The following User Guide provides you
with all of the information you need to
get started printing with your Polaroid
ModelSmart 250S.
It will guide you through the simple
installation of your printer starting with
getting it out of the box, right through
to each of the fantastic features of the
Polaroid Prep printing software and the
easy-to-use touch screen LCD on the
printer itself.
The Polaroid 3D team hope that you have
many happy hours printing with your
new ModelSmart 250S 3D printer, but
if you have any questions at all, please
don’t hesitate in contacting the team via
our online Contact Form.
3
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING
(Heated surface)
Whilst in operation, the extruder on your Polaroid 3D printer becomes very hot.
Always allow time for the extruder to cool down before you reach inside the printer.
This product is not to be serviced by anyone other than a Polaroid 3D approved
engineer. Any unapproved servicing will also void your guarantee.
The Polaroid 3D printers include moving parts, which may cause injury if interfered
with whilst in use. Never reach inside your Polaroid 3D printer whilst it is in use.
Never leave your Polaroid 3D printer unattended during operation.
Please ensure that the printer is located in an area that is:
• close to the intended power supply and that the socket is easily accessible
• well ventilated
• clean and dry
• a consistent and stable temperature and humidity
• positioned away from any object that may cover the ventilation holes on the printer
• positioned away from any ammable items
• positioned away from any liquids
• a at and stable surface
(Electrical component)
WARNING
CAUTION
Any damage caused by improper use of the printer or its component and consumable
parts, which is in contradiction with this User Guide becomes the full responsibility of
the user and will void your guarantee.
This printer is not suitable for children. Anyone under the age of 16 must be supervised
by an adult.
Never turn off your Polaroid 3D printer during printing; please wait until the job has
completed and the print bed and extruder have returned to the Home Position before
turning off the power.
Due to the weight of this product, two people are required to remove the printer from
the outer box packaging and onto a suitable surface.
4
BOX CONTENTS
ABC
Polaroid ModelSmart 250S
Glass bed
DEF
Cartridge lament holder
2m power cable
GHI
Filament cartridge 750g PLA
24v power adapter
Four screws for the lament
Extra long 3mUSB Cable
512MB SD Card
cartridge holder
JKL
Filament tube
5
Z-Axis sheets
Quick Start Guide
PRINTER SET UP
Please follow the steps below to get your Polaroid 3D printer ready for printing. Before you start,
please note that two people are required to remove the printer from the box. Once removed from
the box please ensure that your printer is positioned on a at and stable surface, this helps to
minimise vibration and produce more accurate prints.
Remove the printer from the double lined box.
1
Please note that two people are required to
remove the printer from the box.
Open the printer door and remove the following
2
items from the box that you nd inside the
printer:
a. Glass bed
b. Filament cartridge
c. Filament cartridge holder
d. 2m Power cable
e. 24V power adapter
f. Extra long 3m USB cable
g. Four screws for the lament holder
h. Filament tube
i. 1x pack of Z-Axis sheets
Set up the lament holder cable:
3
Connect the cable connector to the rear of the
lament cartridge holder. Please refer to the
illustration for details and correct orientation.
With the four screws provided attach the
4
lament cartridge holder to the printer.
Important note: hand tighten only.
6
Insert the glass bed onto the print bed area
5
at an angle to ensure it ts underneath the
metal ridge at the back, then lower it onto the
magnets at the front to secure it in place.
An SD card must always be inserted to print
6
whether by computer or via LCD.
8
howpolaroidareyou
www.howpolaroidareyou.com/soware
7
6
Connect the USB cable.
7
Connect the power cable and turn on the
8
printer. Be careful not to damage the cables.
Download and install the Polaroid Prep Software
9
from howpolaroidareyou.com/software
Firstly, please insert your serial number and
email address to download the software.
MODEL:
ModelSmart 250S
howpolaroidareyou.com
MADE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM BY: Environmental Business Products Ltd. 26 Chase Road, London, NW10 6BB
ModelSmart 250S
Serial No. PL-250-18679-12NSJ
100-240V AC;
24V 5A DC;
50-60Hz
7
Your serial number can be found on the outer
box/packaging, or on the rear of your printer.
In order to validate your printer guarantee, please click on the link above the download button
“register your product” and then enter your details.
Once you have downloaded the software and double clicked on the installer, the installation process
will then begin.
howpolaroidareyou
www.howpolaroidareyou.com/soware
8
WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM
Please follow the on-screen pop-up messages to install the Polaroid Prep software as below:
9
INSTALLING CARTRIDGES
Before you can print you must install a lament cartridge.
In order to do this you must use the menu on the touchscreen LCD on the top of the printer. Please
follow the process below:
From the Main Menu please select ‘Change Filament’
12
Main Menu
Change Filament
Preheat
Print
The lament cartridge is already pre-selected so
please press continue.
Settings
Information
Shutdown
Change Filament
Please select the filament to change:
Filament Cartridge
Main Menu
Please then wait a few moments for the selected
extruder to warm up. This is necessary because
in order to successfully load a cartridge a
small amount of material needs to be extruded
through the nozzle. The ‘Continue’ button will
remain inactive until the extruder is warmed to
the correct temperature.
Continue
34
10
Change Filament
Is the filament currently loaded?
No
Yes
Cancel
Continue
5
You will then be asked if a lament cartridge
Change Filament
Install the cartridge and firmly feed the filament
through the tube until it stops, whilst maintaining
pressure on the filament, press continue to start
the extrusion.
Main MenuContinue
You then need to install the cartridge onto the side of the printer. Firstly, remove the lament
cartridge from the outer packaging and take out the red plug from the side of the cartridge casing.
Slide the cartridge onto the lament holder on the side of the printer and gently push until you hear
it click into place.
is already installed. Initially this will be ‘No’
as this is the rst time a lament cartridge has
been loaded; but when changing a cartridge in
future you will select ‘Yes’. Selecting ‘Yes’ will
uninstall the existing lament before allowing
you to load a new lament.
Next, gently pull out sufcient lament from the cartridge (5cm to 15cm). Cut off the rst 5cm of
the lament and discard (this is to ensure that any previously exposed lament does not enter the
printer as it may have some dirt on it). Then push the lament coming from the cartridge through
the lament tube (item J). Feed the lament through the lament tube into the corresponding
tting on the side of the printer.
Continue feeding the lament into the printer until it you feel it stops. Approximately 30cm of
lament will be required.
11
Whilst maintaining gentle pressure (to ensure that the lament has been fed all the way through
correctly), please press the on-screen ‘Continue’ button which will start the extrusion process.
You should then feel the lament being pulled through the printer and see lament being extruded
through the nozzle. When this is complete the ‘Continue’ button will become active and you can
complete the process.
If no lament is extruded, ensure that the lament has been pushed all the way through and whilst
maintaining gentle pressure please push the ‘Repeat Process’ button.
Change Filament
If no filament is extruded after 30 sec, please press
‘Repeat process’.
Repeat Process
Main Menu
Continue
Change of filament is complete.
Change Filament
End
Once the lament has been installed, push the end of the lament tube onto the top of the
cartridge and into the tting on the side of the printer, ensuring that no lament is left exposed.
If removing a part-used lament,
please ensure that you do not push
the end of the lament back into the
cartridge casing as this means that
you will then not be able to attach
this cartridge to the printer again for
printing.
12
Part-used cartridges should be
stored in a cool and dry environment
whilst not in use.
Z-AXIS SHEETS
When printing on a 3D printer, the rst layer of the print is all-important. It must adhere to the
print bed to ensure that the subsequent layers sit directly on top of each other and aren’t out of
alignment. Any small movement or imperfection could cause your print to not re-produce correctly.
To ensure this adhesion is secure, the Polaroid 3D printers use a revolutionary product called the
Z-Axis sheets. These are transparent adhesive sheets that are easy to apply to the print bed before
each print. Your model then prints on top and when nished you simply remove the glass bed from
the printer and peel off the Z-Axis sheet. The model then peels from the sheet.
Applying the Z-Axis sheet
for PLA and Wood
1. Before applying the Z-Axis
sheet, ensure the glass bed is
clean.
2. Remove the backing sheet
(clearly labelled this side down)
and apply the revealed adhesive
side to the print bed.
3. Take it slow from one edge
to the other and take care to
minimise air bubbles.
4. Once fully applied remove the
top sheet, leaving the adhesive
layer exposed.
5.You are now ready to print.
6. For best results print within
15 minutes of removing the rst
backing sheet.
13
CAMERA SET UP
SWITCH ON YOUR POLAROID 3D PRINTER
1
INSTALL APP
2
Please download the ‘Doby - Smart Camera’ App from Google Play or Apple Store onto your smart
phone or tablet.
SIGN UP AND SIGN IN
3
Open the App and click on ‘Sign Up’ to register.
ADD DEVICE
4
a) Once you have successfully logged in, you will be directed to the Home screen. Click the icon at the
+
bottom right of your screen and then choose the ‘camera’ option.
b) Please make sure that the blue WiFi indicator light is ashing
on the camera. If not, please press and hold the WiFi button for
a few seconds until the blue WiFi indicator light is ashing and
then click on ‘yes’ on the screen. Click icon to view the
!
description of all LED indicator light states.
c) Add device
• Android: on the search page, choose the new device you want to add. The camera ID number is located on the
camera, which is mounted inside the printer door.
