Embedded Files
⚠️Training Zone Ahead⚠️
⚠️Training Zone Ahead⚠️
To safely use the following equipment, you must receive training by lab64 Staff prior to individual use. To get trained, please attend one of our Office Hours sessions↗. Estimated Length of Training: 15 minutes.
Introduction
Introduction
Printing With Prusas
The Prusa i3 MK3S+ were the FDM 3D printer of choice for Lab64. We've since upgraded all of them* to Prusa i3 MK3.9, which is up to 2x faster for normal prints!!
We currently have 8 printers, all located on our printer wall at the front of our main lab.
*The magnetic filament printer is a Prusa 3.5.
Operating The Prusas
Each Prusa has two buttons:
The black knob ("The Knob"), which acts as a navigation wheel and "Select" button. During a print, clicking this button is how you are able to Pause, Cancel, or Tune your print.
The black button beneath the knob which acts as a hard reset.
Prusa tools are located opposite the printer wall in the center-top white drawer. These include:
Pliers
Snips
Plastic Scraper
SD Cards & Adapters
Prusa Repair Tools & Instruction Booklets
Installing The PrusaSlicer
1.
1.
Go to the Prusa Website and download the latest specification for your device.
It must be at least version 2.7.3 to operate with the new Prusa 3.9's
2.
2.
Run the installation wizard, then click Next.
3.
3.
Choose whether to install for all users or just yourself, then click Next.
4.
4.
Choose the destination for the file to save at, then click Next.
5.
5.
Click Next again.
6.
6.
Select where to create shortcuts, then click Install.
7.
7.
After your installation completes, click Finish, then open your newly installed PrusaSlicer.
Configuring Your PrusaSlicer
1.
1.
If the PrusaSlicer does not automatically bring you to the configuration page on startup, go to Configuration > Configuration Wizard.
2.
2.
At the Welcome page, click Next.
3.
3.
In Prusa Research, under MK3.9 Family find the Original Prusa i3 MK3.9 Input Shaper section, and select 0.4 mm Nozzle.
Next scroll down to the MK3.5 Famliy, find the Original Prusa MK3.5 & MK3.5S section, and select 0.4 mm Nozzle.
Next scroll down to the XL Multi-Tool Family, find the Original Prusa XL - 5T Input Shaper section, and select 0.4 mm Nozzle.
If these profiles are not showing up, you need to update your Prusa Slicer to at least 2.7.3.
Note: Other filament types are added via the same process!!
4.
4.
Check the box at MK3 Family: Original Prusa i3 MK3.9.0 > PLA > Generic > Generic PLA. The rest of the settings are at your discretion. Once you are complete, click Finish and begin working on your first print. Not showing generic selection
Printing on the MK3.9 and MK3.5 With The PrusaSlicer
*Note, you may import several files at once and print all of them together!
2.
2.
Import your file. We recommend .STL, but you may also use:
.OBJ
.3MF
.AMF
.ZIP.AMF
.XML
.STEP
.STP
All the paramters we need going forward are on the right-hand panel.
3.
3.
Printer Settings -- Standard is 0.15mm QUALITY.
Lower number = less space between layers = more detailed print & longer time.
Use a higher number if you'd just like to get a rough mock-up going! This saves us filament in the long run.
4.
4.
Filament -- Before selecting, confirm the filament you will use is loaded into the desired printer. To select a new filament type, select Add/Remove Filaments then follow the directions at Step 4 of PrusaSlicer Configuration.
5.
5.
Supports -- "Everywhere" is highly recommended in order to avoid floating objects.
Infill -- Standard = 15%. Determines the density of the print. Usually irrelevant.
Brim -- Highly recommended on all prints! Ensures the first layer of prints well.
6.
6.
If the size and position are good, double check your filament type, then click Slice Now in the bottom right corner.
Note: If you are only doing a test print and are using the sample .STL files, please shrink the print to until it is under an hour!
7.
7.
