witbox bq Quick Start Manual

Quick start guide

Firmware 1.1

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WELCOME

Thank you for choosing bq.

This manual will help you use your new 3D printer correctly.

Welcome to the world of Witbox!

How do I use this manual?

To make sure you use your Witbox correctly, read this manual carefully before

using the printer for the rst time.

These instructions are based on the factory settings for the device.

The illustrations and images shown in this manual may not exactly match those

of the nal product.

bq shall not be held responsible for any performance-related problems or

incompatibility issues arising from modication of the device parameters on the

part of the user.

Icon key

Note: Recommendations and notications regarding use of your 3D

printer

>

Next: Indicates the sequence of the steps to follow in order to perform

an action.

Tool needed: This task requires the use of a tool.

Trademarks

Witbox and bq are registered trademarks and logos owned by Mundo Reader,
S.L.

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CONTENTS

6 What is a 3D printer?
6 Online resources for the Witbox

7 Getting started

7 Box contents
10 Basic glossary
12 Unpacking your Witbox
13 Attaching the side panels
14 Attaching the top panel
14 Attaching the print base
15 Attaching the spool and support
15 Connecting the power cable

16 Setting up

16 Control panel
16 Levelling the print base

19 Loading the lament

20 Printing a test object

21 Printing an object using Cura

21 What is Cura?
21 Online resources for Cura
21 Downloading and installation
21 Cura setup wizard for the Witbox
23 Appearance and main controls
23 Loading a 3D object

24 Generating and saving a le on the SD card

24 Printing a 3D object using the Witbox

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25 Using and maintaining your Witbox

25 Why is it important to use and maintain the printer

correctly?
25 Online resources: use and maintenance
25 Cleaning the nozzle

25 Updating the rmware

26 Safety precautions

27 Troubleshooting

27 FAQs
28 Technical support

 29 Technicalspecications

31 Correct disposal of the product

32 Declaration of conformity

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What is a 3D printer?

A 3D printer is a device that is capable of creating solid, three-dimensional
objects using a design produced on a computer. Currently, there are various
technologies that make this possible. The Witbox uses the method known as
Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), which builds objects by adding one layer of

melted polymer lament on top of another until the item has been completed.

Online resources for the Witbox

You can nd the most up-to-date version of this manual in electronic format on

our website:

www.bq.com/gb/downloads-witbox.html

We have also provided a series of instructional videos that will help you get the
most out of your Witbox desktop printer:

www.bq.com/gb/products/witbox.html

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GETTING STARTED

Box contents

Before using your Witbox printer for the rst time, please check the contents of

the box. If any of the items listed below are missing, contact the retailer where
you purchased the device.

Witbox 3D printer

Print base

Set of two keys

Two side panels and one top panel

USB cable

Power cable

Spool of PLA lament (1.75 mm)

Metal spool-holder

SD card (pre-loaded with sample 3D models)

Sample printed object

Four feet/underside supports

Maintenance kit, comprising:

One replacement Hot-End

Two cleaning needles

Three Allen keys (1.5, 2.5 and 4 mm)

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Print base Set of two keys 2 side panels and 1 top panel

USB cable Power cable Metal spool holder

Spool of PLA lament (1.75 mm)

SD card

Sample printed object

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1 replacement Hot-End

2 cleaning needles 3 Allen keys (1.5, 2.5 and 4 mm)

4 feet/underside supports

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Basic glossary

1

LCD screen: Backlit blue screen that displays information regarding the

status of the device.

2

Control wheel: Metal wheel used for scrolling through the menus.

3

SD card slot: Slot located inside the printer, at the rear of the control

panel, where the SD card is inserted.

4

Print base: Rectangle of thick glass onto which the object is printed.

5

Hot-End: Metal part through which the melted plastic comes out; so-

called because it reaches high temperatures during operation.

6

Extruder: Device comprising the hot end, the lament-feeder motor and

a fan.

