3D Printers

3D Printers

categories: tools …

How to

There are a couple of steps when working with 3-D printers to get a finished product.

  1. The first part is you have to start out with a 3-D model. There are multiple ways to get to a 3-D model:
    A) The easiest way to get a model is to download the model from a repository: (e.g. Thingivers.com or Printables.com as well as others)
    or
    B) Create your own model with a Computer Aided Design Program: (e.g. Fusion 360, TinkerCAD, SolidWorks, OpenSCAD, FreeCAD, IdeaMaker, etc.)
  2. The second part necessary to get to a final output printed model is to Slice the model created in Step 1. Slicing is the process of converting STL model downloaded or exported from Step 1. The name STL is an acronym that stands for stereolithography. There are other formats that are used for 3-D modeling that you might encounter, but STL is one of the most common formats. There are multiple Slicers available in commercial and Freeware availability. Melbourne Makerspace has chosen to settle on concentration with two Opensource Freeware slicers: PrusaSlicer or Cura Slicer. The output from the Slicer process is G-Code which are the individual instructions for printing. This section describes how to go from gcode to finished product.
  1. Send your gcode to the printer. There are (at least) two ways to do this:
    a. Using the SD Card or microSD card (on the Creality 5 printers), copy your gcode to the card
    b. Login to the printer via the Printer name in your browser address bar: CR-10, Ender-5, Ender5Plus or AnyCubic.
  2. Weigh your completed print using the scale (insert photo).
  3. Pay via the blue box or Paypal

    10. Tools

Filament Printers

Fused filament fabrication (FFF), also known under the trademarked term fused deposition modeling (FDM), derives from automatic polymeric foil hot air welding system, hot-melt gluing and automatic gasket deposition. Such principle has been further developed by S. Scott Crump in the late 1980s and was commercialized in 1990 by Stratasys. After the patent on this technology expired, a large open-source development community developed and both commercial and DIY variants utilizing this type of 3D printer appeared known as the RepRap project (for self-replicating rapid prototyper). As a result, the price of this technology has dropped by two orders of magnitude since its creation, and it has become the most common form of 3D printing.

In fused deposition modeling, the model or part is produced by extruding small beads or streams of material which harden immediately to form layers. A filament of thermoplastic or other low melting point material or mixture is fed into an extrusion nozzle head (3D printer extruder), where the filament is heated to its melting temperature and extruded onto a build table.

Creality CR-10

Specifications
  • Print Technology: Fused Filament Fabrication
  • Material: PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU (Flex) through Direct Drive
  • Build Volume: 12 L x 12 W x 16 H in [300 x 300 x 400 mm]
  • Layer Resolution
    • High 100 microns [0.0039 in]
    • Medium 270 microns [0.0106 in]
    • Low 340 microns [0.0133 in]
  • Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm [0.069 in]
  • Nozzle Diameter: 0.4 mm [0.015 in]
  • Software: PrusaSlicer or Cura

    • Wiki

    Creality CR-10

    Status

    Fully Operational

    Creality Ender-5 Pro

    Creality Ender-5 Pro Specifications
    • Print Technology: Fused Filament Fabrication through Bowden Tube
    • Material: PLA, PET-G
    • Build Volume: 8.7 L x 8.7 W x 12 H in [220 x 220 x 300 mm]
    • Layer Resolution
      • High 100 microns [0.0039 in]
      • Medium 270 microns [0.0106 in]
      • Low 340 microns [0.0133 in]
    • Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm [0.069 in]
    • Nozzle Diameter: 0.4 mm [0.015 in]

    Status

    Fully Operational

    Creality Ender-5 Plus

    Creality Ender-5 Plus Specifications
    • Print Technology: Fused Filament Fabrication through Bowden Tube
    • Material: PLA, PET-G
    • Build Volume: 13.8 L x 13.8 W x 16 H in [350 x 350 x 400 mm]
    • Layer Resolution
      • High 100 microns [0.0039 in]
      • Medium 270 microns [0.0106 in]
      • Low 340 microns [0.0133 in]
    • Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm [0.069 in]
    • Nozzle Diameter: 0.4 mm [0.015 in]

