A totally DIFFERENT use for our 3D printer

Today a guy came in and asked if he could record our 3D printer as it printed...as in an audio recording.  He is a sound engineer and collects files of different sounds to have on file for future projects.

And for you Cold War veterans, NO, the recorder he used didn't look like this:

Print jobs backlog!

An instructor of a 3D printing class drop off a lot of jobs plus we have a few jobs from other people.  Right now we have 17 jobs in our queue!  If you need something printed send it along but know it might take a couple of days.  We are printing pretty much all of the time that someone is in the building.  

MakerBot Firmware Update

MakerBot recently released firmware version 1.7, check out the details at their site: https://mindtouch.makerbot.com/04_Desktop/Release_Notes/Fifth_Generation_Firmware_Release_Notes
Applying a firmware update is very straightforward.  Download the latest MakerBot Desktop software, attach directly to the printer via USB, and click "Update Firmware" under Devices.

Try printing one of the internally stored models, such as Mr. Jaws, to verify operations.

3D Printer outage

Last week, we experienced our first (and hopefully last!) Smart Extruder blockage.  Unfortunately, even after following the steps on the MakerBot support website for clearing a clogged extruder, we were unable to get filament to extrude.  Contacted MakerBot Support directly today and after working with customer service, determined the extruder should be replaced.  We’re hoping to have the replacement in hand by end of week.

Our 3D printer is back!

 Makerbot sent us a brand-new  Makerbot Replicator Fifth Gen printer to replace the one that went missing in transit. Here are some pictures of Bill, our IT guru, doing some initial test prints.

 We've got to get the UCPL staff trained, and then we hope to have it out in the public area soon.

3D-Printer Woes (continued)

UPS picked up our Makerbot 5th Gen 3D printer today to ship it back to New York. Only this wasn't really ours. Makerbot notified us that they had shipped back the freshly fixed machine, but when we opened the box, instead of the UCPL printer with a repaired gantry, we found someone else's printer. We're shipping the "someone else's printer" and Makerbot has promised us a brand new machine soon (our original machine is somewhere in the wind). Here's hoping we're 3D printing out in the Library before August!

3D Printer Woes....

On Wednesday, we performed a firmware update as directed by the MakerBot desktop software.  After successful update, we proceeded with printing a previously printed small object, just to test.  The carriage had previously stopped at the top-left corner of the build plate.  When the job was submitted, a grinding sound was heard and the carriage did not move.  The printer started extruding plastic in the same corner, no movement, just a glob.  No errors had been displayed up to this point.  We stopped the job and when the printer attempted to move the carriage, the below popped up on-screen:

Turns out the belt had seemingly fallen off track (don't know why) and didn't look to be user serviceable.    We called MakerBot Support (which was very easy and accessible) to help with this issue.  After submitting the pictures below, MakerBot advised that the unit would need to be returned for service.  Now awaiting arrival of the pre-paid shipping materials and will be sending off for repair....

3D Printing Now At UCPL

                                       

On Wednesday, 5/7, we dove into our brand-new 5^th Generation 3D printer, taking pictures along the way.  Unboxing the unit was very easy, as the printer itself does not weigh much.

Front View:

Top View:

Instruction Card:

“Natural” color filament that comes with the printer:

The Smart Extruder connects directly to the printer without any clips, screws, or other attachments.  It’s completely magnetic!  Following the instructions, attached the filament, fed through the guide tube, and powered on the unit.

Turning it on:

Following on-screen directions:

Leveling the build plate:

Keep your hands on the knob and don't remove until directed.

Heating the Extruder:

Close-up of screen:

(notice the target temperature is 230 Celsius.  That’s 446 Fahrenheit!)

On subsequent screens, we load the filament into the extruder and now ready to print.  Connectivity comes in multiple options: USB Cabled, Ethernet, USB Flash, and coming soon Wireless. 

MakerBot software and documentation is available for download from the MakerBot website. 

We proceeded with following the steps for printing the Queen Anne Coffee Table found on Thingiverse:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:18982

The mascot for the library is the University City Lion, we searched for a lion head to print next and found one here:  http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:215420.    BTW, it turned out great!!

One question arose in regards to whether or not the filament needed to be removed from the extruder after each print or if it could stay loaded.  I didn’t see anywhere in the documentation that addressed the question, so after calling MakerBot support directly, I learned that the recommendation is to leave the filament loaded.