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3D Touch

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A second (optional) extruder can print support filament for printing overhanging-features. This support structure can be automatically generated in
Axon if desired.

Summary of Contents for 3D Touch

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Page 2: ...11 k How to start a print 38 1 6 12 l Print a successful raft 39 1 7 7 Print the first model 43 1 8 8 Essential post print operations 44 1 8 1 b Check print bed flatness 45 1 8 2 c Empty the waste bi...

Page 3: ...are already included on the USB memory stick supplied in your toolkit If you do not have these files you can download them by clicking on the icon on the left After downloading Unpack the files to the...

Page 4: ...the manual by clicking the links on the navigation bar at the left of the screen Off line reading Simply click on the Export this space button at the top left of the screen to export the manual to a...

Page 5: ...t connection it is possible to select individual sections of the manual to export making it possile to download small sections at a time Simply tick the boxes next to the sections you need Alternative...

Page 6: ...uder nozzles Load the extruders correctly Print a successful raft Failure to carry out of the set up procedures contained in this document will damage the machine all This document has been designed t...

Page 7: ...3D Touch Page 7 2 How this manual works This manual guides the user from basic principles to an actual 3D print...

Page 8: ...3D Touch Page 8 3 Manual symbols notes to prevent damage to the machine CAUTION notes to prevent injury to the operator DANGER...

Page 9: ...4 Process overview how the 3D Touch works Before reading this section please ensure that the unpacking instructions have been completed 3D Touch Tool kit The image below identifies the tools included...

Page 10: ...3D Touch Page 10 Creating a 3D model The images below illustrate the process of creating a 3D model...

Page 11: ...11 Note 1 Most CAD packages export to STL format However STL quality depends on the CAD package Poor quality STLs may need repairing before loading into Axon STL fixing programs are readily available...

Page 12: ...3D Touch Page 12...

Page 13: ...ubes and drive through a hot end to produce a thin molten filament of plastic The extruder draws each layer with this filament After each layer is produced the bed increments down so that a new layer...

Page 14: ...3D Touch Page 14 A second optional extruder can print support filament for printing overhanging features This support structure can be automatically generated in Axon if desired...

Page 15: ...can be dissolved by Leaving the model in an ultra sonic with water and caustic soda Time and concentration depends on the volume of support removal tank the material needed to dissolve Leave the mode...

Page 16: ...3D Touch Page 16 If machine is to left unused for an extended period of time repack filament with silica gel sachet to maintain dryness if present Use within 12 months of receipt...

Page 17: ...gh essential these checks a Clearing the print bed b Check the print bed is fitted correctly c Power up d Test all axes e Check the hot end nozzles are clean from plastic debris f Check the print bed...

Page 18: ...arms during transport Remove this stopper and retain for future transport Do not print attempt to print with the white stopper in place Remove the white bed stopper before printing Remove existing pr...

Page 19: ...s clear of any build material Ensure that all build material is completely removed from the bed Use the model removal tool to remove any stuck fast tracks It is normal for prints to leave marks on the...

Page 20: ...he printer The three bed bolt heads should sit flush in the countersinks If not remove the bed then refit it as shown in the next two sections How to remove the bed Tip removal is easier if the bed is...

Page 21: ...it the bed Tip fitting is easier if the bed is near the bottom of the machine If it is too high you can manually lower the z axis see Manual move Check all bolt heads are fitted correctly see Check th...

Page 22: ...r cable is attached and that power is being supplied to the printer To start the printer press and hold the function button for 2 seconds This will boot the printer activating the boot screen the BFB...

Page 23: ...ctively Caution Always move the Z axis first to ensure that bed is away from the extruder nozzles and does not collide during an X Y move Collisions between the extruder nozzles and the bed may damage...

Page 24: ...ely the middle of the machine see to make access to the nozzles easy d Test all axes Pull away any light plastic debris away from the nozzle tip using the pliers If plastic debris is stubborn you may...

Page 25: ...nction moves the extruder carriage around the corners of the bed so the operator can adjust the bed bolts to achieve a level bed Check the bed is fitted correctly On the touch screen select Level Bed...

Page 26: ...ed bolts to make each side level using the 3mm hex driver from the toolkit Underneath each of the 3 bed bolts is a locking nut which must be loosened with the 8mm spanner before the bolt can be adjust...

Page 27: ...tion Observe each extruder movement The nozzle should not touch the bed Moving the extruder with the nozzle touching the bed will damage the nozzle and the bed If the nozzle touches the bed immediatel...

Page 28: ...k the 3 bed bolts in position by tightening the lock nut under each using the 8mm spanner Whilst tightening the nut make sure that the bolt does not spin by holding it in position with the 3mm hex dri...

Page 29: ...between the bed and the nozzle Move the bed towards the nozzle Observe the bed as it approaches the nozzle Stop raising the bed as soon as the nozzle touches the surface of the bed If the bed goes to...

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Page 31: ...cedure is to prevent any essential damage to the delivery tubes which may in turn block a nozzle Cut the end of the filament at 45 from both sides to produce a point Remove all sharp edges The tip sho...

Page 32: ...l positions according to the number of extruders in the 3D Touch Number of extruders in the printer Material for Extruder 1 Material for Extruder 2 Material for Extruder 3 1 ABS or PLA 2 ABS PLA 3 ABS...

Page 33: ...3D Touch Page 33 Check the filaments exit the tubes at the correct extruders...

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Page 35: ...3D Touch Page 35 See to refine the spring compression on the pressure bearing nominally 12mm c Setting the extruder pressure bearings...

Page 36: ...purged material On the control panel select the Extruder control function Extruder control manages one extruder at a time E1 E2 or E3 using the buttons on the control panel Recommended maximum extrus...

Page 37: ...low depending on the material in the extruder i Extruder control Material Extrusion temperature C ABS 260 PLA 195 Once the target temperature has been achieved turn the RPM up to 30 Examine the moveme...

Page 38: ...ng sections will ask you to run two test files a raft check file and a duck When asked to print a file you will need to follow the procedure below Insert the memory stick into the 3D Touch USB slot Se...

Page 39: ...od build Therefore the height of the hot end nozzle over the bed for the first layer is critical If the nozzle is too far away from the bed the filament will not stick to the bed If the nozzle is too...

Page 40: ...to the root of your USB stick The printer can only see uncompressed files at the root of the USB stick i e do not put them inside a folder Make sure materials are loaded as per Load the filament Follo...

Page 41: ...atch the imperfection to the two scenarios below and follow the corrective action suggested Note that there may be some imperfections in the raft but that the process is very forgiving and even the im...

Page 42: ...the bed is referenced to the extruder nozzles nozzle starts printing Nozzle to low See to adjust the height at which the g Check the bed is referenced to the extruder nozzles nozzle starts printing No...

Page 43: ...this is important as the print files assume this setup Load the extruders Follow the directions to print the Duck file from the memory stick The Duck file you must choose is determined by the How to...

Page 44: ...3D Touch Page 44 8 Essential post print operations After a print you must a Print removal and post processing b Check print bed flatness c Empty the waste bin...

Page 45: ...g ruler after each print If the bed is bowed downwards even slightly turn the bed over to point the bow of the bed upwards for the next print as shown below The next print will restore the bed s flat...

Page 46: ...rint you will need to empty the nozzle wipe box Lower the bed to access the nozzle wipe box Manual move Remove the waste box from the machine and dispose of the plastic deposits Re install the waste b...

Page 47: ...ed toawrds the model so that it strikes the bottom of the raft A few strikes should be enough to remove the model complete with its raft though this varies depending on the geometry of the model The b...

Page 48: ...arts slightly How can I smooth the part when it is finished You can sand all plastic parts This will make the part smoother but may change the aesthetic properties due to micro fatiguing mechanics e g...

Page 49: ...ebsite visit www bitsfrombytes com Support Technical Resources to Download and install Axon software to process your own STL models click here Check for free updates we issue updates regularly to cont...

Page 50: ...maintenance procedures Power down Reloading the extruders Setting the extruder pressure bearings Control panel functions Upgrading your printer Adjusting the nozzle wipe Fine adjustment to level the n...

Page 51: ...er tightening the pressure bearing will not engage the filament with the extruder drive shaft therefore the filament will not be driven through the nozzle Prepare the extruder for a purge as detailed...

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Page 53: ...nt Purge the extruder until the old material is completely flushed out See caution note below about purge temperature If a new material is being loaded in to the extruder purge at the temperature of t...

Page 54: ...u allows users to reassign extruders between the BFB file and the physical printer This makes it possible to switch materials after compiling the BFB file without having to physically change the mater...

Page 55: ...extruder carriage to hit the framework when it attempts to position physical extruder 2 into the far left corners of the print bed as the raft Gcode file instructs Manual move See Manual move Extrude...

Page 56: ...d Gcode files that utilise two extruders contain G92 commands to apply the extruder 2 offsets A drawback of this approach is that the Gcode file is printer dependent because the Gcode file contains th...

Page 57: ...Touch Page 57 chance of the extruder hot end hitting part of the model and causing an XY shift It also reduces the chance of the extruder hot end knocking over a small delicate pillar shape for examp...

Page 58: ...3D Touch Page 58 a Power down To turn off hold the function button for 2 seconds when the main menu is showing...

Page 59: ...to visit the software section at our forum for firmware release dates http www bitsfrombytes com forum Click for firmware upgrades the software inside the control box Alternatively please go to www b...

Page 60: ...Manual move to position the nozzle over the nozzle wipe box To adjust the height of the nozzle wipe remove the nozzle wipe box and loosen the M3 nuts and bolts on the back of the wipeusing the 2 5mm h...

Page 61: ...ce of the orifice Wind the flat bed up to the nozzles Ensure that the bed is completely flat otherwise the nozzles will be permanently set non level Position a sheet of sandpaper in between the bed an...

Page 62: ...3D Touch Page 62 Purge the extruder...

Page 63: ...from extruding This is normally indicated by a fast build up of plastic dust around the pressure bearing Heat extruder to melt plastic using Extruder control Examine the removed filament to confirm th...

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Page 65: ...e 65 i Handling snapped filament in the delivery tube If filament snaps in more than one place in the delivery tube the tube needs to be flushed of any trapped broken sections before the filament can...

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Page 70: ...d the user is aware of all content in Further operations Click for troubleshooting guides Alternatively please go to www bitsfrombytes com Support Technical Resources Troubleshoot Here a problem Click...

Page 71: ...3D Touch Page 71 12 Specifications Please visit our website at to view specification sheets on the 3D Touch http www bitsfrombytes com...

Page 72: ...n Date 1 0 0 Original release 07 10 2011 1 0 1 Cover page formatted to remove hard coded version number 3 3 This table now acts as version control 09 10 2011 1 0 2 Reorder of pre print operations 11 1...

Page 73: ...3D Touch Page 73 Home Error formatting macro redirect java lang NullPointerException...

Page 74: ...3D Touch Page 74 BFB Touch Set Up and Operations Manual Notes...

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