Current Machine Status

Operational, borrowed briefly by mirage335, documentation, stabilization, and minor upgrades in progress.

Operation

Firing Up

1. Go through the routine maintenance list as necessary, especially the safety section.
2. Ensure power is available (ie. turn on the nearby power strip, etc).
3. Open _controlSoftware_. Start heating the glass bed if you don't want to wait later.

File Preparation

1. Load an STL model onto the dedicated laptop for printing. If you haven't made one, download one from Thingiverse.
2. Clean the STL model. Load file in nefabb, click the red "+", "Automatic repair", "Default repair", "Apply repair", "Yes" - remove old part. Finally, export part as STL, repairing more errors if prompted. Netfabb can also be used to align a particular face on the 3D model to the print bed.
3. Open _controlSoftware_. Load the STL file.
4. Recommended print settings: "Cheap" "Filament: HacDC" "Printer: HacDC" . Change these if necessary (eg. strong mechanical parts need more infill).
5. Export G-Code in _controlSoftware_.
6. Print G-Code in _controlSoftware_. SD Card printing highly recommended.

Printing

1. With luck, printing should commence autonomously without flaws. Two common problems are inadequate adhesion (resolved by print surface cleaning and possibly hairspray) or bed alignment (resolved through a rather complex alignment process). See the routine maintenance section.
2. Wait for bed to cool. Part should lift right off the bed once cool. If not, apply gentle hammer taps with sharp pointy tool to the base of your object. After a few gentle taps in various places, it will pop off the bed cleanly. Carefully, please avoid chipping or cracking the glass.

Routine Maintenance - ALWAYS CHECK

FIRE HAZARDS

• Leaving the printer operating unattended is not recommended, especially for new users unfamiliar with the technology.

Bed Cleaning

• Bare glass bed must be extremely clean. If bed is level to within 0.25mm, and plastic is not sticking, it needs cleaning. Windex, diswashing soap, razor blades, and elbow grease are appropriate resources.
• Certain hairspray has been reported to improve adhesion in some cases.

Leveling

• Leveling process is documented in the manual. Generally this machine is expected to be highly stable in this regard, so this should rarely if ever be necessary.

Please Avoid

You are adding to the workload on a shared machine. Please be gentle.

• Don't crash the Z-Axis into the glass surface, it will shatter.
• Removing parts from glass bed before cooling completes, or getting fingers on the bed leaves residue and necessitates cleaning or worse.
• Operation from battery backup and SD card strongly recommended for reliability.

Pricing

Free of charge for dues-paying members using reasonable quantities of filament (<0.5kG or <50m per month average).

Newcomers to the space are freely invited to lightly use the 3D printer use for small projects, or education.

Non-members regularly using the 3D printer are politely requested to donate approximately $0.50 per meter of filament, as estimated by pronterface when loading g-code.

If the printer breaks dramatically while you are using it, don't fret. We have replacement parts, budget, and talent to repair it.

These supplies and others, are funded by membership dues when revenue exceeds operating expenditures (ie. rent), according to Project Awesome rules.