® USER MANUAL
The product may differ slightly from the images and instructions in this manual as we continue to improve the MakerBot Ecosystem. Please see www.makerbot.com/um_rep_2X for the latest version of the manual.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 WELCOME Legal Notices Safety and Compliance Diagrams How it Works Accessory Checklist Filament 5 6 8 10 12 13 14 2 ONBOARD OPERATIONS The LCD Panel LCD Menus Utilities Menu Info and Settings Menu Active Build Menu Leveling the Build Plate Loading Makerbot Filament 16 17 18 19 21 24 26 28 3 MAKERBOT DESKTOP Downloading and Installing MakerBot Desktop About MakerBot Desktop The Prepare Screen 32 33 35 36 4 PRINTING WITH YOUR MAKERBOT REPLICATOR 2X Choosing a Model Preparing a Mod
TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTINUED Tightening the X and Y-Axis Pulleys Filament Care 65 66 7 TROUBLESHOOTING Printing Issues LCD Error Messages Misaligned Nozzles Dos and Don’ts Useful Tools Diagnosing Print Quality Issues 67 68 73 76 78 79 80 8 REFERENCE Specifications Glossary Contact Us Notes 85 86 87 90 91 4 WELCOME
1 WELCOME Welcome to the User Manual for the MakerBot Replicator 2X Experimental 3D Printer. Your MakerBot Replicator 2X is optimized for ABS, a traditional thermoplastic that can be tricky and unpredictable. In order to achieve great results, you will need to experiment and tinker. That’s why it’s so crucial to take the time to learn about your new 3D printer. In this manual, you will learn how to set up and start using your MakerBot Replicator 2X.
LEGAL NOTICES PRODUCT WARRANTY The MakerBot Replicator 2X Experimental 3D Printer is covered by a limited warranty. For terms and conditions, see makerbot.com/legal. OVERALL PROVISIONS All information in this user manual is subject to change at any time without notice and is provided for convenience purposes only.
LEGAL NOTICES DISCLAIMERS MakerBot does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information, products, or services provided by or through this user manual and assumes no responsibility for any typographical, technical, or other inaccuracies in this user manual, which is provided “as is” and without any express or implied warranties of any kind, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement of intellectual property.
SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE RADIO AND TELEVISION INTERFERENCE This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE CONTINUED Safety alert symbols precede each safety message in this manual. These symbols indicate potential safety hazards that could harm you or others or cause product or property damage. WARNING: The MakerBot Replicator 2X Experimental 3D Printer generates high temperatures. Always allow the MakerBot Replicator 2X to cool down before reaching inside. WARNING: The MakerBot Replicator 2X includes moving parts that can cause injury.
MAKERBOT REPLICATOR 2X DIAGRAMS 1 Gantry System 2 LCD Panel 3 Heated Build Plate 1 4 Build Platform 5 Threaded Z-Axis Rod 6 Enclosure Door Handle 3 7 Filament Guide Tubes 5 8 Extruder Cable 2 6 9 Extruders 4 10 Filament Spool 11 Spool Holders 8 7 10 9 11 10 WELCOME
MAKERBOT REPLICATOR 2X DIAGRAMS CONTINUED 1 Fan Guards 2 Extruder Fans 3 Extruder Nozzles 1 4 Fan Bolts 2 4 5 Cartridge Heaters 6 Thermal Cores 7 Drive Blocks 5 6 3 8 Extruder Cable Mount Front view of extruders 9 Motor Cable Connectors 10 Extruder Motors 11 Heat Sinks 7 8 12 Bar Mount 9 13 Spacers 15 14 Extruder Carriage 10 11 15 Extruder Arms 12 14 13 Angled view of extruders 11 WELCOME
HOW IT WORKS The MakerBot Replicator 2X Experimental 3D Printer makes solid, three-dimensional objects out of melted MakerBot ABS Filament. First, use MakerBot Desktop Software to translate 3D design files into instructions for the MakerBot Replicator 2X. Then transfer those instructions to the MakerBot Replicator 2X via USB cable or SD card. The MakerBot Replicator 2X will melt the filament and squeeze it out onto the build plate in thin lines to build your object layer by layer.
ACCESSORY CHECKLIST * 1 2 MakerBot ABS Filament [1 lb Spool] Filament guide tubes Spool holders 1 1 Power supply and cable USB-A to USB-B cable 4 1 Hex wrenches SD card 2 1 MakerBot tape applicator 1 PTFE-based grease * More options available at store.makerbot.
FILAMENT Your MakerBot Replicator 2X Experimental 3D Printer is optimized to print objects using ABS plastic filament, 1.75 mm in diameter. The Makerbot Replicator 2X can also use 1.75 mm filament made from other plastics with similar properties. Similar filament, known as plastic welding rod, is used in a number of other applications, but filament made for 3D printing needs to be more consistent in diameter than ordinary plastic welding rod. Sometimes 1.75 mm plastic filament can vary in size between 1.
FILAMENT CONTINUED ABOUT ABS ABS is short for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. It is made of a combination of those three plastics. The three plastics can be mixed in different proportions to formulate ABS intended for different uses. ABS is tough and somewhat flexible. It becomes softer with increased temperatures, but at the extrusion temperatures used in a MakerBot Replicator 2X it remains fairly viscous. That means that ABS melts quickly inside the extruder but doesn’t drip during travel moves.
2 ONBOARD OPERATIONS The MakerBot Replicator 2X Experimental 3D Printer has an onboard LCD panel through which you can initiate a number of processes, such as leveling the build plate or loading filament. You can also use the LCD panel to choose settings such as LED color or view information like your printer’s statistics. This chapter describes all menus and options available on the LCD panel, and goes into detail on leveling the build plate and loading and unloading filament.
THE LCD PANEL A solid red M means the MakerBot Replicator 2X is working. A blinking red M means the MakerBot Replicator 2X is waiting for user input. The left arrow often allows you to go back or cancel an action. Four arrow buttons surround a central M button. Use the arrows to navigate through the LCD menus and the M button to make selections. THE STARTUP SCRIPT The first time you turn on your MakerBot Replicator 2X, the printer will run a startup script on the LCD panel.
LCD MENUS The following is a list of all options and settings available through the LCD panel on your MakerBot Replicator 2X. TOP LEVEL ENTRIES Before you have selected anything in the LCD panel, you will see these top-level menu entries: then press the M button. • To stop the preheating process, return to the Preheat menu and select “Cool!.” Build from SD This option allows you to print an X3G file from an SD card. • Use the M button to select Build from SD.
UTILITIES MENU The Utilities menu contains controls for your MakerBot Replicator 2X and scripts for processes like loading filament and leveling the build plate. Monitor Mode. This entry displays the current temperature of your extruders and build plate. The display is updated as the temperatures change. To cancel the Level Build Plate script, press the left arrow button and select “Yes” when prompted. See page 26 for detailed instructions on how to level the build plate. Home Axes.
UTILITIES MENU CONTINUED Run Startup Script. This entry launches the startup script. The Startup Script runs automatically the first time you power on the MakerBot Replicator 2X. The Startup Script walks you through the steps for leveling your build plate, loading filament into the right extruder, and printing from the SD card. To exit the Startup Script, press the left arrow button. You will not be able to exit the Startup Script until the leveling portion of the script begins.
THE INFO AND SETTINGS MENU The Info and Settings Menu displays information about your MakerBot Replicator 2X and allows you to change settings on your MakerBot Replicator 2X. Bot Statistics. This entry displays the total build time, in hours and minutes, during the lifetime of your MakerBot Replicator 2X. It also displays the duration of the last completed build. General Settings. This entry leads to a sub-menu that allows you to change settings on your MakerBot Replicator 2X.
THE INFO AND SETTINGS MENU CONTINUED GENERAL SETTINGS CONTINUED Sound. This entry toggles the indicator sounds ON and OFF. Setting this entry to OFF stops the MakerBot Replicator 2X from beeping when you turn it on or when a print finishes. However, this option will not eliminate all sound made by your MakerBot Replicator 2X. The sounds you hear during printing come from the stepper motors and cannot be turned off. LED Color.
THE INFO AND SETTINGS MENU CONTINUED Preheat Settings. This entry lets you change the preheat temperatures for the extruders and build plate. Remember that that the temperatures are in degrees Celsius. • Use the up and down arrow buttons to navigate to the setting you want to change (Right Tool, Left Tool, Platform) • Press the M button to select the setting you want to change. • Use the up and down arrow buttons to scroll through the available options for each setting.
ACTIVE BUILD MENU The LCD panel includes options and settings for use during printing. To access these settings during a print, press the left arrow button. Pause/Unpause. This entry allows you to stop a print briefly. During Pause, your extruders and build platform will not move from their current locations. Use Pause only to stop a print briefly. MakerBot does not recommend allowing a heated nozzle to remain stationary and in contact with your print for a long period of time.
ACTIVE BUILD MENU CONTINUED LED Color. This entry allows you to change the color of the LEDs in the frame of the MakerBot Replicator 2X. The LEDs can be set to WHITE, RED, ORANGE, PINK, GREEN, BLUE or PURPLE, or turned OFF. Use the up and down arrow buttons to scroll through the available colors. Press the M button to select and confirm your selection. Build Statistics. This entry displays the elapsed time for the current build and the line number of the command being executed by your Replicator 2X.
LEVELING THE BUILD PLATE LEVELING THE BUILD PLATE To run the leveling script, use the LCD panel to navigate to Utilities > Level Build Plate. WHY LEVELING IS IMPORTANT • If the build plate is too far from the extruder nozzles, or if one part of the plate is farther away from the nozzles than another part, your 3D prints might not stick to the build plate. • If the build plate is too close to the extruder nozzles, the build plate can block the MakerBot Filament from extruding from the nozzles.
LEVELING THE BUILD PLATE CONTINUED 1. Adjust the Knobs When directed by the LCD screen, tighten each of the three knobs underneath the build platform approximately four turns. Next, the script will prompt you to adjust the knobs individually. Use the MakerBot Support business card or a thin piece of paper to check the plate height above each knob. As you adjust each knob, make sure the MakerBot Support card just slides between the nozzles and build plate.
LOADING MAKERBOT FILAMENT 1. Remove the Enclosure Lid Lift the enclosure lid from the top of the MakerBot Replicator 2X and set it aside. Filament Guide Tubes 2. Detach the Filament Guide Tube Locate where the filament guide tube enters the extruder. Detach the guide tube by gently pulling it out of the extruder. Filament Spool Filament 3. Feed the Filament through the Filament Guide Tube Free the end of the MakerBot ABS Filament from your spool.
LOADING MAKERBOT FILAMENT CONTINUED 4. Run the Filament Loading Script Use the LCD panel to navigate to Utilities > Change Filament > Load Right or Load Left. Then press the M button to start the process. NOTE: The loading filament section of the startup script only walks you through loading the right extruder. The MakerBot Replicator 2X will start to heat the selected extruder. CAUTION: Do not touch the extruders while they are heating — they heat to 230° C. 5.
LOADING MAKERBOT FILAMENT CONTINUED filament. Maintain pressure for another five seconds and then let go. 7. Stop Extrusion After a few moments, you should see a thin string of plastic come out of the extruder nozzle. The filament might curl and then straighten; this is normal. Press the M button to stop extrusion. NOTE: Don’t be surprised if the plastic that initially comes out of the nozzle is not the color you expected. This is filament left over from testing.
LOADING MAKERBOT FILAMENT CONTINUED Unloading MakerBot ABS Filament Just like with loading filament, the MakerBot Replicator 2X will heat the selected extruder to 230° C and then direct you to pull the filament free of the extruder. To unload filament, navigate to Utilities > Filament Options > Unload Right or Unload Left on the LCD panel.
3 MAKERBOT DESKTOP MakerBot Desktop is a free app for preparing 3D prints and managing your 3D content. Use MakerBot Desktop to explore Thingiverse®, organize your files, and prepare 3D models for printing.
DOWNLOADING & INSTALLING MAKERBOT DESKTOP 1. Open a browser session and go to makerbot.com/desktop. 2. Click Download. 3. Select your operating system from the dropdown menu and again click Download. A system-specific installer will download to your computer. 4. Double-click the MakerBot Desktop installer to run the installation wizard. Follow the installation instructions. 5. When you open MakerBot Desktop for the first time, you will go through a short setup process: A.
DOWNLOADING & INSTALLING MAKERBOT DESKTOP CONTINUED a username and password. If not, you can create one now. This is your MakerBot account, and you can use it to log into MakerBot Desktop, Thingiverse, and other MakerBot sites. You can use MakerBot Desktop without logging in, but logging in will allow you to access your MakerBot Cloud Library and additional features in the Explore, Prepare, and Store sections.
ABOUT MAKERBOT DESKTOP MakerBot Desktop is a free app for preparing 3D prints and managing your 3D content. It consists of five sections: Explore, Library, Prepare, Store, and Learn. 1 2 3 1. Explore gives you access to MakerBot Thingiverse and the hundreds of thousands of 3D printable objects designed by the Thingiverse community. Use Explore to search Thingiverse for inspiration or for new things to print, then save them to your collections or prepare them for printing. 2.
THE PREPARE SCREEN 2 9 1 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 14 1. +/– • Click the Plus and Minus buttons to zoom in and out. • You can also zoom using a track pad or the scroll wheel on your mouse. 2. Home View • Click the Home View button to return to the default view of the build plate. 3. View • Click the View button or press the V key to enter View mode. • In View mode, click and drag with your mouse to rotate the build plate. • In View mode, hold the Shift key and click and drag with your mouse to pan.
THE PREPARE SCREEN CONTINUED • In Move mode, click and drag with your mouse to move your model around on the build plate. • In Move mode, hold the Shift key and click and drag with your mouse to move your model up and down along the z-axis. • Click the Move button again to open the Change Position submenu and move your object by a specific distance along the X, Y, or Z-axis. 5. Turn • Click the Turn button or press the T key to enter Turn mode.
THE PREPARE SCREEN CONTINUED • Add as many models to the plate as you like. Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl/ Command + L to automatically arrange multiple models on the plate. • Duplicate models already on the plate using the Copy and Paste options in the Edit menu or the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl/Command+C and Ctrl/Command+V. 11. Save to Library • Click Save to Library to open a Save dialog. • If you are logged into your MakerBot account, you can choose to save to your Library or to your local computer.
4 PRINTING WITH YOUR MAKERBOT REPLICATOR 2X This chapter will walk you through finding a model to print, preparing that model, and then finally printing the model. This chapter assumes you have already downloaded and installed MakerBot Desktop. If you have not installed MakerBot Desktop, see the section in chapter 3 on Downloading and Installing MakerBot Desktop.
CHOOSING A MODEL You can download a model from Thingiverse, open a 3D printable .STL, .OBJ, or .Thing file from any source, or access objects that are already saved in your MakerBot Cloud Library. FINDING A MODEL ON THINGIVERSE 1. In MakerBot Desktop, click on the Explore tab. Click Explore at the right to browse available models, or use the search bar to look for something specific. 2. Click the thumbnail or name of any Thing to go to the Thing page. 3.
PREPARING A MODEL Use the Move, Turn, and Scale buttons in the Prepare tab to position and scale your model on the virtual build plate. BASIC SETTINGS If you want to change any settings before printing, click Settings. This is where you can specify options that will affect the quality of your printed object, like print resolution and object strength. To print with standard or previously specified settings, skip this step and go straight to printing. 1.
PREPARING A MODEL CONTINUED Use the Raft drop-down box to choose from these options: • Choose Off to turn off the raft. • Choose Left Extruder or Right Extruder to have the raft printed only using the left or right extruder. • Choose Color-Matched to have the material of your raft determined automatically. If you are printing a single-material object, the raft will automatically be printed with the same extruder.
PREPARING A MODEL CONTINUED DUAL EXTRUSION Dual extrusion prints are composed of two STL files sliced to a single X3G file. You will designate one STL file to be printed by the right extruder, and the other STL file by the left extruder. Dual extrusion is great for when you want to print in two different colors, or with dissolvable filament for your raft and/or supports. To better understand how to prepare a dual extrusion print, we will use an example object from Thingiverse. 1.
PREPARING A MODEL CONTINUED files that make up the Lotus Flower. You will alo see the Thing file that contains both STL files. Click on Prepare next to the Thing file. 6. Click on the point of an outer petal from the first layer to highlight that object. 7. Click twice on the Object button. 8. In the Object Information submenu, in the Extruder dropdown menu, select an extruder to print Lotus_color2.stl. 9. Click on the point of an outer petal from the second layer to highlight that object. 10.
PRINTING A MODEL Once you’ve saved your settings in MakerBot Desktop, it’s time to print. Your MakerBot Replicator 2X can print via SD card or via USB. FILE TYPES MakerBot Desktop can open the following file types: • OBJ • STL • THING MakerBot Desktop can save the following file types: •STL •THING MakerBot Desktop can export to the following file types: •GCode •X3G •S3G •.makerbot (for 5th Generation MakerBot Replicators only) STL An STL is a widely-used type of 3D model file.
PRINTING A MODEL CONTINUED individual models in relation to each other. The Thing format works only with MakerBot Desktop, so you should not save as Thing if you are saving a file for use with another program. If you have a Thing file and need to edit an individual STL file within it, change the file extension to .zip. Then unzip the file and extract the STL you need. X3G X3G is the compact format in which MakerBot Desktop sends instructions to your MakerBot Replicator 2X.
PRINTING A MODEL CONTINUED PRINTING VIA SD CARD 1. Place an SD card in the SD card slot of your computer. The SD card must be: • Formatted for FAT16 •No larger than 2GB 2. In MakerBot Desktop, click Export Print File. MakerBot Desktop will slice your model. 3. Once your model is sliced, a dialog will appear with an estimated print time and estimated filament usage, as well as an opportunity to view a print preview. 4. Click Export Now to open a save dialog. 5.
PRINTING A MODEL CONTINUED 6. Once the file is saved to the SD card, eject the SD card from your computer and insert it into the SD card slot at the top of the LCD panel on your MakerBot Replicator 2X. 7. From the home screen on the LCD panel, use the up arrow button to navigate to Build from SD, and then press the M button. 8. Use the up and down arrow buttons to find your particular .x3g file. When you find it, press the M button to start printing. PRINTING VIA USB 1.
5 ADVANCED SETTINGS This chapter describes the advanced printing options in MakerBot Desktop.
ADVANCED OPTIONS To use the settings under Advanced Options, you must select one of MakerBot Desktop’s base profiles (Low, Standard, or High). When you change any of the settings in Advanced Options, an asterisk will appear next to the profile name in the Settings dialog. The asterisk indicates that the base profile is no longer in its default state. These options provide control over specific slicing options.
QUALITY The settings in the Quality tab affect the strength and finish of printed objects. Each Quality option affects particular sections of an object. INFILL Infill provides your object with an internal support structure. The number that you enter in this field defines the solidity of the printed object’s infill. Higher infill percentages will result in more threads of infill extrusion that are closer together, increasing the strength and weight of your object.
QUALITY CONTINUED SHELLS The MakerBot Replicator 2X starts each new layer of an object by printing some number of outlines of that layer. These are called shells. Every object you print must have at least one shell. If there is more than one shell, the additional shells will be nested inside the first one. You can add as many shells as you want and they will print as concentric perimeters on each layer.
TEMPERATURE Temperature settings for the extruders and the build plate are grouped together under the Temperature tab. EXTRUDERS The extruders will need to be heated to approximately 230° C to melt and extrude the plastic filament at normal operating speeds. Extrusion temperature is tied very closely to both extrusion speed and the material being extruded. If you are experimenting with either of those, you might need to experiment with extrusion temperature, too.
SPEED Everyone wants their MakerBot to move faster so they can print things more quickly. Our default print speed is 80 mm/s, and if you want to print faster, you might have to adjust more settings than the extrusion speed. Print speeds are closely tied to temperature settings and to the mechanical capabilities of your MakerBot Replicator 2X.
CUSTOM PROFILES Additional advanced options are available through Custom Profiles. Custom profiles allow you to edit the slicing engine’s profile settings directly instead of overriding them by using the Advanced Options settings. Visit the Using Custom Slicing Profiles page at www.makerbot.com/support/new/Desktop for more information.
6 MAINTENANCE We’ve made the MakerBot Replicator 2X incredibly easy to take care of, but there are a couple of things you’ll want to do from time to time to keep it running as smoothly as possible.
LEVELING THE BUILD PLATE One of the best things you can do to keep your MakerBot Replicator 2X in top shape is to level your build plate frequently. It never hurts to re-level, but forgetting to do so can hurt your success rate. Please see page 26 to learn how to level the build plate using the onboard leveling script. To level the build plate without using the built-in script: 1. Using the LCD panel, navigate to Utilities > Home Axes. 2.
LEVELING THE BUILD PLATE CONTINUED Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you level your build plate: • Make sure to take your fingers off the leveling knobs and platform when you test the friction on your paper or feeler gauge; pressure from your hands can affect platform height. • If you’re having trouble leveling your build plate, make sure your nozzles are clean. Small amounts of plastic stuck to the nozzles can make it feel like the nozzle is closer to the plate than it really is.
REPLACING KAPTON TAPE Over time, the Kapton tape on your build plate will be scratched and torn, and you will need to replace it with one of the die-cut Kapton sheets that was included in the package with your MakerBot Replicator 2X. To replace the Kapton tape: 1. Peel off the old Kapton tape and discard it. 2. Locate the extra sheets of Kapton tape that were included with your MakerBot Replicator 2X. If you have used up these sheets, Kapton tape is available for purchase at store.makerbot.
REPLACING KAPTON TAPE CONTINUED 8. When the Kapton tape is applied as smoothly as possible, trim the edges of the sheet or fold them over the sides of the build plate. NOTE: To view a video of this process, visit mbot.co/1u9NCuC.
LUBRICATING THE Z-AXIS ROD & IDLER PULLEY After approximately 50 hours of build time, you should lubricate the threaded rod on your Z-axis and the X-axis idler pulley. To lubricate the threaded rod and the idler pulley: 1. Find the tube of PTFE-based grease included in the package with your the MakerBot Replicator 2X. If you have used up this tube of grease, PTFE-based grease is available for purchase at store.makerbot.com/parts-accessories.html 2.
LUBRICATING THE Z-AXIS ROD & IDLER PULLEY CONTINUED X-axis pulley 7. Squeeze a small amount of the PTFE-based grease directly onto the exposed area of the metal rod inside the idler pulley and manually move the pulley back and forth to spread the grease. NOTE: To view a video of this process, go to visit mbot.co/1u3YfTc.
REALIGNING THE GANTRY The gantry is the system of rods and belts that moves the extruder. If one side is too far out of alignment with the other, the outlines of printed objects might appear slanted on the build plate. You should make sure your gantry is aligned after moving or jolting your MakerBot Replicator 2X. To determine whether your gantry is aligned correctly, push the extruders all the way to the front of the MakerBot Replicator 2X.
REALIGNING THE GANTRY CONTINUED 5. Manually move the extruders to the front of the MakerBot Replicator 2X, as far forward as they will go. Make sure that the plastic pieces on both sides of the gantry are flush against the plastic brackets that hold the two front pulleys. 6. Use the 1.5 mm hex wrench to tighten the set screw in each of the two back pulleys. Make sure these set screws are very tight.
TIGHTENING THE X AND Y-AXIS PULLEYS Loose X and Y-axis pulleys in your MakerBot Replicator 2X can result in belts slipping during printing. If you notice shifts on the X or Y-axis during a print, it might be time to tighten your pulleys. 1. Locate the X-axis pulley. It is attached to the motor mounted on the right side of the gantry. Slide the extruders to the left until you have access to the set screw holding the pulley to the motor shaft. Use the 1.
FILAMENT CARE Your MakerBot Replicator 2X Experimental 3D Printer is optimized to print with 1.75 mm MakerBot ABS plastic filament. For maximum performance, you must keep your ABS filament cool and dry. Heat and humidity can cause the ABS plastic to absorb moisture and swell. To reduce the absorption of moisture, keep the filament in a sealed plastic bag when not in use. Keep your filament tightly wound on the spool. Loose filament will become tangled, and can break or jam during a print.
7 TROUBLESHOOTING 67 WELCOME
PRINTING ISSUES Objects Do Not Stick to the Build Plate If printed objects are not sticking to the build plate, try these solutions: • Re-level your build plate by navigating to Utilities > Level Build Plate on the LCD panel. Inconsistent plate height will lead to inconsistent adhesion. If any one part of your object does not adhere well to the plate, the whole object might peel off the plate.
PRINTING ISSUES CONTINUED EXTRUSION STOPS There are a few problems that can cause your MakerBot Replicator 2X to stop extruding. Use this checklist to determine the cause and appropriate solution. • Is your extruder motor rotating? Use a marker to draw a line across the end of the motor shaft that is visible at the back of the motor. When the extruder is running, you should be able to see the shaft turning.
PRINTING ISSUES CONTINUED REPLICATOR 2X SHAKES Your Replicator 2X will shake during printing if you print at high speeds with acceleration turned off. Attempting to print at high speeds with acceleration turned off can harm your MakerBot Replicator 2X. To check and change the Acceleration setting, go to the LCD menu on your Replicator MakerBot 2X and navigate to Info and Settings > General Settings > Accelerate. You can turn acceleration off and on. Acceleration is turned on by default.
PRINTING ISSUES CONTINUED FILAMENT STUCK Filament can swell inside the extruder and get stuck. If you cannot unload filament from one of the extruders, do the following: 1. On the LCD panel, navigate to Utilities > Change Filament > Unload. This option heats the extruders. 2. Set the extruder arm to the open position. 3. Push about half an inch of filament through the extruder to clear the blockage. Try pulling the filament out of the extruder again.
PRINTING ISSUES CONTINUED DISASSEMBLING AN EXTRUDER 1. Unload the MakerBot Filament from the extruder. To run the script for unloading filament, navigate to Utilities > Change Filament > Unload on the LCD panel. 2. Switch off the power on the MakerBot Replicator 2X and unplug the power supply. Pull on the connector to release it from the power input port. 3. Unscrew the two bolts at the lower corners of the fan guard using your 2.5 mm hex wrench.
LCD ERROR MESSAGES If your MakerBot Replicator 2X encounters problems during operation, the LCD menu will display an error message. The following table describes each possible error message. NOTE: If you see an error message in an unexpected context, submit a case to MakerBot Support at www.makerbot.com/support/submit-a-case/ Error Message Description Use the LCD menu to check your target extruder temperatures.
LCD ERROR MESSAGES CONTINUED Error Message Description These messages indicate that your MakerBot Replicator 2X cannot read the temperature for one of the extruders. Ensure that the wires going into your extruders are securely plugged in or visit makerbot.com/support/new/support to learn what your support options are. To clear Heating Errors 3 and 4, you will have to restart your MakerBot Replicator 2X. Your MakerBot Replicator 2X cannot read SD cards larger than 2GB. Try a smaller card.
LCD ERROR MESSAGES CONTINUED Error Message Description Something might be wrong with your extruder. Please visit makerbot.com/ support/new/support to learn what your support options are. This is just an informational message. If you are loading or unloading filament, the process times out after five minutes. The onboard preheat sequence was interrupted by instructions sent by the software telling the MakerBot Replicator 2X to change the extruder temperature.
MISALIGNED NOZZLES MakerBot executes an alignment script on every MakerBot Replicator 2X before shipping. However, if plastic coming from the two extruders does not appear to be aligned correctly during dual extrusion prints, you can run the alignment script again at home. 1. Make sure filament is loaded into both extruders. 2. To start the nozzle alignment script, go to the LCD menu and navigate to Utilities > Calibrate Nozzles. 3.
MISALIGNED NOZZLES CONTINUED 5. Look closely at your test print. First look at the set of lines to the left [the lines that are parallel to the front of the build plate]. Notice that the first lines on the left are farther from the front of the build plate than the first lines on the right. Examine the lines and find the pair of lines that match best. The best match will look the most like a single continuous line, with both test lines perfectly centered. Note the number.
DOS AND DON’TS MakerBot encourages you to tinker with your Replicator 2X Experimental 3D Printer, but there are some things we know are bad ideas, and you should know about them, too. • Don’t put any liquids into your extruder. Whether it’s boiling water, acetone, or anything in between, it’s not going to help and it could do a lot of harm. • Don’t overheat your extruder.
USEFUL TOOLS Your MakerBot Replicator 2X package includes everything you need to start printing, but here are a few other things that might come in handy as you begin to experiment. A Craft Spatula. A thin metal craft spatula is a great tool for removing stubborn prints form the build plate. Carefully work the edge of the spatula under the edge of your print, making sure to keep the spatula at a low angle. If the spatula is pointing down too steeply, it’s more likely to damage your Kapton tape.
DIAGNOSING PRINT QUALITY ISSUES Sometimes little things can go wrong with a print – things that are easy to fix, but only if you know what’s causing the problem. This guide can help: just find the picture of the problem you’re experiencing and read the tips on how to fix it. Warping or Cracking Are your prints curling off the build plate? This can happen during printing when the air around your print is too cool.
DIAGNOSING PRINT QUALITY ISSUES CONTINUED FILAMENT VARIATION Does it seem like there’s too much or too little plastic being used in your prints? This can happen when your filament doesn’t look or behave exactly how the slicing engine expects it to. Sometimes 1.75 mm plastic filament is actually closer to 1.65 mm or 1.85 mm. Your extruder can handle this range of sizes, but the slicer requires an accurate description of your filament to create a good toolpath.
DIAGNOSING PRINT QUALITY ISSUES CONTINUED If you are overextruding, increase the “feedstockMultiplier” setting by 0.05, save the config file, and print again. File Name: 3D mouse Design by: DDStarkey Overextrusion Thingiverse: 61909 If you are underextruding, decrease the “feedstockMultiplier” setting by 0.05, save the config file, and print your file again. Continue to decrease the value entered for this setting in increments.
DIAGNOSING PRINT QUALITY ISSUES CONTINUED RIPPLING Do you see faint vertical ripples on the walls of your prints? This is due to mechanical feedback and occurs at higher speeds. Reduce your print speed in the Advanced Options section of MakerBot Desktop’s Settings dialog. AXIS DRIFT Does it look like your whole print shifted sideways? This is the result of skipping on the X or Y-axis.
DIAGNOSING PRINT QUALITY ISSUES CONTINUED holding the drive block to the extruder motor. Remove the drive block and set it aside. Be careful with the drive block – if any of the pieces are detached, you might have a difficult time putting it back together. 2. Ensure that the drive gear is in the correct position on the motor shaft. The top of the drive gear should be about 2 mm from the end of the motor shaft.
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SPECIFICATIONS PRINTING TEMPERATURE Print Technology: Fused deposition modeling Ambient Operation: 15°–32° C [60°–90° F] Filament: Storage Temperature: 0°–32° C [32°–90° F] 1.75 mm MakerBot ABS Filament 1.75 mm MakerBot Dissolvable Filament ELECTRICAL Build Volume: 24.6 cm x 16.3 cm x 15.5 cm AC Input: 100–240V, ~4 amps, 50–60 Hz [9.7”W x 6.4”L x 6.1”H] Power Requirements: 24V DC @ 9.2 amps Layer Height Settings: High 100 microns [0.
GLOSSARY ABS: Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, a widely used thermoplastic, and the primary material used for making things on the MakerBot Replicator 2X. BUILD PLATFORM: The support for the heated build plate. The build platform includes knobs for manual leveling. DISSOLVABLE FILAMENT: A type of filament that will dissolve in a limonene bath. Ideal for the parts of a print that will be removed, such as rafts and support structures.
GLOSSARY CONTINUED KAPTON TAPE: A heat-resistant film that adheres well to ABS plastic at high temperatures. Use it to cover the heated build plate so that objects will stick to the plate during the build. LCD CONTROL PANEL: The liquidcrystal display at the front lower right corner of the MakerBot Replicator 2X. This control panel provides status information about the MakerBot Replicator 2X and includes control menus and diagnostics. MAKERBOT FILAMENT: 1.75mm diameter plastic welding rod.
GLOSSARY CONTINUED .THING: A file format used by MakerBot Desktop that allows you to print multiple 3D models on the same build plate. THINGIVERSE: A website for uploading and downloading 3D model files for use with the MakerBot Replicator 2X and other MakerBot 3D Printers. THREADED ROD: The long metal rod behind the build platform that is threaded along its entire length. This rod allows the build platform to move up and down along the Z-axis.
CONTACT US SUPPORT makerbot.com/support Our website has extensive documentation and troubleshooting information about your MakerBot Replicator 2X. It’s a great resource when you want to try to solve issues quickly on your own. makerbot.com/support/select/ At MakerBot, we take pride in offering expert, responsive, friendly customer support to our customers around the world.
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