New Users

Walkthroughs as well as tips and tricks for when you are first starting into 3D printing.

Replicator 2X Nozzle Calibration

by

Previously we discussed how to level the two nozzles on your Replicator 2X. Leveling the nozzles gets your nozzles aligned on the Z axis, today we will discuss calibration of the nozzles, which is aligning them on the X and Y axis. This process is the same on both the Replicator Dual and 2X. You know your nozzle calibration is out if you print something with vertical layers that are designed to be perfectly aligned and they wind up offset from the previous layer either on the X or Y axis, or both. Prior to calibrating the nozzles, we recommend you level the nozzles as this will make determining the proper calibration slightly easier as you will be looking at two comparably thick lines. The next step is to load filament into both nozzles and make sure your platform is level. Once that is done you will go to Utilities> … Read more

Replicator 2X Nozzle Leveling

by

When working with a Replicator 2X one very important factor when doing dual extrusion printing is to ensure your nozzles are level with eachother. If one is too high or low, that means that there will be poor layer adhesion between the parts printed by each nozzle and it will also result in the higher nozzle being unable to stick to the platform in extreme cases. On most of our dual extrusion printers we use our right extruder as our main nozzle and the left extruder for support and dual extrusion. For this reason if we can’t quite get the two nozzles perfectly level we put the right nozzle slightly lower as it gets the most use. The Leveling Process When leveling it is important to remember that there is a limited range of motion that the nozzle and thermal tubes can move in(too high and the thermal tube will hit … Read more

Repairing and Viewing 3D Models with netfabb Basic

by

When you are creating 3D models, some programs such as Sketchup may not output a 3D model that is exactly as you would expect. When you create a 3D model using some programs, it can be fairly easy to make a simple mistake that actually creates a hole in the mesh. These holes often don’t get noticed until you actually try your 3D print and it may have you wondering what is up with your printer as it won’t be printing anything like you would expect. Holes like this and other issues like self-intersecting parts create a 3D model that is considered non-manifold. When a 3D model is non-manifold most slicers won’t be able to properly slice the file therefore the 3D model must be manually fixed or have a repair tool used on it. To manually fix the part may be very time consuming as you will have to locate … Read more

Removing 3D prints from the build plate

by

How to Remove a Stuck Print When you have a print that stuck too well to the build plate it can be very frustrating. Here are some techniques we use to make this process a little easier. The first step is if possible remove your build plate. It is much easier to both damage your print and injure yourself if you are struggling to remove a print in the confined space inside the printer. It is also wise to wear thick gloves on both hands for really stubborn prints as the tools used to remove prints generally are somewhat sharp. We mainly make use of large dull knives as tools to remove prints as they can get under a print fairly easily at a corner and with a rolling/twisting motion rather than a prying motion and can generally remove a print without damaging the tape. Another widely used item to remove … Read more

Smart Extruder Tips and Tricks

by

The following are tips and tricks that may prolong the life of your smart extruder: If your filament has dust or dirt on it, it is a good idea to remove this before printing with it. This can be done by using pressurized air to get the majority of it then using a filter to get the rest. We generally use a canola oil filter that both coats the filament and helps clean it off. This Universal Filament Filter on Thingiverse is a good general use filter that can be placed before or after a filament guide tube. Prior to loading filament be sure to trim the end of the filament so you have a properly shaped end on the filament. When you are unloading filament try to first do a short load filament and then right after go into your unload filament. This forces a potential jam towards the … Read more