Transcript
Getting Started Guide Introducing you to your new Me2 printer Version 1.1.0
www.Me3D.com.au
REVISIONS Date 08/01/2015
Version Number 1.1.0
Document Changes Initial Draft
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 her together ...................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Connect the gantry .................................................................................................................................................................... 5 download software.................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Connect! .................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Check your z-height calibration ................................................................................................................................................. 8 Set up your first print run .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Getting started with your own print ....................................................................................................................................... 11 Appendices .................................................................................................................................................................................. 13 Nozzle height diagram ............................................................................................................................................................. 13
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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 she’s 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 Comes in a hardy safe case for transport
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
Upper Assembly
1
2
Lower Assembly
1
3
3D Filament Material
1
4
USB Cable
1
5
Power Supply
1
Image
Spares and tools S1
M5*12 Button Head Screw
2
S2
M5 Tee Nuts
2
S3
Cable ties
4
T1
3mm Allen Key
1
T2
2mm Allen Key
1
T3
Scraper
1
Other equipment that it may be handy to have around include: E1
Vernier Callipers
E2
Side-cutters
E4
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 HER TOGETHER Prior to shipping, we have put your Me2 together, calibrated it and run a test print for you to make sure she is running smoothly. You will need to do some minor re-assembly of her to get started.
CONNECT THE GANTRY 1. 2. 3.
Unpack the Upper Assembly and Lower Assembly. You will see a test print still on the print bed. Remove it and keep it aside, this will act as a guide to ensure you are getting the best from your Me2 after re-assembly. Loosen slightly the four M5x12 screws retaining the Handle.
4.
Slide the Handle to the top of the Z-Axis and tighten the Screws using the 3mm Allen Key.
5.
Lay the lower assembly on its back. Remove the 2 M5x12 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 M5x12 screws, and tightening with the 3mm Allen Key.
6.
At this point your Me2 is re-assembled and is ready to be connected to the host computer.
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www.Me3D.com.au 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, move the X, Y and Z axis to the home end stops. 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 and 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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www.Me3D.com.au 7.
Click “- Add Printer -”. In the dialogue box that appears, name your printer and select “Me3D” from the “- Select Make -“ menu and select “Me2” from the “- Select Model -“ menu. Then click “Save & Continue”.
8.
“MatterControl for Me3D” will now set up your printer. We recommend you follow the instructions given by the connection wizard.
9.
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.
Navigate to the Z Offset parameter located in the Slice Setting Tab->Printer>General. If it is not visible check the “Show all Settings” check box. For a new setup this is set to 25mm to ensure that if this procedure isn’t completed, the printer will not be damaged.
2.
You will have noticed a label with a number on it on the extruder fitted to your machine. This is the Z Offset height for that particular extruder. Enter the newly discovered Z Offset position and press SAVE at the top right to complete the setup.
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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 (a slack for it to feed through) for your print.
3.
Ensure the test print has been removed, the build surface is clear.
4.
Select the settings for the material you are using by going to slice settings>material settings>select material and choosing from the drop down box.
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. Your first test print will be the Me3D-designed spool holder and because we are such nice guys we have included in the print file, settings that are a good start for you to experiment with based on how long you want to print, how much material you want to use and how shiny the result is.
6.
Go to “LIBRARY”, hover over “Spoolholder” and 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. If you are having any issues refer to our paper “Setting the Z-Offset” found at www.me3d.com.au/downloa ds/.
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YOU SHOULD NEVER LEAVE A PRINT RUNNING WHILE THE MACHINE IS UNATTENDED!!!!
7. 8. 9.
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 15-20mins. Inspect the test print to ensure you are achieving the same 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. Press the 'Add' button, either at the bottom of the Print Queue or near the top of the application.
2.
A file dialog will open allowing you to select a .STL, .AMF or .GCODE file. Once you've selected a file, it will be added to your Print Queue and available for printing.
3.
To begin a print, check to make sure that the bed is clear, then press '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.
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www.Me3D.com.au 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 below.
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APPENDICES NOZZLE HEIGHT
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