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www.pp3dp.com
PP3DP-2013-V4
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UP! 3D Printer User Manual 1
Legal Notice
The information in this document is subject to change without notice.
DELTA MICRO FACTORY CO. MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND WITH REGARD
TO THIS MATERIAL, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Delta Micro
Factory Co. shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or
consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this
Material. Changes or modifications to the system not expressly approved by Delta
Micro Factory Co., the party responsible for compliance, could void the user’s
authority for use. This document is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Its use,
disclosure, and possession are restricted by an agreement with Delta Micro Factory
Co. per software copyright. No part of this document may be photocopied,
reproduced or translated into another language without the prior written consent of
Delta Micro Factory Co.
© Copyright 2013Delta Micro Factory Corporation. All rights reserved.
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UP! 3D Printer User Manual 2
1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................................. 3
1.1 HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL ................................................................................................................................................... 3
1.2 PRECAUTIONS ........................................................................................................................................................................... 3
1.2.1 Safety ............................................................................................................................................................................... 3
1.2.2 Protection ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4
2. OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................................................................ 5
2.1 APPEARANCE ............................................................................................................................................................................ 5
2.2 SPECIFICATIONS ........................................................................................................................................................................ 8
2.2.1 Printer Physical Characteristics ....................................................................................................................... 8
2.2.2 Specifications .............................................................................................................................................................. 8
2.2.3 Environmental specifications ............................................................................................................................... 8
3. OPERATION .......................................................................................................................................................................... 9
3.1 PREPARATION ........................................................................................................................................................................... 9
3.1.1 Installing the printer ................................................................................................................................................. 9
3.1.2 Installing the software ......................................................................................................................................... 12
3.1.3 Installing drivers ...................................................................................................................................................... 12
3.2 USING THE BASIC FUNCTIONS ............................................................................................................................................. 14
3.2.1 Start the program ................................................................................................................................................. 14
3.2.2 Loading a 3D model .............................................................................................................................................. 14
3.2.3 View Options ............................................................................................................................................................. 17
3.2.4 Model transformations ....................................................................................................................................... 18
3.2.5 Placing models onto the build platform ...................................................................................................... 20
3.3 GETTING READY TO PRINT................................................................................................................................................... 21
3.3.1 Initializing the Printer ............................................................................................................................................ 21
3.3.2 Calibrating the Level of Platform .................................................................................................................... 22
3.3.3 Calibrating the Nozzle Height ........................................................................................................................... 24
3.3.4 Other Maintenance Options ............................................................................................................................. 28
3.3.5 Preparing the Platform ....................................................................................................................................... 30
3.3.6 Print Setup Options ............................................................................................................................................... 31
4. PRINTING ........................................................................................................................................................................... 37
5. MODEL REMOVAL .......................................................................................................................................................... 40
REMOVING SUPPORT MATERIAL ................................................................................................................................................ 40
6. MAINTENANCE................................................................................................................................................................ 42
CHANGING THE MATERIAL ........................................................................................................................................................... 42
VERTICAL CALIBRATION ................................................................................................................................................................ 42
CLEANING THE NOZZLE ................................................................................................................................................................. 44
REMOVING / CHANGING THE NOZZLE ...................................................................................................................................... 45
CLEANING THE PLATFORM ........................................................................................................................................................... 46
LUBRICATION OF BEARINGS ......................................................................................................................................................... 46
SPARE PARTS.................................................................................................................................................................................. 46
7. TIPS & TRICKS ................................................................................................................................................................. 47
8. TROUBLESHOOTING ...................................................................................................................................................... 49
SOLUTION FOR "USB.DLL NOT FOUND" PROBLEM ................................................................................................................. 49
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UP! 3D Printer User Manual 3
1. Introduction
1.1 How to use this manual
This User Manual is divided into four sections which cover the Introduction, Overview,
Operation, and Troubleshooting. Please study this manual carefully before installation,
and use the printer according to these instructions. Keep this manual handy and
refer to it when necessary.
1.2 Precautions
Please read this section carefully before using the printer.
1.2.1 Safety
The printer can only be used with the power adapters supplied by this company,
or the product may be damaged, with a risk of fire.
To avoid burning, or model deformation, do not touch the model, nozzle, or the
platform 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,
especially PLA.
The brown sections of the currently supplied gloves melt at around 200 degrees,
therefore please do not hold the extruder block with the gloves.
There is a slight smell from ABS when it is being extruded. The smell is, however,
not too unpleasant. A well ventilated room is recommended by most people to
be safe, however when printing keep the printer away from any draughts as this
can affect the warping of ABS prints. When ABS is burnt is releases toxic fumes.
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The following classifications are used in this manual.
CAUTION: Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not
avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury.
WARNING: Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not
avoided, may result in serious injury.
Gloves: When performing certain maintenance procedures, the
machine may be hot and gloves are required to avoid burns.
Safety Glasses: Wear safety glasses to avoid injury to your eyes.
1.2.2 Protection
The printer must not be exposed to water or rain, or damage may occur.
Do not shut down the UP! System or pull out the USB cable when loading a digital
model, or the model data may be lost.
When using the “Extrude” function, keep at least 50mm between the nozzle and
the platform. If too close, the nozzle may get blocked.
The printer is designed to work properly at an ambient temperature of between
15°C and 30°C and humidity of between 20% and 50%;Operating outside these
limits may result in low quality models.
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2. Overview
The UP! Printer is designed with ultimate portability and simplicity in mind. The
system and software allow you to print great models with only a few keystrokes,
even if you have never used a 3D printer before. The system uses a nozzle to
deposit molten plastic, so printed parts are strong and durable Congratulations on
purchasing an UP! Printer.
2.1 Appearance
Figure 1.Front view of printer
(1) Pedestal (2) Platform (3) Nozzle
(4) Extruder Guard (5) Filament Tube (6) Roller Shaft
(7) Material Filament (8) Pilot Lamp (9) Initialize Button
(10) Platform Level Calibration Device (11) Nozzle Height Detect Device
(12) 3.5mm cable
⑸
⑹
⑺ ⑻ ⑼
⑴ ⑿ ⑵
⑾
⑽ ⑶ ⑷
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UP! 3D Printer User Manual 6
Figure 2. Accessories
USB cable Power adapter (19 V) Filament tube
Screws Cell board 3.5mm Cable
Platform Level Calibration Device Nozzle Height Detect Device
Figure3. Tool kit
Pen Knives Tweezers Hex wrench Shovel
Pliers Gloves Nozzle wrench Clip
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Figure 4.Axis
Figure 5. Back view of printer
Extruder axis
Z axis
Platform axis
Power on/off Button
Power Interface
USB Interface
3.5mm Interface
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UP! 3D Printer User Manual 8
2.2 Specifications
2.2.1Printer Physical Characteristics
Printing Material
ABS or PLA
Material Color
White default (5 other colors)
Layer Thickness
0.2–0.4 or 0.15 － 0.4mm,
depending on model
Print Speed
10－100 cm3/h
Print Size
140× 140× 135mm
Printer Weight
5 KG (11 lb)
Printer Size
245 × 260 × 350 mm
2.2.2 Specifications
Power Requirements
100-240VAC, 50-60Hz, 200W
Model Support
Auto-generated support
Input Format
STL
Workstation compatibility
Windows XP/Vista/7/8; Mac
2.2.3 Environmental specifications
Ambient temperature
15°C～30°C
Relative humidity
20%～50%
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3. Operation
3.1 Preparation
3.1.1Installation the printer
Assemble the two parts first following the diagram above.
Perfboard:Fix the perfboard on the platform with 8 springs around platform.
Roller shaft: Insert the block of the roller shaft into the slot between a and b, then
press down and fix.
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UP! 3D Printer User Manual 10
Material Extrude(top view)
(1) Connect the power adapter to the power interface.
(2) Insert the end of ABS filament into the Filament tube.
(3) Start the UP! Software (refer to the software install procedure in 3.1.2 if you
have not already installed it), and press the “Extrude” button in the
“maintenance” dialogue box, which is accessed from the “3D Print” menu.
(4) After the printer nozzle has warmed up to 260°C, the printer will beep. Push the
filament into the hole at the top of the extruder head and hold it there with
some gentle pressure until the extruder motor grabs it and starts pulling it
through the extrusion head. The extruder will then automatically extrude a thin
filament of material.
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(Windows version)
(Mac version)
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3.1.2 Installing the software
Start the UPx.xx setup.exe file and install it to the specified directory (Default is
Program files/UP). Note: This installs the UP software, the UP drivers, and the UP
sample files into your Program files/UP folder.
3.1.3 Installing drivers
Connect the printer to a computer with the USB cable. The computer should pop up
the “Found New Hardware Wizard” window. Choose “No, not this time”, and then “next”.
Then choose “Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)”, then “Next”.
Click “Browse”, and choose C:\Program Files\UP\Driver, then “Next”.
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The following dialogue box pops up. Choose “Continue Anyway”, and the drivers will
install automatically.
If you have any problems installing the drivers, or get a "Winusb.dll not found" error, please
refer to the driver section in the troubleshooting section of this manual.
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3.2 Using the basic functions
3.2.1 Start the program
Click on the icon on the desktop. The program should open as follows:
3.2.2 Loading a 3D model
Click “File / Open” or on the toolbar and select the model you want to open. UP
only supports STL files (which is the standard input format for 3D printing files), and
the UP3 format (which is UP’s proprietary compressed STL format) and UPP format
(which is save as a project)
Move the mouse pointer onto the model, and click the left mouse key. Some model
information is presented in a floating window, as shown below:
(Windows version)
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(Mac version)
TIP: You can open several models and print them all at the same time. Just repeat
the open model procedure for each model you want to add. See the “Placing
models on the build platform” section for more information.
Unloading the model: click the left mouse button on the model to select it, and then
click “Unload” on the toolbar, or click the right mouse button while over the model
and a context menu will appear. Choose unload the model or unload all models (if you
have more than one file open and want to remove all of them).
Saving the model: Choose the model, then click “Save”. The file is saved in UP3 format
and its size is 12%~18% of the original STL file. This is a convenient format for users
to archive or transfer files. You can also click menu “File” then “Save as project” to
save selected models and setting in UPP format (UP Project). When you load an UPP
file, the saved setting parameter will be automatically read and applied.
Note on STL files: For a model to print correctly, all the faces of the models need to
have their normal facing outwards. The Up software uses model color to indicate
whether a model is OK or not. The default color used by the software when opening
a model is a light grey/pink color. If the normal are facing the wrong way, then the
model is colored in red.
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Fixing STL Files: The Up software has an option that attempts to fix models with bad
surfaces. Under the “Edit” menu you will see a “Fix” option. Select the model with
inverted surfaces, and click the “Fix” option to try and fix it.
Merging models: Several separate models can be merged into a single file by using
the “Merge” option from the “Edit” menu. Simply open all the models you want to
merge and arrange them the way you want on the platform and click on the “Merge”
option. When you then save the file, all the components will be saved as a single STL file.
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3.2.3ViewOptions
To observe the target model in different ways, use the mouse to control the view.
Rotate: Press the middle mouse button and move the mouse: The view can be
rotated and observed from different angles.
Pan: Press Ctrl and the middle mouse button at the same time and move the mouse:
This causes the view to pan. You can also use the arrow keys to pan the view.
Scale: Rotate the mouse wheel: The view gets zoomed in or out.
View: The system has 8 preset standard views stored under the “View” button on the
toolbar. Click the View button on the toolbar (the startup value for the View
button is “Fit")to find these options:
(Windows version)
(Mac version)
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3.2.4 Model transformations
Model Transformation can be achieved through the Edit menu or the toolbar:
(Windows version)
Moving the model: Click the “Move” button and choose, or
input, the distance you want to move in the text box. Then
choose the axis (direction) in which you want to move. Each
time you click the axis button the model will move again.
For example: Move the model -5mm along Z axis (or down 5mm).
Procedure: 1. Click on “Move”; 2. Input “-5” in the text box;
3. Click the “Z axis”.
Tip: If you hold down the ‘Ctrl’ key, you can simply drag the model to whatever
position you want.
(Mac version)
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Rotating the model: Click the “Rotate” button on the toolbar, choose or input how many
degrees you want to rotate in the text box, then choose the axis to rotate around.
For example: Rotate the model around Y axis by 30o.
Procedure: 1. Click “Rotate”; 2.Input 30 in the text box；3.Click “Y axis”.
Note: positive numbers rotate counterclockwise and negative numbers rotate
clockwise.
Scaling the model: Click “Scale”, choose or input a scaling factor in the text box, and
then either scale the model uniformly by clicking the scale button again, or choose
the axis around which you want to scale if you only want to scale in one direction.
Example1: Scale up the model uniformly by 2.0 times.
Procedures: 1. Click “Scale”; 2. Input 2.0 in the text box; 3. Click “Scale” again.
Example2: Scale up the model by 1.2 times along the Z axis only.
Procedures: 1. Click “Scale”; 2. Input 1.2 in the text box; 3. Click “Z axis”
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Unit Conversion: This option is provided as a convenient way to convert metric models
to imperial, and vice versa. To convert an imperial model to metric, select the 25.4
option from the scale menu and click “Scale” again. To convert from metric to
imperial, select the 0.03937 option and click “Scale”.
3.2.5 Placing models onto the build platform
Appropriately placing your models on the platform can have an effect on print quality.
TIP: In general, try to place your model in the center of the platform.
Auto Place: Click the “Auto Place” button, on the far right of the toolbar, to
automatically place the model on the platform. When there is more than one model
on the platform, using “Auto Place” is recommended.
By Hand: Press the Ctrl key and choose the target model by pressing and holding the
left mouse button. Move the mouse and drag the model to the desired position.
Using the “Move” button: Click the “Move” button on the toolbar, choose or input the
distance in the text box, and then choose the axis for the direction in which you want
to move.
NOTE: When more than one model is open, the gap between each model should be
kept to at least 12mm to prevent the models sticking together.
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3.3 Getting Ready to Print
3.3.1 Initializing the Printer
Before anything can be printed, the printer must be initialized. Click the “Initialize”
option under the “3D print” menu. The printer will beep and the initialization
procedure will begin. The printer will then return the platform and print head to the
printer’s origin and beep again when it is ready.
(Windows version)
(Mac version)
TIP: If your printer is not responding properly, the first thing to try is to re-initialize the
printer by clicking the ‘Initialize’ option from the ‘3D Print’ menu.
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3.3.2 Calibrating the Level of Platform
Before calibrating the nozzle height, you need to test and calibrate the distance
between nozzle and four corner of the platform through the Platform Level
Calibration Device. Please attach the device under the extrude head, then separately
connect the 3.5mm cable with the device and interface next to power switch. Once
you select the “Auto level” under 3D Print of software, the device will orderly detect
nine points on the platform, you can watch the current parameter in “Platform
Calibrate”.
Note: In case of connection problem, please insert the 3.5mm plug into the
calibration devices socket and the printer socket with strength.
The platform can also be calibrated by adjusting the spring under the platform if it is
not level.
“Auto Level” calibration cannot be perform in “No Raft” mode
Spring
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Loosen a screw and the related corner of platform will rise. Tighten or loosen the
screws until you have the same gap between the nozzle and the platform at all four
corners of platform.
In addition, please ensure the cable stay out of the frame before platform calibration.
Note: The platform of UP Plus 2 3D printer has been calibrated before delivery
from the factory. The shipment may cause the platform level error. You can adjust
three screws under the platform based on the value of nine points in “Platform
Calibrate”. After the manual calibration, please perform “Auto Level” in order to
record the value into the printer.
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3.3.3 Calibrating the Nozzle Height
This section is probably the most important of the entire manual. Please read it
carefully to ensure that you understand the nozzle height setup procedure, as it is
vital to successful 3D printing.
Auto Nozzle Detect
Before the nozzle height setting, you are able to detect the nozzle height through
“Nozzle Height Detect Device”. Please remove the Platform level calibrating device
and clean the nozzle and separately connect the 3.5mm cable with the device and
interface next to power switch. Then select the “Nozzle Height Detect” under 3D print,
the platform will start to rise, and slower when it is closed to nozzle. Till the nozzle
touch the small metallic piece, the current nozzle height will be showed in the
software.
In addition, you are also able to manually detect and adjust the nozzle height. To print
successfully, the platform should be set to start at a distance of 0.1mm from the
nozzle. As each printer is slightly different, this distance needs to be calibrated before
starting to print. The correct distance between the nozzle and platform is recorded
in the “Nozzle” box of the “Print” screen (found under the “3D Print” menu, but we
use the “Maintain” dialogue box to figure out what this distance should be.
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NOTE: It is only possible to move the nozzle to 1 mm higher than the height recorded
in the “Print” screen. If, for example, the nozzle height in the “Print” screen is
set to 130mm, you will only be able to move the nozzle up to 131mm in the
“Maintenance” screen. This maximum value is indicated by the “Max” value
shown in the platform and nozzle line of the “Maintain” screen.
If you are having problems adjusting the nozzle height in the “Maintenance
“ screen because it will not go high enough, close the “Maintenance” screen,
open the “Print” screen, and set the nozzle height to 140mm (for example).
Then go back to the “Maintenance” screen and continue with your nozzle
height adjustments. In addition, you can also fill a large value in blank “To” in
“Maintenance”, then click “Set nozzle height”, the platform height will be set
as this value.
In the above example, this tells the printer that, after being initialized, and when a
print job begins, the platform is 132.89mm away from the nozzle.
To figure out the correct nozzle distance, please follow these steps:
1 - Open the “Maintenance” dialogue box from the “3D Print” menu. The current
nozzle height is indicated as shown in the picture below.
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(Windows version)
(Mac version)
2 - In the text box, type in the height to which you want the platform to move to, and
click the “To” button. In the above example, the platform would move to 124mm
above the platform’s origin.
3 - Check the distance between the nozzle and the platform. If, for example, the
platform appears to be about 7mm away from the nozzle, increase the number in
the text box to 130 and click the “To” button. Note that we have only increased
the number by 3mm instead of 4mm. The reason for this is that we do not want
to crash the platform into the nozzle, so we want to increase the height in smaller
and smaller increments as we get closer to the nozzle.
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4 - Once you are about 1mm away from the nozzle, start increasing the number in
the text box by 0.1mm increments and click the “To” button. Repeat this until
you get to about 0.1mm away from the nozzle.
NOTE: Once you have setup the nozzle height once, you do not need to do it again as
it is automatically recorded in the “Print” Screen.
TIP: You may need to regularly recalibrate nozzle height after moving the printer, or
if you find the models are not adhering to the platform properly, or are warping.
