3D Printing

PrusaSlicer Setup – Selecting Print Settings

1. First, make sure the Simple settings tab is selected.
2. Print settings: Choose one of the presets. In this image, 0.15mm is the layer height and SPEED means faster printing times. For more durable parts, select a STRUCTURAL preset.
3. Filament: Make sure the material selected here matches the material you will be using in the printer.
4. Printer: Confirm that Original Prusa MK4 Input Shaper 0.4 nozzle is selected.
5. Supports: It is recommended to always have supports enabled. It is turned off by default.
6. Infill: This determines the internal density of the print. The default of 15% is recommended for most prints.
7. Brim: This option adds a thin layer around the outside edge of your print, which increases its adhesion to the build plate.
8. Once you are done editing the settings, click Slice now.

Check the Print Time

See Using PrusaSlicer to Preview Print Time. Make sure the print will be done by the end of your reservation. If you b\need to reduce print time, the most effective way to do is by reducing the size of the object. If that is not possible, increasing the layer height can significantly reduce print time.

Preparing the Printer

1. On the back of the 3Dprinterenclosure, make sure both power plugs are connected to the printer.
2. Make sure the power switch, located above where the cords connect, is turned on.
3. On the front of the enclosure, press the button labeled Filter to turn on the air filtration system.
4. Check the printer bed and remove any left behind filament.
5. If the bed appears greasy, ask staff for supplies to clean it as this can affect adhesion.

Starting and Monitoring a Print

• Insert the USB drive with the saved G-code file into the slot on the right of the 3Dprinter 's LCD screen.
  • If the 3D printer was powered on when the USB was inserted, the newest G-code file will be displayed on the LCD and you just need to select Print. Otherwise, select Print from the LCD home screen, then select your file and choose Print.
• The printer will take a few minutes after pressing Print to heat the nozzle and bed to the correct temperatures and run through the bed-leveling sequence.
• Once your print has started, watch the first layer carefully, making sure the filament is adhering to the plate and does not appear squished.
  • If an issue occurs, cancel and restart. If an issue occurs again, cancel and notify staff.

Note: To cancel a print, press in on the nozzle and select Stop.

Removing a Print

When the print has finished, wait for the printer bed to cool to 40°C (as displayed on the LCD screen) before removing it. In general, the cooler the bed, the easier it will be to remove. This also prevents warping of the print and damage to the printer bed's sheet.

After removing the print and before you take off any supports, get it weighed by a staff member. After weighing the print and returning tools to a staff member, clean up your print area and you’re good to go.

First Steps

1. On the Home Screen of the MK4’s LCD screen, turn the rotary knob to highlight Filament, then press in on the knob to select it.
2. Select Change Filament from the menu. Selecting Change Filament will first unload the filament currently in the printer and then load a new filament.
3. The printer will begin heating to unload the filament. The printer remembers what filament was selected previously and will automatically preheat to the correct temperature for unloading.

Unloading Filament

1. Once preheated, it will take a few seconds for the printer to unload the filament. The Printer will purge some of the filament in the nozzle at this time.
2. When the LCD screen shows Unloading the Filament is at 100%, grab the filament near the spool and pull it all the way out of the extruder and plastic tube.
3. Clip the end of the filament at a 45°angle and secure the end of the filament on the spool.
4. Return the spool to the proper bin in the makerspace.
5. Select Yes on the LCD screen to proceed to loading filament.

Loading Filament

1. Select the filament type you are loading from the menu on the LCD screen.
2. Put the new spool of filament on the spool arm inside the enclosure.
3. Unhook the end of the filament strand and make sure it is cut at a 45 ° angle.
4. Feed the filament all the way through the clear tube so that the end is past the brass connection on top of the toolhead. You will know it is far enough when the printer beeps and the LCD screen changes to the next instructions. Follow the instructions on the LCD screen telling you to press Continue and then the push filament further into the extruder.
5. Once heated, the printer will push out a bit of material from the nozzle and then ask if the color is correct.
   • If it is, click Yes.
   • If it is not correct, try Purge More. It is not unusual to need to purge 2 - 3 times.
   • If nothing is extruding and try Purge More first, then, if that doesn’t work, try Retry.