Transcript
Getting Started Guide Introducing you to your new Me2 printer Version 1.1.2
www.Me3D.com.au
REVISIONS Date
Version Number
Document Changes
08/01/2015
1.1.0
Initial Draft
25/08/2015
1.1.1
Product and software revisions
18/12/2015
1.1.2
Reassembly revision
This Getting Started guide is provided and maintained by Me3D.com.au
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CONTENTS Introducing your new best mate in 3D printing ............................................................................................................................ 3 Out of the box and what’s what ................................................................................................................................................ 4 Putting your Me2 together ............................................................................................................................................................ 5 Download software ................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Connect! .................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Check your z-height calibration ............................................................................................................................................... 11 Set up your first print run ............................................................................................................................................................ 11 Getting started with your own print ........................................................................................................................................... 14 Appendices .................................................................................................................................................................................. 15 Nozzle height ........................................................................................................................................................................... 15
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INTRODUCING YOUR NEW BEST MATE IN 3D PRINTING Congratulations! You have just gotten your hands one awesome little 3D printer and joined Australia’s ever expanding maker community. Me2 was never designed as a “black box” printer. The working parts are visible and accessible while it is printing, so you can observe, tweak and learn from the printing process as it happens. We want you to be able to interact with the whole machine, understand how it works and be able to help the community develop the next generation of 3D printing technology. Your Me2 has come to you assembled and tested. From opening the box you will have the Me2 setup and printing your very first thing in less than half an hour. We’ve also done the hard yards to come up with printing profiles for most common materials and quality settings so you don’t need to waste hours and filament on getting set up. Your Me2 has:
Print speeds of up to 120 mm/s A large build volume – 220 × 200 × 180 Automatic bed levelling for successful prints every time An actively cooled direct drive extruder Industry standard filament available everywhere A cold build surface – which is safe and easy to replace A wide range of materials including PLA, PETT, HiPS, TPU and more
This Getting Started Guide will take you step by step through:
Reassembling your Me2 out of the box. Connecting for the first time. Setting up “MatterControl for Me3D” and calibrating it to your machine. Re-running the test print to make sure you can replicate great prints. Getting started with a print of your own.
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OUT OF THE BOX AND WHAT’S WHAT ID
Description
Qty
1
Me2 3D printer
1
2
3D Filament Material
1
3
USB Cable
1
4
Power Supply
1
Image
Spares and tools T1
3mm Allen Key
1
T2
2mm Allen Key
1
T3
1.5mm Allen Key
1
T4
Scraper
1
Other equipment that it may be handy to have around include: E1
Side-cutters
E2
1 Roll - 50mm Blue Scotch Tape
All components of your Me2 are stocked separately and are available as replacement parts. If you have an oops moments or find anything missing from this list please contact your friendly local Me3D-er via www.me3d.com.au. This Getting Started guide is provided and maintained by Me3D.com.au
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PUTTING YOUR ME2 TOGETHER Prior to shipping, we have put your Me2 together, calibrated it and run a test print for you to make sure it is running smoothly. You will need to do some minor re-assembly to get started. This will depend on the packaging it came in.
IF YOU PURCHASED A SAFE CASE
1. 2. 3.
Unpack the Upper Assembly and Lower Assembly. Loosen slightly the four M5x12mm screws retaining the Handle. Slide the Handle to the top of the Z-Axis and tighten the Screws using the 3mm Allen Key.
4.
Lay the lower assembly on its back. Remove the 2 M5x10mm screws from the base of the Upper Assembly. Slot the alignment tab at the base of Z-Axis on the Upper Assembly into the alignment slot on the Lower Assembly and fix it in place using the 2 M5x10mm screws, and tightening with the 3mm Allen Key. Make sure there is no “wobble” of the upper assembly when its upright.
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At this point your Me2 is re-assembled and is ready to be connected to the host computer.
IF YOUR ME2 ARRIVED IN A CARDBOARD BOX 1.
Unpack the parts from the cardboard box. You will find the machine largely assembled with only the Y-axis with build tray removed.
2.
Remove two screws from one end of the Y-axis, slot the belt into the axis rail and guide the axis rail between the wheels ensuring that the belt ends up under the wheels.
3.
Push the rail all the way through to the other end. Pick up the slack in the belt between the wheels and thread it over the pulley.
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4.
Pull the end plate back over the end of the rail making sure the tie fits neatly back into the rail. Tighten the screw back up in the end plate.
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DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE You now need to obtain our latest custom versions of “MatterControl for Me3D” from www.me3d.com.au/downloads. This is our supported open source program that takes care of slicing and acts as the machine interface controller. More information is available directly from the MatterControl team www.mattercontrol.com. Go to www.me3d.com.au/downloads and download the appropriate version of the software for your operating system and install.
