1. Overview – Snapmaker

2. User Interface – Snapmaker

3. 3D Printing G-code Generator – Snapmaker

4. Laser G-code Generator – Snapmaker

5. CNC G-code Generator – Snapmaker

6. Workspace – Snapmaker

 

3.1 3D Printing Workflow

Create a project

⇩

Project settings

⇩

Import an object

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Place the object

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Configure the slicing parameters

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Slice the object

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Preview the G-code file

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Export the G-code file

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Start printing

 

 

3.2 Supported File Formats

Luban supports the following file formats:

• STL ASCII format (*.stl)
• STL Binary format (*.stl)
• OBJ format (*.obj)

 

3.3 Get Started

To create a 3D printing project, do one of the following:

 

3.3.1 Option 1

1. Open Luban, and enter the Home window.

2. Go to the Get Started pane, and click 3D Printing to enter the 3D Printing G-code Generator window.

3. Now you can import objects to generate G-code files.

 

3.3.2 Option 2

1. Open Luban, and enter the Home window.

2. Go to the menu bar, and click File > New Project > 3D Printing to enter the 3D Printing G-code Generator window.

3. Now you can import objects to generate G-code files.

 

 

3.4 Main Toolbar

3.4.1 Home

Click to enter the Home window.

 

3.4.2 Workspace

Click to enter the Workspace window.

 

3.4.3 Save

Click to save the current project.

 

3.4.4 Undo

Click to reverse the last action.

 

3.4.5 Redo

Click to reverse the last Undo.

 

3.5 Placement

3.5.1 Toolbar

Import

Click to import objects to Luban.

 

Move

Click to move objects within the printing area. To move the object, do one of the following:

• Enter a value into the input box.

• Click and drag the corresponding axis marked in red, green, or blue. When you hover the selection arrow over one axis, the color of the hovered axis will appear darker.

• Click and drag the blue square. When you hover the selection arrow over the blue square, the color of the hovered square will appear darker.

The objects, even moved along the Z axis, will jump back to touch the bottom of the printing area. If the object extends beyond the printing area, it becomes red to alert you.

 

Scale

Click to scale objects within the printing area. To scale the object, do one of the following:

• Enter a value into the input box.

• Click and drag the corresponding axis marked in red, green, or blue. When you hover the selection arrow over one axis, the color of the hovered axis will appear darker.

Uniform Scaling

You can resize the object in a uniform or non-uniform way. When Uniform Scaling is enabled, the object enlarges or shrinks by one scale factor in all directions. When Uniform Scaling is disabled, the scaling can be applied to a single axis, without affecting other axes.

If the object extends beyond the printing area, it becomes red to alert you.

Scale to Fit

Click Scale to Fit to resize the object to fit the maximum printable area.

 

Rotate

Click to rotate objects within the printing area. To rotate the object, do one of the following:

• Enter a value into the input box.

• Click and drag the corresponding circle marked in red, green, or blue. When you hover the selection arrow over one circle, the color of the hovered circle will appear darker.
  • Drag the red circle, and the object will rotate around the X axis.
  • Drag the green circle, and the object will rotate around the Y axis.
  • Drag the blue circle, and the object will rotate around the Z axis.

 

Mirror

Click to mirror the object along the X, Y, or Z axis.

 

Manual Support

1. Click > Add Support to add manual supports as a supplement or alternative to auto supports. The red surfaces represent the overhang area that needs manual supports.

2. Click wherever you want the supports added, and click Done.

 

Custom Support

To adjust the support size, do one of the following:

• Before adding supports, click , enter a value into the input box, and click Add Support.
• After adding supports, select the support, and click  to resize the support.

To adjust the support position, do this:

• After adding supports, select the support, and click  to change its position.

 

3.5.2 Middle Pane

Object List

Shows or hides all objects on the printing area. You can click the object file to display the object, or click  to hide the object. Hidden objects will not be sliced when you click Generate G-code.

 

View Tool

With the view tool on the bottom-left corner, you can view the object from five angles.

• 3D View

• Front View

• Top View

• Left View

• Right View

 

Object Information

On the bottom-right corner, you can see the width, depth, and height of the object in millimeters.

 

Line Type

After the object is sliced, you can preview its printing path and line types. Each type of line is represented in a designated color. To view a certain type of line, tick the checkbox under the Line Type.

 

 

Layer View

To inspect the sliced object layer by layer, scroll up or down the scroll bar to control which layer can be displayed.

 

Progress Bar

Displays the slicing progress or previewing progress in percentage.

 

3.6 Context Menu

With the Context Menu, you can access additional functions related to the object on the printing area without cluttering the pane. To reveal the Context Menu, select the object, and then right-click it with the mouse.

 

3.6.1 Cut

Cut the selected objects and save them to the clipboard ready to paste to the printing area.

 

3.6.2 Copy

Copy the selected objects to the clipboard ready to paste to the printing area.

 

3.6.3 Paste

Paste the cut or copied objects from the clipboard to the printing area.

 

3.6.4 Duplicate

Duplicate the selected objects to the printing area.

 

3.6.5 Hide

Hide the objects. Hidden objects will not be sliced when you click Generate G-code.