TIP: If you happen to crash the platform into the nozzle while making height
adjustments, it is good practice to re-initialize the printer before undertaking
any other operations.
TIP: One simplified method has been proved to test the distance between the nozzle
and platform through one piece of paper with 0.1mm thickness.
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3.3.4 Other Maintenance Options
Click “Maintain” on the “3D Print” menu, and the following dialog box pops up:
(Windows version)
(Mac version)
Extrude: Squeezes material out of the nozzle. Click on this button, and the nozzle is
heated. When the temperature is high enough (260°C), the material is squeezed out
of the nozzle. The system beeps before material starts extruding, and it beeps again
when finished. When changing the material (See section 6), this function is used to
deliver the new material to the nozzle. This function can also be used to test whether
the nozzle is working correctly.
Withdraw: Withdraws the material from the extrusion head. When the material runs
out, or the nozzle needs to be changed, click this button. When the nozzle is up to
temperature (260°C) and beeps, gently pull out the material. If the material gets stuck,
pull it out it by hand.
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New Spool: This is used so the printer can keep track of how much material has been
used, and warn you if you don’t have enough material left to print your model. Click
this button and enter the value of how many grams of material you have on the
current spool. If it is a new spool, the quantity should be set to 700 grams. You can
also specify whether the material you are printing with is ABS or PLA.
TIP: An empty spool weighs about 280 grams so, if you are installing a partially used
spool, weigh it, and subtract 280 grams from the weight. This gives you the value
to enter into the material text box.
Status: Displays the temperature of the nozzle and platform.
Stop All: Stops heating and all the movement of the printer. Once you click this button,
the current model being printed is cancelled. You CANNOT resume a print job once
the printer has been stopped. After you use the “Stop All” option, you will need to reinitialize the printer.
Pause Print: This button allows you to pause a print in mid-progress, but you can then
resume the print job where it left off. This is very useful if you, for example, want to
change the material color mid-print. Another popular use for pausing a job mid-print
is to allow fasteners to be inserted into printed cavities and then printed over to lock
the fastener into place. Please be noticed that pause is unavailable before the fourth
layer printing.
Nozzle & Platform: The five buttons (FL, FR, Center, NL, NR)control the position of the
nozzle and the platform. The nozzle moves to the left and right; the platform moves
forward and backward.
The “To” button controls the height of the platform, and is used in the nozzle height
calibration procedure described in 3.3.2.
The “Bottom” button returns the platform to the lowest position.
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Set Nozzle Height: Takes whatever value you have in the “To” box and transfers it to
the Nozzle box of the setup screen.
3.3.5 Preparing the Platform
Before printing, the platform must be prepared so that the model adheres to the
platform enough to be printed without the model moving. Please fix the cell board
through the eight small springs under the platform.
Note: When you remove the cell board, please put the spring under the platform
like the picture below,
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3.3.6Print Setup Options
Click menu “3D Print->Setup”. The following dialog box pops up:
Print Options
Z Resolution: Sets the print resolution (layer thickness) of the printer. This can be
between 0.15mm per layer to 0.4mm per layer (depending on the printer model).
Height Options
Base: This is the thickness of the raft of material before the support layer is printed
under the part. When the printer starts printing, it first prints a raft of non-solid
material in which all the lines of support material are horizontal (along the Y axis). It
keeps building up horizontal rows of support material for as many mm as you have
chosen. Then, just before it gets to the bottom surface of the real part, it starts to
build support layers perpendicular to the raft layers layer.
The default value for this parameter is set to 2mm.
(Mac version)
(Windows version)
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Part Options
Angle: The part Angle determines at what point solid (dense) support material gets
used. If the angle is small than the printer will add solid fill layers under the part
surface. The thickness of this solid (dense) support is determined by the “dense”
parameter under the Support options as described below.
Surface: This parameter determines how many layers form the bottom face of a part
when it is not solid. For example, if you set it to 3, the machine will print 3 complete
layers before going into non-solid mode. This does not, however, affect the side wall
thickness on non-solid parts, which are all the same thickness (approximately 1.5mm)
irrespective of the fill mode.
Fill Options
There are four ways to fill the interior of the parts, as described below.
The Part is made of nearly solid plastic, which gives you the
strongest part. This setting is recommended for functional
engineering parts. On previous software version this was
referred to as “Solid”
The part has an outer wall thickness of solid plastic (about
1.5mm), but its interior is filled with a reasonably small
scaffold structure. On previous software version this was
referred to as “Loose”
The part has an outer wall thickness of solid plastic (about
1.5mm), but its interior is filled with a medium spaced
scaffold structure. On previous software version this was
referred to as “Hollow”
The part has an outer wall thickness of solid plastic (about
1.5mm), but its interior is filled with a large spaced scaffold
structure. On previous software version this was referred
to as “Big hole”
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Shell: This item will help to improve the efficiency of hollow model printing. When you
need the preview for the model only, you can select this item. The model will be printed
without any filling.
Surface: When you need to print the model without seal and which purpose for
evaluation only, please select this item. The model will be printed with the one layer of
surface only and without seal for upper and lower. This item will improve the smooth
for the surface.
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Support Options
Dense: This represents how many layers of ‘solid’ (dense) material form part of the
support structure directly beneath the model.
Angle: Angle at which support material gets used. For example if 10° is used, support
material only gets used if angle of surface is greater than 10° from horizontal (so
support material is almost not used unless there is a direct overhang), If set to 50°
than support material is used for any surface is greater than 50° away from horizontal.
Set to > 10°
Set to > 50°
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There is always a delicate balance between
minimizing the amount of support material,
versus the quality of the part, versus the difficulty
of removing support material.
The orientation of the part on the print platform
is also critical in determining both how much
support material gets used, and also how difficult
the support material will be to remove.
As a general rule, it is easier to remove support
material from the outside of a part than from the
inside. As can be seen in the picture to the right,
the part would use a lot more support material
if printed with the opening facing downwards
than if it were facing upwards.
Space: The distance between the lines of non-solid support material. Changing this
parameter requires some experience in balancing the quantity of support material
used, ease of support material removal, and part print quality.
Area: The surface area above which support material gets used. When you choose
5mm2, for example, there will be no support if the overhanging area is less than 5mm2.
Benefit? A little material is saved and a slightly faster print speed is achieved.
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Other Options
Stable Support: Stable support creates support that is more solid, and the model is
less likely to distort, but the support material is then more difficult to remove.
Tip: All setup and configuration settings are stored in the Up Software, not on the Up
Printer. This means that, if you change to a different computer, you will need to
repeat all the calibration and setup procedures.
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4. Printing
TIP: One of the keys to successful printing on the Up is platform preparation and
preheating. Particularly with large parts, there is a tendency for the edges of the
part to lift from the platform (which is a little colder than the center) and cause
the parts to warp. The best way to prevent this is to ensure that a) the platform
is perfectly level, b) that the nozzle height is correctly set and that c) the platform
is very well preheated. It also helps to run the printer in a room that is not too
cold or warmer than, say, 18C and free of drafts.
Please ensure the following points are taken care of before printing:
Connect the 3D printer, initialize it, and set up the printing system. Load the
model and place it properly on the virtual platform of the software window. Check
if there is enough material for the model (the software will, generally, tell you if
there is not enough material when you begin the print). If not, change the reel to a
new one.
For large models (over 40mm2) results can be improved by preheating the build
platform. Click the “Preheat” option on the “3D Print” menu and the printer
begins to heat the platform. Let the platform get up to 100C before beginning
to print.
The little “door” in the wind barrier of extrude head
is used to adjust the airflow to have good printing
quality for some certain models. Generally, it should
be closed (like the right picture), since warping or
split issue would be caused if blow too much.
Only for the ball-shaped models and models with very small features or sharp end
(like tower), the “door” should be opened. Because the heat from the extrude head
would be blown away soon with much blow, and model scan be solidified in a very
short time so that the surface would be better.
Click menu “3D Print->Print”, and the print dialog box pops up. Choose
“Preferences” to set the printing parameters. Click “OK” to begin to print.
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(Windows version)
(Mac version)
Print Options:
Quality: Fine, Normal or Fast. This simply determines the speed at which the printer
moves. As a general rule, the slower you print, the better the quality of the parts. For
tall parts, running at Fast speed can be problematic as the printer can vibrate to the
extent that print quality is affected. For large surface area parts, the Fine setting can
be problematic as the printer takes longer to print the part and the corners are
therefore more likely to lift a little bit.
Unsolid Model: This function is useful for printing STL files that are not perfect. A
perfect STL file is a fully enclosed surface, with no holes in the surface skin, and no
overlapping surfaces. If your file is not perfect, this option should allow you to print it
anyway.
No Raft: When you select this item, the base will not be printed. This mode can
improve the printing quality for lower surface of model. When you select this mode,
the “Auto Level” calibration is not available.
Note: Level calibration will be performed through printing raft. So the “Nor Raft” mode
is not recommended when you select “Auto Level”. If you want print under No Raft,
please calibrate bused on the 9 values in “Platform Calibrate”
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Pause at: If you want to pause the printing at the specified height of model meanwhile
you will be absent, you can fill the paused height you need in blank “Pause at”, and the
printing will pause once the height till you continue to start.
TIP: Once the print has started, you can unplug the PC from the printer. The print job is
stored in the printer’s internal memory, so the PC is no longer required.