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Filament spool: Spool of thermoplastic material with a thickness of 1.75

mm.

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PLA: Material that the lament is made of.

9

Spool holder: Metal part located at the rear of the printer, which

supports the lament spool.

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Fibonacci guide tube: Plastic tube that guides the lament towards the

extruder. Its shape allows it to adapt to the movement of the printer and
protects the lament.

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Power socket: Located at the back of the printer, towards the bottom.

12

On/Off switch: Dual-position switch to turn the Witbox on and off.

13

USB port: Connector for the USB cable; located on the right side of the

printer.

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Unpacking your Witbox

Your Witbox printer has been carefully packaged using durable materials that
incorporate safety features to protect it during transportation.

1. The box is made from two pieces of cardboard: a tray-shaped piece on the

bottom and a printed piece on top. To remove the top piece, rst remove the

two circular plastic tabs connecting it to the bottom piece. Then lift it using
the handles on the upper section; it should lift off easily.

2. Inside, the box has two further packages: a box of accessories, at the top, and

the printer (in its own packaging) underneath.

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3. After taking the printer out of the

protective bag, grasp it rmly by the sides

and lift it onto a table.

4. The Witbox is supported on four metal “feet” that are designed to allow one

printer to be stacked on top of another. These are packaged along with the
Witbox and can be attached immediately in order to protect it. To avoid
scratching the table, take care when moving the printer and try not to drag it.

Attaching the side panels

Remove the plastic lm protectors from both sides of the side panels.

Gently loosen the eight screws (four on each side) located on either side

of the printer, using the Allen key included in the maintenance kit. Then
slide the panels in fully, and tighten the screws.

Caution! heavy object.

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Open the front door using the keys you will nd in the box of accessories.

Cut the two ties that are attached to the extruder carriage.

Attaching the top panel

Remove the plastic lm protectors from both sides of the top panel.

Position the panel on top of the printer. In the box of accessories you’ll

nd four screws: place them in the holes in the corners of the panel and
turn them on them with your ngers.

Attaching the print base

In the box of accessories you’ll also nd the

print base, which is made of glass and has
four magnets attached to one side. Place it
gently on the support inside the printer, with
the magnets facing downwards as shown in
the illustration.

Caution! Use scissors or wire cutters.

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Attaching the spool and support

The spools of lament need to be placed on

a spool-holder. First, attach the metal
support to the rear of the printer by inserting
the short end into the corresponding slot.
Then remove the plastic protector from the
spool and place it onto the spool-holder. The

lament will be loaded at a later stage.

Connecting the power cable

Before connecting the power cable, make sure the switch is in the “0” position.
Then connect the power cable to the printer and plug the other end into the
power socket.

Caution! Handle with care

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SETTING UP

Once you have plugged the Witbox in, it’s ready to be switched on. The LCD

screen will light up and display the name of the current rmware version.

Control panel

When you switch the Witbox on, the LCD screen will display information
regarding the status of the device, such as its temperature, name, etc. Next to
the LCD screen is a control wheel that you can press in order to display the print
menu. Press and turn the wheel to the left or right to scroll through the various
options.

Levelling the print base

One of the most important factors in achieving objects of high quality is having
a correctly levelled print base. The levelling process adjusts the print base so
that the distance from the base to the extruder is the same at every point.

Why is it so important?

•

If the extruder nozzle is too far away from the base, or if one part of the base

is closer than the other, the objects you print will probably not adhere
correctly.

•

If the nozzle is too close to the base, this may prevent the lament from being

extruded and could also scratch the base.

•

Levelling the print base regularly helps improve the quality of the objects you

print.

Before you start the levelling process, make sure there
is no plastic residue on any of the parts. Clean them if
necessary (we explain how in the section on Cleaning

and maintaining your Witbox).

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To help you with this process, step-by-step
instructions will be given via the LCD screen.
To level the print base you need to adjust the
three screws located underneath the base
support.