• iPhone: come out of the app and go to ‘Settings > WiFi’ on your iPhone and connect to ‘DOG-00***’ and use the password shown on the screen. Once you have connected come back
to the App and click ‘next’.
Note: If after pressing the WiFi button, the WiFi indicator light does not ash blue, please perform a
factory reset as follows: using a pin, please press and hold the reset button for approx. 5 sec or until the
WiFi indicator turns off. The reset button can be found on the underneath of the camera housing.
d) On the ‘Set Wi’ page, both Android and iPhone, select a network to connect to enter the password
and click ‘next’.
Note: the automatic switching of network is normal during the connection process.
e) Once added successfully click on ‘Done’ and start using.
WATCHING VIDEO
5
a) On the App home page, click on the camera you have added from the list.
b) Click on the play button to watch real-time video. Click on the video to bring up the pause button and
press the pause button to stop the video.
c) Click on the icon on the top right corner of the screen to change the camera settings.
SMART CAMERA DOG-1W
6
PARAMETERS
7
INDICATOR STATE
SpecificationItems
DOG-1W
Microphone
Automatically enable infrared induction
under low illumination
IEEE802.11b, IEEE802.11g
14
DOG-1W
(WiFi)
State
The power light is onBe connected to power supply
WiFi indicator is blue blinking
WiFi indicator is red
blinking slowly
WiFi indicator is blue
all the time
WiFi indicator is flashing
red and blue
Instruction
Be ready to connect with a
mobile device
Fail to connect to a WiFi
Connected to WiFi successfully
System upgrading
Product
Model
Lens
Video
Voice
Night
Vision
WiFi
HD camera, support videoing day and night
H.264 (CODEC), 720*576@15fps (resolution)
HOW TO PRINT
Printing in 2 easy steps:
ADD MODEL
1
Open the Polaroid
Prep Software
Select ‘Add model’ at
the top of the screen
and locate your
.stl le within you
computer.
Your model is then
loaded onto the print
bed area.
15
2
PRINT
Select ‘Print’ at the
top of the screen
Select to save your
le for printing via SD
card or transfer and
print via USB.
16
If saving your le,
select your SD card
a location on your
computer and click
save.
DESKTOP FUNCTIONS
This box provides you with the
height, width and depth dimensions
for the model that you have selected.
This button allows you to make a
copy of the model you currently
have selected. You can make as
many copies as you like.
If you no longer want a model, make
sure it is selected and then press this
button to delete. You can also delete
by pressing delete on your keyboard.
Pressing and holding your delete key
will delete all of the models, one-by-one.
If you re-position your model whilst
editing and it is raised off the print
bed then pressing this button will
place the model back onto the bed.
17
If at any point you want to revert
your models and print area to how it
was before you last saved, then this
button will reset your changes.
These boxes provide you with the X, Y and Z position
of the selected model on the print bed area. To adjust
the model position using these boxes you can either
use the arrow buttons, manually type in a new
position, or click into the box where the numbers
are and use the scroll button on your mouse.
Alternatively models can be moved with the mouse
by clicking and dragging within the print bed area.
These boxes provide you with the angle of the
selected model on the print bed area, starting at a
zero position when rst imported. This then allows
you to rotate the position on the bed. To adjust the
angle of the selected model using these boxes you
can either use the arrow buttons, manually type in a
new angle (in degrees), or click into the box where
the numbers are and use the scroll button on your
mouse.
These boxes allow you to adjust the size of your
models. Starting at a scale of 1, you can then scale up
or down in multiples (i.e. 2 would be twice the size).
To adjust the scale of the selected model using these
boxes you can either use the arrow buttons, manually
type in a new scale, or click into the box where
the numbers are and use the scroll button on your
mouse. With a tick in the left hand box you can scale
your model proportionally; unticking this will allow
you to scale along one axis individually.
18
Although the Polaroid ModelSmart
250S 3D printer has only one extruder,
you can easily print models in multiple
colours.
By selecting Multi Colour in Polaroid
Prep or opening the door mid-print, the
print will pause. At which point there is an option
on the LCD screen to change your cartridge, this
allowing you to change colour.
Alternatively, if you want to be specic about where
your new colour starts on your print, you can pre-set
the printer to pause. You can do this by pressing the
Multi Colour button in Polaroid Prep; this inserts a
‘pause’ onto your bed (seen as a pink layer). You can
then move this to where you want it on your model,
either by using the slider, or by typing in a position
in millimetres (working from the bottom of your
model upwards) or even a percentage point. You can
set as many pauses in your print as you like. You can
also easily space these equally by clicking the Auto-
Arrange button.
19
ADVANCED SETTINGS
All Advanced Settings are set to their default position
for standard printing. This allows you to just go
ahead and print without needing to adjust anything.
If however you want to make changes, you can do
so easily. Any changes you make then allow you to
create a Custom setting. If you are likely to use these
same settings again in the future then you can Save
the Preset for future use.
There are two main things that can affect the quality of your print; one is the layer height (measured in microns)
and the other is print speed (measured in millimetres per second). Using these sliders here you can adjust both
settings. The quality ranges from 50 to 350 microns (0.05mm to 0.35mm) with a default of 200 (0.2mm). The speed
ranges from 20mm/s to 100mm/s with a default of 50mm/s. Note: the smaller the micron number, the ner the print
detail (as you are printing more layers) and the lower the speed, the better quality of print (as there is less vibration
whilst printing).
20
Support structures can be important in 3D printing as the method of printing one layer on top of another means
that if there is an overhang within the model (where the layer being printed has nothing underneath to rest on) then
this can cause a print to fail.
To print with supports on the Polaroid ModelSmart 250S is easy; you simply tick the box that says ‘Enable Supports’
when you click Print. This will turn on the default supports, which places them anywhere on your model that has an
overhang that is more than 30° from the vertical.
If you wish to adjust some of the support settings yourself then you can do so under the Advanced Settings. These
include being able to adjust the type of support (default is a line support, or if more support is needed you can
change to a grid structure), and also adjusting what angle the supports will initially be applied from, as well as
other more advanced settings.
21
Under the Advanced Settings you can also adjust the way that your model is printed.
With this form of 3D printing, models are printed with a solid outer wall, surface and base and then a grid inll
(i.e. it isn’t solid throughout). Under the Properties section of the Advanced Settings you can adjust some of these
features.
Shell thickness allows you to adjust how thick the outer walls of your model are in millimetres.
The ll density adjusts the grid inside the model. The default is set to 15% but if you wanted a completely hollow
object you can slide this down to 0%, or for a more solid object simply slide the scale up towards 100%.
The other Properties setting is to adjust the number of layers at the beginning and end of each print. This is default
at 6 layers but can be adjusted up or down accordingly.
FILAMENT LEVELS
At any me whilst in Polaroid
Prep you can check the lament
levels of the cartridge you have
connected to the printer. Please
note that the printer and your
computer must be connected
via the USB cable provided in
order to read the cartridge
level informaon from the bidireconal smartchip on the
cartridge. This will tell you the
colour and material of the current
cartridge and how much lament
is remaining (in % and in grams).
Note: when not connected to a
PC you can check your lament
levels via the LCD on the printer
by selecng Sengs, then Other
Sengs, then Printer Status.
When you are running low there
will be a warning sign pop up on
this lament level to let you know.
At this point (or any point), you
can click on the shopping basket
buon and this will take you to a web page idenfying places you can purchase a replacement cartridge from.
You will also see rotang adverts at the boom of the lament level box. These will adverse a variety of items and
services which if you click on will take you direct to the applicable website page.
22
MODEL LIBRARY
The Polaroid ModelSmart 250S
3D printer prints .stl le types; .stl
being the industry standard format
for 3D printable models.
To print a model you can either
design it yourself and import into
Polaroid Prep, or download from
one of the many exisng online
model libraries already available
(free of charge). Alternavely you
can download from the Polaroid
Model Library that is built into the
Polaroid Prep Soware.
By clicking on the Model Library
buon at the top of the screen, it
brings up the available models.
Selecng a model will then open
up a new screen that provides you
with a download buon. Once
downloaded you will see the le
name of that model appear in the
model list on the right hand side of
Polaroid Prep. Clicking on Scene in
the top le of the screen will then
take you back to your print area
ready for prinng.
If the model you have selected has mulple parts to it then you will see each of the individual components and can
download all of the parts that you need and then click Scene to return to your print area.
23
PREPARING, PRINTING AND SAVING YOUR SCENE
If copying an object when you rst open Polaroid
Prep, it will copy one object behind another (as
show in the rst image), allowing you to arrange
the items on the print bed as you wish. You will
noce that this even keeps copying objects outside
of the print bed area (the model shown in grey).
Alternavely, if you click on Sengs at the top
le of the screen, you will be able to select
Auto Arrange. This will then place objects into
the opmum print posion (to minimise the
movement of the printhead) when copying
objects (as shown in the second image).
If you see an image in grey within your workspace,
it means that it is parally or wholly o the
print bed area. If you choose to print at this
point, the object in grey will simply be ignored.
If you happen to overlap one model with another,
you will see that they turn orange (as seen in the
third image). This is to idenfy to you that they have
overlapped, however the soware will allow you to
connue prinng and the overlapped objects will
print as they appear, i.e. merged into one new model.
