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10/24/12 2:04 PM

Makerbot Thing-O-Matic Quick Start Guide

IMPORTANT:

 Depending on where you are located in the world, you may need to switch the voltage

setting on you power supply. You should make sure it is in the correct position before turning your machine
on. It will most likely arrive in the 110V position. Change it accordingly.

Look over your Thing-O-Matic for any damage from shipment. If you’re checking this page out after
assembling a Thing-O-Matic from a kit, just skip down to the section labeled “Install Software.”

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 Heated Build Platform. The tape applied to the build platform will
eventually get scratched or torn. You can use this big roll to replace it.
Gen4 Interface Controller, which you can use to print without being connected to your computer.
USB A to B cable and Power Cord.
Tools: hex keys and wrenches for upkeep and maintenance.

Set up Hardware

It’s time to unpack your MakerBot Thing-O-Matic!  The Thing-O-Matic is fully assembled, but you will need
to set up a few things before you can start using your machine.

Bolt Extruder in Place

Содержание Thing-O-Matic

Страница 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...

Страница 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...

Страница 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...

Страница 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...

Страница 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...

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

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

Страница 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...

Страница 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...

Страница 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...

Страница 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...

Страница 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...

Страница 13: ...10 24 12 2 04 PM...

Страница 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...

Страница 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...

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

Страница 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...

Страница 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...

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

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

Страница 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...

Страница 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...

Страница 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...

Страница 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...

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

Страница 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...

Страница 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...

Страница 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...

Страница 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...

Страница 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...

Страница 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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