While 3D printing is an exciting new technology that has become much cheaper and accessible to the maker market, it still requires a bit of knowledge on how to create and prepare files for printing. This class is focused on the preparation of 3D files. Whether you download files from the internet or create them yourself, you will have to “slice” them before printing.
Designing, slicing and printing are the three steps in getting a file from a digital format to a tangible one. As the name implies, slicing is how you take a 3D model and break it down (slice) into the individual layers that the printer can understand to create the file.
Since each printer needs a different set of parameters and each model can be printed with various settings to get the desired result, slicing can be confusing to someone new to 3D printing. This class will help take some of the confusion out of the process.
Who is the class for?
Those who have (or have access to) a 3D printer and have questions as to why some models print well and others don’t.
Those who are thinking about getting into 3D printing.
Those who would like to use the Morristown Makers printer to create models.
Anyone curious about the process of 3D printing but not sure you understand the process.
Any age is welcome to attend. We ask that children 13 and younger have an adult present with them.
What to bring
You do not need to bring anything to class. However, if you want help setting up your slicing software on your computer, bring it along and we can make sure it is working properly for you.
We will be using Cura for this class, but if you are using a different slicer and have questions, we would be happy to help you figure out how to make yours do what you need.
While 3D printing is an exciting new technology that has become much cheaper and accessible to the maker market, it still requires a bit of knowledge on how to create and prepare files for printing. This class is focused on the preparation of 3D files for the printing process. We will also cover how to start a print on a typical consumer-level 3D printer.
Slicing
The first part of the class will be focused on “slicing” the files. Whether you download files from the internet or create them yourself, you will have to slice them before printing. You will learn to use software called Cura to cut the files into each of the layers required for printing.
Since each printer needs a different set of parameters and each model can be printed with various settings to get the desired result, slicing can be confusing to someone new to 3D printing. This class will help take some of the confusion out of the process and help you learn how to prepare files for the printer at the shop.
Preparing the Printer
After we learn some of the important settings for slicing a file for printing, we will actually set up a print and get it started on the printer at the shop. While we are going over the settings for our printer, we will also try to cover enough general cases so that you can apply the information to other printers you have available to you.
Who is the class for?
Those who have (or have access to) a 3D printer and have questions as to why some models print well and others don’t.
Those who are thinking about getting into 3D printing.
Those who would like to use the Morristown Makers printer to create models.
Anyone curious about the process of 3D printing but not sure you understand the process.
Any age is welcome to attend. We ask that young people, ages 18 and younger, have an adult present with them.
What to bring
You do not need to bring anything to class. However, if you want help setting up your slicing software on your computer, bring it along and we can make sure it is working properly for you. You might want to download Cura before you come to class.
We will be using Cura for this class, but if you are using a different slicer and have questions, we would be happy to help you figure out how to make yours do what you need.
These are settings (or ranges) that work well with the Morristown Makers 3D printer. You are welcome to deviate from these settings for testing, but it is recommended that you change one parameter at a time so that you know the effect each change has.
Printer-Level Settings
These are the sections and settings inside Cura 4.1. You should only need to set this up one time in your slicer and then never have to change the settings for this printer in the future.
Printer Tab
Printer Settings
X, Y, Z: 205, 205, 180
Build plate shape: Rectangular
Heated bed: Yes
G-code flavor: Marlin
Printhead Settings
X min: 20 mm
Y min: 10 mm
X max: 10 mm
Y max: 10 mm
Gantry height: 55 mm
Start and End G-code Settings
These are the settings that were in use when the printer was donated to Morristown Makers. You can change the start and end G-code as needed. Or, you can use a generic start and end code.