Here, you can confirm the print time and amount of filament to be used. If you are alright with these values, take the SD Card from your selected printer and Export G-Code.
The adapters for USBs are in our Adapters Drawer across from the printers.
Do not use personal USBs on our printers! Use Lab64 designated ones only!!
8.
8.
Name your .gcode file "SUNetID_filedescription_Filamenttype.gcode" For example:-
johnsmith_cube_PLA.gcode
Then, save your file and eject the SD Card
Note: Do not delete, remove, or relocate any files on the SD Card that are not yours!!
Printing on the XL With The PrusaSlicer
1.
1.
Upload your multi-color/multi-object file. Select Original Prusa XL from the printer selection drop down menu.
Click the colored squares under the Filaments section, and change the colors so that the filament colors in your slicer match the filament colors loaded on the printer.
On the side of the printer the filament routing tubes are labeled. In this instance the first filament color is white, the second is green, and the third is red.
2.
2.
Then for each body, assign an extruder which corresponds to the color you want to be printed for said body.
In this instance I assigned the frame of Benchy to be the second extruder, i.e. green, and the decking and roof of Benchy to be the third extruder, i.e. red.
The tower or wall you see behind benchy is the wipe tower. This is a default for the XL printer and is there to clean the nozzle tip before laying down a new layer of a different color.
Slice and export your g-code using the same steps described above.
Choosing Your Filament
Looking at the clips on the far right side, we see that Articuno currently has PLA filament and is Operational, so it is okay to use!
⚠️ Before You Begin, make sure that the printer you are working with is Operational. Using a damaged printer may cause further damage. Prioritize using a printer that already has your desired filament type.
1.
1.
Press the knob to get from the Info Screen to the Main Menu.
2.
2.
Scroll to the Filament widget and then scroll downward until you reach Unload Filament, the press the knob.
3.
3.
At the next screen, you must select the type of filament that is currently in the printer. To find this, check the side of the spool. Common filament types include:-
PLA
PETG
ABS
NinjaFlex (FLEX)
PVB
In this case, it is PETG, which is designated PET on this screen.
4.
4.
At this point, the nozzle will begin to preheat. The Prusa will beep loudly once it is at the target heat.
5.
5.
Once it's beeped, press the knob and immediately pull the filament out.
6.
6.
To prepare your new filament, chop the end of it off at roughly a 45 degree angle using a pair of snips.
7.
7.
Navigate to the Load Filament option on the Main Menu. Once selected it will immediately disappear, this is normal.
8.
8.
Immediately insert your filament into the top hole in the Prusa head. You should feel the motors pull your filament in. Please feed filament through filament guide on the holder!
9.
9.
Check under the nozzle as filament begins to extrude. Follow the prompts until the filament begins to extrude the proper color. Then, clean up the excess filament and you may begin your print.
Starting Your Print
1.
1.
Ensure that the build-plate is clean and clear of debris.
2.
2.
Re-insert the SD Card with the metal pieces pointing toward you.
3.
3.
Use the black scroll wheel to navigate to your print. Once there, press the scroll wheel in -- it also acts as a select button.
This is a bit more than one layer but you get the idea.
4.
4.
Watch for the first layer of your print to finish before leaving your print to finish on its own.
5.
5.
On print completion, the build plates are magnetic and can be lifted and flexed to help remove the print.
Be sure to clean them afterward with some isopropyl alcohol and a cotton towel.
Printer Etiquette
Printer Etiquette
If someone else's print has fully finished, you may carefully remove magnetic plate from the bed for them and start your own print. Reciprocally, be aware that if you don't return to the printer as soon as your print has finished, others may remove your part from the print bed for you and may accidentally damage your part in the process.
If you notice that a print is failing on a printer, please stop the printer.
If a printer is not working, poke around to figure out what the problem is and how you might fix it. The 3D printers are meant to be used and taken cared of by the community. If you're still stuck, email the lab64 CA's at lab64ca@ee.stanford.edu or the Lab64 Slack and we'll be happy to help.
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