1. Place the sheet of calibration paper

(supplied) onto the print base. Press the
control wheel and go to Control > Level
Plate.

Press the wheel to begin levelling.

2. The extruder will position itself at the

reference point (the rear right-hand
corner), then move over to the first
levelling point. Check the space between
the base and the extruder using the
calibration sheet, and (if necessary) adjust
it by turning the screws located underneath the print base. Turn them to the
right to move the base away from the extruder, and to the left to move it
closer. The calibration sheet should just about be able to pass between the
base and the extruder nozzle.

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3. Press the control wheel again, and the extruder will move onto the second

calibration point. Repeat the previous process, then do the same again for the
third calibration point.

4. Finally, the extruder will move across to the centre of the base, and you will

be asked to verify the distance between the nozzle and the print base once
again. Once you have done so, press the wheel to exit the levelling program.
It is recommended that you repeat the levelling process as many times as
necessary, in order to make sure the base is correctly levelled.

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Loadingthelament

Now you’re ready to load the lament into the Witbox and print a test object.

1. Go to Control > Filament > Load. The

extruder will heat itself to a temperature
of 220°C. You can monitor the
temperature increases on the LCD
screen. Once the correct temperature has
been reached, the message Insert &

Press.

2. The lament is loaded at the rear of the

Witbox via the bulkhead connector,
which is attached to the Fibonacci guide
tube. It is very important that you position
the spool with the loose end of the

lament on the right-hand side. Trim the
end of the lament diagonally across with

a pair of scissors, to make it easier to
guide into the tube.

3. Feed the lament through the tube until you feel it bump against the extruder.

Push it in rmly to make sure it has reached the end of the tube.

4. Press the control wheel. After a few

seconds, a small stream of melted plastic
will appear in the extruder nozzle. Each
time you press the wheel, plastic will be
extruded for a few seconds.

Caution! High temperature.

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5. Allow the extruded plastic to cool for a few moments before opening the

printer door.

Printing a test object

The SD card that came with your Witbox has been pre-loaded at the factory with

a number of les for printing test objects.

All our printers are tested before they leave our factories, and in the box of

accessories you will nd a plastic object (of medium quality) that was printed

using your printer before it left the factory, in order to make sure the printer was
working correctly.

Go to the main menu and select the option Print from SD. The names of the
various objects you can print will be displayed on the screen: select the one
called Twisted BOX. After you have selected an object, the printer will initiate
the printing process automatically. On the LCD screen you can monitor the
progress of the printing and check the extrusion temperature.

When the printing process has been completed, open the door and take out the
print base. Rest the base on a table and pull firmly on the printed object to
remove it. You can check that it matches and connects to the test object that
came with the printer.

Caution! Do not touch the end of the extruder, as it will
still be hot.

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PRINTING AN OBJECT USING CURA

What is Cura?

Cura is a computer program that prepares and converts 3D computer-generated
models into commands that can be understood by your Witbox printer.

Online resources for Cura

Cura is a free, multi-platform program that can be used with Windows, Mac OS

and Linux. On our website you can nd a version that has been precongured

for your Witbox:

www.bq.com/gb/products/witbox.html

Downloading and installation

Once you have downloaded the correct Cura installer for your operating system,

execute the le and follow the instructions shown on your computer screen.

Cura setup wizard for the Witbox

When you open the program for the rst time, a wizard will help you nd the

right settings for your printer model.

When you reach step 2 of the setup process, select the third option; i.e. Other(Ex:
RepRap, MakerBot, Witbox). You do not have to select anything else on this
screen.

You will then be asked to choose a predened machine prole. Select Witbox
again and move onto the nal screen, where you will be informed that the setup

process has been successfully completed. The software is now ready to use.

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Appearance and main controls

The graphical interface is simple and intuitive. The control screen comprises a
series of options on the left-hand side and a three-dimensional work area on the
right-hand side, with the same size print area as the Witbox. This screen allows
you to examine the 3D models we have loaded, as well as move, rotate and resize
them and add new objects to the work area. You can find more detailed
information about the Cura program in the manuals available from the
downloads section of our website:

www.bq.com/gb/products/witbox.html

Loading a 3D object

Go to File > Load model le or open the le icon in the work area, and select the
3D object you wish to print.

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GeneratingandsavingaleontheSDcard

Remove the SD card from the printer and insert it into your computer. An SD
card icon will appear in the top left-hand corner of the work. Underneath it you’ll

nd information on the length of lament and the amount of plastic (in grams)

required to print the object.

Printing a 3D object using the Witbox

Now you can remove the SD card from your computer and insert it back into
your Witbox.

To print the object, switch on the printer, go to the main menu, select the > Print

from SD > option and select your recently created le.

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USING AND MAINTAINING YOUR WITBOX

Why is it important to use and maintain the printer correctly?

Using it correctly will prevent problems in the future. The printer comes with a
basic maintenance kit comprising three Allen keys, two cleaning needles and a
replacement hot end.

Online resources: use and maintenance

Before carrying out any maintenance we recommend that you visit the following
website, where you will find additional material and information on how to
perform maintenance operations successfully:

www.bq.com/gb/products/witbox.html

Cleaning the nozzle

If you use the device frequently, plastic residue can build up around the nozzle.
It is important that you remove this residue in order to prevent the extruded
plastic from sticking to the nozzle instead of the print base. You can remove it
using a brush with metal bristles, or a pair of slim-nosed pliers.

Updatingthermware

Our team of professionals is constantly striving to improve the capabilities of
your Witbox printer. To guarantee optimum print quality and technical
assistance, make sure your printer always uses the most up-to-date version of

the rmware.

www.bq.com/gb/products/witbox.html

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Safety precautions

When using your Witbox, please observe the following safety precautions:

•

Do not use power cables, connectors or plugs that are damaged or contain

loose wiring. Do not bend or damage the power cable, touch it with wet hands,
or pull on it in order to unplug the cable from the power socket.

•

The Witbox operates at high temperatures and contains moving parts that

could cause injury if touched during operation. Do not access the interior of
the printer or touch the extruder while in operation.

•

If you need to access the interior of the printer:

·

Make sure it is fully switched off; i.e. the switch is in the

position

and the power cable is unplugged from the power socket.

·

Allow the device to cool if it has been used recently.

·

Make sure the front door of the printer remains closed while the

device is in operation and when it is not being used.

•

Do not knock the printer or cause it to fall. Do not use cables that have not

been approved by the manufacturer.

•

Handle and dispose of consumables with caution.

•

Switch the printer off in potentially explosive environments or in the vicinity

of ammable chemicals. Always observe the site regulations, instructions and

safety signs.

•

Make sure that small printed objects, or any other objects that could be

hazardous for young children, are kept out of their reach.

•

Do not store or transport ammable liquids or gases or explosive materials in

the vicinity of the device or any of its parts or accessories.

•

Supervise the printing process while the Witbox is in operation.

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TROUBLESHOOTING

FAQs

I can’t load the lament into the extruder

Trim the end of the lament again. Throw away any damaged, bent or excessively
curved sections. Make sure there is no lament residue in the guide tube.

The LCD screen is showing strange letters/symbols. What should I do?

Remove the SD card from the printer and then put it back in again. If the problem
persists, switch the device off and then switch it on again.

I can’t remove the completed objects after printing

This is because the extruder is positioned too close to the print base, meaning

the rst layer of plastic has adhered too rmly to it.

To remove the object, immerse the print base in hot water. If you still can’t
remove the object, carefully use a spatula or similar utensil to loosen it at the
edges.

After you have removed the object you need to level the print base in order to
create more space between the base and the extruder.

Objects won’t adhere to the print base

This is because the extruder is positioned too far away from the print base or

the print base has become dirty (ngerprints, etc.). Level the base in order to

reduce the distance between the base and the extruder.

