FirstTime3DPrinting

For the our initial 3D print we are going to use the following components:

• Ready to use 3D Printer ("Lulzbot TAZ" FDM 3D Printer used for this tutorial)
• FreeCAD Software (if you need to improve your knowledge of building 3d objects in CAD, please refer to this tutorial)
• Thermal plastic material
• Cura Software
• SD Card

Instruction:

1. Create 3D object using FreeCAD
2. Export created object as “STL” file
3. Load “STL” file in Cura and convert it to GCODE (the input file for 3D Printer), make sure to also set nozzle diameter which being used for printing
4. Save GCODE on SD card
5. Based on the printer’s nozzle diameter and 3D object complexity, Cura will calculate printing time accordingly
6. Connect 3D Printer to your laptop using USB and make sure Cura uploads required firmware to 3D Printer 
7. Insert SD card into 3D Printer 
8. Assemble Thermal plastic material on 3D Printer
9. Apply glue on the building platform. Make sure to clean up glue leftovers from the previous printing
10. Using controls on 3D Printer, set target heat temperature and start heating process. Please note, that each material has it’s own target temperature
11. Wait till printing element will warm up to the required temperature 
12. Make sure to clean up printing nozzle from the material leftovers using forceps 
13. Using available printer’s controls, choose input file on the SD card and start printing 
14. Observe printing 
15. When printing has been finished, carefully detach printed shape from printing plate using any useful tool

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This document originally put together by Mila2010