Index. About 3D Printing. About Print Studio. Working with a 3D Printer. To Import a Model. Working with Files. Working with a Model Layout

Transcription

1 User Manual

2 Index About 3D Printing About Print Studio Working with a 3D Printer To Import a Model Working with Files Working with a Model Layout Working with Model Repairs Working with Model Supports To Duplicate a Model To Preview a Model To Print or Export a Model To Send a Model to a Service Bureau Reference

3 About 3D printing Three-dimensional printing, sometimes called 3DP, is an additive manufacturing process that takes a design file and turns it into a physical object. Starting with the base of a model, the printer applies one layer of material at a time until the model is printed. Dremel utilizes Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) where the printer deposits layers of heated thermoplastic filament which cools to create the hardened model. With your purchase of the Dremel 3D Idea Builder, you re getting more than just a 3D printer with software and filament. You are also getting world-class 1:1 customer support, professional development, curriculum-based lesson plans and peace of mind with UL certification and the industry s best warranty.

4 About Print Studio For all the promises and benefits, 3D printing is not without its challenges: confusing workflows, issues with models that can cause failed print jobs, and so on. It's these challenges that Print Studio helps to address by providing powerful, 3D print-preparation capabilities. 1. Rotate, size, and position the model on the build surface 2. Automatically locate and fix 3D geometry errors 3. Generate and manage model supports 4. Optimize slicing settings 5. Use preset print profiles or custom print profiles for optimal 3D printing 6. Calculate print time and material requirements 7. Send a printer-ready file to a connected 3D printer or save the printable file 8. Monitor and control print jobs on connected 3D printers Importing a completed model into Print Studio and using the available preparation tools can help ensure printing success. This preparation can save time and money by helping you to avoid the frustration of trial-and-error printing. Here's a snapshot of Print Studio with a model that's ready to go.

5 1. Prep bar. Click through the workflow steps to prepare your model for 3D printing. Skipping steps in the workflow causes Print Studio to perform those steps automatically. 2. Printers. Connect to and manage printers or select a printer to send the file to later. 3. Settings. Select a material, preset print profile, create a customized print profile, and adjust advanced printer settings. 4. Vertical toolbar. Access tools for each workflow step. 5. ViewCube. Use the Autodesk ViewCube to manipulate the view of the model consistently. 6. Build volume. Sometimes called the printer volume, the white, visual-guide box indicates the available, printable space for the selected printer. 7. Build surface. Sometimes called the bed, it represents the location to which models adhere to when printing. 8. Scene. The entire workspace within Print Studio, including the build platform and the area around it, the build content, and the selected print profile. Can be saved as a 3PS file. 9. Object Browser. Use the Object Browser to hide and show the printer's build surface in the scene. It lists all models in the scene, making it easier to work with each individually, as well as provides quick access to change the display units for length.

6 Working with a 3D printer Currently, Print Studio supports these 3D printers: 1. Dremel Idea Builder 3D20 2. Dremel Idea Builder 3D40* 3. Autodesk Ember 4. Makerbot Replicator 2 5. New Matter MOD-t 6. Printrbot Play 7. Printrbot Plus 8. Printrbot Simple 9. Type A Machines Series 1** 10. Ultimaker B.V. Ultimaker 2 Add a printer 1. Open the Printers dialog box. 1. After installing and starting Print Studio the first time, if no USB printer is connected to the computer, you're prompted to select a printing option in the Printers dialog box.

7 2. If you have configured a printer already, in the upper-left corner, click the printer type icon. 2. In the Printers dialog box, select the desired printing option. 1. To connect to a USB printer, plug a 3D printer into your computer. 2. To connect to a network printer, click Connect. The Add Printer web page opens. Select a Printer Type and provide a recognizable Nickname for the printer. Enter the printer's IP Address and click Submit.

8 To save a printable file for later printing from a USB drive, select your printer from the select Printer Type drop-down list. Now you can export the prepared model as a printable file to be printed later on the selected, supported printer.

9 Manage printers Once you've added a printer, you can change its Nickname or disconnect it. 1. In the upper-left corner, click the printer type icon. The Printers dialog box opens. 2. Above the list of connected printers, click the Edit icon. The Manage Printers web page opens. 3. For the desired printer, use one of the following methods. 1. To change a printer nickname, click the Edit icon, modify the Nickname, and click Submit 2. To disconnect a printer, click the Remove icon. Tip: You can also use the Manage Printers web page to add a network printer.

10 Select a different connected printer If you have access to several connected printers, you can switch between them. 1. In the upper-left corner, click the printer type icon. The Printers dialog box opens. 2. From the Select a Connected Printer list, on the left side, click the name of the desired printer. Important: Only clicking the printer's name selects it. Clicking the status button on the right does not select the printer. It only opens the Status web page for that printer.

11 3. Click OK. The selected printer is now indicated. Select a different preset print profile Each printer has preset print profiles containing recommended settings that you can use to get printing quickly. Preset print profiles are created listed for various output quality, such as good, better, or best. The thinner the layer thickness, typically the more detailed the print output. These preset print profiles can't be modified. To do that, create a custom print profile. 1. In the upper-left corner, click the Settings icon. The Settings dialog box opens. 2. From the Select Print Profile drop-down list, select the desired preset print profile.

12 3. If desired, you can review the profile's presets by clicking Advanced Settings. 4. Click OK. Create a custom print profile You can modify the settings of an existing preset to create a custom print profile. If you save the scene as a 3PS file, your custom print profile is saved with all the models. You can now share the scene and the settings together. Important: Installing a newer version of Print Studio removes all custom print profiles created in previous versions. 1. In the upper-left corner, click the Settings icon.

13 The Settings dialog box opens. 2. To the right of the Profiles drop-down list, click the Manage Profile icon. 3. Select Duplicate Profile. A copy of the preset print profile is made. Tip: Changing any Advanced Settings for a preset print profile creates a copy of the preset automatically. If desired, select the title of the copied print profile and type a more appropriate name. 4. Click Advanced Settings and change the values for the desired settings.

14 5. Click Save. Tip: Make as many custom print profiles as you want until you find the preferred settings. You can remove unwanted custom profiles by clicking the Manage Profile icon and

15 selecting Delete Profile. The default print profiles can't be changed or deleted. Export and import custom print profiles Once you have found the preferred settings for a specific printer, you can export the print profile to share with others. You can also import print profiles shared with you. 1. In the upper-left corner, click the Settings icon. The Settings dialog box opens. 2. To the right of the Profiles drop-down list, click the Manage Profile icon. 3. Use one of the following methods. 1. To export a print profile, select Export Profile. Then name and save the file. 2. To import a print profile, select Import Profile. Locate, select, and open the print profile. The imported file becomes the current print profile.

16 To import a model When you start Print Studio, the first workflow step is Import. Currently, you can import these mesh file formats: 3MF, OBJ, and STL. These file formats don't store information about the model's original unit of measurement (Millimeter, Centimeter, or Inch). So when imported, Print Studio applies its own Units setting to the model. So, for example, even if a model was designed to be 4 inches, if Print Studio s current Units setting is Millimeter, the model is imported as 4 millimeters. Tip: If you know the model's original unit of measurement, before importing, choose File > Preferences. Then under Units, select the appropriate Length option to match. 1. Import one or more models using one of these methods. You can import more than one model at the same time, as long as they can all fit on the build surface. 1. On the Prep bar, click Import. 2. Drag a model into Print Studio. 3. Choose File > Import. Each imported model is selected and centered on the build surface. The Prep bar advances to the Layout workflow step. Here you can arrange and scale imported models. 2. Depending on the model's size, you may be prompted to make it larger or smaller. If the model is too large for the build volume, click Scale to Fit. If the model is too small, consider changing the unit of measurement. Important: If the imported model is translucent, that means a portion of the model is outside the build volume (the printable space for the selected printer). Move the model back into the build volume to fix the issue. If the imported model is shaded red, that means the model has some errors. Not to worry though. These errors can usually be fixed in the Repair workflow step. 3. If desired, repeat these steps to import more models. Tip: If an imported model consists of more than one part, right-click the model and choose Separate All to work with the individual parts. If you accidentally import the wrong model, delete it and try again. You can delete items a couple ways. Select the desired item in the Object Browser, press Delete. You can also

