Select the STL file and click “Extract” (minus symbol)
   • Go back to Downloads in folder finder to make sure it extracted properly
   • Go to download and see your file probably under “from a long time ago” section
3. OPEN QIDI SOFTWARE
   • Open Windows and find QiDi software – or type into the Windows search on the bottom bar “QIDI”
   • Click “X-Series” and “X-Pro”
4. OPEN YOUR FILE IN QIDI
   • Click folder icon on left-side navigation bar
   • Find your file in Downloads
5. CENTER THE OBJECT
   • Click on object (in center)
   • 0, 0, 0 means it will lay perfectly in the middle / lock model so it won’t move
   • Check “Snap scaling” box to make it more precise
6. SCALE THE OBJECT:    << VERY IMPORTANT STEP! >>
   • Click Scale – Icon with arrows pointing in (3^rd icon down)
   • Make sure to scale your piece to the appropriate number of millimeters (use the ruler to guestimate how large it should be, ex 50mm = 5cm on the ruler)
7. PREPARE TO PRINT/SAVE
   • Click “Prepare File” (button in lower right corner - may need to maximize the screen)
   • Save to Removable Drive (USB) and remember the name of file to find the image again
   • Safely remove the USB from the laptop
8. TURN ON QIDI 3D PRINTER
   • Turn on QIDI machine – power switch is on the back left side (behind the power cord)
9. INSERT USB IN QIDI PRINTER
   •  Plug USB into QIDI X-Pro machine on the right side of the machine (flip the USB upside down to fit in slot)
10. GET READY TO PRINT!
    • Press Print button on screen
    • Press X-Pro button on screen if it does not navigate to the USB file list automatically
    • Press on right arrow buttons to find files (arrow down) (Your file will probably be at the end of the list)
11. PREPARE THE PLATE
    • Next, ABOVE, open the machine “window” and spread a layer of glue with the glue stick in the middle of the heat plate (make sure the layer of blue tape is in good shape, if it’s all torn up, replace with a new layer of tape)
12. START YOUR PRINT!
    • Press “play” button (triangle) on the screen
    • Wait for print to start (will show 0% for a while)
    • Watch print to make sure it starts extruding.
    • Monitor progress of your print via the machine panel (% done)
13. FINISH YOUR PRINT!
    • When print is finished – carefully pry your print off of the plate with the red spatula tool (may need to remove the blue tape first if it looks like the piece will not come up on its own)
14. TURN OFF PRINTER
    • When you’re done – switch off the QIDI printer in the back (left side, under power cord)