This chapter will walk you through finding a model to print, preparing that model, and then finally printing the model.
This chapter assumes you have already downloaded and installed MakerBot Desktop. If you have not installed MakerBot Desktop, see the section in chapter 3 on Downloading and Installing MakerBot Desktop.
CHOOSING A MODEL
You can download a model from Thingiverse, open a 3D printable .STL, .OBJ, or .Thing file from any source, or access objects that are already saved in your MakerBot Cloud Library
FINDING A MODEL ON THINGIVERSE
1. In MakerBot Desktop, click on the Explore tab. Click Explore at the right to browse available models, or use the search bar to look for something specific.
2. Click the thumbnail or name of any Thing to go to the Thing page.
3. On the Thing page, scroll down and click on Thing Files to see available files.
4. Choose which part or version you want to print and click the Prepare button next to the file name. MakerBot Desktop will open the file and take you to the Prepare tab. The file you selected will appear on the build plate.
5. To add an additional model from the same Thing to your layout, return to the Explore tab and click Prepare next to the name of the additional file. The new model will be added to the plate
IMPORTING A MODEL FROM YOUR LOCAL COMPUTER
You can open any 3D-printable STL, OBJ, or Thing file in MakerBot Desktop.
1. In MakerBot Desktop, click on the Prepare tab.
2. Click Add File.
3. Navigate to the location of your file and click Open. The model will appear on the build plate.
CHOOSING A MODEL FROM YOUR MAKERBOT CLOUD LIBRARY
1. In MakerBot Desktop, click on the Library tab.
2. Click one of the folders at the left side of the screen to see items available in your
Library.
3. Click on a list item and then click Prepare. MakerBot Desktop will open the file and take you to the Prepare tab.
The file you selected will appear on the build plate.
PREPARING A MODEL
Use the Move, Turn, and Scale buttons in the Prepare tab to position and scale your
model on the virtual build plate.
BASIC SETTINGS
If you want to change any settings before printing, click Settings. This is where you can specify options that will affect the quality of your printed object, like print resolution and object strength. To print with standard or previously specified settings, skip this step and go straight to printing.
Set each extruder to the type of filament you plan to print with. If you are not printing with dual extrusion, MakerBot Desktop will ignore the filament type set for the unused extruder.
2. Resolution
Choose Low, Standard, or High resolution to specify the surface quality of your 3D print.
• Objects sliced with the Standard resolution profile will be printed using the default
settings. Standard resolution prints will print quickly and have good surface quality.
• Objects sliced using the Low resolution profile will be printed with thicker layers and
will print faster.
• Objects sliced with the High resolution profile will have finer layers and will print more slowly.
3. Raft
Choose if you want your object to print with a raft. The raft acts as a base for your object
and any support structures, and ensures that everything adheres well to the build plate.
The raft will be easily removable once you remove your finished object from the build plate.
Use the Raft drop-down box to choose from these options:
• Choose Off to turn off the raft.
• Choose Left Extruder or Right Extruder to have the raft printed only using the left or
right extruder.
• Choose Color-Matched to have the material of your raft determined automatically. If
you are printing a single-material object, the raft will automatically be printed with the
same extruder. If you are printing a dual material object, the raft will be built from both
materials so that each portion of your object will only touch raft of the same color.
4. Supports
Choose if you want your object to print with supports. MakerBot Desktop will automatically
generate supports for any overhanging sections of your object. Supports will be easily
removable once you remove your finished object from the build plate. Use the Supports
drop-down box to choose from these options:
• Choose Off to turn off supports.
• Choose Left Extruder or Right Extruder to have supports printed only using the left or right extruder.
• Choose Color-Matched to have the material of your supports determined
automatically. If you are printing a single-material object, supports will automatically
be printed with the same extruder. If you are printing a dual material object, supports
will be built from both materials so that each portion of your object will only touch
support structures of the same color.
5. Advanced
Click Advanced for additional options, including temperature and object strength. For
information on what the advanced settings are and how to use them, see more:
Advanced Settings.
6. Cancel
Click Cancel to return to the Prepare screen without saving changes. Any print settings you
had selected will be discarded.
7. Save settings
When you are finished, click Save Settings. The current settings will be used to slice your
model the next time you print or export a print file.
DUAL EXTRUSION
Dual extrusion prints are composed of two STL files sliced to a single X3G file. You will designate one STL file to be printed by the right extruder, and the other STL file by the left extruder. Dual extrusion is great for when you want to print in two different colors, or with dissolvable filament for your raft and/or supports.
To better understand how to prepare a dual extrusion print, we will use an example
object from Thingiverse.
2. In the Search field in the upper right of the page, enter “Lotus Flower.”
3. In the Search Result page, find Lotus Flower by rweaving. Click anywhere on the image.
4. In the Thing page for the Lotus Flower, click the Prepare button.
5. You will be directed to the bottom of the page where you will see each of the two STL files that make up the Lotus Flower. You will alo see the Thing file that contains both STL files. Click on Prepare next to the Thing file.
