USING YOUR BIGBOT www.bigbot-3d.com 1/18/2017 V0.1
FOREWORD: YOUR PRINTER IS REPRAP, WHICH STANDS FOR "REPLICATING RAPID PROTOTYPERS". THIS MEANS IT CAN PRINT THE PARTS THAT ARE CUSTOM FOR THIS MACHINE, AND OTHERWISE USES STANDARD COMPONENTS. THIS ENSURES YOUR MACHINE CAN REMAIN OPERATIONAL FOR YEARS TO COME. MANY REPRAP PRINTERS HAVE NOT KEPT TO THIS DEFINITION, BUT THIS PRINTER DOES. IF IN THE FUTURE YOU NEED PART REPLACEMENT, YOU ARE NOT LIMITED TO ONE COMPANIES PARTS DESIGN OR SUPPLY, AND CANNOT BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY A BRANDS MARKETING AND SALES TACTICS. PRODUCT SUPPORT: SUPPORT IS PROVIDED WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THIS MACHINE'S PROPER OPERATION. ONCE YOUR MACHINE IS UP AND RUNNING, WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE REPRAP COMMUNITY AT www.reprap.org, WHICH PROVIDES THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT AVALIABLE. MORE REPRAP PRINTERS ARE IN OPERATION THAN ANY OTHER PRINTER "BRAND", SO IF YOU NEED INFORMATION, ONE CAN BET IT WILL BE DOCUMENTED IN THEIR FORUM'S. IF YOU FIND A BETTER WAY TO DO SOMETHING, PLEASE HELP OUR OPEN-SOURCE COMMUNITY BY TELLING OTHERS! USING THIS PRINTER CAN BE DANGEROUS, AND SHOULD BE USED RESPONSIBLY. DO NOT TOUCH THE HOT END OR HEATED BED WHEN AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES. KEEP ALL FLAMABLE MATERIALS AWAY FROM PRINTER HEAT SOURCES AND WIRING. BE CAREFUL TO KEEP HANDS AND EXTREMETIES FREE OF MOVING BUILD PLATFORM. KEEP HANDS FREE FROM POWER SUPPLY AC TERMINALS WHEN PLUGGED IN. BY USING THIS PRINTER, IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT PROGRESSIVE DESIGN TECHNOLOGIES ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES OR INJURY.
1.0 BED LEVELING LEVEL THE LEFT AND RIGHT Z AXIS HEIGHT NUTS 1 BEGIN BED LEVELING WITH PRINTER IN IT'S FINAL WORKING LOCATION, ON A FLAT SURFACE. IF THE SURFACE BELOW THE PRINTER IS NOT REASONABLY FLAT, THE BED LEVELING PROCESS WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT, OR REQUIRE SHIMS UNDER AREAS WHERE SURFACE IS LOWEST. 2 ENSURE EXTRUDER NOZZLE IS ABOVE THE BED, AND NAVIGATE LCD TO HOME X AND Y. IF BED NOZZLE IS TOO LOW, RAISE IT VIA THE LCD MENU. RESET THE CONTROLLER WITH THE BUTTON ON THE FRONT OF THE LCD. 3 IF NEEDED, RAISE THE HEIGHT OF E1 (RIGHT MOST EXTRUDER) ABOVE THE EXTRUDER 0 NOZZLE (LEFT EXTRUDER), BY LOOSENING THE SCREWS SECURING THE EXTRUDER TO THE CARRIAGE. 4 LOOSEN THE BED LOCKING THUMB SCREWS ALL THUMB SCREWS SHOWN BELOW [1], [2], AND [3]. ONCE LOOSE, PUSH BED CORNERS DOWN TO ENSURE BED IS IN THE LOWEST POSITION. TIGHTEN THE BED LOCKING THUMB SCREWS [1] ONCE LOWERED. UNDER BUILD PLATFORM, 4 PLACES ON CORNERS [1] BED LOCKING THUMB SCREW [3] LOCKS HEIGHT ADJUSTING THUMB SCREW [2] HEIGHT ADJUSTING THUMB SCREW
1.1 NAVIGATE THE LCD TO SET THE HEIGHT OF THE Z AXIS ROUGHLY 1mm (THICKNESS OF ABOUT 5 BUISNESS CARDS) ABOVE THE BED. USE THE BUISNESS CARDS UNDER THE NOZZLE TO SET THIS HEIGHT AT THE MIDDLE-RIGHT SIDE OF THE BUILD PLATFORM. MOVE CARRIAGE AND BUILD PLATFORM SO THE LEFT EXTRUDER NOZZLE IS OVER THIS AREA (AND NOT OVER A SCREW)
