Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when working with the 3D printer.
- Tim doesn't work Mondays so there won't be any printing on Monday.
- Do not attempt to calibrate the printer. It has already been calibrated for your printing needs. Any adjustments you make may compromise a print.
- Don't leave the printer unattended for too long.
- Don't pull the SD card out of the the printer LCD Screen while it's printing or it will cancel the print.
- The printer bed and nozzle will be hot before, during, and after printing. Do not touch the nozzle (the silver tip where the PLA filament extrudes) when it is hot. It can burn your fingertips. The plate can be handled after it's had some time to cool.
- You can "pop" your object off the plate by bending the plate up and down.
Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when working with the 3D printer.
- Give the machine some time to warm up - it needs to reach a specific temperature before it can start printing.
- The metal plate you put on the heat bed will get hot. Make sure you handle it on the edges.
- When "unloading" PLA filament from the extruder, wait for the extruder to heat up (the extruder is the black box that contains the nozzle). Press the knob when prompted and then remove the filament immediately, as directed on the LCD screen.
- When "loading" PLA filament similarly wait for the extruder to be properly heated. Cut the edge off the filament, at an angle, with wire cutters. Then feed the filament into the extruder, ensuring it's all the way in (note that if you don't push it all the way into the extruder it will not extrude). The filament will start to pool beneath the extruder. The LCD screen will ask if the proper color is coming out. If you press "no" more filament will extrude until the proper color appears and you press "Yes".
- Avoid leaving your print unsupervised for too long. It's possible there could be mistakes during a print in the event something isn't calibrated properly and a print could be ruined.
- The large X-button beneath the knob will quit all functions - e.g. if you're in the middle of a print pressing this button will immediately stop it and reset the printer.
- Make sure the filament has a clear path to the extruder and isn't obstructed on the spool.
Here's what it looks like obstructed:
Here's what it should look like:
