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Instruments Co. User Manual - CNC to 3D Printer

Table of Content
MiB Instruments Co. ......................................................................................................................................1 User Manual - CNC to 3D Printer..................................................................................................................1 .............................................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. A) Software Installation .........................................................................................................................2 A1- Desktop PC Requirements ......................................................................................................2 A2- Convert 3D Model to G-Code................................................................................................. 4 A3- Build STL file by Goolge SketchUp .....................................................................................10 A4- Skeinforge Settings ...............................................................................................................14 A5- Important Parameter Settings ................................................................................................15 B) Hardware Installation ......................................................................................................................20 B1- 3D Printer Kits Hardware & Parts.........................................................................................20 B2- 3D Printer Heater Controller. ................................................................................................24 B3- Installing Filament and Mount .............................................................................................. 26 C) FAQ .................................................................................................................................................28

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A) Software Installation A1- Desktop PC Requirements

PC with parallel port, 32-bit version of Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows7 Operating System (64-bit will not work). 1Ghz CPU, 512MB RAM, Non-integrated Video Card with 32MB RAM Basic Computer skills (ability to copy/rename files, browse directories, etc) Step1. You need to install Mach3 to your computer, and follow the CNC user manual to set up parameters. Step2. Download the Slic3r inside, you can download at:
http://cnc2printer3d.wordpress.com/software/.

We suggest you download version 1.2, the version 1.3 sometimes can not open Skeinforge. (The red box is shown as below

Step3. After installed Mach3 Addon, we still need to install Skeinforge software. It converts 3D graphics into G-code. You must install as follow procedure. First, Link to website http://www.python.org/download/ Download and install python to hard disk.

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Then, Link to website http://sourceforge.net/projects/psyco/files/ , Download and install psyco to PC. This can speed up skeinforge.

Finally, Download Skeinforge at http://fabmetheus.crsndoo.com/ , Unzip to a folder (without spaces in the path -usually into the root of c:\) Open the skeinforge folder and find the file skeinforge.py (a good idea is to place a shortcut to this on the desktop) double click to run it. If all is ok skeinforge should run.

Now, it is all ok and you can start to print.

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A2- Convert 3D Model to G-Code

First, you need to convert 3D graphics into stlfile.you can use the Soildworks, google sketchup or other software to help you. In this manual, we outline how to use google sketchuo to make the stl file Choose the Mach3mill icon on the desktop to start the Mach3, open the Wizardsselect Pick Wizard.

Then, find the addon name 3dptinter_addon.

(The red circle is shown as below)

Double click to run this addon. Now you will open a new interface. Choose the first button Open STL File. (The red circle is shown as below)

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After click, it will show a new window, shown as below:

This part is very important that please check your setup is as the data above. Choose Administrator, shown as below:

Click OK, and then choose the STL file which you want to print. Shown as below:

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After select the stl file, click the open button., Mach3 will build 3D printing files path. shown as below:

Please be patient, the computer will need sometime to build the 3D file. When Mach3 finish building the file, it will open three new screens. These screens show 3D space pattern, each layer path, and setting screens. On the setting screens, you can set the parameters in the process of printing. These are the setting screens from which you can set all the tool preferences; they are grouped together in various sub screens. (We will explain every setting on Setting manual). Shown as below:

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3D space pattern screens, it show you 3D preview, you can rotate to watch every part. Shown as below:

= Planar move,

= rotation Here you

Here you can choose how many layers do not show. can choose how many lines do not show Zoom the 3D

Layer path screens, it can show you how to print each layer. When you click each line you can see the
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corresponding G code. Shown as below:

Here you can select layer which you want to see. select the line you want to see on the current layer.

Here you can

After the confirmation, return to Mach3 screens, and choose the second button Post Gcode to Mach3. The red circle is shown as below:

When you click the button, Mach3 will load the G code and turn to the beginning screens.. shown as below:

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Here to show you the G code saving path. Every time it will save on same name and same location. So if you want to save the G code you must copy out and change name.

Here to show the printing location. Now, the G code is loaded successfully. You still need to click each

button:

. Make sure 4 axis are pressed zero. After all, you can click

the button

to start printing.

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A3- Build STL file by Goolge SketchUp

For first time user of 3D printer, this section shows how to convert 3D graphics into stlfile. We use Google SketchUp. This software allows you link to Google Trimble 3D Warehouse. You can download and share 3D models. (You need to make sure your computer connect to internet). Run the SketchUp, open the fileselect 3D WarehouseGet Models. Shown as below:

After click it, the 3D warehouse screens will open. You can search and Download the 3D models on here.

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When you download the model, SketchUp will ask you load this directly into your SketchUp model?, select Yes.

Please be patient.

Now you can see the 3Dmodel.

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Select, use to select the 3D model.

Tape Measure Tool, use to measure the 3D model. You

must sure the model measurement can not be large then 3D printer working area! If model too larger or too small, you can open Toolsselect Scale. It can change model size.

Now you can save you 3D model to STL file. Some version (lite or beat version) of the SketchUp can not save the model to STL. So you need to download a plug-in. link to this website:
http://www.guitar-list.com/download-software/convert-sketchup-skp-files-dxf-or-stl

Download dxf to stl plug-in. copy to SketchUp install root folders Plugins folder. Blue box is SketchUp
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install root folder. Red circle is the target folder. Green box is the plugin we just download.

Open the SketchUp again, choose Tools you will see a new select Export to DXF or STL. The red box shown.

Open Export to DXF or STL to select export unit. Here you must select millimeter. If you select other unit, it may cause some mistake.

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Then select export options STL.

Choose path you want to save. Now you can get the 3D model STL file.

A4- Skeinforge Settings

You can link to skeinforge official website. There have detailed instruction. Website: http://wiki.bitsfrombytes.com/index.php/Skeinforge#Settings When you login official website, click setting red circle shown.

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A5- Important Parameter Settings

On skeinforge setting screens, there are several parameters must set as follow: 1) The Profile Type must choose Extrusion.

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2) The Profile selection must choose 1.7mm-0.3 nozzle. Because 3D printer use the print materials diameter of 1.7 millimeter.

3) Click Craftselect Carve, and find Layer Height and Extrusion Width. These two parameters is set to 0.4 & 0.3 respectively.
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4) Click Craftselect Dimension find Retraction Distance set to 0.

5) Click Craftselect Raft find where to add support. This setting is make racks for the model of
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dangling part. We suggest you choose Everywhere. If you dont make racks, the model of dangling part will deformation on the high temperature.

You also need to set motor tuning on Mach3. Open Configselect Motor Tuning.

Click the button A Axis. Set Step per to 120, Velocity to 235, Acceleration to 23.5, Step Pulse
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to 20 & Dir Pulse to 15. After all the perameters set up, you must click SAVE AXIS SETTINGS(if you dont click this button, Mach 3 wont save the setting). Then click OK to exit.

If you print normal 3D model, we suggest you use 70% speed to print. And if the model is complex or very small, you must slow down the speed.

The red box is to adjust the print speed.

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These two button is use to minus/plus the speed. Every time you click it, the speed will cut/add 10%.

The red box is shown current overall speed. The initial default is 100%.

B) Hardware Installation B1- 3D Printer Kits Hardware & Parts

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The print head parameters as follows Four wire two phase stepper motor Stepper motor voltage: 48V Thermal fuse voltage: 24V Fan voltage: 12V The glue outlet diameter: 0.3mm This is the stepper motor.

Above the red circle is the glue outlet, if there is congestion you can change it.

Fan cooling

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Above is 3D printer heating part, two red wires is Thermal fuse. Yellow box shown is the place to put thermal fuse. Green box shown is the place to put temperature detector. You can change it anytime. When it warming the temperature can reach to 300 , be careful and dont touch it. After use it please keep cool.

This part is use to send ABS. The screw on the right side can adjust send power. Dont make screw too tightening, too tightening will cause congestion. Also the screw cant be too loose, it will cause sending without enough power.

This is transmitting gear, it has two screws. It use to ensure that the gear is not loose
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The red box shows filament feeder hole, diameter is 2mm. We suggest using 1.75mm ABS/PLA filaments.

The above picture shows the heatbed, a mirror is mounted on the heat circuit board, it reaches about 90degC during operation, so please do not touch it! The red circles shown four screws that are used to adjust the level of hot plate.

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B2- 3D Printer Heater Controller.

3D heater controller is to control the temperature of 3D printer head & hot plate. On the screen, H1 mean printer head H2 mean hot plate. The button ON/OFF is control current equipment heating or not. Button SELECT is to choose H1 or H2. UP & DOWN is used to adjust the temperature. On the left side of screen shown is the preset temperature, and right side of screen shown is the actual temperature.

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From the left first socket, is used to connect the printer head Thermal fuse. Second socket, is used to connect the temperature detector. Third socket and fourth socket, are used to connect the hot plate. 3D heater controller power supply is 220V/110V. If you are using our company CNC router, you can easily convert into 3D printer. Just need to connect the stepper motor plug to CNC engraving controller A AXIS socket. Red box shown:

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B3- Installing Filament and Mount

Installation of ABS/PLA bracket.

Only need to tightening screw. Red box shown

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Then, put the ABS/PAL on the bracket.

After that, install the 3D printer head. Remove the CNC engraving spindle motor and the motor bracket, by loosening the screws in the red boxes shown. Then put the 3D printer head and tighten it as shown in the yellow boxes:

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C) FAQ
1, How to adjust the level of hot plate? Lower the Z axis so that the 3D printer head nozzle just touching the hot plate mirror. Move the Z axis up a little bit (1mm) and keep Z axis height unchanged. Then move the 3D printer head to another corner, check the distance between mirror & 3D printer head ( should be also 1mm). If not, you should adjust the level screw make sure the distance almost same. Or you can buy our company dual axis digital protractor, DXL360, it can easy to help you adjust the level.

2, How to set the temperature? We tested different color of ABS. We found the printer temperature should be set differently for different colors. The hot plate temperature set to 100 is ok. ABS colour printer head temperature White 240 Orange 275 Blue 250 For PLA, 230 is ok. Note: All these data is for reference as according to test by ourselves. Different brand ABS/PLA may behave differently. We found different temperature will affect the print quality.

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