1.2 LEVEL Z HEIGHT NUTS 1 MOVE X AXIS TO THE LEFT OF THE BUILD PLATFORM. DO NOT MOVE THE BUILD PLATFORM Y AXIS. 2 PLACE THE BUISNESS CARDS OR OTHER 1mm PIECE UNDER THE NOZZLE, AND ADJUST THE LEFT Z BEARING NUT SO THE NOZZLE RESTS AT THE SAME HEIGHT. 3 MOVE THE CARRIAGE BACK TO THE RIGHT OF THE BUILD PLATFORM AND REPEAT STEPS 3.1.6 AND 3.1.7 ONE TIME. SEE DETAIL A LIFT IDLER ASSEMBLY UP WHILE HOLDING THREADED ROD DOWN TO EXPOSE THE LEFT Z BEARING NUT. TURN NUT TO ADJUST HEIGHT IN 3.1.7 MOVE CARRAIGE SO LEFT EXTRUDER NOZZLE IS OVER THIS AREA IN 3.1.6 DETAIL A
1.3 ADJUST BED HEIGHT AT CORNERS (FINE ADJUSTMENT) 1 MOVE PRINTER TO REAR RIGHT QUADRANT OF PLATFORM, AND USING A BUISNESS CARD OR PIECE OF PAPER UNDER THE EXTRUDER 0 (LEFT) NOZZLE, BEGIN ADJUSTING THE BED HEIGHT, HIGHER, UNTIL THE NOZZLE TOUCHES THE PIECE OF PAPER. LOCK THE BED INTO THIS POSITION WITH THE HEIGHT LOCKING THUMB NUT [1] FROM 3.1.4. IF THE HEIGHT CHANGES DURING LOCKING, PLEASE ADJUST THE HEIGHT SCREW AND RE-LOCK. 2 MOVE PRINTER TO FRONT LEFT QUADRANT AND ADJUST HEIGHT THUMB SCREW AND LOCK NUT. 3 MOVE PRINTER TO REAR LEFT QUADRANT AND ADJUST HEIGHT THUMB SCREW AND LOCK NUT. 4 MOVE PRINTER TO FONT RIGHT QUADRANT AND ADJUST HEIGHT THUMB SCREW AND LOCK NUT. 5 MOVE BACK TO REAR RIGHT QUADRANT AND REPEAT STEPS IN 3.2 IF HEIGHT DIFFERENCE IS MORE THAN 2 BUISNESS CARDS THICK, OR 0.4mm. NOTE: ADEQUATE LEVELING TYPICALLY TAKES 2 BED LEVELING ROUTIES. IT WILL NEVER BE PERFECT, BUT THE CLOSER, THE BETTER. 6 LOCK BOTH LOCKING THUMB NUTS FROM 3.1.4, PART [1] AND [3]. REAR LEFT QUADRANT NOZZLE CALIBRATION LOCATION REAR RIGHT QUADRANT NOZZLE CALIBRATION LOCATION FRONT LEFT QUADRANT NOZZLE CALIBRATION LOCATION FRONT RIGHT QUADRANT NOZZLE CALIBRATION LOCATION
1.4 ADJUST RIGHT EXTRUDER HEIGHT (DUAL EXTRUSION) 1 MOVE CARRIAGE OVER BED, NOT ABOVE A SCREW. 2 USING A BUISNESS CARD UNDER EACH EXTRUDER TIP, LOOSEN THE EXTRUDER MOUNT SCREWS FOR THE RIGHT EXTRUDER, THEN LOWER THE NOZZLE TIP TO THE BUISNESS CARD. 3 TIGHTEN RIGHT EXTRUDER MOUNT SCREWS WHEN THE NOZZLE IS ADJUSTED TO THE SAME HEIGHT. 4 THE NOMINAL DISTANCE BETWEEN EXTRUDER TIPS IS 35mm, HOWEVER YOU MAY NEED TO FINE TUNE THIS VALUE FOR PERFECT ALIGNMENT. THIS OFFSET ENTERED INTO THE PRINTER SETTINGS MENU FOR REPETIER HOST OR YOUR OTHER CONTROLLER PROGRAM.
ADDITIONAL BED LEVELING TIPS AND TRICKS: 1. FOR MORE EXPLANATION OR VIDEOS SHOWING THIS "BUISNESS CARD BED LEVELING", SEARCH REPRAP.ORG OR YOUTUBE. THIS METHOD IS THE STANDARD FOR MOST REPRAP PRINTERS, AND PLENTY OF DOCUMENTATION ON THIS EXISTS. 2. THIS MACHINE IS CONSIDERABLY LARGER THAN MOST 3D PRINTERS, AND MOST OFTEN WILL USE LARGER NOZZLE DIAMETERS THAN MOST PRINTERS. LARGER NOZZLE DIAMETERS ARE MORE FORGIVING THAN SMALLER NOZZLE DIAMETERS REGARDING BED LEVELING. 3. IT HELPS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT OF ONE CORNER UP, FOR EXAMPLE, THE OPPOSING CORNER WILL ADJUST DOWN BY ABOUT THE SAME ADJUSTMENT. IF YOU FIND YOURSELF ADJUSTING ONE CORNER, THEN FINDING THE OPPOSING CORNER MOVES TOO FAR IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, HALF OF THAT ADJUSTMENT WILL LEVEL THE CORNERS. 4. ON PRINTING THE 1ST LAYER, THE PRINTER WILL SHOW THE USER IF THE BED IS ADEQUATELY LEVEL. IF GETTING THE BED PERFECTLY LEVEL WITH BUISNESS CARDS IS TAKING TOO LONG, CONTINUE ON AND ADJUST IT LATER BASED ON THE PRINT RESULTS. 5. SEVERAL IMPROVEMENTS ARE ON THE WAY TO HELP MAKE BED LEVELING BETTER AND EASIER.
1.5 DETERMINE YOUR Z HEIGHT OFFSET 1 AFTER BED LEVELING, HOME ALL ON LCD 2 NAVIGATE LCD TO MOVE Z HEIGHT TO +25mm 3 NAVIGATE LCD TO MOVE X AND Y SO THE NOZZLE IS ABOVE THE TOP RIGHT QUADRANT OF THE BED, BUT NOT DIRECTLY OVER A SCREW 4 WITH A BUISNESS CARD OR PIECE OF PAPER UNDER THE NOZZLE, NAVIGATE THE Z AXIS VIA LCD MENU UNTIL THE NOZZLE JUST TOUCHES THE CARD. RECORD THIS Z HEIGHT AND ADD THIS Z HEIGHT OFFSET TO THE BEGINNING G-CODE OF YOUR SLICER. I USE THIS CODE AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH PROGRAM, AFTER THE G28 (HOME EXTRUDER) COMMAND. THIS RESULTS IN A 17.1mm OFFSET (FOR EXAMPLE), WHICH REPRESENTS THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE Z LIMIT SWITCH AND THE NOZZLE TIP. G1 Z17.1 F100 G92 Z0 CURA AND SLIC3R CAN BE SET TO INCLUDE THIS CODE FOR ALL PROGRAMS VIA THEIR SETTINGS MENU. 1.6 OIL YOUR PRINTER (INCLUDED OIL IS MEDIUM VISCOSITY WAY OIL (MOBIL VACTRA OIL NO. 2) APPLY OIL TO ALL THREADED ROD, 1 DROP APPROX EVERY 25mm APPLY OIL TO ALL BEARING RAILS, 1 DROP APPROX EVERY 100mm MOVE PRINTER THROUGH EACH AXIS AND PREVENT OR CLEANUP EXCESS OIL FROM UNDER PRINTER. REAPPLY WHEN SURFACES GET DRY: I WIPE CLEAN EVERY 3 MONTHS AS DIRT AND DEBRIS WILL COLLECT ON THREADED AND BEARING ROD.
2.0 SOFTWARE: 2.1 OVERVIEW: TYPICAL 3D PRINTER WORKFLOW AND FILE TYPE IS AS FOLLOWS: 1 3D CAD (IF EQUIPPED) OR DOWNLOAD TO GET.STL 2 MACHINE CONTROL SOFTWARE (REPETIER HOST RECOMMENDED) TO GENERATE GCODE FILE. 3 GCODE IS LOADED TO PRINTER VIA SD CARD (MOST RELIABLE) OR COMMUNICATED TO PRINTER VIA USB THROUGH THE MACHINE CONTROL SOFTWARE. 2.2 INSTALL CH340/341 DRIVER FOR COMMUNICATION VIA USB WINDOWS MAC OSX LINUX 2.3 INSTALL CONTROL AND SLICER SOFTWARE REPETIER HOST (INSTALLS CURA AND SLIC3R BY DEFAULT) 2.4 CONFIGURE REPETIER FOR YOUR PRINTER. UNFORTUNATELY WE CANNOT EASILY LOAD A CONFIGURATION FILE YET. SELECT CONFIG TAB -> PRINTER SETTINGS AND ENSURE ALL SETTINGS ARE SET SAME AS BELOW (FOR A 600X600 DUAL EXTRUSION MACHINE). FOR SMALLER PRINTERS, REDUCE THE PRINTER SIZE SHOWN BELOW BY 300mm. FOR SINGLE EXTRUDER PRINTERS, SELECT 1 EXTRUDER.
3.0 ADDITIONAL, OPTIONAL SOFTWARE 3.1 INSTALLING FIRMWARE (OPTIONAL, IF CHANGES ARE DESIRED). INFORMATION ON THIS PROCEDURE IS WIDELY AVALIABLE FOR THE DESIRED FIRMWARE, RUNNING RAMPS 1.4. 1 INSTALL ARDUINO DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM 2 OPEN FIRMWARE IN ARDUINO DEVELOPMENT (AVALIABLE SOON) OR START FRESH 3 MAKE DESIRED CHANGES TO FIRMWARE 4 PLUG IN USB AND UPLOAD TO PRINTER 3.2 CAD SOFTWARE: ALL MAJOR CAD SOFTWARE'S CAN EXPORT.STL FILES, WHICH IS WHAT IS OPENED BY YOUR CONTROL AND SLICER SOFTWARE. FREECAD, SKETCHUP, AND FUSION 360 ARE POPULAR AND RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE CAD OPTIONS. SOLIDWORKS, PROE, INVENTOR, AND OTHERS OFFER MORE FUNCTIONALITY BUT ARE HIGHER COST. SOME CAD SOFTWARE'S OFFER TRIALS AND STUDENT VERSIONS AS WELL.