Start G-code:
;*** Start Dual Nozzle/Bed Preheating *** M140 S{material_bed_temperature_layer_0} ; start preheating the bed M104 S{material_print_temperature_layer_0} T0 ; start preheating hotend G28 ; home M190 S{material_bed_temperature_layer_0} ; heat to Cura Bed setting M109 S{material_print_temperature_layer_0} T0 ; heat to Cura Hotend ;*** End Preheating *** G92 E0 ;Reset Extruder G1 Y3.0 F500.0 ;Move out of print volume G1 X60.0 E9 F500.0 ;start purge line G1 X100.0 E8.5 F500.0 G1 Z15.0 F6000 ;Move the platform down 15mm G92 E0 ;Reset Extruder G1 F200 E3 G92 E0 ;Reset Extruder
End G-code:
M104 S0 ;extruder heater off M140 S0 ;heated bed heater off (if you have it) G91 ;relative positioning G1 E-1 F300 ;retract the filament a bit before lifting the nozzle, to release some of the pressure G1 Z+0.5 E-5 X-20 Y-20 F4800 ;move Z up a bit and retract filament even more G28 X0 Y150 ;move X to min and Y to max endstops, so the head is out of the way G92 E0 M84 ;steppers off G90 ;absolute positioning
Extruder Tab
Nozzle Settings
Nozzle size: 0.4 mm
Compatible material diameter: 1.75 mm
Nozzle offset X: 0 mm
Nozzle offset Y: 0 mm
Cooling Fan Number: 0
Per Model Settings
The per-model settings can be downloaded and imported into Cura as a profile. This was exported from Cura 4.1, but you should be able to import it into the current Cura version. Unzip the the archive and import the .curaprofile into Cura.
Layer Height
0.1 to 0.2
0.16 seems to be a good compromise between speed and quality.
Initial Layer Height
0.16: This should always be 0.16 regardless of the layer height you set for all the other layers.
Line Width
0.4: This is the nozzle diameter. You can adjust this up and down a little, but generally it should not be changed. This is typically always set to your nozzle diameter.
Shell Thickness
Wall Thickness
0.8: This means 2 outside perimeters. You can increase this in 0.4 mm increments (i.e., 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.6, etc.).
Top and Bottom Thickness
0.8: This is determined by how many solid layers you want on top and bottom multiplied by your layer thickness. If you are printing 0.16 layers and want 5 solid top and bottom layers, you will have a 0.8 mm thickness.
Retraction
Yes: Enable retraction almost always. Flexible filaments print better without retraction.
6 mm
Infill Density
25%: This can go up or down depending on your needs. But 25% is a good mix between strength and speed.
Temperature
Printing Temperature (Hotend)
205° C: This is material specific. Different filaments (even regular PLA from the same manufacturer) will need different temperatures. Generally, all the PLA used on this machine prints well in the 205° range. Adjust as necessary.
Build Plate Temperature (Heated bed)
50° C: Technically PLA does not need a heated bed. However, having some heat on the bed seems to help with adhesion.
Print Speed
30-60 mm/s: There is a marked quality difference between 30 and 60 mm/s (slower is better). However, you can expect that it will take approximately twice as long to complete a print at 30 mm/s as it does 60 mm/s.
Recommended 50 mm/s: This printer can print accurately up to 70 mm/s but quality suffers.
Cooling
Enable Print Cooling
Yes
Fan Speed
80%: Faster than this and the hotend struggles to stay up to speed. And, at 80% it cools sufficiently.
Supports
Depending on your needs
Build Plate Adhesion
Depending on needs, but a skirt of at least 1 perimeter is recommended to help prime the printer.
This is the third class in our three-class series on 3D printing. While it is helpful to have attended the slicing class, it is not necessary.
What You Will Learn
This class is focused on the machine setup side of 3D printing. You will learn:
How to level the bed
How to prepare the print surface (glue, tape, slurry, hairspray, etc)
How to load or change filament
How to load a file for printing
Troubleshooting through each of the steps
Who Should Attend
3D printer at Morristown Makers
Certainly if you have taken the design and slicing classes previously, you will want to learn this final step in the printing process. However, you can come to this class and learn this critical part of the process without having attended the previous classes.
While we will use the Morristown Makers’ printer for this class, almost all of these steps will be similar on any other filament-based 3D printer. If you have access to another machine that you are wanting to learn how to use, this class will be a great benefit to you.
Note: We will not be talking about resin-based printing or laser-sintering machines.
What To Bring
There is nothing required for this class other than a willingness to learn how 3D printing works. You won’t even need hearing protection or safety glasses for this activity.