17 right-click an item and choose Delete. Working with files Print Studio provides many ways to work with model files. Saving a scene As you prepare your models for printing, you may want to share it with someone or save work-in-progress for later. Print Studio can save everything in the scene to a 3PS file, including repairs, supports, and all items outside the build volume. Including models and changes, the 3PS file stores the print profile used when the scene was saved. When you're ready to continue preparing the models in that scene, open the saved 3PS file. A 3PS file cannot be built. It is only for saving pre-sliced work in Print Studio. Important: If a print profile saved in a 3PS file has changed since last opening that file, a copy of the original print profile is imported. If you open a 3PS file from someone else, that print profile is also imported. 1. Choose File > Save As Enter a File Name. 3. Click Save. Exporting one or more models as a single mesh file After you've imported multiple models and have begun preparing them for printing, you may want to create a mesh file copy of one or all models. You may also want to export a mesh file as a different file format or to create a version to modify or test later. You can export a mesh file from Print Studio as an STL (ASCII or binary), OBJ, or 3MF file. Due to file format limitations, STL files can't store repairs or supports you've made to models in a scene. To retain these modifications, we recommend either saving the entire scene as a 3PS file or exporting using the 3MF or OBJ file formats. Important: Print Studio uses the term exporting two different ways. Exporting using either File > Export All or File > Export Selected saves the models as separate mesh files that can be opened in most CAD applications. Exporting at the Preview and Export workflow steps is different. These workflow steps save all items in the build volume as one printable file so it can be printed later. These exported printable files typically can't be opened in CAD applications, only the supported printer.

18 1. Depending on how many models you want to include in the exported mesh file, use one of the following methods. 1. To export all models in the scene, choose File > Export All...If a model is outside the build volume when selecting Export All..., the outside model is placed in the build volume in the resulting mesh file. 2. To export one or more models, select the desired model or models and choose File > Export Selected Enter a File Name. 3. If necessary, from the Save As Type drop-down list, select the desired file format. 4. Click Save. Working with model layout After importing one or more models into Print Studio, the Layout workflow step provides you with tools to position each model precisely. Adjust the view Once you've imported the model, you may want to change the view or its location in the printable area. You can quickly pan, zoom, and orbit the view as needed. Tip: If you have a Sprout by HP touchscreen, try using some touch gestures. Drag two fingers to pan. Pinch two fingers to zoom in. Spread two fingers to zoom out. Drag one finger to orbit. 1. To pan the view, press and hold the mouse wheel while dragging the mouse in the desired direction. 2. To zoom in, roll the mouse wheel forward. Tip: Choose File > Preferences. On the View tab, you can choose to reverse the zoom direction when you scroll the mouse wheel. 3. To zoom out, roll the mouse wheel backward.

19 4. To orbit the view, right-click while dragging the mouse in the desired direction. Tip: You can also use the ViewCube in the upper-right corner of the viewing area to orbit. Adjust the position of a model Besides the ViewCube, you can also accurately position a model. 1. Select the model you want to position. 2. On the vertical toolbar, click the Move icon. Move tools are shown around the model. Tip: You can also use Center, Move to Build Surface, and Auto Layout tools to position the model. These tools are helpful when you have imported more than one model. 3. Use these move tools to rotate, raise, and lower the selected model to the desired position.

20 Scale the size of a model The Scale tool enables you to accurately size a model. 1. Select the model you want to scale. 2. On the vertical toolbar, click the Scale icon. The available scale tools are shown around the model. 3. Use these scale handles or enter X, Y, or Z values to change the model to the desired size.

21 Measure the length between two points In the Layout workflow step, you can take a temporary length measurement between two points. When you click away from the first measurement, you can take another. Before measuring a length, you may want to change the Units Preferences setting (File > Preferences or use the drop-down list in the Object Browser). 1. If necessary, position the view of the items being measured. 2. On the vertical toolbar, click the Measure icon. The mouse pointer changes to indicate that the Measure tool is active. 3. Click the first point on a model to anchor the measurement. 4. Click the second point to display the measurement. 5. If necessary, click either point and reposition it. Lay a model flat on the build surface 1. Select the model you want to position. 2. On the vertical toolbar, click the Lay Flat icon.

