3D Printers

ssh:c has several 3D printers for use by members.

Makerbot Cupcake

The Makerbot Cupcake is fitted with a heated build platform. The recommended software for it is ReplicatorG. Due to the fact that the Cupcake is relatively old, the latest version of Skeinforge that ships with ReplicatorG 40 doesn't generate proper G-code for it. You can use the included Skeinforge 35, which comes with profiles for the Cupcake, or try your hand at the included Slic3r build.

Note that the end stops of the machine are not currently calibrated. That means that if you run the build plate to the extents of the X, Y, or Z axes you will damage the machine. So don't do that.

The Cupcake in the space is currently fitted with a Plastruder Mk4, which does not have very good control over fine details or the start and stop of flow. This can be mitigated somewhat by using Skeinforge's Oozebane settings to preemptively start and stop the extruder. A stepper-based extruder is an immediate planned upgrade, with a low-rider X and Y carriage and a replacement Z-axis with less wobble coming afterwards.

Recommended Settings

Printing ABS

The following is a Skeinforge configuration taken from the archived Makerbot Wiki and not yet tested on our Cupcake.

• Analyze
• Behold

Activate Behold: no

• Skeinview

Activate Skeinview: yes

Draw Arrows: yes

Go Around Extruder Off Travel: no

Pixels over Extrusion Width (ratio): 10.0

Screen Horizontal Inset (pixels): 100

Screen Vertical Inset (pixels): 100

• Vectorwrite

Activate Vectorwrite: no

• Statistic

Activate Statistic: yes

Print Statistics: yes

Save Statistics: no

• Carve

Extrusion Width over Thickness (ratio): 1.9

Import Coarseness (ratio): 1.0

Mesh Type: Correct Mesh

Infill Bridge Thickness over Layer Thickness (ratio): 1.0

Infill Bridge Width over Extrusion Width (ratio): 1.0

Infill in Direction of Bridges: yes

Layer Thickness (mm): 0.372

Layer Thickness over Precision (ratio): 10.0

• Clip

Activate Clip: yes

Clip Over Extrusion Width (ratio): 0.18

• Comb

Activate Comb: yes

Arrival Inset Follow Distance over Extrusion Width (ratio): 3.0

Jitter Over Extrusion Width (ratio): 10.0

Minimum Perimeter Departure Distance over Extrusion Width (ratio): 5.0

• Cool

Activate Cool: no

• Export

Activate Export: yes

Also Send Output To: blank

Delete Comments: no

Delete M110 Gcode Line: yes

Export Operations: Do Not Change Output

File Extension: gcode

• Fill

Diaphragm Period (layers): 999999*

Diaghragm Thickness (layers): 0

Extra Shells on Alternating Solid Layers (layers): 1

Extra Shells on Base (layers): 1

Extra Shells on Sparse Layers (layers): 1

Grid Extra Overlap (ratio): 0.001

Grid Junction Separation Band Height (layers): 10

Grid Junction Separation over Octogon Radius At End (ratio): 0.0

Grid Junction Separation over Octogon Radius At Middle (ratio): 0.0

Infill Begin Rotation (degrees): 45.0

Infill Begin Rotation Repeat (layers): 1

Infill Solidity (ratio): 0.1

Infill Odd Layer Extra Rotation (degrees): 90.0

Infill Pattern: Grid Rectangular

Interior Infill Density over Exterior Density (ratio): 0.9

Outside Extruded First: yes

Solid Surface Thickness (layers): 2

• Fillet

Activate Fillet: yes

Fillet Procedure Choice: Bevel

Corner Feedrate over Operating Feedrate (ratio): 1.0

Fillet Radius over Extrusion Width (ratio): 0.35

Reversal Slowdown Distance over Extrusion Width (ratio): 0.5

Use Intermediate Feedrate in Corners: no

• Hop

Activate Hop: no

• Inset

Extrusion Perimeter Width over Thickness (ratio): 1.8

Infill Perimeter Overlap (ratio): 0.1

Infill Perimeter Overlap Method of Calculation: Calculate Overlap from Perimeter and Infill

Start at Home: yes

• Material

Listbox: ABS

• Multiply

Activate Multiply: no

• Oozebane

Activate Oozebane: yes

After Startup Distance (mm): 0.275

Early Shutdown Distance (mm): 0.2

Early Startup Distance Constant (mm): 20.0

Early Startup Maximum Distance (mm): 5.25

First Early Startup Distance (mm): 20.0

Minimum Distance for Early Startup (mm): 0.01

Minimum Distance for Early Shutdown (mm): 1.0

Slowdown Startup Steps (positive integer): 1

• Polyfile

Directory or File Choice: Execute File

• Raft

Activate Raft: no

• Speed

Activate Speed: yes

Bridge Feedrate Multiplier (ratio): 1.0

Extrusion Diameter over Thickness (ratio): 1.3

Feedrate (mm/s): 26.5

Flowrate Choice: PWM Setting

Orbital Feedrate over Operating Feedrate (ratio): 1.0

Perimeter Feedrate over Operating Feedrate (ratio): 1.0

Perimeter Flowrate over Operating Flowrate (ratio): 1.0

Support Flowrate over Operating Flowrate (ratio): 1.0

Travel Feedrate (mm/s): 55.0

• Stretch

Description

Compensate for holes that are smaller than they should be.

Settings

Activate Stretch: no

• Tower

Activate Tower: no

• Unpause

Activate Unpause: no

• Wipe

Activate Wipe: no

Printing PLA

TODO: User:Mdonahue needs to upload what he's got after he's played with Oozebane settings.

Reprap Prusa

The space has one Reprap Prusa in functional state.

This Prusa has a geared, stepper-based extruder, a non-heated build plate, and uses an Azteeg X3 as a motherboard.

The lack of heated build plate means that prints in ABS plastic may not turn out well, with curling and other issues, so the printer is recommended for PLA only.

The software that seems to work best is Repetier-Host, though Printrun is also usable. The slicer most commonly used is Slic3r.

TODO: Post detailed configs for getting basically-decent prints out of Repetier-Host/Slic3r, detail some of its features, PICTURES. Once standalone 3D print server exists, document it.

Reprap Prusa 2

The second Prusa in the space needs much more work. The frame needs to be properly sized and tightened, the bed, carriages, and motors need to be installed, the extruder needs to be assembled, etc.

The second Prusa is definitely a work in progress.