6. Click on the point of an outer petal from the first layer to highlight that object.
7. Click twice on the Object button.
extruder to print Lotus_color2.stl.
9. Click on the point of an outer petal from the second layer to highlight that object.
10.Click twice on the Object button.
11. In the Object Information submenu, in the Extruder dropdown menu, select the other extruder to print Lotus_color2.stl.
NOTE: To change the display colors of your extruders, go to Edit > App Settings in
MakerBot Desktop.
PRINTING A MODEL
Once you’ve saved your settings in MakerBot Desktop, it’s time to print. Your MakerBot Replicator 2X can print via SD card or via USB.
FILE TYPES
MakerBot Desktop can open the following file types:
• OBJ
• STL
• THING
MakerBot Desktop can save the following file types:
•STL
•THING
MakerBot Desktop can export to the following file types:
•GCode
•X3G
•S3G
•.makerbot (for 5th Generation MakerBot Replicators only)
STL
An STL is a widely-used type of 3D model file. It consists of surfaces made up of triangles. Each triangle has an inner side and an outer side. The outer side is called the “normal.” In a well-formed STL, all the normals face outwards and the surface is continuous, with no holes. When a model meets these standards, it is referred to as “manifold.” STLs with normals that face inwards (inverted normals) may be printable, but manifold models are typically considered mandatory for 3D printing.
STLs are compatible with many different 3D modeling programs and have become
the standard file type for 3D printable models. SolidWorks®, Rhinoceros®, and most Autodesk® programs will export STL files, and there are free plugins available that will allow you to export STLs from SketchUp®.
OBJ
An OBJ is another type of 3D model file. It is also used by a number of 3D modeling programs, but is used for 3D printing less often than STL. Unlike STLs, where every facet of your 3D model is a triangle, an OBJ can contain triangles and other polygons. Rhinoceros and some Autodesk programs will export OBJ files, but other programs, including SketchUp and SolidWorks, will require a plugin to export as OBJ.
THING
When you save a model or group of models in MakerBot Desktop, the default format for saving it will be a Thing file. A Thing file includes information about the orientation and position of each 3D model on the build plate. The file also allows you to include multiple models on the plate.
When you save multiple models in a Thing file, you can continue to manipulate them
individually. If you plate multiple models and save them in other formats, such as STL, you will no longer be able to move the individual models in relation to each other.
The Thing format works only with MakerBot Desktop, so you should not save as Thing if you are saving a file for use with another program. If you have a Thing file and need to edit an individual STL file within it, change the file extension to .zip. Then
unzip the file and extract the STL you need.
GCODE
GCode is a computer language for controlling CNC machines, including many 3D printers. When your slicing software turns your 3D model into a set of instructions for your MakerBot Replicator 2X, those instructions are written in GCode. The instructions consist of commands that tell the extruders how hot to get, where to
move and when to start extruding plastic, commands that control the build platform and commands for peripheral components, including the LEDs inside your MakerBot Replicator 2X. Before being sent to your MakerBot Replicator 2X, MakerBot Desktop converts the human-readable GCode to the more compact, computer readable X3G.
X3G
X3G is the compact format in which MakerBot Desktop sends instructions to your MakerBot Replicator 2X. An earlier version of this format was called S3G.
PRINTING VIA SD CARD
1. Place an SD card in the SD card slot of your computer. The SD card must be:
• Formatted for FAT16
• No larger than 2GB
2. In MakerBot Desktop, click Export Print File. MakerBot Desktop will slice your model.
3. Once your model is sliced, a dialog will appear with an estimated print time and
estimated filament usage, as well as an opportunity to view a print preview.
5. Name your X3G file, navigate to the SD card, and click Save.
6. Once the file is saved to the SD card, eject the SD card from your computer and insert it into the SD card slot at the top of the LCD panel on your MakerBot Replicator 2X.
7. From the home screen on the LCD panel, use the up arrow button to navigate to Build from SD, and then press the M button.
8. Use the up and down arrow buttons to find your particular .x3g file. When you find it, press the M button to start printing.
PRINTING VIA USB
1. Insert the USB-B end of the cable into the port on the back of your MakerBot Replicator 2X and insert the USB-A end of the cable into a USB port on your computer.
2. In MakerBot Desktop, click Print. MakerBot Desktop will slice your file and send it to your MakerBot Replicator 2X to print. A dialog will appear with an estimated print time and estimated filament usage, as well as an opportunity to view a print preview.
POST PRINT STEPS
Remove Raft and/or Supports When your print finishes, wait for the extruders to cool. Remove the print from the build plate, and peel off the raft from the bottom of the print. Remove any support material either with your fingers or with a tool like pliers.
Share on Thingiverse If you printed a file from Thingiverse, it’s nice to let the model’s designer know. Return to the model’s thing page in the Explore tab of MakerBot Desktop, and click on View in Browser, which will open up your default web browser to the model’s thing page. Then click I Made One. You’ll have the opportunity to upload a photo of your print and add a description. When you’re ready, click Create to link your photo to the original design’s thing page.
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