Plastic 3D Printing Submission Guide Makerbot Method 3D Printer DIGITAL FABRICATION

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D D AN AN IELS

IELS DIGITAL

FABRICATION

Plastic 3D Printing Submission Guide

Makerbot Method 3D Printer

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Using this manual

Chapter cards

About this manual

Each page in this manual follows a general layout of two columns.

Read left, to right to the bottom of each column, then move to the next.

Important keywords are highlighted in red.

On images, areas of interest are highlighted with red arrows or squares/circles.

Clicking on chapter titles will take you to the chapter card of that chapter. The section titles are hyperlinked, and to the right, corre- sponding timestamps are hyperlinked also for the accompanying video for that chapter.

You can click on the video ↗ button to watch the video for that chapter.

DAN IELSDIGITAL DIGITAL FABRICATION FABRICATION

This manual was created on September 30, 2021.

Click here to go to TOC Click on a chapter to quickly go to its title cards.

The current chapter title is in darker.

Introduction / About Method 3D / Rhino File Setup /Setting Up 3D Print Software / Loading A File / Checking for Errors / Estimating Build Time & Cost / Exporting

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DAN IELSDIGITAL DIGITAL FABRICATION

FABRICATION Introduction / About Method 3D / Rhino File Setup /Setting Up 3D Print Software / Loading A File / Checking for Errors / Estimating Build Time & Cost / Exporting

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DAN IELS DIGITAL FABRICATION

Introduction

Video

Video Video

Video

About

Rhino File Set-Up

Installing 3D Printer Software

Makerbot Method 3D Printer System Requirements

Checking the Geometry Generating Mesh

Setting Up Print Bed Exporting the File

Downloading Makerbot Print Creating Makerbot Print Account

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14 15 6

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Loading a File

Setting a Printer Adding a New File

Adding Multiple Files 18

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Checking the Geometry/Slice Preview Estimating Time & Costs

Additional Print Settings Custom Print Modes

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Exporting 3D Print Project

Saving the File

Uploading the File to Daniels FTP Submission Checklist

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Introduction / About Method 3D / Rhino File Setup /Setting Up 3D Print Software / Loading A File / Checking for Errors / Estimating Build Time & Cost / Exporting

Estimating Build Time & Cost

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About: Method 3D Printer

Software: Makerbot Print (Download) Maximum Build Size (XYZ)

Maximum Build Volume:

Single Extrusion: 19 x 19 x 19.6 cm (7.5 x 7.5 x 7.75 in) Dual Extrusion: 15.2 x 19 x 19.6 cm (6.0 x 7.5 x 7.75 in) Model Materials:

- PLA (white, grey, black) - Tough (grey, black) (Model) - PVA(support)

Layer Thickness: TBD (Nozzle diameter: 0.4mm)

(Dimensional accuracy: +/- 0.2mm) System Requirements:

Windows 7, 10 (64 bit) OR macOS 10.12 to macOS 10.15

Introduction / About Method 3D / Rhino File Setup / Setting Up 3D Print Software / Loading A File / Checking for Errors / Estimating Build Time & Cost / Exporting

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Checking the Geometry

Select the geometry then type the show edge command. Edge Analysis window will pop up.

If your geometry is “watertight”, in other words, no unclosed edges, the command tab will return the following:

Found (#) of edges total; no naked edges, no non-manifold edges.

If this is the case, proceed to:

Generating the Mesh and Exporting File

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If the command tab says the geometry has naked edges:

Select Naked edge option in the prompt window to check for unclosed edges.

Checking the Geometry

Recreate the surface so there are no naked edges.

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DAN IELS DIGITAL

FABRICATION Introduction / About Method 3D / Rhino File Setup / Setting Up 3D Print Software / Loading A File / Checking for Errors / Estimating Build Time & Cost / Exporting

Generating the Mesh

Select the geometry and type Mesh command.

The geometry then turns into a mesh with polygons.

*The more polygons you choose, the higher the resolution of the mesh geometry become.

You can control the number of polygon counts in the Polygon Mesh Options prompt.

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Make sure the surface normal direction points away from the surface using DIR command.

*(Normal is a vector that is perpendicular to the surface of an object with polygons)

Generating the Mesh

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Setting Up The Print Bed

Before exporting your file it is important to ensure that it fits within the print bed for the specific printer you will be using.

Create a rectangle or bounding box measuring 19 cm by 19 cm by 19 cm. (These are the dimensions of the Method 3D Printer)

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Place your geometry in the bounding box (print bed dimen- sions)

Ensure your geometry fits within the print bed. If it is too big consider scaling it down.

Setting Up The Print Bed

*place object on bed *scale object if necessary

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Exporting the File

Select the geometry.

Go to File then Export Selected.

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Export it as an STL (stereolithography) file format.

Save your file using the following nameing convention:

lastname_firstname_date.stl Save it as a binary file (not an Ascii)

Exporting the File

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Installing 3D Print Software

The software for file checking and submitting a print to the Makerbot Method 3D Printer can be downloaded for free from the Makerbot Print Website.

Go to: https://www.makerbot.com/3d-printers/apps/mak- erbot-print/download/

Select your operating system Click download

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Creating a Makerprint Account

You need to create a Makerbot Print account in order to be able to use the software.