If you have mulple objects to print but not all at
one me, then you can simply place the models
you want to print later o the print bed but within
the workspace area (shown in light blue) and then
select File and Save Scene from the headers at the
top le corner of the screen. You can then return
to this scene at any point in the future to connue
prinng the other models from the workspace area.
24
PRINTING VIA YOUR POLAROID 3D PRINTER
This process is carried out using the touchscreen LCD on the printer. Please ensure you have an SD
card loaded into the slot on the back of the printer before you start; and that the model you wish
to print is saved on that card.
Please select ‘Print’ from the Main Menu
Main Menu
1
Change Filament
Preheat
Print
Settings
Information
Shutdown
Select the model you wish to print from the
2
list of models that are shown (i.e. the models
that you have saved on your SD card). Please
note that this screen has an eight character
limit for le names; please bear this in mind
when saving models in order to ensure that
you can locate them easily on the SD card
when printing via the LCD.
Once you have selected the correct model,
please press ‘Print’.
PauseCancel Print
Print
Current Status: Complete.
The on-screen display will then conrm
3
the model selection, the status of print
(initialising, printing or complete), as well the
percentage of printing complete.
At any time during printing you are able to
pause or cancel your print via the LCD.
Once your print is completed this on-screen
message will be displayed.
4
25
Finish
OTHER LCD FUNCTIONALITY
PREHEAT
The Preheat functionality allows you to warm up the extruder prior to starting the printing process.
This is not an essential part of the process but will allow faster printing because the printer can be
carrying out this process whilst you prepare your Scene and print le.
If you select ‘Preheat’ the on-screen display
will inform you of the current and optimum
temperatures. When the two temperatures display
the same number then the printer is ready for
printing.
You can turn preheating on or off via the LCD at
any time.
SETTINGS
Under ‘Settings’ you have two further options (excluding returning to the Main Menu).
‘Home Position’ returns the extruder and the print bed to their default position: the extruder to the
rear right-hand corner of the printer, and the print bed being reset to its lowest position.
‘Other Settings’ provides you with two further options; selecting and changing the language of the
LCD, or displaying current Print Status information as shown on the images below:
12
Settings
Home Position
Other Settings
Main Menu
Other Settings
Printer Status
Language
Back
26
34
PrevNext
English
Italian
French
Dutch
Cancel
Language
OK
INFORMATION
Information
The ‘Information’ button will provide you with
manufacturer details as well as conrming
which version of the Firmware you currently
have installed.
SHUTDOWN
The ‘Shutdown’ button informs you that you
should wait until all programs are terminated
and the printer has returned the extruder and the
print bed to their Home Position before turning
the printer off at the main switch.
Product:
Year of manufacture:2016
Firmware:1.5.21 / p1.5.9
www.howpolaroidareyou.com
Polaroid ModelSmart 250S
OK
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Polaroid ModelSmart 250S
Extruder1
Resoluon50-350 microns
Auto Calibraon
Max. Model Size250(w) x 150(h) x 150(d) mm
PLA
Wood
Filament Size1.75mm
Z-Axis Sheets
Wi-Fi Camera
Auto Support Generaon
Polaroid Helpful Printer Driver®
Speed (mm/s)20 - 100 mm/s
Guarantee12 month manufacturer’s guarantee*
* This may oer by country according to minimum statutory requirements
27
CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE
It is important that your Polaroid 3D printer is kept clean at all times in order to ensure continued
consistency in your prints. Please follow the simple points below to help maintain your printer.
Keep the exterior of your printer clean by using a damp cloth to remove any dust
or dirt. Ensure that the printer is switched off before you clean and be careful not
to get water near any of the electrical components. Please take extra care if wiping
down the LCD screen as too much pressure or water in the display could cause
damage to the touchscreen functionality.
It is important to ensure that the extruder remains clean and free from any residual
lament prior to each print otherwise the nozzle could get blocked and the print
may not be successful.
Please ensure that you do not leave any item, model or residual material
underneath or around the print bed, or anywhere inside the printer when printing
as these could obstruct the movement of the extruder and print bed which could
possibly result in an unsuccessful print.
To clean the glass print bed, please remove carefully after each print. Ensure
that your model and any remnants of lament material have been removed,
and then carefully wipe the bed with a clean cloth and warm water or specic
glass cleaning solution. This should remove any residual adhesive left behind
from the Z-Axis sheets. Please then ensure that the bed is dry before applying a
new Z-Axis sheet prior to printing. For how to apply and remove please see our
instructional video.
28
POLAROID 3D PRINTER GUARANTEE
12 MONTH GUARANTEE
The manufacturer guarantees this printer against any defects in both material and workmanship
for a period of 12 months (unless minimum statutory requirements otherwise) from the date of
purchase. It does not include wear and tear, and is based on fair use with regular maintenance.
In order to validate this guarantee you must provide your details at the point of downloading the
Polaroid Prep Software.
Should any defect(s) be discovered, please rst visit our online troubleshooting support page at
howpolaroidareyou.com/support. However, if a problem occurs during the 12 month period that
cannot be rectied remotely or on site by the manufacturer’s technical team then you may be
requested to return the printer. The information overleaf outlines the process you must follow in
order to return your printer for repair.
Your serial number and proof of purchase will be required in order to process your claim.
Please ensure you include a copy of your sales receipt when you return the product.
A SIMPLE RETURN PROCESS
Contact the manufacturer’s customer service team Monday to Friday between 8:30-17:30
(GMT) by emailing support@howpolaroidareyou.com . You will be provided with a Returns
Transfer Number (RTN).
Clearly write the RTN on the outside of the box or packaging, next to the shipping label. The
manufacturer will not be responsible for non-traceable packages or packages sent without a
valid RTN on the outside of the packaging.
This guarantee is not valid if the product has been damaged by accident, electrical fault, through
misuse, abuse, or failure to provide reasonable care as outlined within the User Guide. If the product
has been altered without written authorisation from the technical team then the guarantee will not
be valid.
All implied guarantees, including any implied guarantee of tness for any particular purpose, are
limited in duration to 12 months from the date of original purchase. In no event will the manufacturer
be responsible for consequential damages resulting from the use of this product.
The above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you to the extent that applicable law may not
allow the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages.
Using third party software applications or using non-Polaroid lament may invalidate this guarantee
in the event of damage subsequently being caused to the printer.
Tampering with the printer in any way may invalidate the guarantee. Please contact the the
manufacturer team if you have any technical enquiries.
AFTER SALES SUPPORT: The manufacturer have a dedicated team of 3D printing specialists that
are available to help with any problem or question you may have regarding your 3D printer. Please
contact our team via the contact form on our howpolaroidareyou.com/support.
MAINTENANCE: It is important that your Polaroid 3D printer is kept clean at all times. For best
print output it is recommended to keep the extruder nozzle clean and check regularly for any residual lament build up, as these may cause subsequent unsuccessful prints. Please contact support@
howpolaroidareyou.com for guidance on how to remove any such build up.
29
CERTIFICATIONS AND COMPLIANCE
CERTIFICATION
The Polaroid ModelSmart 250S printer is compliant under the following applicable EU certications:
WEEE Directive: As both manufacturer and distributor the Polaroid 3D printer team is WEEE
compliant in all applicable EU countries in which the product is supplied. This ensures that our
responsibilities are fullled in regards to the electronic waste that is generated through the
sale of the Polaroid 3D printers and consumables.
Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC: This Directive allows electrical equipment to be
approved by any EU member country, by provision of a set of common broad objectives,
covering safety regulations that the product is tested against. The Polaroid ModelSmart 250S
printers are tested and approved under this Directive.
EMC Directive 2004/108/EEC: This is a Directive that all electronic items must be tested
against. It aims to minimise the side effects that can sometimes be seen when electrical devices
are interconnected or close to each other; e.g. the interference that you sometimes hear when
your mobile phone is near your TV or radio. The Polaroid ModelSmart 250S printers are tested
and approved under this Directive.
RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU: This is the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive. Its
purpose is to restrict the use of six hazardous materials in the manufacture of various types
of electronic and electrical equipment. Each individual component of the equipment has been
tested in order to ensure that the Polaroid ModelSmart 250S printers are approved under this
Directive.
Green Dot Packaging Waste Directive - 94/62/EC: This directive ensures that manufacturers
whose products use packaging are responsible for either recovering their own packaging waste,
or contributing to the cost of recovery and recycling of such waste. The Polaroid 3D team is
registered and compliant against this directive across the applicable European countries.
CE Marking: Following all of the above required legislation and certication enables each of
the Polaroid ModelSmart 250S printers to proudly carry the CE Mark which conrms that they
have been approved under each of these Directives.
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TROUBLESHOOTING
We hope that you have happy and trouble-free printing. But should you have any questions
about anything, take a look at our FAQs and Troubleshooting questions below or to our website
howpolaroidareyou.com/support to see if we can help. If you still do not nd a solution, please
feel free to contact our team via our Contact Form.
Question 1. I can’t unload the filament from the extruder
To unload the lament from the printer please follow the ‘Change Filament’ process via the LCD
main menu.
If this does not successfully unload the cartridge, please wait until the nozzle has fully cooled before
carefully reaching inside the printer to remove the plastic tubing from the top of the orange push-
tting for the nozzle.
Once the plastic tubing has been removed, please follow the ‘Change Filament’ process again to
retract the lament, whilst gently pulling the lament (by hand) from the top of the printhead. Try
this process a maximum of two times should the rst time be unsuccessful.
If the second retraction still hasn’t freed the lament, please follow the ‘Change Filament’ process
again, but when asked if lament is currently loaded, select ‘No’. This will start the extrusion process
(rather than retraction) which will hopefully loosen and free the lament.
Once you see lament being extruded (please only try this process a maximum of two times), please
try the retraction process once again. The lament should now be loose and unload successfully.
If the above process is not successful please contact us via our online Contact Form and one of
our customer service team will guide you through a resolution.
Please remember to re-attach the plastic tubing into the orange push-tting before commencing
your next print.
Question 2. I can’t get the printer to extrude any filament
If you are trying to print but no lament is being extruded, please follow the ‘Change Filament’
process via the LCD screen, selecting ‘No’ when asked if a cartridge is already installed. This will start
the extrusion process. You have the option of repeating this process if the rst time is unsuccessful.
Should this not resolve the problem, please carefully reach inside the printer (once completely
cooled) to remove the plastic tubing from the top of the orange push-tting for the corresponding
nozzle that you are trying to extrude.
Please then repeat the extrusion process as above, but this time gently apply pressure by pushing
the lament downwards into the top of the printhead. This should then allow the lament to freeow and extrude correctly.
Should the above process not resolve the problem please contact our team via the online Contact Form.
Question 3. I can’t read my full file name from the LCD
The LCD screen is limited to 8 characters for each le name. Therefore in order to easily locate the
le you require please save your model les with a name that meets this criteria.
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Question 4. I am having problems removing my model from the print bed
Please ensure that you are using the Polaroid Z-Axis sheets when printing with a Polaroid 3D
printer.
These should be applied to the bed by removing the backing sheet (clearly labelled this side down)
and apply the revealed adhesive side to the print bed. Then remove the top sheet, leaving the
adhesive layer exposed.
This will mean that when your model is completed it will be afxed to the bed.
In order to remove the Z-Axis sheet and therefore your model, please start by removing all 4 corners
of the sheet from the bed, leaving it remaining stuck just underneath your model. Then simply take
hold of all four corners and rmly pull away from the glass bed. This will remove both the sheet
and the model.
All you then need to do is peel off the sheet from your model.
You may nd that a small amount of adhesive residue is left on your model from the Z-Axis sheet.
You can easily remove this by using any general purpose household cleaner.
Question 5. I have a filament jam. My printer is printing air, no filament is
being extruded
Firstly please try to unload the lament from the printer using the ‘Change Filament’ process via
the LCD main menu for the cartridge that you wish to unload.
If this does not successfully release the lament jam, please wait until the nozzle has fully cooled
before carefully reaching inside the printer to remove the plastic tubing from the top of the orange
push-tting for the corresponding nozzle that you are trying to unload.
Once the plastic tubing has been removed, please follow the ‘Change Filament’ process again to
retract the lament, whilst gently pulling the lament (by hand) from the top of the printhead. Try
this process a maximum of two times.
If the second retraction still hasn’t freed the lament, please follow the ‘Change Filament’ process
again, but when asked if lament is currently loaded, select ‘No’. This will start the extrusion process
(rather than retraction) which will hopefully loosen and free the lament.
Once you see lament being extruded (please only try this process a maximum of two times), please
try the retraction process once again. The lament should now be loose and unload successfully.
If the above process is not successful please contact us via our online Contact Form and one of
our customer service team will guide you through a resolution.
Please remember to re-attach the plastic tubing into the orange push-tting before commencing
your next print.
Question 6. I have items missing/damaged when unpacking my printer for
the first time
Please get in touch with one of our team via the online Contact Form and let us know what is
missing or damaged. Please note that you will need to provide us with your serial number and a
proof of purchase for the printer so that we can follow this up for you.
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Question 7. I only want to print a small object, why do I have to use a full
size Z-Axis sheet?
At the start of each print, the printer performs an auto-calibration process to ensure that the bed
is level and that the extruder is perfectly positioned to print your model successfully. This requires
a small switch to be lowered to each of the four corners of the bed to measure the exact location
and for printing to begin at the correct position. The height of the Z-Axis sheet plays an important
point in this measurement; as if the bed isn’t calibrated to include this height then the print could
possibly fail. Therefore each of the 4 touch-points need to measure the same height as the central
area where the print itself will take place. In order to achieve this, the Z-Axis sheet needs to cover
not only the central print area, but the 4 corners as well.
Question 8. Why did the printhead extrude a different colour filament from
what is installed on the very first extrusion?
Before the Polaroid 3D printers are despatched to you, they undergo quality control testing to
ensure that they are performing perfectly for you. Part of this test is to print a test model on the
printer to conrm that the quality output matches our pre-determined standard.
If you are seeing a small amount of a different colour lament extruded on the very rst time you
print with your printer it is because a different colour lament was used during this testing phase.
Please follow the ‘Change Filament’ process before printing and select ‘No’ when asked if a cartridge
is already installed. This will extrude a small amount of lament and conrm that the printer is
ready to print. Please repeat this process until the lament that you see extruded is the correct
lament for the cartridge that you have installed. This should happen on the second extrusion, i.e.
you only need to press the ‘repeat process’ button once.
Question 9. My prints are warped across the base
If you are seeing a slight warping across the base of your model when completed, (meaning that
the model you have printed does not sit at) please rstly ensure that you have a Z-Axis sheet
applied to the bed in order for the model to adhere during the rst layers of printing.
If you have a Z-Axis sheet applied and you still have some warping then please double check your
settings when saving your print le. Please ensure that you have selected the correct print material
when saving the le as this will ensure that the extruder is heated as it should be.
If you have conrmed that your settings are correct, you have the Z-Axis sheet applied and you are
still experiencing some warping then please use the ‘brim’ function within the Advanced Settings.
This will print a small amount of lament as a ‘brim’ around the external diameter of your model.
The purpose of this is to retain heat within the area between the brim and the model itself to allow
the lament to adhere to the bed and remain at a temperature that will help it to not contract (which
causes the warping) while the remaining print is completed.
Question 10. I am trying to print a model that is the maximum size of the
print area, with a brim, but it isn’t printing successfully
If printing with a brim, the brim must be included within the maximum print area. This will mean
that your model must be slightly smaller than the print area to allow for the brim.
Please note that the brim itself needs 5mm around the entire perimeter of your model so please
reduce any model that is the maximum print size by this amount on each side.
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Question 11. I am seeing a Windows Error message when connecting the
printer to my PC
When connecting the printer to a Windows PC, upon connection Windows will automatically search
your PC for a hardware device driver that is required in order to install the printer. If it is unable to
locate and install this device driver automatically, Windows will notify you, with this message. In
this instance please follow this link to download the hardware device driver onto your PC. Once
downloaded, please double click the le to begin the installation. This is a simple and straightforward
process and will then allow you to successfully use your Polaroid ModelSmart 250S 3D printer.
Question 12. I am trying to download Polaroid Prep Software but it is not
recognising my serial number
Firstly, please double check that you have entered the serial number correctly.
If you have conrmed this and you are still experiencing problems then please get in touch with one
of our team via the online Contact Form and we will rectify the problem for you or alternatively
provide you with a temporary serial number as an alternative. Please do note however that you will
need to provide us with a proof of purchase for the printer relating to the serial number that you are
experiencing difculties with.
Question 13. If I pause my print why does it carry on printing for a few
seconds after I have opened the door?
The printer will continue printing until it has nished the last command it has received, which may
include several movements of the printhead. Once it has completed this set of commands the
printhead will stop and the bed will lower slightly and the head will move to the front right corner
of the printer. Please do not reach inside the printer until the head and bed have nished moving.
Even then please be aware that the nozzle on the printhead will still be very hot.
Question 14. After uninstalling a cartridge I placed the new cartridge on the
holder as requested but the message for the next step disappeared from the
LCD screen and was replaced by a ‘New Cartridge’ message. How should I
proceed?
If you were in the process of installing a new cartridge and the message that you were following
was replaced with a ‘New Cartridge’ screen please click the ‘OK’ button. This will then take you to
the Main Menu.
From here please follow the ‘Change Filament’ process but this time please select ‘No’ when it asks
if there is already a cartridge installed. This will ensure that it will not uninstall the lament you
have just attached.
After feeding the lament into the printer as instructed you should see the lament extruding. This
means you are ready to print.
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Question 15. I am trying to install a cartridge but it doesn’t seem to be
feeding through and I can hear a knocking sound from the printer
Should you hear a gentle knocking sound when trying to feed through a new lament it means that
the lament hasn’t reached the printhead correctly.
Please follow the ‘Change Filament’ process from the Main Menu and select ‘Yes’ when asked if
a cartridge is already installed. This will retract the lament from the printhead. If you pull on the
lament gently as you do this you should feel this retraction.
This will free the lament from the printhead to allow you to reinstall. To do this, simply continue
following the installation process by feeding the lament through once again. This time the lament
should successfully feed through and extrude.
If you have tried this and are still hearing the same noise, please contact our team via the online
Contact Form and they will guide you through a solution.
CONTACT DETAILS
EBP Group Ltd. (Polaroid 3D Printers)
26 Chase Road