    Status

    Fully Operational

    AnyCubic Predator

    AnyCubic Predator Specifications
    • Print Technology: Fused Filament Fabrication
    • Material: PLA, PET-G
    • Build Volume: 370 mm (14.6 inch) wide hexagon x 455 mm (17.9 inch) high
    • Layer Resolution
      • High 100 microns [0.004 in]
      • Medium 150 microns [0.006 in]
      • Low 200 microns [0.008 in]
    • Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm [0.069 in]
    • Nozzle Diameter: 0.35 mm [0.014 in]
    • Extrusion Speed: up to 150 mm/s
    • Non­Extrusion Movement: up to 300 mm/s

    Status

    Fully Operational

    Toolmasters

    (the members to contact for help or to get checked out for using them):

    Josh Pritt

    [Ryan Lash] [Glenn Miller]

    Printers No Longer in Service

    [ Makerbot Replicator 2 ]

    Specifications
    • Print Technology: Fused Filament Fabrication
    • Material: PLA
    • Build Volume: 11.2 L x 6.0 W x 6.1 H in [28.5 x 15.3 x 15.5 cm]
    • Layer Resolution
      • High 100 microns [0.0039 in]
      • Medium 270 microns [0.0106 in]
      • Low 340 microns [0.0133 in]
    • Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm [0.069 in]
    • Nozzle Diameter: 0.4 mm [0.015 in]

    Manual

    Makerbot Replicator 2

    Status

    No Longer Available
    [ RepRap Wilson TS (aka Super Jojo) ] Specifications
    • Print Technology: Fused Filament Fabrication
    • Material: PLA, PETG, ABS
    • Software: Simplify 3D

    Wiki

    RepRap Wilson TS

    Status

    Dismantled
    [ DeltaMaker ] Specifications
    • Print Technology: Fused Filament Fabrication
    • Material: PLA
    • Build Volume: 240 mm (9.4 inch) wide hexagon x 260 mm (10.2 inch) high – 780 cubic inches
    • Layer Resolution
      • High 100 microns [0.004 in]
      • Medium 150 microns [0.006 in]
      • Low 200 microns [0.008 in]
    • Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm [0.069 in]
    • Nozzle Diameter: 0.35 mm [0.014 in]
    • Extrusion Speed: up to 150 mm/s
    • Non­Extrusion Movement: up to 300 mm/s

    Wiki

    DeltaMaker Help Desk

    Status

    No Longer Available

    [ MonoPrice Select Mini 3D Printer v2 ]

    Specifications
    • Print Technology: Fused Filament Fabrication
    • Material: PLA
    • Build Volume: 4.72 in x 4.72 in x 4.72 in (120 x 120 x 120 mm)
    • Layer Resolution
      • High Quality: 0.087mm
      • Normal: 0.131mm
      • Fast: 0.2mm
    • Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm [0.069 in]
    • Nozzle Diameter: 0.4 mm [0.015 in]
    • Max Printing Speed: 55mm/sec

    Manual

    MP Select Mini 3D Printer V2

    Status

    No Longer Available

    [ MonoPrice Select Mini 3D Printer v2 ]

    Specifications
    • Print Technology: Fused Filament Fabrication
    • Material: PLA
    • Build Volume: 4.72 in x 4.72 in x 4.72 in (120 x 120 x 120 mm)
    • Layer Resolution
      • High Quality: 0.087mm
      • Normal: 0.131mm
      • Fast: 0.2mm
    • Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm [0.069 in]
    • Nozzle Diameter: 0.4 mm [0.015 in]
    • Max Printing Speed: 55mm/sec

    Manual

    MP Select Mini 3D Printer V2

    Status

    No Longer Available

    Printrbot Jr