Quick Start

3D - Debrecen is used for making 3D objects from PLA plastic. This guide explains how to print a 3D object from unpacking the box, until printing. It shows how to print a Stanford Bunny (Bunny.stl downloadable file), shown on Figure 1. This bunny is often used for stress testing 3D printers.

Figure 1 - Stanford Bunny

Prerequisites

These are the 3 basics you need to use your 3D - Debrecen printer (Figure 2).

Figure 2 - Basic requirements for printing with 3D - Debrecen

Here are the necessary prerequisites:

• A PC (System Requirements)
• Windows, Linux or OS X operation system
• The 3D - Debrecen Printer Software (Download it from here)
• A separate power supply for the 3D printer
• Proper amount of PLA filament
• USB connection

Optionally you can have a 3D designer software to create your own 3D objects. I advise FreeCAD as a free CAD designing software.

Setting up the 3D - Debrecen printer

Step 1 - Setting up the hardware

The 3D - Debrecen printer comes to you fully assembled. All you need to do is to

• Unpack the package.


• Put the printer onto a solid, horizontal surface, like a table (Figure 3) or the ground.

Figure 3 - Putting the printer on a solid surface

• Connect the power supply to the power source with the included power cord.


• Connect the power supply to the 3D - Debrecen printer with the appropriate cable which is also included in the box.


• Use the package contained USB cable to connect the 3D - Debrecen printer to your PC.

Step 2 - Installing the 3D - Debrecen Printer Software

• To download the 3D - Debrecen Software you must go to our website: http://3d-debrecen.com/index.php?owpn=1017 where you can find the latest release () of the Ozeki 3D Printer Software. Please make sure that you choose the proper operation system.

• Then, you need to extract the downloaded zip file. For extracting, you will need the WinRAR program or a similar application which can unpack the compressed file. If you have an extracting application installed, please right click on the zip file, then extract it from the pop up menu.

• After the zip file is extracted, you will see an exe file ("Ozeki 3D Printer_.exe"). You need to start the exe to install the 3D - Debrecen Software. You can read the installation guide here.

Step 3 - Loading filament

The PLA filament is essential for 3D printing. It has the same function as the printer ink in a conventional printer. The melted filament is pushed through the extruder head to build up the printed object layer by layer.

• Power up the printer by pressing the RED button on the power supply.
  The 3D - Debrecen printer has an automated checking mechanism. After having powered up, the extruder head positions itself to the middle of the printing plate and optimizes the distance from it to ensure the highest quality. You do not have to do anything to calibrate it manually.

• Start the printer software from your desktop (Figure 4).

Figure 4 - Clicking on the icon

• Wait, while the software automatically detects your 3D - Debrecen printer. If it could not be detected, ensure that the USB is plugged in.

• Click on 'Filament' on the printer software's interface (Figure 5).

Figure 5 - Pressing 'Filament' button

• Loading filament (Figure 6):

  1. Set extruder head temperature to 250 celsius degrees. This is where most filaments melt.
  2. If the temperature is reached, press 'Forward' to load the filament.
  3. Now you can manually push the filament through the hole, which you can find on the top back side of the printer.
  4. If you see the melted filament smoothly flow through the extruder head, press 'Off' to stop the loading process.

Figure 6 - Loading the 'Filament'

• Now the filament is successfully loaded. Turn the heater 'Off' (Figure 7).

• Press 'Print' button (Figure 7) to return to the original menu.

Figure 7 - Pressing 'Print' button

How 3D printing happens

3D printing is composed of 3 steps. First, we have to design an object by using a designer a software. After that we have to slice our object to thin layers the printer can create by using a slicer program. This process creates a so called G-code, which the printer can understand. And third, we will have to process this G-code by using the 3D - Debrecen Printer Software to print our object.

Figure 8 - The process of 3D Printing

Printing a Stanford Bunny

Step 4 - Download a sample file

Usually, design files can be easily recognized from their .stl format. If you don't want to design your own object by using a CAD-software, you can download premade designs from different websites. The bunny's design can be found here:
Download Bunny.stl
But you can find other design files on our website: cube, Eiffel Tower and others

Step 5 - Create a G-code file for printing

To get your G-code, you will need to use MakerBot Desktop. We are using MakerBot Desktop 3.9.0. in our tutorial. To download the latest version, please visit this site: http://www.makerbot.com/desktop

Once you have installed MakerBot Desktop, it is ready for creating G-code for multiple printer types. The 3D - Debrecen Printer uses the standard .gcode format, which is also used by MakerBot Replicator Dual.