 

3.6.6 Reset Model Transformation

Reset the scaling and rotation of the selected objects to their original status. But this action will not reset the current position of the object.

 

3.6.7 Center Models

Center the selected objects on the printing area.

 

3.6.8 Auto Rotate

Automatically place the selected objects at their optimal angle to ensure the best printing result.

 

3.6.9 Auto Arrange

Automatically arrange multiple objects to fit the printing area.

 

3.7 Slice

3.7.1 Material Settings

Material settings vary with material types. This panel enables you to customize the material types and pertinent parameters. On the configuration bar, click  on the Material Settings panel, and a pop-up window will be displayed.

 

Flow

Set the amount of filament extruded out of the nozzle.

Printing Temperature

Set the temperature of the nozzle during printing. The printing temperature varies with filament types. Set the printing temperature at a recommended range to fully melt the filament and thus ensure the best extrusion result.

 

Initial Layer Printing Temperature

Set the temperature of the nozzle while the toolhead is printing the initial layer which adheres to the Heated Bed. Printing at a slightly higher temperature improves the first layer adhesion.

 

Fan Speed

Set the fan speed at which the fan cools down the print while preventing the hot end from overheating.

 

Has Heated Bed

Use the Heated Bed or not. When enabled, the Heated Bed will be heated up to the target temperature to improve the adhesion between the Heated Bed and extruded filament. When disabled, whether you assemble the Heated Bed or not, the Bed will not be heated.

 

Heated Bed Temperature

Set the temperature of the Heated Bed during printing. To avoid warping, you are advised to heat the Bed during printing to keep the print cooling evenly.

 

Initial Heated Bed Temperature

Set the temperature of the Heated Bed while the toolhead is printing the initial layer which adheres to the Heated Bed. Keeping the Heated Bed at a slightly higher temperature can slow down the curing of the first layer and thus improve the initial layer adhesion.

 

3.7.2 Create Material

To customize the Material Settings, click Create or Copy to create new materials.

 

3.7.3 Printing Settings

Printing settings vary with models, material types, printing conditions, and printing needs. This panel enables you to customize the printing profiles. On the configuration bar, click  on the Printing Settings panel, and a pop-up window will be displayed.

 

Quality

• Layer Height
  Set the thickness of each layer in millimeters. Printing at a thicker layer height can decrease your printing time, at the cost of a smooth surface and rich details. On the flip side, printing at a thinner layer height increases the printing quality while costing you much more time.

 

• Initial Layer Height
  Set the thickness of the initial layer in millimeters, without affecting the thickness of other layers. With a thicker initial layer, your print can better adhere to the Heated Bed.

• Initial Layer Line Width
  Set the line width of the initial layer in millimeters. With a wider initial layer, your print can better adhere to the Heated Bed.

 

Shell

• Wall Thickness
  Set the thickness of the wall. The wall thickness should be the multiple of the nozzle diameter. The thickness divided by the nozzle diameter determines how many times the nozzle needs to extrude to fill the wall.

 

• Top Thickness
  Set the thickness of the top layers. The thickness divided by the layer height determines the number of the top layers. The more layers the top part has, the stronger and smoother it will be.

• Bottom Thickness
  Set the thickness of the bottom layers. The thickness divided by the layer height determines the number of the bottom layers. The more layers the bottom part has, the stronger and smoother it will be.

• Outer Before Inner Walls
  Prints outer walls before inner walls. When enabled, this setting can improve the smoothness of the print surface.

 

Infill

• Infill Density
  Set the amount of filament infilled inside the print. The more infill the print has, the stronger it will be.

• Infill Pattern
  Set the pattern of the filament infilled inside the print. The supported patterns are listed below:

• • Grid
  • Line
  • Triangle
  • Tri-Hexagon
  • Cubic
  • Cubic Subdivision
  • Octet
  • Quarter Cubic
  • Concentric
  • Zig Zag
  • Cross
  • Cross 3D
  • Gyroid

 

Speed

• Initial Layer Printing Speed
  Set the speed at which the first layer is printed. Printing at a lower speed improves the adhesion between the initial layer and the Heated Bed. To print at a higher speed without failure, you may need other actions to help the first layer adhere to the Bed.

• Infill Speed
  Set the speed at which the filament is infilled inside the print. Printing at a lower speed improves the infill quality at the cost of time.

• Outer Wall Speed
  Set the speed at which the outer wall is printed. Printing at a lower speed makes the outer surface smoother.

• Inner Wall Speed
  Set the speed at which the inner wall is printed. Printing at a lower speed makes the inner surface smoother.

• Top/Bottom Speed
  Set the speed at which the top and bottom layers are printed. Printing at a lower speed makes the top and bottom layers smoother.

• Travel Speed
  Set the speed at which the toolhead moves without extruding filaments. A faster travel speed not only saves the printing time substantially, but keeps the filament from oozing too much out of the nozzle. Whereas the hot nozzle in a fast movement is likely to hit your print.

• Initial Layer Travel Speed
  Set the speed at which the toolhead moves on the first layer without extruding filaments. Printing at a lower travel speed is less likely to pull the initial layer off the Heated Bed.

