Section 1- Sketchup (or other 3D modeler): How do render a file that can be printed

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1 Using the 3D Printer (Makerbot) - BETA Contents: Section 1 Sketchup: How do draw a file that can be 3-D printed Section 2 Sketchup: Exporting STL Section 3 MakerWare: Preparing your file Section 4 Printing! Section 1- Sketchup (or other 3D modeler): How do render a file that can be printed 25mm x 25mm x 25 mm 65mm x 25mm x 10mm 42mm x 43mm x 90mm Cup Make time: 1 hour 40 min NUT AND BOLT SET File Name: Nut and Bolt Make Time: 30 minutes Design By: aubenc Thingiverse: 9095 MR JAWS File Name: Mr Jaws Make Time: 18 minutes Design By: Mahoney Thingiverse: Your file must: be 150mm or less in all dimensions. (Large file can take many hours to print) be created or converted to Millimeters. be a watertight solid have only exterior faces not have large unsupported areas (without support material) Good and Bad Examples: Watertight Solid Good: Water Tight No interior faces showing Bad: Interior Faces Showing, walls have no thickness Good: Water tight No interior faces and 2mm walls

2 Good and Bad Examples: Only Exterior Walls Bad: Blue exterior face showing Good: Only exterior faces showing How to: Right Click on blue face and choose = reverse faces Good and Bad Examples: Unsupported Areas Good: Overhang is angled allowing easy build. Bad: Overhang is unsupported. Plastic will droop during build. Possible but requires support structure. Section 2 Sketchup: Exporting STL Important: You need a Sketchup plugin to export STL files and a plug in to test the water tightness of your object. If not installed: STL extension here: Solid Inspector here: To use solid inspector install this: Don t know how to install skechup plugins? How to install a sketchup plugin:

3 Step 1: Run the Solid Inspector. If you have groups, click on the groups. Look for any red circles. If you have areas circled in red, your item is not watertight and will not print correctly. The file on the right has a problem! Step 2: Once all problems are fixed, choose File>EXPORT STL Step 3: If you are asked to export entire model, click YES. Export unit must be millimeters and ASCII format.

4 Section 3 MakerWare: Preparing your file Important: You need the makerware software to print your file. The software is free and works on Mac or Windows. If you need it: Step 1: Open your file in MakerWare Step 2: If everything looks good: Click the MAKE icon: Step 3: Export Settings What should you pay attention to?: You are exporting to a file The machine is the Replicator 2 The material is Makerbot PLA Standard or Low resolution to save time Do you need a raft? If your item has only a small amount of surface area on the bed OR a whole lot of surface area on the bed = YES. Do you need supports? If you item had abrupt overhangs = YES. PREVIEW BEFORE PRINTING = YES Finally = EXPORT!

5 Step 4: Are you happy with the preview? What should you pay attention to?: A. How much material are you using? Is there enough left on the roll on the back of the machine (new roll in 1 KG). B. How much time will the print take? C. Use the slider on the left to see look for any unusual print layers or object connections. D. Export! Section 4 Printing! Step 1: Remover the SD card from the printer by pressing down on it. It will pop up. Step 2: Put your x3g file on the SD card (not the stl). You may need an SD card reader

6 Step 3: Put the SD card back in the machine. Step 4: Make sure there s no debris in the build area and that the PLA printing filament is loaded. (picture below shows side of machine). Step 5: Turn the machine on: Switch is on the lower left back of the machine. (near filament spool.

7 Step 6: Use the navigation buttons and LCD to find Build from SD. Then navigate to your file. Step 7: The printing will begin! IF SOMETHING LOOKS WRONG: Press the left arrow and pause job. Find an instructor if you don t know what s wrong. Step 8: Removing the print from the bed. A. If the print will break off, Great! B. If not, CAREFULLY, wedge the provided metal spatula under your object.