You will have to change the default device type to Replicator(Dual). To do this, open the Devices menu on the top menubar, go to the 'Select Type of Device' item, and choose Replicator(Dual) from the list (Figure 9).

Figure 9 - Setting Makerbot Desktop to Replicator(Dual)

As a result, the MakerBot's Prepare tab (shown on the image above) is refitted to the size of the printer. 3D - Debrecen Printers use roughly the same size of extruder bed so this option is perfect to see the preview of your bunny.

It is time to configure printer settings. For printing, we won't use any support or raft under the bunny. The heatbed temperature should be 60 and the extruder head should be 250 degrees celsius. The printed material should be PLA. We can set these by clicking on the 'SETTINGS' menu, (Figure 10) and configuring the following options (Figure 11). Please be aware that the right extruder head of the Replicator (Dual) qualifies as the extruder head of the 3D - Debrecen printer.

Figure 10 - Opening the Settings panel

Figure 11 - Configuring printer settings

We will now have to open 'Bunny.stl' in the MakerBot Desktop software, which you will find in your Downloads folder.

To do so, you can either drag and drop your design file to MakerBot's Prepare tab, or use the software's browsing capabilities to browse the downloaded bunny blueprint. (Figure 12 and 12-b).

Figure 12 - Opening the file browser of Makerbot Desktop

Figure 12-b -Opening the design file

Once you have opened 'Bunny.stl', you will see it in the Prepare tab (Figure 13). On the left side of the window, there are five buttons. The view< (selected by default and marked by an eye icon), the move (marked by four straight arrows), the rotate (marked by two curved arrows), the scale (marked by two rectangles), and the information.

To achieve the fastest and best results with the 3D - Debrecen Printer, you will have to position your bunny to the middle of the extruder bed. To do this, you will need to use the move command by selecting it's icon (Figure 13).

If your bunny is not selected by default, click on it to select it. After having your bunny selected and the move function activated, you will be able to drag your model on the extruder bed. Position it to the middle of the heatbed (Figure 14).

Figure 13 - Bunny model before being moved

Figure 14 - Bunny model positioned to the center

When your bunny is positioned, it is ready for printing. 3D - Debrecen printer works with a so called G-code, which is basically a series of printing and movement instructions. To generate the G-code, you will need to click on the 'EXPORT PRINT FILE' button on the top sidebar (Figure 15). Now you should see a classical Save as... window opened.

Since the 3D - Debrecen printer uses the .gcode format, you will have to select the 'GCode, slice only(*.gcode)' from the file formats (Figure 16). You should also browse a location for your result. Once you are done, press the 'Save' button.

Figure 15 - The 'EXPORT PRINT FILE' button can be found on the top right corner

Figure 16 - Selecting the .gcode file format

A gcode generation progress bar will appear for your bunny (Figure 17). Once it is at 100%, the G-code is ready (Figure 18). In the next step we will open this 'Bunny.gcode' file with the 3D - Debrecen Printer Software and print out the bunny.

Figure 17 - Processing the gcode with Makerbot

Figure 18 - The result can be found in the targeted folder

Step 6 - Printing the 'Bunny.gcode' with 3D - Debrecen

This is the easiest step. Make sure the printer is powered up and connected to the computer. The only software you will need is the 3D - Debrecen Printer Software.

• On the 'Print' tab choose and upload 'Bunny.gcode' to the printer software (Figure 19).

Figure 19 - Uploading the gcode to the printer software

• Press 'Print' to start printing (Figure 20).

Figure 20 - Start printing

• You can follow your printing step-by-step on the 'Execution' tab (Figure 21).

Figure 21 - Printing in progress

Summary

The 3D - Debrecen Printer comes fully assembled and requires only one software installed to make it fully operational. The 3D - Debrecen Printer Software transforms your .gcodes to real life plastic objects. Our product has no rubber belts like most of the 3D printers on the market, so it is less vulnerable and more cost effective in the long run. The software is available for all the popular operation systems and the printer can be accessed via USB. If you have liked this tutorial, check out our other interesting and related articles below.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at: info@3d-debrecen.com

It is easy to print other 3D objects, you can find design software here:
Our TOP 10 recommended 3D Design software or you can search for already designed 3D models online.