Zinter Freedom User manual

Zinter® FreedomInstruction ManualV1.01 October 2016
Zinter Special Projects

StartHere!
Contents:IntroductionPage 2User SafetyPage 4 Unpacking Your Zinter® FreedomPage 5 Software Installation Page 6Introduction to Simplify3DPage 7 Connecting Your Zinter® Freedom Page 17Loading Filament Page 18Unblocking a nozzlePage 19Levelling the Bed Page 20Your First Print Page 21Pause or stop a printPage 22Removing the print from the bed Page 23Filament Reference Guide Page 24FAQ’sPage 26Touchscreen Menu’s Page 27Web Portal Menu’sPage 28Looking after your Zinter® FreedomPage 29Certificate of Conformity Page 30
Thank you for choosing Zinter® Special Projects, and welcome to the Zinter® family!This quick start guide is intended to get you up and running with your new Zinter® Freedom as quickly as possible.

Legal Notice This manual is a ‘living document’ The information in this manual is subject to change without notice. The latest version can be downloaded from www.zinter.comZINTER LTD. MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND WITH REGARD TO THIS MACHINERY OR MATERIAL, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Zinter Limited shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this Equipment or associated material. Changes or modifications to the system not expressly approved in writing by Zinter Ltd, the party responsible for compliance, could void the user’s authority for use. Zinter Ltd reserves the right to amend its product specifications, firmware and associated guides, software and manuals without notice. Images used are for guidance only and may differ from your machine.This document is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Its use, disclosure, and possession are restricted by an agreement with Zinter Ltd. per software copyright. No part of this document may be photocopied, re-produced or translated into another language without the prior written consent of Zinter Ltd.Zinter Limited offers a 1 year warranty, refer to the warranty terms at www.zinter.comE&OEYour heated bed and Extruders run at very hot temperatures. Please read and understand this guide before printing to avoid serious burns or injury. introductionTrademarks Apple, Windows, Simplify 3D, Colorfabb and all other trademarks where used belong to their respective owners. The Zinter Freedom is intended to remain within the solid case. Removing the printer from the case exposes live wires - disconnect from mains before removing from case. Page 2

Zinter FreedomBuild ChamberFilament AccessFront ReleaseTouch ScreenCable Access Page 3Excellence in Additive Manufacture

user safetyTo avoid personal injury, or model deformation, do not touch the model, nozzle, or any moving parts by hand, or any other part of the body, while the printer is working or immediately after it has finished printing.Protective glasses should always be worn when removing support material. Always have adult supervision when children are present. Please keep all small printed parts away from young children; these can easily present choking hazards! There are several safety issues, small tools, sharp tools and HOT objects and most parts used in connection with 3D Printing. Tie back long hair and loose clothing. Keep fingers away from moving parts.Tools and parts should be stored at a suitable height away from small children. Tools should be used in conjunction with safety gloves and glasses.The printer must not be exposed to water or rain, or damage may occur.Do not shut down the Zinter Freedom or pull out the USB cable when loading a digital model, or the model data may be lost. Your Zinter Freedom will not continue printing following a power cut and any progress made before a power cut will be lost and the print will need to be restarted.The printer is designed to work properly at an ambient temperature of between 15°C and 25°C and humidity of between 20% and 50%; Operating outside these limits may result in low quality models or machine malfunction.Page 4Excellence in Additive Manufacture

Great care has been taken to ensure your Zinter® Freedom gets to you in one piece, however if there is any visible damage to the outer packaging, or obvious signs of damage please notify the courier immediately - failing to do so could invalidate any claim. unboxingYour Zinter® Freedom is heavy, lifting should be carried out by 2 people, care should be taken when lifting or moving. iiUnbox your Zinter® Freedom and retain all packaging for future use. Ensure all foam inserts’ locking screws and transport cableties are removed from inside the printer.Ensure you have all of the following parts before proceeding: 1 x Zinter® Freedom Printer 1 x USB lead 1 x Power Lead 1 x Glass Plate1 x Simplify3D® Download Pack1 x Instruction Manual 1 x Filament starter roll 1 x Build plate removal tool 2 x Rolls blue painters tape Excellence in Additive ManufacturePage 5

