Plasticfab-3D 12 CUBED User manual

Plasticfab-3D 12 Cubed Users Manual v. 0.95

Table of Contents
A. Safety notes
B. In the box
1: 12 cubed overview
2: Software settings
: Menus
4: Your first print
5: Maintenance
T. Troubleshooting
Plasticfab-3D 12 Cubed Users Manual v. 0.95

Safety Notes
Fused deposition 3d printers use heated plastic extruders to build objects in layers.
Heated surfaces can remain hot even after the printer is turned off. Use caution when
working inside of the unit to avoid burns. Do not put hands or other body parts in inside the
printer while it is operating to avoid pinch and burn ha ards. Allow cooling time before
removing prints from the print bed. Always print with safety lid in place.
Disconnect power from printer before servicing your Plasticfab 3D printer. Servicing
with power connected can lead to electric shock. Never disconnect stepper motors while
powered, as this can damage the driver boards.
Some plastic filaments (like abs) can produce fumes during use. Allow for proper
ventilation while using your 3D printer. Refer to filament manufacturers storage and use
guidelines for best results and safe printing.
In the box
1. 12 cubed 3d printer
2. Power cord
3. Magnetic safety lid
4. SD card with test print program
5. Test print from calibration
6. Sample filament to re-create test print
7. Adjustable spool holder
Plasticfab-3D 12 Cubed Users Manual v. 0.95

Overview
The 12 Cubed printer comes per-calibrated and ships with it's calibration print. We
include some of the same pla filament so you can run your own test print, if desired. The
included Sd card contains both the gcode and stl file to run your test print.
The large build volume of the 12 Cubed printer gives you the ability to complete
large builds in single prints. By using the SD enabled smart controller your printer can run
free of any computer connections. This “headless” run design prevents failed prints from
computer lag and restarts.
3D printing is not as simple as a standard printer, but can be learned quickly. With
the richness of web sites to download open license 3d models you don't even need to know
how to do 3d modeling.
Plasticfab-3D 12 Cubed Users Manual v. 0.95

Software settings
Slicing software
For slic3r all you need to do is import the config.ini file.
For Cura use the settings below.
Host software
X max 300mm
Y max 300mm
Z max 300mm
Plasticfab-3D 12 Cubed Users Manual v. 0.95

Menus
Info screen
The info screen gives you
Main menu
Plasticfab-3D 12 Cubed Users Manual v. 0.95

Prepare
Plasticfab-3D 12 Cubed Users Manual v. 0.95

Control
Print from SD
This is where to select your loaded prints from.
Plasticfab-3D 12 Cubed Users Manual v. 0.95

Access to the menus is done with the control knob / push button to the right of the
display. Turn the knob to the menu item you want, then push it in to select.
Below the Control knob is the emergency stop (e-stop) button. Pressing this button
will immediately stop the printer shutting off all steppers and heaters. You must power the
printer off then back on after use of the e-stop button.
Plasticfab-3D 12 Cubed Users Manual v. 0.95

Your First print
Before your first print, there are 2 important steps. The first one is to make sure
your print bed is level (see maintenance section for bed leveling). The second is to treat
the glass with PVAc or abs juice depending on what filament you are using.
Start by preheating to correct temperatures for your filament type. Under the
prepare menu you will find a preset for pla and abs. For the first print we recommend using
pla for it's ease of use. One the printer is to temp you can load your filament. Cut the end
of the filament to have a taper. Feed the end until you feel it enter the extruder gear.
Under the prepare menu, select move axis - .1 mm - extruder. Turn the control knob
clockwise until you see the color filament you inserted coming out of the no le.
After loading the filament, apply PVAc or abs juice to bed while it is at temp. This
will give better adhesion. Elmer's washable school glue sticks (purple) have shown good
results on both pla and abs filament.
Place the SD card into the slot on the side of the display. Go to the print from SD
menu and select your print. Your print will start with the axis going to the home position.
Watch the flow of filament to see if your tension is set correctly. Uneven flow is a sign of
low tension where as a buildup of fluffy plastic at the top of the extruder is a sign of
tension being high.
Plasticfab-3D 12 Cubed Users Manual v. 0.95

Maintenance
Bed leveling:
To level your printers bed, first home all axis. Go to the prepare menu and select
Auto home. After the printer is homed power it off. Move the extruder by hand.
Start at the front adjustment bolt. Place a piece of paper under the no le then
adjust the bolt until you can feel friction on the paper. Repeat at the back left and back
right bolts. After the last bolt go back and check the other 2 to confirm they are still level.
Repeat the steps till all 3 points have the same amount of drag on the paper.
Lubrication:
For best printing results, lubricate the linear rods. Silicone based oils work best. Wet
a lint free rag or paper towel, then wipe down the rods. Move the axis after to get lubricant
in the linear bearings.
Cleaning:
To clean print bed glass, lower the axis then twist the hold downs and remove. Use
non streaking window cleaner or hot water with dish soap and white vinegar. Clean glass
thoroughly and allow to dry. Try not to touch the top side of glass after washing. Place the
glass back on the bed insuring it is in the recess. Turn the hold downs to lock the glass
down.
Use non streak window cleaner and a soft cloth to clean acrylic parts and the out
side of the printer. Home all axis then power off the printer. Wipe down the inside acrylic
and out side of the printer. Remove the bottom plate by lifting from finger hole then
tilting to one side. Use a computer compressed air dusting can to blow dust from ramps
board and power supply.
Belt tensioning:
Both the x and y belt plates have a section of belt sticking out. Use locking pliers and
an allen wrench. Grab the belt section with locking pliers, then loosen the keeper. Pull the
belt tight and lock the keeper down again.
Plasticfab-3D 12 Cubed Users Manual v. 0.95

Troubleshooting
First layer problems.
If the first layer looks like string on the print bed the bed is too low. Check bed
leveling and first layer thickness in slicing software.
No plastic coming out. Print bed is too high or extruder tension not tight enough.
Check bed leveling, if not too tight on paper then tighten extruder tension.
First layer not sticking. This can be from bed or no le temperatures being too low or
not enough bed treatment (PVAc / ABS juice). It can also be a sign of an un-level bed.
Poor print quality.
Layers coming apart. If the no le temperatures are to low you will get poor layer
adhesion. Layer thickness too high can also cause this.
Layers shifting. A shift in layer position can be caused by 4 things.
1. Rapid or print motions set too high in slicing program. Lower the speed of non print
motions and or print motions.
2. Drag from filament. Check that the spool moves freely on holder and is free of tangles
on the spool.
3. Drag from linear motion. Lubricate the linear rods. See the lubrication guidelines under
the maintenance section.
4. Belt skipping . If the belt tension is too low the belt can skip. See maintenance section
for belt tensioning.
Plasticfab-3D 12 Cubed Users Manual v. 0.95