22 Faces are selected around the model. 3. Click the selected face you want to lay on build surface. Working with model repairs When you click the Repair workflow step, and no model repairs are needed, you can continue directly on to the Supports workflow step. If a model does need repair, Print Studio detects the model issues, such as holes and other geometry defects. You can either repair the model automatically or manually. Figure 4. On the Prep bar, the Repair icon indicates that issues exist Automatically repair a model To automatically repair a model quickly without reviewing the issues first, on the Prep bar, click Supports to advance to the next workflow step. Skipping steps in the workflow causes Print Studio to perform those steps automatically.

23 1. If necessary, on the Prep bar, click Repair. 2. Select a red-shaded model in need of repair. On the vertical toolbar, the Analyze and Repair tool indicates the number and type of issues. 3. Optional: Click Inspect Geometry to show the issue directly on the selected model.

24 4. On the Analyze and Repair button menu, click Auto Repair. Once repaired, the red-shading is removed to indicate a healed model. Manually refine model geometry Sometimes, Print Studio may not be able to repair issues automatically, preventing you from advancing to the next workflow step. Make the repairs manually to continue. The available tools

25 also give you more control to manipulate the existing geometry. The additional repair tools are useful to work with scanned models, such as reality captured data, that have unwanted geometry that needs to be trimmed away. 1. If necessary, on the Prep bar, click Repair, and select a red-shaded model. On the vertical toolbar, the Analyze and Repair tool indicates the type of issue. 2. Optional: Click Inspect Geometry to show issues directly on the selected model. 3. Use the manual repair tools to make more advanced repairs or to refine model geometry. 1. Select Regions enables you to select specific geometry. Use Pick to select individual faces. Use Box and Lasso to select regions that include all faces you want. Once selected you can delete, invert, or separate the selection. For Box and Lasso, you can also select back faces at the same time. Back faces are the faces in the model directly behind the faces you can see when you make the selection. Once you have made a selection, click the Actions icon to show the Actions wheel. Tip: You can also use Shift+click to add to a selection or Ctrl+click (Windows)/Cmd+click

26 (Mac) to remove a portion from the selection. The Actions wheel enables you to Delete, Invert, Flip, and Separate the selection. 2. Crop enables you to select a specific region, deleting all surrounding geometry. Adjust and rotate the cropping area as needed. 3. Patch Holes enables you to select to edge faces across a span and create a Bridge and then use Fill to patch the hole. 4. Plane Cut enables you to cut along the X, Y, or Z axis creating a flat surface. It can also be used to show a cut-away view of an object. Position the plane circle and click the Accept icon. 5. Balance is a plane cut that tells you whether your model can balance on a flat surface once printed. Suggest Base indicates possible faces that could act as a base, changing the plane based on the selected face. The green circle shown on the model indicates the current center of mass. As you move the plane, the center of mass changes. If the plane has cut the model into two pieces, the center of mass can't be calculated. Position the plane circle and click the Accept icon.

27 Working with model supports If a model has overhangs or cantilevered sections, adding temporary structural supports before printing can improve the chances that your model prints successfully. Once printed, these supports can be removed. Automatically add supports to a model Depending on how a model is shaped, it may need supports. Print Studio enables you to add them quickly. Tip: In each printer profile, there are Advanced Settings available to manipulate preferences for your supports. 1. If necessary, on the Prep bar, click Supports. 2. If necessary, select each model to be supported. 3. On the vertical toolbar, click the Auto Supports icon. 4. Optional: On the Auto Supports button menu, click Optimize Rotation. The model is positioned on the build surface to minimize the need for supports.

28 5. On the Auto Supports button menu, click Add Supports. Supports are added to the model. Manually add and delete supports Sometimes, you may want more control over supports, such as inserting extra supports or trimming or deleting existing supports. Print Studio enables you to adjustment supports quickly. 1. If necessary, on the Prep bar, click Supports. 2. Optional: Position the model to view the area where you want to add or delete supports. 3. On the vertical toolbar, click the Manual Supports icon.

29 4. Add supports. Areas on a model that need support show a hatched pattern. That pattern is based on the degree of the overhang as indicated in the printer profile's Advanced Settings. 1. To add a support to a model, click a location on the model and then click the build surface. The new support is placed. 2. To add a support to an existing support, click a location on the support and then click the build surface. The new support is placed. 5. Delete supports. 1. To trim a branch from an existing support, click the branch to be trimmed and then click the Delete icon. 2. To delete a support, click the base of the support and then click the Delete icon.

30 To duplicate a model In Print Studio, you can duplicate models on the build surface enabling you to print multiple models at the same time. Also, after you've spent time repairing or supporting a model, you may want to duplicate it. 1. Select a model. 2. Right-click and choose Duplicate. A copy of the selected model is made and automatically positioned on the build surface. In some cases, if there's not enough room on the build surface, duplicates may overlap the original. You can use the Object Browser to select the duplicate and them move it. 3. Optional: Repeat until you have enough copies or until the build surface is full. Tip: Once you have several models on the build surface, you can focus on just one. Select it, right-click, and choose Isolate.

31 To preview a model The Preview workflow step in Print Studio slices the model into layers. Use this opportunity to review how your preparations affect the machine instructions before sending them to a printer. These machine instructions determine how and where the printing mechanism moves to produce each layer of material as it prints the model. Reviewing these layers can help you anticipate possible printing issues and give you the chance to correct them before printing. FFF printers, the various preview line colors have different meanings. See the "FFF printer previewing color key" at the end of this document. 1. If necessary, on the Prep bar, click Preview. On the vertical toolbar, the Preview Slices button menu shows information, such as estimating how long it takes to print. 2. To preview the slices, in the Slice Preview box, enter the number of a specific slice. You can also use the slider to go back and forth between the slices.

32 Tip: Use the ViewCube to change the viewing angle quickly. 3. Optional: On the Preview Slices button menu, click Export Printer File to save a printable file that can be sent later to the selected printer. To print or export a model The last step in the Print Studio workflow depends on whether you have a printer connected. With a printer connected, the Prep bar labels the last workflow step as Print. With no printer connected, the Prep bar labels the last workflow step as Export. If you connect a printer, the Prep bar replaces Export with Print. Don't worry though. You can still export your model for printing from the Preview workflow step.

33 Print or export a model quickly After importing a model, click the last workflow step on the Prep bar to automatically complete the previous workflow steps. The models are arranged, repaired, supported, and sliced so that the print or export can be successful. Tip: Before jumping right to printing or exporting, consider clicking the Preview workflow step first. Preview provides you with all the benefits of the automatic preparations, and the opportunity to review all the adjustments before you print or export the model. 1. If necessary, import one or more models to the build surface. 2. Optional: If printing the model, make sure that your printer is connected and ready to begin. 3. On the Prep bar, click the last workflow step, either Print if the printer is connected to begin printing or Export to create a printable file. Print a model 1. If necessary, on the Prep bar, click Print. The items on the print surface are sent directly to the printer. 2. Optional: Check the status of the print job. 1. In the upper-left corner, click the printer type icon. The Printers dialog box opens. 2. From the Select a Connected Printer list, to the right of the active printer, click its status button. The Status web page for that printer opens.

34 Export a model to print later Important: Print Studio uses the term exporting two different ways. Exporting at the Preview and Export workflow steps save all items in the build volume as one printable file so it can be printed later. These exported printable files typically can't be opened in CAD applications, only the supported printer. Exporting using File > Export All or File > Export Selected is different. These methods save the models as separate mesh files that can be opened in most CAD applications. 1. If necessary, on the Prep bar, click Export. 2. Click Save. 3. If necessary, navigate to where you want to store the printer file. 4. Name the printer file. 5. Click Save. Preferences Print Studio enables you to control some basic application settings from the File > Preferences menu. File Import Preferences 1. Import Up Axis (Z enabled by default) 2. Layout (Auto Layout on Import and Auto Layout on Duplicate enabled by default)

35 Print Print Manager Preferences 1. 3D Print Server URL. Typically, this URL indicates the location of the Print Manager on your local computer. However, if someone has allowed other computers to access Print Manager on a person's computer to share connected USB printers, enter the URL for that computer. Units Unit Preferences 1. Length (millimeters by default) 2. Time (seconds by default) 3. Mass (grams by default) 4. Temperature (Celsius by default) 5. Angle (degrees by default) 6. Velocity (millimeters/second by default) 7. Volume (cubic centimeters by default) 8. Area (square centimeters by default) 9. Angular Velocity (revolutions/minute by default) 10. Linear Jerk (centimeters/second 3 (x10 3 ) by default) 11. Angular Jerk (degrees/second 3 (x10 3 ) by default) View View Preferences 1. Reverse Zoom Direction (disabled by default) Language Select a different language and restart Print Studio to apply the change.