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Objects are printed OK, but the edges start to come unstuck

This is because the base has not been levelled correctly. If the distance between
the extruder nozzle and the print base is too great, the plastic at the edges of the
object will not adhere correctly and will become unstuck. Additionally, you can
improve adherence by applying a small amount of lacquer onto the base before
printing.

Can I pause the Witbox while it is printing?

Yes, you can pause an ongoing printing operation by pressing the control wheel
and selecting the option Pause Print. When you want to resume printing, go back
to the same menu and select the option Resume Print.

Can I stop the Witbox while it is printing?

Yes, you can stop an ongoing printing operation by pressing the control wheel
and selecting the option STOP Print.

The lament has broken inside the Fibonacci guide tube

If this happens, you must remove the broken lament manually. Disconnect the

guide tube from the extruder by pressing downwards on the oval bulkhead
connector while pulling the guide tube upwards. This will give you access to the

tube and allow you to remove the broken lament.

Technical support

Visit the website below for details of the e-mail address for our technical support
team. Contact us if you need help or if you have any queries regarding your
Witbox.

www.bq.com/gb/technical-support.html

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions

Printer: (x)505 x (y)388 x (z)450 mm

Print area: (x)297 x (y)210 x (z)200 mm

Box: (x)622 x (y)524 x (z)624 mm

Mechanics (general)

Powder-coated steel chassis

Toughened chrome bars for the X, Y and Z carriages

Igus bushing for X, Y and Z

Igus E-chains

Igus screw drive for the Z axis with exible motor coupling

Powder-coated steel supports and moving parts

3-point cushioned levelling system for the print base

Quick-change print base system with neodymium magnets

Layer resolution

Very high: 50 microns

High: 100 microns

Medium: 200 microns

Low: 300 microns

Mechanics (extruder)

Own-design extruder

0.4 mm nozzle

Refrigeration nozzle for cooling parts

Print speed

Recommended speed: 50 mm/s

Maximum recommended speed: 80 mm/s

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Electronics

Ramps 1.4

Mega 2560

LCD screen with rotary encoder and push-button navigation

Glass cold base, A4-size (29.7 x 21.0 cm)

348 W input power

100k thermistors in the extruder

40 W, 12 V heater cartridge

Software

Marlin-derived rmware

Recommended software environment: Cura Software

Permitted les: .stl, .gcode

Compatible OS: Windows XP and later

Mac OS X and later
Linux

Connections

Standard SD card reader

4 GB SD card included

Type B USB port

Materials

PLA lament, 1.75 mm

Other features

Stackable

Door with safety lock

Rear-loading system inspired by the Fibonacci spiral

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CORRECT DISPOSAL OF THE PRODUCT

(Waste electrical and electronic equipment. Applies within the
European Union and in European countries with selective sorting
processes for waste materials).

The inclusion of this symbol on the product and/or its accessories (extruder,
cables, etc.) and documentation indicates that they cannot be processed as
household waste at the end of their useful life.

To prevent possible damage to the environment or human health, separate these
products from other types of waste and recycle them correctly. This will help
promote the sustainable use of material resources.

Household users should contact the retailer where they purchased the product

or the relevant local authorities in order to nd out how and where they can

recycle this product safely and without harming the environment.

Business users should contact their supplier and consult the terms and
conditions of the purchase contract. This product and its electronic accessories
should not be disposed of along with other commercial waste.

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DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY

Mundo Reader, S.L.
Pol. Ind. Európolis.
Calle Sofía, 10.
28232 - Las Rozas (Madrid).
CIF: B85991941
Made in Spain

Declares that the:

Witbox

complies with the provisions of Directive 2006/42/EC and the following
harmonised standards:

UNE EN ISO 12100-1 and 2
EN ISO 14121-1:2007
EN 60204-1:2007
UNE EN 13849-1:2007.

Madrid, December 2013.

Alberto Méndez Peydró
CEO