Difference between revisions of "Prusa"

Latest revision as of 15:43, 27 November 2023

Prusa I3 mk2 with mmu

Getting started with 3D printing on the Prusa i3 mk2

If this is your first time 3d printing we recommend using our Ultimakers instead.
Our Prusa i3 mk2 has a multi material upgrade. It is our only printer capable of printing in multiple materials. At Sonen this is restricted to printing in different colors of PLA.

Required Safety Equipment

None

Hazards

• 

  The bed and nozzle are hot during, and after printing.

• 

  Moving parts during operation.

Guidelines

• Do not use the printer unless you know how to use it.
• Print only in 3Dnet or polymaker 1.75 PLA filament.
• Use only 0.4 mm nozzle size.
• Only use this printer if you need multi material printing. Use our Ultimaker or Creality printers otherwise.
• Do not leave the printer before the first layer is completed. Most errors arise during this stage and in 2020 this destroyed a printer.
• If you want instruction, have trouble with the printer or we are running low on materials, contact the engineer here.
• Always follow the SOP outlined bellow.

Standard Operating Procedure

The workflow in any prototyping using 3D printers is:

1. Retrieve/create a 3D model

You can fetch files from creator spaces such as Thingiverse or model them your self, using a CAD tool such as Fusion360, SolidWorks or Blender.
The next step requires the file format of your model to be either .3mf or .stl.

2. Generate toolpaths for the 3D printer

The tool for generating toolpaths for 3D printers is called a slicer. For Prusa printers we use PrusaSlicer. A guide PrusaSlicer with the MMU can be found here.
The standard preset grants high detailed results and short printing time. You can tweak the print settings as you see fit. as long as it's in accordance with our 3D printing guidelines. I.e. Infill should not exceed 20%.
This process is called slicing. This gives you a .gcode file. Save this file onto a micro SD card and insert it into the printer.

3. Prepare the build plate

Remove any debris that may be on the plate. If the bed is starting to get dirty, rinse it with lukewarm water. The water will dissolve the leftover glue on the build plate.
Though not necessary, for larger prints or prints with challenging geometry, using glue may help with adhesion to the buildplate. Apply glue on the area of the build plate where your first layer will adhere. On the Prusa pritner we use Magigoo.

4. Double check the filament

Make sure that the type and color of the filament on every spool holder corresponds to the material and color defined in your slicer and on the 3d printer itself. A mismatch may cause your print to fail or wrong color to be printed.
Make sure that there is enough material remaining. In your slicer you will get an estimate of how many grams of filament is required for the print. On the side of the filament spool there is an indicator estimating amount of remaining filament. Should you run out of material during printer, the print will fail.

5. Inspect the first layer

Almost all failures and print defects may be detected when printing the first layers. DO NOT LEAVE THE PRINTER BEFORE THE FIRST LAYER IS DONE!
No filament coming out of nozzle: The nozzle is clogged, the filament is stripped, the spool is jammed or there is no filament left on the spool.
Less filament than expected is being extruded: Partial clog in the nozzle, the filament extruder tension is too loose or the spool is jammed.
Print not sticking to bed or the layer looks transparent or to thin: The bed is out of level.
The print is in a different location than what i assigned in the slicer: Wrong printer selected in the slicer.

6. Remove yor print from the printer

The build plate is fixed to the printer magnetically, making it easy to remove. To remove your part from the build plate, simply bend the build plate gently and your print should pop of.
Using a scraper tool may help. However, make sure you don't harm the build plate. Hence use scraping tools with care.

7. Post processing your part

Arguably the most boring part of 3d printing. Break of supports, peal off brims. Tidy up the print with a knife and/or sandpaper.

8. Tidy up after you

Dispose of supports and other leftover parts of your print in the designated bin. Replace all tools to their proper home. Clean the buildplate with lukewarm water if necessary and replace it in the printer.

Filament

We only use filament from Polymaker which is due to quality. The material used on the Prusa are strictly PLA.
This is to reduce maintenance and downtime on the 3d printers. For printing other materials see our Creality CR-10S Pro V2 printers or our Bambu X1 Carbon. Prusa printers only supports 1.75mm diameter filament.

Errors

If a print goes wrong, do the following:

1. Check setup in PrusaSlicer and on the printer.
2. Rewash the bed level.
3. Calibrate bed level. The Prusa i3 mk2 has automatic bed leveling. Here you can find a guide on how to start automatic bed leveling.

If this does not help, please notify the engineer here.

Clog

Clogging of the nozzle typically occurs when the workpiece has tilted due to overhang, wrong settings in PrusaSlicer, or wrong filament type. A solution to clogged nozzle is using the Atomic Method

Useful links

• troubleshooting
• thingiverse
• prusaSlicer multi material guide