Revision as of 16:25, 22 January 2013

Summary

This is our 3D printer. The 3-D printer is an UP! (a slightly older version of the device currently available).

We have a dedicated PC running win7 and UP! software. It can import STL design files from Google sketchup.

Using the 3D Printer

The 3D printer is an excellent tool for either making small parts, or rapid prototyping. At the same time it is an expensive tool with a risk of injury and fire, so is very important you know how to use it to avoid damaging yourself and the machine. You must only use the 3D printer if you have been trained, and if you are ever in any doubt about something, please ask for assistance.

Owners

The Owners are those nominally in charge of the equipment, organising its maintenance, training others to use it, and generally being a point of contact.

The current Owners of the 3D printer are:

• TBC
• TBC

If you have any questions, problems or concerns around the 3D printer, these are the people to contact.

Training

To get trained on the 3D printer and be added to the qualified user list, you will need to arrange for a training session with one of the 3D printer Owners.

If you'd like to arrange training, please see:

• 3D Printer Training

Health and Safety

The 3D printer is a potentially dangerous piece of equipment which must only be operated by members who have received appropriate training and who take due care. The top things to always remember when using the 3D printer are:

• ONLY USE THE 3D PRINTER IF YOU ARE ON THE LIST OF TRAINED USERS
• NEVER LEAVE THE PRINTER RUNNING UNATTENDED
• KNOW WHAT TO DO IF A FIRE BREAKS OUT

As a trained user, you should be very aware of the following risks and how to deal with them:

HEAD CRASH - incorrect calibration could cause the nozzle to hit the platen at job start

• You must watch the printer as it starts the job, and be ready to turn off the power if a collision occurs

TRAPPING - The head and bed of the machine are moved by programs in the machines memory.

• Be careful when near the machine, it will possibly move even if the PC is off

BURN RISK - the platen on the printer is heated, and will reach temperatures during a print run which could cause skin burns. Also a malfunction could cause this to overheat.

• Be careful when the machine is on or has recently been used to guard against burns

Instructions

To use the printer you must have been trained and have had your name added to the trained user list; these instructions are not a substitute for this training. See the training section to understand how you can become qualified to use the printer.

Power Up

Give the machine a quick visual check. Make sure that there is nothing left on the platen. Remove the platen support piece from under the platen and gently lower it. Turn on the machine with the rocker switch on the front.

Load your Design

Download to the Printer

DO NOT EVER LEAVE THE PRINTER UNATTENDED

Finishing

Power Down

The printer is turned off using the rocker switch on the front. Shut down the PC and double check that everything is left in save state for the next user.

Maintenance

The maintenance of the 3D printer is carried out by the Owners, with some basic maintenance being carried out by Users on every job.

Maintenance Schedule

Continuous Maintenance (Every job, done by all 3D Printer Users)

• Clean the platen of any plastic remnants
• Check the new material is feeding OK and the reel has enough on it

Basic Maintenance (Every week, done by Printer Maintainers)

• TBD

Full Maintenance (Every 4 weeks, done by 3d Printer Maintainers)

• TBD

Maintenance Log

Reactive Maintenance

• None

Regular Maintenance

• Week Number, Date, Type, Owner (Notes)

2013

• Week 02, January 7,
• Week 03, January 14,
• Week 04, January 21,
• Week 05, January 28,
• Week 06, February 4,
• Week 07, February 11,
• Week 08, February 18,
• Week 09, February 25,
• Week 10, March 4,
• Week 11, March 11,
• Week 12, March 18,
• Week 13, March 25,
• Week 14, April 1,

Maintenance Shopping List

• TBD

Further Information

Repairs

We expect to have to change the following parts for general maintenance:

• TBD

Maintenance and Spares:

• One UK supplier of consumables is Cool Components

Our printer has been modified to support solid 3mm ABS plastic sheets as the base. These are disposable; they have to be cut from the big sheet and drilled using the jig we have created. The bolted-down solid plastic dramatically reduces problems with warping, and it also saves time and material when printing: you should disable the automatic raft.

Software

You can download Quickstart manual and latest driver software from pp3dp.

• Google Sketch up - link with stl plugin as below

• This plugin seems to work quite well link

However this program repairs any incomplete stl files link

Or this program link