Calculating model costs
The main factor that will affect model cost is the part interior fill structure, and
support material. If, for example, one is printing a cube measuring 30mm x 30mm x
30mm, with a layer thickness of 0.2mm, the following quantities of material are used
depending on the print mode.
Model info: 30× 30× 30mm layer thickness: 0.2mm
The prices above are calculated with ABS from PP3DP.com at $35 USD for a 700g
roll. The easiest way to calculate how much material will be used for your model is to
use the “Print Preview” option under the “3D Print” menu. This will tell you the total
weight of material used, including the raft and any support material.
Print Again: “Print Again” can help to repeat the previous printing working with the
same setting. You can also quickly double click reset button for this operation without
connection to PC or Mac. But if you want to print the same model with different
setting, “Print Again” will not be available. In addition, when the vertical calibration is
in process, the calibration model cannot be repeated to print.
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5. Model Removal
1. When the model has finished printing, the printer will beep, and the nozzle and
platform stop heating.
2. Remove the printer platform from the printer by removing the springs cover the
platform.
3. Gently slide the spatula under the model and slowly wiggle it back and forth to
pry loose the model. Remember to use gloves as the platform and model may
still be hot.
CAUTION: It is strongly recommended that you wore the gloves to
remove the model from the perfboard.
Removing Support Material
Printed models are composed of two parts. One part is the model itself, and the other
part is the support material used to support any overhanging parts of the model.
The support material is the same physical material as the model material, but the
support material is printed at a much lower density. It is very easy to distinguish the
model from the support material so it is easy to remove.
Have a look at the teapot in the above pictures. The left picture shows the teapot with
support material removed, and the right picture shows the teapot with its support
material still attached.
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The support material gets removed using a combination of tools. Some material can
easily be cracked off by hand. Support material close to the model is easier to remove
using tools such as wood carving chisels, long nose pliers, or wire cutters.
It takes some practice to get comfortable with removing support material, but it can
become quite an enjoyable and therapeutic task!
CAUTION: ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GLASSES WHEN REMOVING SUPPORT
MATERIAL, ESPECIALLY WITH PLA MATERIAL.
CAUTION: The support material and the tools are
sharp. Wear gloves and safety glasses when
removing the part from the printer.
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6. Maintenance
Changing the Material
First withdraw the leftover material from the printer. Initialize the printer and
choose “3D print->Maintain”. Click “Withdraw” and the system automatically
begins to heat the nozzle. When the nozzle reaches the correct temperature,
the printer will beep, and you can gently withdraw the material.
Place a new spool of material on the spool holder, and pull it through the filament
tube, until the material is about 10cm out of the tube, then insert it into the hole
at the top of the extruder head.
Select the “maintain” menu form the “3D Print” menu. Then press the “Extrude”
button in the “maintain” dialogue. After the printer nozzle has warmed up to
260°C, the printer will beep. Push the filament into the hole at the top of the
extruder head, with a little pressure, and the extruder will automatically extrude
material. The plastic thread squeezed out of the nozzle should be thin, bright
and smooth.
If the nozzle is blocked, remove the nozzle and clean it.
The extruder and platform are hot. Use gloves when working in
this area of printer.
Vertical Calibration
The Vertical calibration procedure allows you to ensure that the printer platform is
perfectly horizontal and that the printer prints consistently in the X, Y and Z direction.
First, print the supplied Calibration model on your printer. The calibration file is in
C:\Program Files\UP\Example.
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After the calibration model is printed, measure the X1 and X2 length, as shown in
the pictures below.
Open the “Calibrate” box form the “3D Print” menu and enter the measured X1 and
X2 values into the appropriate boxes.
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IMPORTANT NOTE: Before you enter any new calibration values, always click the “Reset” button,
otherwise the new values get added to the old ones. Before you enter any new values, the bar at
the very top of the screen should read: XY: 0.00 deg / XZ: 0.00 deg.
Next, take down the Front Centre ‘L’ shaped component, and measure its deviation.
Put the exact value into the Z box. If it deviates to the right side, the value to be put
into the Z box will be a positive value. If the deviates to the left, the value to put into
the Z box will be a negative value.
Finally, measure the height of Front Center component, which should be 40mm if it
is not scaled. Enter the exact measured value into the “H” box of the “Calibrate
dialogue box.
Click “OK” to record all these values and exit the calibration window.
Cleaning the nozzle
After a lot of printing, the nozzle may be covered with a layer of oxidized ABS. When
the printer is printing, this oxidized ABS may melt on the nozzle, and may create
discolored spots the model. To avoid this you need to regularly clean the nozzle.
Firstly, preheat the nozzle in order to melt the oxidized ABS. Use the “Extrude” button
on the “Maintain” dialogue box, then lower the platform to the bottom.
Lastly, use some heat-resistant material, like 100 percent cotton cloth or soft paper.