CONNECT! Its time to turn on your Me2 and get aquainted. 1.
With your hand, gently lift the print head along the Z axis (vertical) then move the X and Y to the home end stops and lower onto the Z home position. This is the position where the print head is off to the rear left of the build plate, shown below.
2. 3.
Ensure the Switch on the Me2 is in the OFF position. Connect the USB cable and Power Cable to the rear of the Me2.
4. 5.
Connect the Power Cable to the mains supply but do not turn on the Me2. Connect the USB cable to an available USB port on the Host computer.
6.
Open “MatterControl for Me3D”.
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8.
Click “- Select Printer -”. In the dialogue box that appears, name your printer and select “Me2” from the Select Model menu. Then click “Save & Continue”.
As this is likely to be your first time connecting to one of our printers, you may be asked to install communications drivers. You will only need to do this once.
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“MatterControl for Me3D” will now set up your printer. We recommend you follow the instructions given by the connection wizard. If there is an issue using the automatic configuration method you can select “manual configuration” and directly select the comm port that the printer is plugged into (it’s usually the highest number in the list).
10. If you are having any trouble with this part of the connection process please refer to The online MatterControl guide found here www.mattercontrol.com/articles/mattercontrol-getting-started#setupandinstall
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CHECK YOUR Z-HEIGHT CALIBRATION 1.
Initially you will need to delve into the advanced settings of your Me2. To do this navigate to “Settings” menu and under “General” select advanced from the drop down menu.
2.
The Z Offset parameter is located in the “Printer” tab under “Print Area”. For a new setup this is set to 25mm to ensure that if this procedure isn’t completed, the printer will not be damaged. You will have noticed a label with a number on it on the extruder fitted to your machine. KEEP THIS LABEL SOMEWHERE SAFE!!! You will need it again if you ever want to connect to another printer. This is the Z Offset height for that particular extruder. Enter the Z Offset position on the label and press SAVE at the top to complete the setup.
3.
Once you have completed the Z offset calibration you can return the settings to Basic if you feel more comfortable with fewer options until your knowledge builds.
SET UP YOUR FIRST PRINT RUN 1.
You are now ready to repeat the test print which has already been produced on your machine.
2.
Feed the printer filament through the handle opening and into the filament drive block (right side hole). Push gently on the filament until you can feel it just grip in the filament gear. Make sure there is enough filament for your print (ie. slack for it to feed through).
3.
Ensure the build surface is clear.
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Select the settings for the material you are using by going to “Settings”, “Material” and choosing from the drop down box. The Me2 starter pack comes with “PolyPlus” PLA. It is different (better!) than standard PLA so be sure to select the right material.
5.
You will need to select print settings appropriate to the print you are running. This will normally require some knowledge and experience and is generally achieved by trial and error. However, as your first test print will be the Me3D-designed spool holder, we can recommend using the basic setting “Standard” for Layer Height and Fill Density of “Light” and the software will decided the rest of the detail for you.
6.
Download the spool holder file from www.me3d.com.au/downloa ds/. In MatterControl, click “Back” and then click “Add”. Browse to the downloaded file. Now in the queue you will see the spool holder file. Hover over it and click “View” to bring up an image of the file in the left hand pain. Now click “Print”. As the first layer is being printed you will start to be able to make an assessment of the accuracy of the Z-Offset calibration. Please review the images in the Nozzle height appendix to make sure this is working smoothly.
YOU SHOULD NEVER LEAVE A PRINT RUNNING WHILE THE MACHINE IS UNATTENDED!!!! This Getting Started guide is provided and maintained by Me3D.com.au
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The machine will first complete a homing and auto-levelling routine moving to the extreme positions of the bed and then waiting for the print head to reach temperature, this can take up to 2 minutes. The Me2 will now complete the test print, taking approximately 5-15mins. Inspect the test print to ensure you are achieving high quality and then it is time to move onto preparing your own files for printing.
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GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR OWN PRINT 1.
To print a 3D object using “MatterControl for Me3D”, you'll first need an object to print. MatterControl can print .stl and .obj file. Click the 'Add' button as before and navigate to your file.
2.
To begin a print, check to make sure that the bed is clear and consider the settings you will need. For example, if you have an object with horizontal surfaces (for example the top of a head) you should consider some infill. Having said this we get great results on the “fine” setting in Layer Height with no infill. When you are ready to give it a try click 'Print'. You can pause or cancel a print by selecting 'Pause' or 'Cancel' once the print has begun. After a print has finished, you can choose to reprint the object or select 'Done' to remove it from your print queue.
If want a great way to quickly demonstrate why your Me2 was the best purchase ever, check out the “Create” feature. You can very quickly generate a customised basic print using the simple interface a shown here. P.S. to get the heart hold down the “alt” key and type 3.
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APPENDICES NOZZLE HEIGHT
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