Your Zinter® Freedom is shipped with a Simplify3D download booklet, please follow the instructions and use the One Time use code contained in the booklet to download and Install Simplify 3D. You licence permits installation on two computers - for additional licences please visit our on-line store at www.zinter.comInstallation: installationLaunch: The installer will guide you through the installation steps. The last step is a prompt to open and launch your Simplify3D® Software for the first time. Activate: The software must be activated through an Internet connection after installation. You can deactivate a specific machine at any time by going to Help > Deactivate Product.Unzip and double click the .exe file to install. You may need to right click and choose ‘Run as Administrator’ depending on your permissions and trust settings. The windows installation requires Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable which should be automatically detected and installed if necessaryUnzip and double click the .app bundle to install. Enter your administrator username and password and follow on-screen promptsThe Linux installer comes with both 32 and 64 bit options. After choosing the appropriate version for your system, unzip the file and launch the .run package. It is recommended to launch this program as super-user by opening terminal, cd’ing to the directory where you unzipped the file, and the typing “sudo ./Simplify3D*installer.run” and entering the administrator password.OS x 10.6.8 +XP or greaterLinuxExcellence in Additive ManufacturePage 6

configurationWhen you open Simplify3D for the first time, you will be greeted by the Configuration Assistant. Select Ion Core Zinter Pro from drop down menu and the Assistant will automatically configure all of your settings.For Zinter Freedom Printers - select Zinter Pro from the menu and follow the steps below to adjust the default settings. iPage 7Excellence in Additive ManufactureOnce you have selected Zinter Pro from the drop down most settings will be configured automatically to configure the final settings for your printer click on ‘Edit Process Settings.On extruder tab select remove extruder to delete ‘back extruder’On temperature tab select remove controller to remove extruder and bedOn G Code Tab change bed size to 400 (X) 250(Y) 250 (Z)

534Build TableToolbarModelsProcessesMenu Bar21the interface1. Build Table: This is the interactive 3D environment where you will be viewing and working with your 3D content before printing. This is the “main stage” and primary viewing area. The grey grid is scaled proportionally to the size of your build volume and is determined based on your printer selection with the Configuration Assistant. Use these mouse short cuts for different views: • Rotate View – Left-click and drag • Pan View – Right-click and drag • Zoom – Scrolling or gesture zoom (or Shift-left-click and drag up and down)2. Menu Bar: Primary navigation to all aspects of Simplify3D Software. 3. Models: When you import 3D models, they are listed in this section above the buttons/commands that enable you to work with your models. 4. Processes: The build operations to create your 3D print are listed here, along with buttons/commands enabling you to work with process functions. 5. Toolbar: This toolbar contains quick access buttons for frequently used tools. You can move the toolbar anywhere you wish by clicking and dragging the top dotted line.Excellence in Additive ManufacturePage 8

Default ViewShow Solid ModelShow LightingFront ViewShow Point CloudMachine Control PanelTop ViewShow WireframeCross Section ViewSide ViewShow NormalsManually Define Support for ModelACDEBthe interfaceA. View: The first four buttons are preset viewing positions, allowing you to quickly change to the default, top, front, or side view.B. Model Render: These tools control how you view the attributes of your 3D models. You can add a wireframe or a point cloud to your model, enable or disable the lighting and the solid rendering of the model, or display the surface normals of the model.C. Cross Section Tool: The Cross Section tool gives you the ability to cut a model in half to look inside it. The tool allows you to cut your model from all three axes and can also be accessed in the Preview Mode.D. Machine Control Panel: Simplify3D® Software can connect to virtually any printer through the Machine Control Panel (MCP). Another way to access the MCP is through the top menu bar under Tools > Machine Control Panel. The MCP allows you to view your extruder and build plate temperatures, preheat your nozzles, jog your machine’s motors, and access the software-printer communication log.E: Support: The Manually Define Support tool provides the freedom to customize your support structure under or inside any part of a model.Page 9Excellence in Additive Manufacture

