Differences

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--- monoprice_mp_select_mini [2017/01/10 14:59] – sdh7
+++ monoprice_mp_select_mini [2018/07/27 11:52] – sdh7
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 ^Serial| Serial Number|
 ^Arrival Date| October 2016|
-^Working| yes|
+^Working| no|
 ^Contact| Sam Harmon|
-Current Status: Fully Functional
+Current Status: Taken home for repairs
 NOTE: This 3D printer is Sam's personal property, **not** the space's. Don't mess with it unless you've been trained!
@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 Status: Fully functional
+A brief guide on usage:
+  * Maximum build area is 120mm x 120mm x 120mm
+  * This printer theoretically can print ABS, but we have not yet done so. PLA works great, though.
+    * If printing ABS, there's a special fan duct cover we've printed that will help that stops the fan from cooling the part unnecessarily.
+  * Get your design into .STL format (Thingiverse downloads come this way normally, or export the file via whatever CAD program you choose to use)
+  * The easiest & quickest slicer program I've found is [[https://ultimaker.com/en/products/cura-software|Cura]]. Download that onto your computer (we should probably get it on the main machine in the space as well...)
+  * Configure the printer with a build envelope of 120x120x120, layer height of .175mm (multiples of .04375 correspond to the step height on the Z-axis of this printer, so they're somewhat optimal)
+  * If you're using the gray PLA filament currently on the printer, it really wants an extruder temperature of 220 degrees C, and build platform temperature of 50-60 degrees C. If using some other filament, it may take some trial and error to get the temperatures right. The Lego keychain is a good test example, as it takes about 10 minutes to print.
+  * Save your sliced Gcode file onto a microSD card, and put the card into the printer's microSD card slot.
+  * Turn the printer on, select "Print", and select your .gcode file.
+  * While the build platform is heating up, I usually set the extruder temperature to whatever it needs to be (to speed things along) and set the build speed to 2.0.
+  * If printing something for personal use, please [[Donate]] a couple of dollars ($1/hour for PLA? $2/hour for TPE) to cover filament usage and other expendable parts (hot end, etc.), especially if it's a big print.
+Additional Considerations:
+  * TPE - in May 2017, we got a spool of Inland TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer) - It does work with the MP Select Mini, but you do need to be very careful or your print will be very easily ruined. Suggestions:
+    * Run the Extruder fairly hot (235?)
+    * Put some heat on the bed, but not too much (40 seems good, 60 was too much, and the part lifted off the tape)
+    * SLOW. SUPER SLOW. I'm currently running a job at somewhere around 8 mm/s (original gcode set at 20 mm/s, and running with the MP speed set at 0.4). Any faster and the filament will kink up in the cold end of the extruder. A Lego keychain took about 71 minutes to print, versus the usual 9-10 minutes with PLA. Expect to be patient.
 Potential Hacks/Improvements: