TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE YOU SHOULDN'T ENCOUNTER many problems when using your Vector 3 printer, however, occasionally things can go wrong. Before contacting Customer Services, please consult this list of common problems and their potential solutions. No power to the printer Solution: Check that the cable attaching the power supply unit (PSU) to the socket at the rear of the printer is tightly fitted and has not worked loose. Check that the red light switch illuminates when you turn on the printer. If not, check both fuses in the mains lead and the socket/ switch. NB The fuse is located in the middle of the unit between the socket/switch. Printer powers up, but can't be detected in the V3 software Solution: Can you see the printer in Device Manager (Windows)? If not, swap USB ports. NB USB 3 ports have trouble seeing the V3. Unrecognized USB device Solution: Uninstall the USB device and restart your PC. Next, unplug all the leads from the motherboard and then reconnect each one to ensure that it is plugged into the correct socket on the motherboard. If these steps do not correct the fault, ensure that all of the connectors are correctly fitted on the print head. If following the steps above doesn t resolve the issue, check that the USB port on your PC is supporting other devices. You can also search online for FT232R USB UART recognition issues. For more information, visit: http://troubleshooter. xyz/fix-usb-device-not-recognizeddevice-descriptor-request-failed/ Printer successfully calibrated and.stl file loaded, but it won't print Solution: Have you clicked on the Slice button? This is situated next to the Load button onscreen. You cannot print an object until is has been sliced. First layer not adhering, or pulled off by the nozzle Solution: This can be rectified in several ways: (a) apply a layer of Pritt Stick to the print bed; (b) apply masking tape to the print bed, then apply hairspray (see Issue 6). If you still have a problem, set the First Layer Height to 0.4mm. If you need to add more support for your print, try setting the Raft Layers to 1 or 2. Prints fine, but then stops printing after 10-20 minutes Solution: Go to Power Settings in Control Panels on your PC/laptop (Energy Saver in System Preferences on a Mac) and change all power settings to Never. This prevents the computer turning off and stopping the print. USB is showing, but the Vector 3 software can't connect Solution: Using a pen or a pencil, rapidly press and release the hood limit switch (see page 6). The software should now connect. In the V3 software, calibrate following the instructions and click Connect. Always unplug the power lead from the wall socket and the back of the printer before dismantling any part of the printer. I
INSTALL THE FIRMWARE UPDATE ENSURE THAT YOUR FIRMWARE IS UPDATED before you calibrate your V3 printer. This will ensure that you have all the latest files installed, so that your printer will work efficiently. You will find the firmware update files on the V3 printer website. Just follow the step-by-step instructions below. INFORMATION The process for installing the firmware is the same on a PC and a Mac. 0I Install the software 02 Download the update If you haven t already done so, visit www.3dprinter-collection.com in your Web browser and click on the tab labelled Design Files And Software. Scroll down to Download Software/Your Printer Software, then select the download for PCs or Macs, to suit your computer. You must have the latest version of this software installed before continuing. See Issue 65 for further details. The Arduino firmware update files are also located on the Design Files And Software tab of www.3dprintercollection.com. To install the firmware onto your printer, select the file for either PC or Mac to start downloading a.zip file containing the firmware and the Arduino software. Unzip the file but DO NOT open or launch the Arduino program until you have completed Step 03 (below). 03 Launch and connect the software Launch the 3D Create & Print software, then go to the C o n fi g menu, select Manual Printer Control and then click Connect. The text should change from Disconnected to Idle. If you are connecting for the first time, the software will prompt you to calibrate your printer, but you should ignore this for now. Once you are sure the printer connection has been made, click on Close to make the COM port available for uploading the fi r m w a r e. 23 2
04 Begin running the firmware update Open the Arduino-0023 software folder and run arduino.exe (arduino app on Macs). If you get an Update prompt that says, 'A new version of Arduino is available, would you like to visit the Arduino download page?', select No. Click on File, then Open and then navigate to the V3 software firmware update folder and into the V3 program folder. Select and open the folder Sprinter_ Melzi. Next, select configuration.h and click Open. If you are updating the firmware on a PC, select configuration.h and click Open. If you are updating the firmware on a Mac, select the file named Sprinter_Melzi.pde and click Open. PC window Mac window 05 Select the firmware configuration tool In Arduino-0023, select Tools, then Board, then Sanguino W/ ATmega 1284P 16mhz. 3
06 Select the serial port Go back to Tools, then select Serial Port and choose the COM port connected to your printer refer back to Issue 65 for help in the 'Check the connected port' step. 07 Upload the firmware update In the list of icons at the top of Arduino-0023, select Upload. Note that when you hover the mouse over the icons, their function is displayed as text alongside. As the upload progresses, Uploading to I/O Board is displayed at the bottom left. When completed and successful, Done uploading is displayed and you can close the folder. INFORMATION If you do not know which COM port your printer is using, disconnect the printer s USB cable, then go to Config and Printer Settings. In the Connection tab, click on Refresh Ports and make a note of all the COM ports in the list. Now reconnect the printer s USB cable, repeat the above process and again refresh the ports. The newly emerging COM port number is the one that your printer is using, so make a note of it. DO NOT change the program file, otherwise the 3D printer will not work or could be damaged. 23 4
CALIBRATION GUIDE CALIBRATION ENSURES THAT THE BUILD PLATE is exactly perpendicular to the print nozzle and that its movements comply with commands from the 3D Create & Print software. You should only need to calibrate the printer once (i.e. as part of this initial setup). If you prefer, you can continue to assemble your printer and download the software, test the connection and calibrate the printer at a later point. INFORMATION You will need the calibration gauge supplied with Issue 68. You may also prefer to remove the print guard for easier access to the nozzle. 0I Begin calibration Launch the 3D Create & Print software. Go to the C o n fi g menu and select Calibration Setup. The Calibration Setup window shows five points O, A, B, C, D, which correspond to the areas on the build plate where you will be checking the gap between the plate and the print nozzle. In normal operation, the printer's hood must be lowered fully before the software on your computer can connect the printer. There is a safety cutout switch located beneath the hood's right-hand vertical lift mechanism that detects when the hood is raised and switches off the power. In order to calibrate the printer at this stage, when the hood has not yet been fitted, this switch must be pressed down manually. When the software has connected, there is a special override function that disables the hood switch temporarily, so that the printer will continue to operate with the switch released. Please follow the instructions on the next pages carefully. 5
02 Press down the limit switch 03 Connect the software With the printer switched ON, use a pen or pencil, or a similar non-metal implement, to carefully press down the hood limit switch (part 130, fitted in Issue 47), which is located within the recess in the printer's base, to the right of the main vertical frame. Continue to hold down the switch until you have completed Step 04 (below). NB This process may need to be carried out repeatedly. With the hood limit switch still pressed down, click Connect on the Calibration Setup window to start the process. After a brief pause, the printer should beep a few times and the print head may realign itself into its start position. You can then release the hood limit switch. If this does not work immediately, press the hood limit switch repeatedly. 04 Raise the build plate Click the up arrow to raise the build plate see Safety Information opposite. For 10mm travel, click the arrow head. For 1mm travel, click the centre part of the arrow. For 0.1mm travel, click the arrow base. Raise the plate by 110 115mm, Windows Raise by 10mm Raise by 1mm Raise by 0.1mm taking it to 10 15mm below the nozzle. On a Mac, it is slightly different: before clicking the arrow, select your factor of travel 100mm, 10mm, 1mm or 0.1mm from the panel between the arrows. Mac Raise build plate 23 6 Lower by 10mm Lower by 1mm Lower by 0.1mm Factor of travel Lower build plate
05 Check that the build plate is level Now click through the five squares and watch the plate as it tracks beneath the nozzle. If it looks level, raise it to within 2mm of the nozzle, then go to Step 8 (overleaf). Alternatively, if the plate is on a tilt however slight continue to Step 7. Wait until each individual command has been actuated by the printer before clicking on the next Raise command. DO NOT make multiple-click commands, because the build plate could be raised too much and may strike the nozzle. As the build plate approaches the nozzle, use only the 1mm and 0.1mm commands. 06 Loosen the grub screws To adjust the tilt of the build plate, with the small Allen key provided, loosen (DO NOT remove) the three grub screws in the plate support base (two in front, one behind). This will allow you to adjust the vertical bolts that control the tilt of the plate. NB Do not over tighten. 7
07 Adjust the build plate Track from square to square again and check the gap. Using a screwdriver or your fingers, turn the vertical adjustment bolts until you achieve a consistent gap between plate and nozzle at all five squares. To lower the right-hand side, tighten the right-hand bolt (marked R see inset, right). To raise it, loosen bolt R. To raise the back of the plate, loosen the centre bolt C and so on. This may take a while. You should make only small adjustments at a time (about one quarter-turn) to each bolt. L C R 08 Check with the calibration gauge Bring the plate up to <1mm below the nozzle. Once you have reduced the gap between the build plate and nozzle to 1mm or less, use the calibration gauge to measure it (part 188 supplied with Issue 68). The gauge should just slide into the gap at all five points of the Calibration Setup window. Re-tighten all three grub screws in the plate support base and check again with the gauge. Finally, click Set Height. Your machine is now calibrated. Keep your fingers away from all moving parts of the printer while calibrating. Only use the calibration guide when the printer has paused. DO NOT allow children to calibrate the printer and keep them away from the moving parts at all times. Tie back long hair and avoid wearing loose clothing when operating the printer. 23 8