LulzBotMini: Difference between revisions

HacDC's LulzBot Mini 3D Printer.

Current Machine Status

Operational --Nostromo (talk) 18:51, 12 April 2015 (PDT)

General Info

Model: LulzBot Mini

Printing Procedures

Everything below this is just a boilerplate copy of the cube wiki and doesn't apply until I edit it--Nostromo (talk) 15:44, 11 February 2015 (PST)

3D File Preparation

The LulzBot Mini uses custom slicer software (Cura) to convert a ".stl" files to a ".gcode" file which is what the LulzBot Mini printer understands.

1. Power on the Laptop labelled "LulzBot Mini Computer"
   • Track pad is disabled so use the eraser head
2. Open the "Cura Software"
3. Import your .stl file
4. Settings
   • Quickprint profile:
     • High quality print: ???
     • Normal quality print: ???
     • Fast low quality print: ???
   • Material
     • HIPS is probably what's loaded. Make sure by reading the label on the spool.
   • Other
     • Print support structure: If you have overhangs or levitating parts etc..
     • Print Brim: Helps with stickage issues (Haven't needed it yet)
5. File/Print to complipe the gcode and sent to the Cura Control Program

Powering on the LulzBot Mini

1. Make sure the LulzBot Mini is on it's marks on the table (Beside the shelf next to the door etc..)
2. Make sure the power cord is plugged in on the back of the unit
3. Make sure the power strip is turned on
4. Press the beg red button and it should light up
   • I know this is super obvious but it's in the boilerplate so now you have directions to feed your robot on how to turn on the LulzBot ;-).

Before You Start The Print!!

Prep the Print Bed (IMPORTANT)

• For PLA/ABS/HIPS just clean the bed using an alcohol swab (Should be one in the LulzBot Mini Kit)
• For more exotic filaments you may have to apply PVA Glue Stic (Refer to the manual)

Start the Print

1. The Cura Control interface (Target looking thing) should have come up when you hit print in the Cura Slicer
2. Hit the print button to begin
   • Don't worry about setting the temps etc.. That is handled automatically by the slicer.

Monitoring the Print

Now that the cube has started printing it's important to keep an eye on it. If at any time you see an issue please cancel the print by hitting the "Stop" button on the display. Here are some things that are cancel worthy:

• You hear a ticking sound coming from the extruder (Extruder is jammed SEE BELOW)
• The extruder is hitting the binder clips (Clips weren't positioned correctly)
• The extruder is bumping over some plastic that hardened in the wrong place
• The print has obviously failed (Help us save plastic and prevent a mess)
• Anything else that may damage the printer or waste plastic
• When the print finishes please turn off the printer (Hold down the button until the cube powers off)

Removing the Print from the Build Plate

You're almost done now it's time for the last step. Removing the print from the build plate.

• Above all be careful when doing the steps below.
  • You'll be applying pressure to thin sharp pieces of glass.
  • You may want to wear safetly gloves which are located in the safety equipment bin
• Remove the build plate and wash off the glue with warm water from the sink (Takes a while but it does get warm)
• Try to loosen the part from the glass by twising and flexing (Without breaking the part)
• Use a utility knife to GENTLY get under the part and pop it off.

Please Clean up for Others

Please do the following procedure so the next person can use the machine

• Wash/dry the build plate/mirrored glass in the sink and put back on the machine
• Put all the tools back in their storage box
• Make sure you shut off the printer by holding down the button for several seconds (Very Important)
• If you we're happy with your experience please consider putting a buck or 2 in the tip jar :-)

Operators Log

Please provide feedback on our print in the operators log for this printer Cube_Operators_Log

Bed Leveling

I level the bed once a week so you really shouldn't need to do this procedure

• The bed can be leveled through the software.
• There is no need to mechanically level the bed.
• Use a index/business card when going through the leveling procedure.
• You should feel a slight bit of resistance when moving the card in-between the bed and extruder.

Z Axis Height Adjustment

This should allow a index/business card to slide freely underneath it without feeling like it's dragging.

Notes

Refilling the Cartridge

The cartridge is a 2 part circular container for the filament. It is held together with 2 snapping clips. Gently depress them to separate the cartridges hemispheres. Loosely wind the filament to be used so that the filament can freely exit the cartridge. Visually, this means when you wind it, the end of the filament should be on the same side as the exit tube. Carefully snap the hemispheres back together with roughly 7cm out of the "exit". Be mindful of the guides on the inside of the cartridge when snapping together. Will post a video later

Resetting A Cartridge To Full

Normal Cartridge Operation

This is just for some insight so you can see what we're going to do

1. 'Before Print' Printer reads the remaining capacity of the cartridge.
2. 'During Print' Printer calculates, using a rotary encoder, the amount of filament used.
3. 'After Print' Printer subtracts the amount of filament used and writes it back to the cartridge.

Reset Cartridge Hack

Resetting the cartridge means writing the full/nearly full cartridge capacity back to the empty cartridge. Essentially resetting the empty cartridge.

I haven't personally verified this yet so it's experimental right now

1. Load cartridge labelled "Printing Cartridge" (Follow the cube instructions including feeding the filament etc..).
2. Remove the "Printing Cartridge" from the cradle while still keeping the filament attached to the cube.
3. Plug the cartridge labelled "Recharge Cartridge" into the cradle while keeping the "Printing Cartridge" filament attached.
4. read the next couple of steps ahead of time, timing is critical.
5. Start a new print and wait for the actual print to start (Not just the heat up).
6. Once the new print starts immediately swap the cartridges ("Printing Cartridge" should wind up in the cradle")
   • You'll have about a 7 second window to do the swap. If you see an error about "Hot Swap" don't worry. Just swap the "Recharge Cartridge" back and wait for the error to go away and then repeat the last step.
7. Cancel the print (This is optional since you're already using the "Printing Cartridge" filament).
   • Sometime during the cooldown it programs the Cartridge with the remaining filament capacity. Takes about 90 seconds.
8. Now check the "Cartridge Status" and you should have a reset cartridge.

These are the old directions just until I verify the new procedure works

To do this, 1.Load a full cartridge into the printer 2. Start new print 3. Once new print starts (not just heating up put starting to print) 4. "Hot Swap" the empty cartridge. This must be done within about 7 seconds, but should not be a problem. If the message "please insert cartridge" message pops up, you must put in the full cartridge back in and start back at the "Hot Swap" once the message disappears. 5. Press the stop button on the touchscreen 6. The print will cancel and proceed to the cool down process. WAIT! This usually take about 90 seconds. At some point during the cool-down, I believe the printer is writing back to the cartridge. 7. When it is done cooling, you can go into the menu and select "Cartridge Status" and the chips capacity should be represented by a "black" horizontal bar. If the bar is "white" then you must repeat the process. FWIW, we have not seen this process fail necessitating doing the process again. 8. Follow the steps for "Loading a New Cartridge" if necessary with the newly "full" cartridge.

Wifi Doesn't Work

We had to restore an old firmware to enable us to use our own filament and as a result the Wifi access doesn't work. Your better off just transferring the .cube file to the usb key and printing via the LCD menu.

Hacks that Make This Thing Work

Firmware is hacked to ignore filament cartridge life (aka you can refill cartridges) It is important that the firmware is not altered upgraded or borked.

Firmware Updates

Please don't because we'll lose the hack that lets us refill the filament.