3D Printing

1 Read This First - Safety Information

1.1 General Safety Information

- Always operate this machine indoors on a solid horizontal table or workbench.

- Do not expose this machine to rain or wet conditions.

- Keep children and bystanders away while operating this machine. It requires the supervision and assistance of an adult when children use this machine.

- Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use common sense when operating this machine. Do not use this machine while you are tired or under the influence of drugs, alcohol or medication.

- Do not reach inside the machine or touch the moving parts while the machine is still in operation. An injury may be caused by its moving parts.

- Do not leave the machine unattended while it is still on.

1.2 3D Printing Safety

- Do not touch the nozzle and heated bed when the machine is printing or heating.

- Always unplug the machine before performing maintenance or modifications.

- Set up the printer in a well-ventilated place when printing with ABS. The melting of some materials may release toxic fumes.

2 Set Up for First Use

Read the product Quick Start Guide (https://snapmaker.com/product/snapmaker-original/downloads) to check the included parts, assemble the machine, and set up the machine for the first use. You can also watch the video tutorials on our website (https://support.snapmaker.com/hc/en-us/categories/360000327114-Snapmaker-Original) to learn how to use the machine.

3 3D Printing Workflow

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Transfer G-code to Machine and Start Printing

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Remove Print

4 Level Heated Bed

Leveling the Heated Bed makes sure the print sticks to the heated bed.

1. Make sure all the cables are correctly connected, turn on the machine.

2. Level the four corners IN ORDER.

Note: These corners correspond to the numbers on the touchscreen shown in the next step. If there is any mistake during this process, level again starting from the first corner.

3. Level the first corner.

4. Place the calibration card or a piece of A4 paper between the heated bed and the nozzle.

5. Adjust the distance between the heated bed and the nozzle using the Up and Down buttons.

6. Keep adjusting until there is slight resistance on the A4 paper from the nozzle.

7. Tap 2 and follow steps 3-5 to level the second corner. Use the same method to level the third and fourth corners.

8. When all the corners are leveled, tap Save.

Note: You can use the Reset button to reset the calibration to factory default settings when needed.

5 Load Filament

1. Use Jog Mode to move the 3D printing module to the illustrated position.

2. Preheat the nozzle.

3. Change the Target Temperature based on the filament you use.

4. When you wait for the temperature to rise, hang the filament over the filament holder.

Note: For smoother printing, the end of the filament should be placed as shown above.

5. When the Current Temp reaches the Target Temp, press the button and insert the filament.

6. Keep inserting the filament until you see some filament coming out of the nozzle.

7. Clean the nozzle and tap Back.

6 Prepare Files

Design: You can design a 3D model using TinkerCAD, SketchUp, Fusion 360, or other 3D modeling software.
3D Scan: You can get a 3D model of a physical object with a 3D scanner.
Download: You can find various free and high-quality 3D models online. For example, on thingiverse.com and myminifactory.com.

7 Generate G-code

G-code is a programming language that the machine understands and is a series of commands that tells the machine what actions to perform - where to move, what speed to use, what temperatures to set, and much more. Before you start 3D printing, you need to download the software Snapmaker Luban from our website (https://snapmaker.com/product/snapmaker-original/downloads) and install it. And you need to generate the G-code file from your 3D model file.

7.1 Generating G-code Workflow

The workflow of G-code generating is:

Select the 3D Printing G-code Generator -> Upload model file -> Move / Scale / Rotate the model as needed -> Select the material in Material section -> Select the printing mode in

Printing Settings section -> Generate G-code.

Note 1: Make sure you have selected the correct machine model Original in the top left corner.

Note 2: Left-click to select a model, right-click to see the operation menu.

Note 3: Uploading multiple 3D models at the same time is supported.

Note 4: If you need to configure the material parameters in Material section , select one default material as profile and then click Plus button +.

Note 5: If you need to configure the printing parameters in Printing Settings section, click Customize and select one mode as a basis. Then click Plus button + to create your own profile.

Note 6: If you want to export all loaded models as STL or OBJ files, click Export Models in the

bottom right corner.

7.2 Printing with Adhesion Structure (Brim / Raft / Skirt)

Brim, Raft, and Skirt are detachable structures for minimizing the problem of object adherence to the heated bed.

To set the adhesion structure, click Customize under Printing Settings, select one mode as a basis, and click Plus button + to create your own profile. Then, choose the adhesion type you need in the drop-down list.

Brim adds a single layer flat area around the base of your model to prevent warping. When to use a brim:
Warping: A brim can help prevent warping and is therefore recommended to be used while printing with materials like ABS filament.
Greater Bed Adhesion: Similarly to 3D printing rafts, brims help to improve bed adhesion.
Added Precaution: As a safety measure, brims can be added to any print that needs strong bed adhesion. While not especially required for printing with filaments like PLA, they still make prints easier to remove. In that way, users can add brims as an added safety precaution.

Raft adds a thick grid with a roof below the model. When to use a raft:
Warping: 3D printing a raft while working with ABS filament helps to prevent the print from warping.
Greater Bed Adhesion: 3D printing a raft will also help to achieve better bed adhesion and act as a precaution against failure.
Tiny Legs: Suppose a print has tiny legs at the bottom, upon which a heavy structure is built. In such cases it is recommended to build a raft as a safety precaution against failure.

Skirt is a line (or multiple lines) printed around the model, but not connected to the model. The skirt is extruded on the heated bed before starting to print your model. Skirts serve a useful purpose because they help prime your extruder and establish a smooth flow of filament. Observing the skirt also allows you to detect and adjust any leveling or adhesion issues before the actual model begins printing.

7.3 Printing with Support Structure

When your model has an overhang or a bridge that is not supported by anything below, you may need to use support structures to 3D print it.

To set the support structure, click Customize under Printing Settings, select one mode as a basis, and click Plus button + to create your own profile. Then, tick the Generate Support box and set the support pattern you need in the drop-down list.

Please note that not all overhangs need to be supported. If an overhang tilts at an angle less than 40 degrees from the vertical, then you may be able to print that overhang without using 3D printing support structures. You can set the Support Overhang Angle to determine the threshold value for adding support structures or not, which is 50° by default.
Generally, if a bridge is less than 5mm in length, the printer may be able to print it without requiring 3D printing support structures. However, if the bridge is longer than 5mm, you need to add 3D printing support structures.
The default Support Pattern is Zig Zag that is relatively easy to remove. You can choose other support patterns as needed, too.

8 Transfer G-code to Machine and Start Printing

You can use the USB cable or the USB flash drive to transfer the G-code to machine and start printing.

Option 1: Online Printing

1. Connect your computer to the machine using the provided USB cable.

2. Enter Workspace in the software. Refresh the Serial Port list by clicking in the Connection section. Click the drop-down button and select the serial port of the machine, then click Connect.

Note: If you can't find the port, unplug the USB cable and try again. You may need to install the driver at:

https://snapmaker.com/product/snapmaker-original/downloads

3. When connected, click Load G-code to Workspace in 3D Printing G-code Generator .

4. Click the Run button to start printing.

Note: In this way, the computer must be connected to the machine throughout the process.

Option 2: Offline Printing

1. Click Export G-code to file to save the G-code file.

2. Insert the USB flash drive into the controller of the machine.

3. On the touchscreen, go to Files, find and select the G-code file. Then tap Start to start printing.

9 Remove Print

Use the provided Palette Knife to remove the print. If it is hard to remove, insert the tip of the Palette Knife into somewhere between the print and the heated bed, insert the Palette Knife deeper, spin the knife to reduce the adhered area and pry it off.

Note: Be careful as the nozzle and heated bed is hot after printing and that the Palette Knife is sharp.