On the same site you downloaded Makerbot print, click “Get Started for Free”

Sign up for a new account and follow the prompts by providing a valid email address and password.

Add the required information below then sign up.

Make sure to verify your email.

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Setting Up Makerbot Print

Step 1:

Install Makerbot Print in your desired location and sign in with the email address you created.

Step 2:

Click the “add a printer” button

Step 1 Step 2

Introduction / About Method 3D / Rhino File Setup / Setting Uo 3D Print Software / Loading A File / Checking for Errors / Estimating Build Time & Cost / Exporting

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Step 3 Step 4

Step 3:

Select “add unconnected printer”

Step 4:

Choose “Method”

Introduction / About Method 3D / Rhino File Setup / Setting Uo 3D Print Software / Loading A File / Checking for Errors / Estimating Build Time & Cost / Exporting

Selecting a Printer

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Step 1. Select “Add Model”

Step 2. Add STL file.

Step 1 Step 2

Loading a File

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Loading Multiple Files

Navigation:

Right click to rotate the print bed Left click in order to select a model

Middle scroll click in order to drag/move the bed

Step 2

Step 3. You can add multiple STL files in the same way on the same project window. This allows for a more efficient printing session.

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Estimating / Slice Preview

Click on the “Estimates and Print Preview”

This model displays colour coded tool paths, including supports.

The layers can be viewed individually using the slider on the side.

Alternatively you can play an animation of the entire build process.

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Estimating Build Time and Cost

To estimate build time and material used, click the “Estimates &

Print” button once again. The time and the total material needed are shown at the bottom.

Alternatively, once you export the final print file (.makerbot) it will show you both the material estimates and print time.

The material cost for the Method 3D Printer is calculated in grams.

In order to calculate the cost of your 3D Print project you need to multiply the total amount of material used by the rates mentioned below.

PLA - 10 cents per gram PLA

PVA - 35 cents per gram PVA (support) Tough - TBD

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Additional Print Settings

There are additional print settings that allow you to manually choose between different print materials and different print modes.

The different materials determine which print mode can be selected

Follow the steps below in order to change the printing materials

Step 1: Click on the Print Settings Icon Step 2: Print Settings Step 3: Click on the drop down menu

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Custom Print Modes

There are 3 different print modes available depending on the material. This print modes are:

- default, high quality print, and solid

These print options affect both print time and print cost.

Make sure to re-estimate and review your material cost and print time every time you change the print mode.

Changing print mode

*Print Modes Standard Mode

- balanced for speed and quality. Ideal for most prints.

High Quality

- for high quality prints. Prioritizes quality over speed. Results in prints with high sur- face finish but with a significant increase on print time.

Solid

- optimized for printing solid objects. It makes the prints heavier, stronger and increases the print time.

Select your preferred priprintingprinting mode (each mode has its own strengths & weaknesses.

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Saving & Uploading Your Files

Once you have reviewed you file and are ready for submission, name you file:

lastname_firstname_date.stl lastname_firstname_date.print

Always save the .print file for submission as well, Both files must be present for file submission or the print will not be processed.

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On your Windows file explorer, log on to the Daniels FTP server under Groups > 3D_Printing >

Submissions > Method or by pasting the link below and create a new folder.

ftp://files.daniels.utoronto.ca/Groups/3D_Printing/Submissions/Method

*step 01 *step 02

*step 03

*step 04

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Saving & Uploading Your Files

Create a new folder in the FTP server under Groups > 3D_Printing > Submissions > Method and name it: “lastname_firstname”

*create new folder

*rename the folder using your last name and first name

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Copy your files into this newly created folder.

*copy

*paste

Once your file is uploaded email the 3D Printing to notify of file submission: [email protected] Always include in the email

Student First and Last Name:

Student Number:

File Name:

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Submission Checklist

1. Review your files for submission and name them:

lastname_firstname_date.stl lastname_firstname_date.print

2. Ensure both files are present for file submission or the print will not be processed.

3. Create a folder in the FTP server under Groups > 3D_Printing > Submissions > Method and name it: “lastname_firstname”

4. Copy your files into this newly created folder.

5. Upload your file and email the 3D Printing Lab to notify of file submission.

[email protected] Always include in the email

Student First and Last Name:

Student Number:

File Name:

FAILURE TO DO SO MAY RESULT IN YOUR PRINT NOT BEING PROCESSED

Plastic 3D Printing Submission Guide Makerbot Method 3D Printer DIGITAL FABRICATION

D D AN AN IELS

IELS DIGITAL

FABRICATION

Plastic 3D Printing Submission Guide

Makerbot Method 3D Printer

Using this manual

Table of contents

Chapter cards

About this manual

Contents

Introduction

About

Rhino File Set-Up

Installing 3D Printer Software

Loading a File

Exporting 3D Print Project

Estimating Build Time & Cost

About: Method 3D Printer

Checking the Geometry

Checking the Geometry

Generating the Mesh

Generating the Mesh

Setting Up The Print Bed

Setting Up The Print Bed

Exporting the File

Exporting the File

Installing 3D Print Software

Creating a Makerprint Account

Setting Up Makerbot Print

Selecting a Printer

Loading a File

Loading Multiple Files

Estimating / Slice Preview

Estimating Build Time and Cost

Additional Print Settings

Custom Print Modes

Saving & Uploading Your Files

Saving & Uploading Your Files

Submission Checklist