Maintaining and Troubleshooting Your 3D Printer (eBook)

Charles Bell (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2014 | 1st ed.
XXI, 528 Seiten
Apress (Verlag)
9781430268086 (ISBN)

Infos

Maintaining and Troubleshooting Your 3D Printer by Charles Bell is your guide to keeping your 3D printer running through preventive maintenance, repair, and diagnosing and solving problems in 3D printing. If you’ve bought or built a 3D printer such as a MakerBot only to be confounded by jagged edges, corner lift, top layers that aren’t solid, or any of a myriad of other problems that plague 3D printer enthusiasts, then here is the book to help you get past all that and recapture the joy of creative fabrication. The book also includes valuable tips for builders and those who want to modify their printers to get the most out of their investment.

Good fabrication begins with calibration. Aligning the print bed to support deposition of medium in three dimensions is critical. Even off-the-shelf machines that are pre-built must be aligned and periodically realigned throughout their life cycle. Maintaining and Troubleshooting Your 3D Printer helps you achieve and hold proper alignment. Maintaining and Troubleshooting Your 3D Printer also helps with software and hardware troubleshooting. You’ll learn to diagnose and solve firmware calibration problems, filament and feed problems, chassis issues, and more.

Finally there are regular maintenance and enhancements. You’ve invested significantly in your 3D printer. Protect that investment using the guidance in this book. Learn to clean and lubricate your printer, to maintain the chassis, and know when realignment of the print bed is needed. Learn ways to master your craft and improve the quality of your prints through such things as post-print finishing and filament management.

Don’t let the challenges of 3D printing stand in the way of creativity. Maintaining and Troubleshooting Your 3D Printer by Charles Bell helps you conquer the challenges and get the most benefit from your expensive investment in personal fabrication.

Charles Bell conducts research in emerging technologies. He is a member of the Oracle MySQL Development team and is the team lead for the MySQL Utilities team. He lives in a small town in rural Virginia with his loving wife. He received his Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2005. Dr. Bell is an expert in the database field and has extensive knowledge and experience in software development and systems engineering. His research interests include 3D printers, microcontrollers, three-dimensional printing, database systems, software engineering, and sensor networks. He spends his limited free time as a practicing Maker focusing on microcontroller projects and refinement of three-dimensional printers. Dr. Bell maintains a blog on his research projects and many other interests. You can find his blog at http://drcharlesbell.blogspot.com/.

Inhalt

Contents at a Glance 3
Contents 498
About the Author 507
About the Technical Reviewer 508
Acknowledgments 509
Introduction 5
Part 1: Getting Started with 3D Printing 9
Chapter 1: Introduction to 3D Printing 10
Getting Started 10
What Is 3D Printing? 11
How Does FFF Work ? 12
3D Printing Software 14
Computer-Aided Design 15
CAD Software Choices 16
Blender 17
OpenSCAD 19
Thingiverse: An Object Repository 20
Computer-Aided Manufacturing 22
What is G-code ? 22
CAM Software Choices 24
MakerWare 25
Slic3r 29
Filament Properties 30
Firmware 32
Firmware Choices 33
Printer Control 37
Pronterface 38
Repetier-Host 39
3D Printer Hardware 43
Axis Movement 44
Minimum and Maximum Endstops and Crashes 45
Stepper Motors 47
Extrusion Mechanism (Extruder) 48
Build Platform 50
Electronics 51
Frame 52
Filament Types 54
ABS vs. PLA: Which Is Best? 56
Switching Filament 56
What You Can Expect from a 3D Printer 57
Ease of Use 57
Print Quality 58
Reliability 58
Maintainability 59
Summary 59
Chapter 2: Getting a 3D Printer 60
Classes of 3D Printers 60
Professional Grade 61
Vendors 62
Vendor Spotlight 63
Consumer Grade 64
Vendors 66
Vendor Spotlight 66
Hobbyist Grade (RepRap) 69
Why RepRap? 70
Prusa Mendel i2 71
Prusa i3 73
Vendors 75
Vendor Spotlight 75
Sourcing Your Own Printer Kit 77
Make a Plan 77
Rules of Acquisition 13 79
Danger Ahead 80
3D Printer Features 81
Build Volume 81
Filament 82
Hot End Types 82
All-Metal 82
PEEK Body with PTFE Liner 84
Mounting Orientation 84
Choosing a Hot End 85
LCD Panel 85
SD Card Reader 85
Filament Cartridge System 86
Network Connection 86
Wireless Support 86
Adjustable Print Bed 86
Filament Cleaner 86
Filament Spool Holder 86
Heated Print Bed 86
Cooling Fans for the Print Bed 86
Electronics Cooling Fan 87
Auto Bed Leveling 87
Build or Buy? 88
Reasons for Building Your Own 3D Printer 88
Reasons for Buying a Ready-to-Print 3D Printer 88
How Do I Decide? 89
Buying a Used 3D Printer 89
Summary 91
Chapter 3: 3D Printer Building: Tips for a Successful Build 92
Tools and Skills Required 92
Tool Quality: Does it Matter? 93
Tools 94
Required Tools: General 94
Required Tools: Building a 3D Printer 96
Recommended Tools 101
Optional Tools 105
Recommended Supplies 108
Skills 109
Mechanical 109
Electrical 110
3D Printer Kits Revisited 110
Complete 111
Parts Only 112
Component 113
3D Printer Build Tips 114
General Notes 115
Organize Your Small Parts 115
Read the Instructions 117
Use a Clean, Clear Workspace 117
Check the Bill of Materials 118
Lay Out Your Tools 118
Don’t Mix SAE and Metric 118
Keep Your Hands Clean 118
No Duct Tape Allowed 118
Give Me a Break! 119
Don’t Force Components Together 119
Don’t Vary From the Plan 119
Keep an Engineering Logbook 119
It’s Not a Toy! 120
Frame Components 120
Cleaning Bolt and Rod Holes 120
Test-Fit Parts Before Assembly 121
Measure Twice 121
Clean Threaded Rods 121
Nut Traps 121
How Tight? 122
Fixing Stripped Bolts 122
Locate Lost Nuts and Other Small Bits 123
Paint or Stain with Caution 123
The Moving Parts 123
Working with Oiled Parts 123
Keep Smooth and Threaded Rods Clean 123
Use of Belt Tensioners 124
Align Pulleys with the Belt 124
Don’t Stress the Plastic 124
What Is Backward ? 124
Don’t Mix Part Repositories 124
Electronics 125
ESD Is the Enemy 125
Test Your Components Separately 125
Don’t Rush Assembly 125
You Cannot Use Too Many Zip Ties 126
Cutting Wires to Length 126
Cut Zip Ties Close to the Nub 126
Use High-Temp Wire for Heaters 126
Use ESD Shielding for LCD Cables 126
Insulate Mains 128
Use Stress Relief 129
Spread the Load 130
Preflight Checks 130
Smoke Test 130
Set Endstops Conservatively 130
Connect Your Controller Software 130
Check the Endstop Status 131
Check Axis Movement 132
Check Heaters 133
Test Extrusion 134
Summary 134
Chapter 4: Configuring the Software 135
Setting up and Configuring the Firmware on Your Printer 135
Choosing Your Firmware 135
Getting Started with Marlin 136
Arduino Tutorial 137
Downloading Marlin 139
Prerequisite: Do the Math 140
Method 1: Manual Calculations 141
Method 2: Using the RepRap Calculator 143
Configuring Marlin 148
Author and Version 149
Baud Rate 149
Electronics Board 149
Temperature 150
Endstops 152
Axes Movement 153
EEPROM 155
LCD Panel 156
Compiling and Uploading 157
Project: Customizing Marlin 158
Adding Custom Menu Items 159
Displaying a Welcome Message 160
Installing Software on Your Computer 162
Choosing Your Printer Controller 162
Installing Repetier-Host 164
Connecting Your Printer 164
Running the Preflight Tests 169
Project: Building a 3D Printer Print Server 170
Raspberry Pi Tutorial 171
Getting Started 171
Installing a Boot Image 171
Windows 171
Mac OS X 171
Linux 172
Setting up the Raspberry Pi Hardware 172
Setting up the Raspberry Pi Software 174
Connecting and Using OctoPi 174
Summary 180
Chapter 5: Calibrating the Printer 181
Setting the Endstops 181
X-Axis Endstop 182
Y-Axis Endstop 184
Z-Axis Endstop 187
Z-Height Adjusters 187
Proper Z-Height 188
Z-Axis Endstop Location 189
Calibrating the Stepper Drivers 190
Calibrating the Axes 191
Tools Required 192
X Axis 192
Y Axis 196
Z Axis 197
Calibrating the Extruder 199
Leveling the Heated Print Bed 205
Frame and Chassis 209
Summary 210
Part 2: Troubleshooting 211
Chapter 6: Printing for the First Time 212
Preparing the Printer for Printing 212
Preparing Your Print Surface 212
Prerequisites 213
Blue Painter’s Tape 213
Kapton Tape 218
ABS Juice 224
Other Treatments 228
Setting the Z-Height 228
Slicer Calibration 229
Printing Your First Object 238
Printing Process 238
Calibration Prints 240
Finding Things to Print 244
Getting Started 244
Searching 245
Downloading 246
Summary 248
Chapter 7: Solving Hardware Issues 249
Troubleshooting Techniques 250
Create a Baseline 251
Observe and Record 252
Consider the Possible Causes 253
Choose a Cause and Implement a Strategy to Correct 254
Hardware Problems 255
Filament 255
Quality 256
Filament Spool Tension 256
Contaminants 257
Environmental Factors 258
Extruder and Hot End 258
Extruder Mechanism 259
Nozzle Obstructions 260
Fixing Filament Feed Failures 260
Adhesion 261
Print Bed Adjustments 262
Print Surface 262
Environmental Factors 263
Axes and Chassis 267
Obstructions 267
Adjustments 267
Part Failure 268
Lack of Maintenance 269
Electrical 269
Stepper Motors 270
Wiring 271
Electronics Board 272
Other Components 272
Summary 273
Chapter 8: Solving Software Issues 274
Slicer 274
First-Layer Adhesion 275
Print Quality 279
Warping 280
Splitting 281
Sagging 282
Scaling 284
Orientation 285
Filament and Extrusion 290
Poor Extrusion 290
Oozing 292
Layer Inconsistencies 293
Printer Controller 294
Communication Failures 295
Axis Crashes 295
Firmware 296
Summary 296
Part 3: Maintenance and Enhancements 297
Chapter 9: 3D Printer Maintenance: Inspection and Adjustment Tasks 298
Getting Started with Maintenance 299
Keep Your Area Clean and Free of Clutter 299
Organize Your Tools for Quick Access 300
Unplug Your Printer 300
Take Your Time 300
Record Your Observations 301
Basic Maintenance Tasks 302
Inspection Tasks 302
Frame 304
Tighten Bolts 304
Check Alignment 305
Check for Broken Parts 306
Axes 306
Filament 307
Extruder 307
Belts 310
Wiring 311
Print Surface 312
Adjustment Tasks 313
Level the Print Bed 314
Set the Z-Height 318
Clean the Filament Drive Pulley 319
Clean the Nozzle 323
Summary 327
Chapter 10: 3D Printer Maintenance: Preventive and Corrective Tasks 328
Preventive Tasks 328
Cleaning the Printer 329
Frame 330
Electronics 330
Build Area 332
Threaded and Smooth Rods 332
Lubricating Moving Parts 337
Replacing Worn Parts 341
Got Spares? 341
Printing Spares 342
Recommended List of Spares 343
Printed Parts 343
Replacement Parts 344
Corrective Tasks 345
Clearing a Clogged Nozzle 347
Replacing Broken or Worn Plastic Parts 352
Repairing Broken ABS Parts 354
Replacing Extruder Gears 356
Replacing Belts 358
Replacing Open Belts 358
Replacing Closed Belts 358
X-Axis Belt 359
Y-Axis Belt 360
Belt Tensioners 364
Bearings, Bushings, and Rods 365
Replacing Bearings and Bushings 366
Replacing Smooth Rods 366
Replacing Filters 367
Summary 368
Chapter 11: 3D Printer Enhancements 369
Types of Enhancements 369
Farkles 370
Beautification 370
LED Lighting 371
Quality Enhancements 372
Filament Management System 372
Insulated Heated Print Bed 374
Feature Upgrades 376
LCD Panels 376
Z-Height Adjuster 378
Upgrading Your Printer: Getting Started 380
Do Your Research: Finding Upgrades 380
Set Your Goals and Expectations 381
Check Your Calibration 381
One Upgrade at a Time 382
Generic Upgrades: Your First Upgrade 382
Lighting 382
Adjustable Feet 383
Fans 383
Which One Should I Choose? 384
Printer-Specific Upgrades 385
Printrbot Simple 385
Belt Drive Upgrades 386
Older Simple Printers 386
Newer Simple Printers 387
LCD Panel and Onboard Mount 388
Z-Probe and Mount ( Auto Bed Leveling) 388
Power Supply 390
Other Considerations 391
Prusa Mendel i2 391
LCD Panel 393
Borosilicate Glass Print Surface 394
Spool Holder and Filament Guide 394
Print Cooling Fan 395
Z-height Adjuster 395
Y-Axis Belt Tensioner 395
Print Bed Adjusters 396
Z-Axis Fix 397
Prusa i3 400
Y-Axis Cable Strain Relief 403
Flex Coupler 404
USB Cable Relocate 405
Spool Holder and Filament Guide 406
Z-Probe for Auto Bed Leveling 407
Modifying Your Own Copy 411
Using the Modified Marlin Firmware 411
Installing and Wiring the Sled 411
MakerBot Replicator 1 Dual 411
MakerBot Replicator Extruder Upgrade / Filament Drive 413
Upgraded Heated Print Bed 415
AluCarriage Dual 415
Aluminum Arm Upgrade: Replicator 1 417
Enclosure 418
MakerBot Replicator 2 (and 2X) 419
Upgraded Print Bed 421
Enclosure 423
AluCarriage Single 425
Extruder Upgrade 425
Aluminum Arm Upgrade: Replicator 2/ 2X 425
Summary 426
Part 4: Mastering Your Craft 427
Chapter 12: Working with Objects 428
Creating Objects 428
OpenSCAD Tutorial 429
Coordinates 429
Example: Creating a Thread Spool 435
Make It Parametric: Enable Adaptation 436
Document Your Work 437
Modifying Objects 438
Modifying OpenSCAD Files 439
Object Mashup 439
Post-Print Finishing 442
Preparation Is Key 442
Cleanup 442
Sanding 444
Surface Treatments 445
Painting 445
ABS Acetone Vapor Bath 447
What Does It Do? 448
Preparation 449
Vapor Bath Process 450
Cleanup 451
Assembling Multipart Things 451
Summary 452
Chapter 13: Taking It to the Next Level 453
Contributing 3D Models 453
How We Share 454
Selling Your Things 454
Giving to Others 455
Sharing Etiquette 455
Keep Your Designs Original 455
Check the License 456
Keep It Appropriate 457
Annotate Your Work 457
Be a Good Citizen 458
Example: Uploading a Thing to Thingiverse 458
Prepare the Design 459
Choose a License 461
Create the Site 462
Monitor Feedback 464
Ideas for Using Your 3D Printer 465
Spawning a New Printer 465
What Is a Smartrap? 466
Printing the Plastic Parts 466
Acquiring the Hardware and Electronics 467
Building 467
Practical Household Solutions 467
Prototyping Tips 468
Closet Accessories 470
Mechanical Hardware 471
Furniture 473
Summary 477
Appendix: Common Problems and Solutions 478
Adhesion Problems 479
Extrusion Problems 480
Print Quality Problems 482
Mechanical or Electrical Problems 483
Index 485

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 17.9.2014
• Zusatzinfo: XXI, 528 p. 321 illus.
• Verlagsort: Berkeley
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Mathematik / Informatik ► Informatik ► Theorie / Studium
• Themenwelt: Informatik ► Weitere Themen ► Hardware
• ISBN-13: 9781430268086 / 9781430268086