36 System requirements Here are the things you need to use Print Studio. Supported operating systems 1. Apple Mac OS X v10.10 (Yosemite) or later 2. Microsoft Windows 7 SP1, 64-bit (32-bit not supported) 3. Microsoft Windows 8.1, 64-bit (32-bit not supported) 4. Microsoft Windows 10, 64-bit (32-bit not supported)* *After installing Print Studio on a computer running Windows 10, a reboot is needed so Print Studio can detect some USB printers. Minimum system specifications 1. CPU: 64-bit processor (32-bit not supported) 2. Memory: 3 GB RAM (4 GB or more recommended) 3. 2 GB free disk space for installation 4. Pointing device: Three-button mouse 5. Screen resolution: 1024x768 or higher 6. Display card: 1. 1,024 MB GDDR RAM or more 2. Microsoft Direct3D 11 capable graphics card or higher Minimum supported browsers* 1. Apple Safari version 8 or later (Mac) 2. Google Chrome version 45 or later 3. Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 or later 4. Mozilla Firefox version 41 or later *Sending a model to a service bureau requires a Web-GL enabled browser.

37 Keyboard shortcuts Use these keyboard shortcuts to work with Print Studio more efficiently. Menu command keyboard shortcuts Menu Windows Mac Print Studio > Preferences -- Cmd+, Print Studio > Quit Print Studio -- Cmd+Q File > New Ctrl+N Cmd+N File > Open Ctrl+O Cmd+O File > Save Ctrl+S Cmd+S File > Exit Ctrl+X -- Edit > Undo Ctrl+Z Cmd+Z Edit > Redo Ctrl+Y Shift+Cmd+Z Edit > Duplicate Ctrl+D Cmd+D Edit > Select All Ctrl+A Cmd+A View > Fit All A A View > Fit Selection F F View > Home H H Help > Help F1 F1 Other keyboard shortcuts When repairing a model, use Shift+click to add more faces to the selection and Ctrl+click (Windows) or Cmd+click (Mac) to remove faces from the selection. FFF printer previewing color key When you preview a model, Print Studio slices the model into layers. For an FFF printer, Print Studio calculates and shows different colored lines, or toolpaths, to indicate the place that the printer's extruder needs to travel to produce each layer a certain way.

38 To help you better understand the different types of toolpaths, here's a color key. Table 1. Color key when previewing models to be printed on FFF printers Color Description Yellow Rapid dry: A toolpath where the extruder moves but the filament is retracted up into the nozzle before the move begins. A "dry move" is used when the nozzle moves over a "finished" piece of the model, such as an outside perimeter or a top surface. Orange Rapid leaky: A toolpath where the extruder moves but the filament is not retracted up into the nozzle before the move begins. A "leaky move" is used when the nozzle moves over a part that won't matter, such as the in-fill that will never be seen. Red Bridge: A toolpath created by the bridging feature - there's an option to turn this on or off. Cyan Outer perimeter for Prime, Raft, and Skirt/Brim: The very first toolpath that gets the material flow started. Cyan medium Middle perimeter for Prime, Raft, and Skirt/brim Cyan dark Inner perimeter for Prime, Raft, and Skirt/Brim Blue Outer perimeter for Supports Blue medium Middle perimeter for Supports Blue dark Inner perimeter for Supports Green Default outer perimeter

39 Color Green medium Green dark Green darkest Description Default middle perimeter Default inner perimeter Infill (Solid and Sparse) Learning resources For more information, be sure to explore these additional learning resources. Dremel Idea Builder 1. Dremel Idea Builder 3D printer: 2. Dremel support: