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10/24/12 2:04 PM

Your file is now saved as a “.s3g” file, which will allow the Motherboard to read the data within the file. You
can now put the card into the machine and use your Gen4 interface to print.Once the build is finished the file
will be saved directly to the SD Card. The Gcode file will become a .s3g, and you’ll see it on the list if you’re

using the interface or building from SD using ReplicatorG.

 

 Enjoy your MakerBot Thing-O-Matic!

Summary of Contents for Thing-O-Matic

Page 1: ...e Open your boxes and take a look at what is inside There are a lot of extra nuts and bolts You may never have to use them but it doesn t hurt to have them around 120mm Wide Kapton Tape for your Heate...

Page 2: ...ruder just below the Z stage where it has been immobilized for shipping All the wiring is complete you ll just need to bolt it in place Put large white spacers between the extruder and Z stage Once th...

Page 3: ...to install the spool holder that came with your bot This spool holder was printed on your Thing O Matic as a test before we shipped the machine out to you Locate the spool holder and drop 4 M3 bolts i...

Page 4: ...10 24 12 2 04 PM Once it s in place secure the spool holder with 4 M3 nuts Then put the spool in place...

Page 5: ...go Plug in Generation 4 LCD Interface Find your LCD Interface kit You may need to attach the sides If so put the sides in place as shown and tighten them down with several M3 x 16 mm bolts The nuts sh...

Page 6: ...10 24 12 2 04 PM Next locate the rainbow cable coming from the inside of the Thing O Matic...

Page 7: ...10 24 12 2 04 PM Plug this into the back of the interface board like this...

Page 8: ...are The software that you ll use to control your Thing O Matic is called ReplicatorG and is available at http replicat org Go there for instructions on how to install the latest version Note Some part...

Page 9: ...Thing O Matic unplugged and look at the contents of the the Machine Connection serial ports menu Now plug in your Thing O Matic and choose Rescan serial ports from that Machine Connection serial port...

Page 10: ...r Windows systems may need to install the FTDI USB Serial driver to communicate with their Extruder Controller this will be found in the same directory as the Arduino Mega driver Mac OS X There is a d...

Page 11: ...r the X and Y axis should run towards the endstops for the Z axis the endstop is at the top in the plus direction Make sure that each axis can run all the way to the endstop Calibration Routine While...

Page 12: ...the target temperature for the extruder head the red line is the current temperature for the extruder head the yellow line is the target temperature for the build platform and the white line is the c...

Page 13: ...10 24 12 2 04 PM...

Page 14: ...2 04 PM Once the Current Temperatures reach the target temperatures you can begin loading the filament into the extruder Take the filament and push it into the hole that lines up with your extruder s...

Page 15: ...to support the entire Z stage from below Remember the tip of the extruder will be very hot so be careful Sometimes it will take you more than 30 seconds to load the filament just click the Forward but...

Page 16: ...10 24 12 2 04 PM Choose file from directory...

Page 17: ...10 24 12 2 04 PM Move and Resize your Model if necessary Let s take a look at some of the tools we can use to manipulate the model in Replicator View allows you to toggle around the printing space...

Page 18: ...ows you to move the positon of the model in the space Before generating Gcode for a model it is a good idea to click the Put on Platform and Center buttons This will make sure that the model is orient...

Page 19: ...10 24 12 2 04 PM Rotate allows you to rotate the model over the XYZ axis...

Page 20: ...10 24 12 2 04 PM Mirror allows you to mirror the model...

Page 21: ...10 24 12 2 04 PM Scale allows you to scale the model A number greater than 1 00 will increase the size A number less than 1 00 will decrease the size...

Page 22: ...meters specific to the type of machine you are running The check box that says Raft can be off or on depending on what you prefer The Raft is an extra thick first layer intended to increase the adhesi...

Page 23: ...ed to make the perimeter of your object thicker Every model has one perimeter thickness If you have 1 Shell you will be adding another perimeter to the wall thickness 2 shells will make your perimeter...

Page 24: ...12 2 04 PM Under the Extruder tab make sure the Nozzle Diameter is 4mm Feel free to experiment with any of these settings If you want to go back to the defaults there are reset buttons on the Default...

Page 25: ...10 24 12 2 04 PM Generate GCode...

Page 26: ...ew ways to make your machine print your model When connected to the Thing O Matic press the Build button This is the easiest way to print although you are tethered to your computer If you unplug the m...

Page 27: ...10 24 12 2 04 PM You can also press the Build From SD button This will allow you to print any s3g files Gcode processed for MakerBot that are stored on the SD card in your Thing O Matic...

Page 28: ...ce Controller This will allow you to print anywhere you can get electricity Advanced MakerBotting Techniques Using the Generation 4 LCD Interface and SD Card Using the Gen4 Interface The interface sho...

Page 29: ...10 24 12 2 04 PM If the LCD ever shows strange or garbled text at start up just hit the reset button on the motherboard This should clear things right up...

Page 30: ...m SD advances you to the next menu where you can scroll through the files on your card Scroll through the files with the left up and down keys click the central button to select the file for printing...

Page 31: ...You can now put the card into the machine and use your Gen4 interface to print Once the build is finished the file will be saved directly to the SD Card The Gcode file will become a s3g and you ll se...

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