A pair of tweezers will also be required. Then clip paper or some other heat-resistant
things with tweezers to clean up the nozzle.
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TIP: Many users also soak their nozzle in acetone to clean them, or even use an
ultrasonic cleaning bath to help clean their nozzles
Removing / Changing the nozzle
Should the nozzle become blocked, you may need to remove it in order to unblock, or
change it. To remove the nozzle, use the nozzle wrench provided in the toolkit that
comes with your Up Printer. It is, generally, easiest to remove the nozzle when it is hot
and, should you need more torque than can be applied with the small screw on the
wrench, replace it with the small Allen key form the toolkit to provide more power.
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Cleaning the platform
If you are using the special green paint on your platform, the platform requires
cleaning after a few prints to get it back to a smooth surface. Simply remove the
platform from the machine and soak it in water for a few hours and the paint will peel
of easily.
Once clean, repaint it with green paint, or cover it with blue masking tape.
Lubrication of bearings
The bearings on the Up Printer may occasionally require a bit of lubrication to keep
it operating smoothly. The recommended grease to use is lithium grease. When
lubricating the bearings, first clean off as much old grease as possible from the
bearings, and then apply new grease to the bearing and slide the platform in the
appropriate direction to spread the grease.
Spare parts
Almost all the plastic parts on the printer are printed by the Up printer itself. If you
need to print spare parts for your printer, the files for all spare parts can be found in
the C:\Program Files (x86)\UP\Example\UP Spare Part folder.
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7.Tips & Tricks
Large parts can sometimes have their corners lift from the platform, which causes
the part to distort. This is caused by uneven heat across the surface of the platform.
Preheating the platform before beginning large parts is essential to minimize this
lifting. Also, the faster you can print such parts, the less lifting you are likely to get.
Some ways to increase print quality include:
If possible, try to avoid printing such large parts in solid mode.
Set the layer resolution to as high as you can get away with.
Print the part in “Fast” mode.
Removing the screws that attach the print platform to the printer can be
inconvenient. This can be made much easier by printing little screw caps with handles
on them, that get epoxied to the screw heads. This means the screws can then be
removed without the need for a tool. Files for the screw caps can be downloaded
from: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4113
After printing, use a fast drying epoxy glue to glue them onto the screws, Clamp the
screw and cap in a vice until the glue is dry to prevent the screw cap not sitting firmly
on the screw.
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Regularly check your nozzle height! It can change for a number of reasons, some of
which you may not even be aware of. To check your nozzle height, refer to section
3.3.2
To get the best results out of your Up printer, the print platform must be perfectly
lined up with the Nozzle. This means that when you set the nozzle height, it should be
exactly the same distance from the nozzle at all four corners, and the center, of the
print platform. If this is not the case, please follow the “leveling the print platform”
procedure listed in 3.3.3
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8. Troubleshooting
Problem or error
message
Solution
No power
Verify power cord is securely plugged in.
Extruder or platform
fails to reach operating
temperature
1. Verify printer has initialized. if not, initialize the
printer
Material not extruding
Material is stuck in the extruder. See 3.3.3 Maintain
(Extrude)
The gap is too wide between the bearing and wire
feed rollers.
Cannot communicate
with printer
1. Make sure the USB cable is connected to the
printer, and to the PC
2. Unplug the USB cable, then plug in again.
3. Reset the printer—power off then power on.
4. Restart the PC
Others
Contact Technical Support : [email protected]
Solution for "Winusb.dll not found" problem
If you encounter a “Winusb.dll not found” error message, please follow the steps
below:
Option 1: Uninstall Older Driver and Automatically Install New Driver
1. Open the Windows control panel, go to the “System Properties” dialog box, then
select the “Hardware” page.
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2. Click “Device Manager” button, and the following dialog box will popup. Find the
“3DPrinter@FreeMC” in the USB section.
3. Click the right mouse button and select the “Uninstall” option. The confirm dialog
box will appear. Click “OK”.
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4. Install the latest UP! software.
5. Unplug the USB cable, then plug again. Windows will find a new device. Manually
select driver folder(Default is C:\Program files\UP\Driver or C:\Program
files(X86)\UP\Driver);
6. There should now be a new driver section in the device manager as shown below:
Option 2: Update the driver manually.
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1. Install the latest UP software.
2. Find the “3DPrint@FreeMC” driver in the “Device Manager” dialog box(it should be
located in the USB section).
3. Select “Update Driver.” in the right click menu.
4. Select the up driver folder(the default is C:\program files\UP\Driver).
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5. A “Free Motion Card” section should now have been inserted into the Device
Manager.
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Acknowledgements
PP3DP team is grateful for the wording and editing support from Prof. Olaf Diegel,
and also grateful to Mr. Drew Petitclerc from the Up! Forum for providing the
picture of his machine with Kapton tape.
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