 

Retraction & Z-hop

• Enable Retraction
  The toolhead pulls back a specified length of the filament when the toolhead travels over the non-printable area. Retraction is the key to reducing stringing and constructing a cleaner print.

• Retract at Layer Change
  The toolhead pulls back the filament before it moves along the Z axis.

• Retraction Distance
  Set the length to extract. A value between 5 mm and 6 mm is recommended.

• Retraction Speed
  Set the speed at which the toolhead pulls back the filament. A value between 25 mm/s and 60 mm/s is recommended. The faster the toolhead retracts, the less oozing you will see, and the more friction the filament will encounter.

• Z-hop When Extracted
  The toolhead lifts along the Z axis when the filament is extracted. This setting increases the gap between the nozzle and print so that the hot nozzle will not hit the print or scratch the print surface.

 

Surface

• Spiralize Outer Contour
  Only prints the model surface with a continuous spiral path. This setting creates a seamless, smooth print while using relatively fewer filaments.

• Surface Mode
  Only prints the model surface, with no infill, top layers, or bottom layers. This setting can be used for enclosed or unenclosed models.

• Normal Mode
  Prints the infill, top layers, and bottom layers, except the model surface. This setting is only for enclosed models.

 

Heated Bed Adhesion Type

• Skirt
  Prints lines around the model to ensure that the filament flows well, the Heated Bed is leveled, and the bed surface has no blobs.

• Skirt Line Count
  Set the number of printed lines around the model. Multiple skirt lines help to prime your extrusion better for small models. Setting this value to 0 will disable the skirt.

• Brim
  Prints a flat area touching the print base to increase the bed adhesion and prevent warping.

• Brim Line Count
  Set the number of lines around the model. More brim lines enhance adhesion between the bed and model, but also reduces the printable area.

• Raft
  Prints a thick grid with a roof below the model.

• Raft Extra Margin
  Set the extra margin of the raft in millimeters. Increasing this margin will create a stronger raft while using more material and leaving less printable area.

Support

• Generate Auto Support
  Automatically generate supports for overhangs to prevent collapse due to gravity.

• Support Placement
  Adjusts the placement of the support structures.

• • Touching Heated Bed
    Adds supports that only touch the Heated Bed.

• • Everywhere
    Adds supports that not only touch the Heated Bed but can be printed on the model itself.

• Support Pattern
  Set the pattern of supports, including line, zig zag, and grid. Line is easy to remove and slightly stronger than zig zag. Grid provides sturdy supports while also being the hardest to remove.

 

• Support Density
  Set the density of support structures.

• Support Z Distance
  Set the top distance and bottom distance of the supports to the print. The distance determines if the structure can lend strong support to the print and if it can be easily removed from the print.

• Support Overhang Angle
  Set the angle at which overhangs need the support structures. The smaller angle you set, the more supports your print will be added.

 

3.7.4 Custom Parameter Visibility

The General Parameters panel displays frequently used printing parameters, including Layer Height, Infill Density, Wall Thickness, Heated Bed Adhesion Type, and Generate Auto Support. To customize visible parameters, click , tick the parameters on the pop-up window, and click Close to save your selection.

 

3.8 Preview

After setting the material parameters and printing parameters, click Generate G-code on the bottom corner of the configuration bar. Subsequently, Luban slices the object, and the printing area displays the G-code file generated. Now you can preview the G-code file using the Line Type and Layer View.

 

3.9 Print

3.9.1 Export G-code Files

To export G-code files, do one of the following:

• Click Export > Load G-code to Workspace to load the file to Workspace, and start printing via Luban or Touchscreen.
• Click Export > Export G-code to File to save the file to the USB flash drive, and start printing via Touchscreen.

 

3.9.2 Start Printing via Luban

To start printing via Luban, follow these steps:

1. On the 3D Printing G-code Generator, click Export > Load G-code to Workspace on the configuration bar.

2. On Workspace, go to the Connection panel. Click Serial Port or Wi-Fi, select the serial port or machine model on the drop-down list, and click Connect.

For detailed instructions on connection, see 6.1 Connection.

3. On Workspace, click    on the top-left corner to start printing.

If you connect Luban to the printer via USB cable, keep the cable connected until the printing job is completed. Otherwise, the job will be stopped.

 

3.9.3 Start Printing via Touchscreen

To start printing via Touchscreen, do one of the following:

 

Option 1

1. On the 3D Printing G-code Generator, click Export > Load G-code to Workspace on the configuration bar.

2. On Workspace, go to the Connection panel. Click Wi-Fi, select your machine model on the drop-down list, and click Connect.

For detailed instructions on connection, see 6.1 Connection.

3. On Workspace, click Send to Device via Wi-Fi to transfer the G-code file to Touchscreen.

4. On Touchscreen, tap Disconnect > Start > Local to find the G-code file and start printing.

 

Option 2

1. On the 3D Printing G-code Generator, click Export > Export G-code to File on the configuration bar.

2. Save the G-code file to the USB flash drive.

3. Insert the USB flash drive into the Controller of the machine.

4. On Touchscreen, tap Disconnect > Start > USB to find the G-code file and start printing.