*Thingiverse is owned and operated by MakerBot® Industries, LLCimport a modelThe first step in the 3D printing process is to import the model you want to build. You can obtain 3D models from http://www.thingiverse.com* or you can make a model yourself using a CAD package like SketchUp or AUTOCAD®. Save the 3D model file on your computer or storage device as an .stl or .obj file. Click Import in the Models section and navigate to the folder where you saved your file. You can also drag-and-drop file(s) onto the Build Table. The software will automatically position and centre your imported model on the Build Table. iAdvanced model settings: Double click on any model (either in the Models list or on the Build Table) to bring up the Model Settings box. Enter numbers or use the up-down arrows to adjust the positioning, scaling, or rotation of your model. A helpful feature is that you can see your model change in real time on the Build Table. Helpful mouse and keyboard short-cuts to move, scale, or rotate your model:Move Model – Ctrl-left-click and drag (or Command-left-click on Mac)• Scale Model – Ctrl-right-click and drag up or down (Command-right-click - Mac)• Rotate Model – Alt-left-click and drag right or left (or Option-Left Click on Mac)Excellence in Additive ManufacturePage 10

process settingsIn the first step of the workflow, you imported a model. The next step is to define a Process that specifies how your model will be constructed. A process is a collection of settings including speed, size, support material, quality levels, etc. Some models are built with one process, while more complicated models may involve multiple processes throughout the build sequence.The first Process will be configured automatically based on the printer selected in the Configuration Assistant. You’re free to make any adjustments you desire, but it’s a great starting point!To make adjustments to your Process, double-click on the Process or click Edit Process Settings. This will open the FFF* Settings window. *The acronym FFF stands for Fused Filament Fabrication, and is the industry term for the 3D printing processes you will be using.Page 11Excellence in Additive Manufacture

process settingsThe FFF Settings window contains all the Processes that specify how your model will be constructed: 1. Select Profile – Allows you to choose a pre-configured printer profile.2. Auto-Configure for Material – Allows you to select the material you will be printing with.3. Auto-Configure for Print Quality – Allows you to select a pre-configured print quality.4. Infill Percentage – Changes the interior solidity of your 3D print. 0% is completely hollow and 100% is completely solid. A value in the range of 20-50% is a good place to start.5. Include Raft – Generates a raft structure underneath your part. Rafts are used to improve the bond to your build platform and may help reduce warping on large models.6. Generate Support – Turns on support material for your 3D print. Support structures are similar to scaffolding, in that they help support steep overhangs and unsupported areas during the construction process. Typically, a 45° or greater overhang will benefit from support material underneath it. Simplify3D provides a unique ability to customize your supports, with add and delete support buttons. Simplify3D support structures break away cleanly and easily, minimizing difficult post-production cleaning and insuring the highest quality final print. Click OK when you have finished configuring your settings in the FFF Settings window. At any time, you can modify the settings by double-clicking on the Process in the list, or by clicking Edit Process Settings.Click ‘Show Advanced’ at the bottom of the FFF settings window to view additional options and settings that are available within your Simplify3D Software. iExcellence in Additive ManufacturePage 12

previewing g-code“Slicing” is the term used to describe the process of translating a digital model into line-by-line printer instructions called “G-code.” The software slices the model into G-Code based on the variables you have selected in the FFF Settings window. After you have finalised your Process settings, click Prepare to Print! to trigger the preparation of G-Code. Simple models will be sliced in seconds, while complex models may take several minutes.When your G-Code has been created, the software window will transition automatically to Preview Mode.The animated Preview Mode in the Simpify3D® Software allows you to inspect all aspects of your print operation prior to execution. The software takes your generated G-Code and virtually displays line by line how your model will be constructed. Page 13Excellence in Additive Manufacture

previewThe Preview provides interactive buttons for precise playback control: • Play/Pause button animates the preview line by line. • Start and End Slider Bars allow you to move through the preview manually. (Hint: leave the Start button positioned at left and drag the End button to see the entire build). The preview can be illustrated by Line or by Layer by clicking on either selection.A useful setting is to select Preview by Layer and also place a check mark in Single Layer Only. Together, these selections will allow you to view a single layer at a time.Build Statistics are located in the top left corner of the Preview window and include three estimates:1. Build Time (how long it would take for your print to finish). 2. Filament Length (how much filament it will take to build your model). 3. Material Cost (an approximation of how much it will cost to make your part).If you want to make adjustments to your model or process before printing, click exit Preview Mode. Build statistics are intended only as a guide, and should not be relied upon to make business or costings decisions.. iiExcellence in Additive ManufacturePage 14

Normal SelectionTranslate ModelsScale ModelsRotate ModelsQWERNewOpenSave Factory FileSave Factory File AsImport ModelsUndoRedoCopy SelectionPaste SelectionRemove SelectionGroup SelectionUngroup SelectionSelect AllDeselect AllDuplicate ModelsCenter and ArrangeDrop Model to TablePlace Surface on BedPrepare to PrintDefault ViewTop ViewFront ViewSide ViewWireframeCross SectionMODEL MANIPULATIONFILE MENUEDIT MENUVIEW MENUTOOLS MENUMachine Control PanelCustomize Support StructuresOTHER SHORTCUTSSelect Multiple ModelsChange Build Plate AngleChange Build Plate PositionZoom In/Out on Build Plate+ N+ O+ S+ + S+ I+ Z+ + Z+ C+ V+ G+ + G+ A+ + A+ D+ R+ T+ L+ E+ 1+ 2+ 3+ 4+ W+ K+ P+ U+ Click ModelsRight Click + DragLeft Click + DragScrollNote: Mac users will need to replace the CTRL key with the Apple Command key (i.e., Command + Z to Undo).keyboard shortcutsExcellence in Additive ManufacturePage 15

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Place on Zinter® on a firm surfaceConnect the Power CordConnect USB or Network CablePower On4312get connectedPage 17Excellence in Additive Manufacture

Filament AccessHeatsinkLoading FilamentFeed RollerTension ReleaseWhen heated the hot end is extremely hot - take extra care when loading filament to prevent contact and avoid serious burns. Loading filament can be tricky but is made much easier by understanding what is going on inside the extruder while you try to load filament. The image below shows the extruder assembly of your Zinter® Freedomboth with the Fan and Heat sink removed and complete and with key parts identified.1: To load filament first ensure you begin by straightening out approx 5 - 10 cm of filament 2: While depressing the tension release lever insert filament through the Filament Access hole in the top of the extruder assembly. 3: Now carefully feed the filament in through the feed roller and into the end of the Guide Tube - This is quite fiddly, but gets easier with practice! This will be easier if you have cut the filament end at 45o to create a ‘point’.4: The printer is now ready to print..Hot EndHeatsinkHot EndHot EndCooling FanHeatsinkGuide TubeTension Indicator
Filament Route
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Blocked ExtruderWhen heated the hot end is extremely hot - take extra care when loading filament to prevent contact and avoid serious burns. From time to time your extruder may become blocked, and you will need to strip down your extruder to clear filament from the unit. This process can also be used to clean the drive gear to achieve optimum results.Begin by un-clipping the cooling fan from the heat sink, then carefully remove the 4 screws holding the extruder cover plate in placeRemove the cover plate to expose the inner workings of the extruder, be careful not to misplace the small bearing housed within the cover-plate.You can now remove the tension release arm,by sliding it towards you, taking care not to loose the nut, bolt and spring that set your feed roller tension With the tension arm removed you can now remove the heatsink, guide tube and hot end from the extruder assembly by sliding carefully towards you. Be extremely careful if the hot end is still warm. Take note of the orientation of the guide tube - it must be replaced the same way it came off!You can now unscrew the heak sink from the hot end, be careful not to loose the PTFE tube contained within, this will reveal any blocked filament.You may need to heat the hot end in order to release the filament - if required this must be done with extreme caution. Reverse these instructions to rebuild your extruder. .Excellence in Additive ManufacturePage 19