Airwolf 3D Printers User Manuals (model AW3D v.4, v.5, v.5.5) : Software for your 3D Printer

SOFTWARE FOR YOUR 3D PRINTER

• Familiarize yourself with all the appropriate licenses for using the STLs, software, and firmware included with the printer. Our website has a list of sources for this information. Much of the material is "open source." While this generally allows you to access the underlying file or programing, it does not necessarily grant you the right to reproduce or sell the item (read the license carefully). In most cases you are also responsible for crediting the author for the work when you reproduce and/or distribute the work. For the AW3D v.4, v.5, and v.5.5, designs by Prusa and Mecano were the primary inspirations for the machines.

• Install the software included with your Airwolf AW3D v.4, v.5, or v.5.5 onto your computer as follows (for MAC, the software will need to be downloaded from the respective websites).

o Install Slic3r (v.7.2b) on your desktop or in your C directory. It is a simple install because it does not require any dependencies. For printing out the included STL files that make up AW3D v.4, v.5, and v.5.5, we recommend 7.2b because the parts were designed to be sliced on this version. The later versions however (such as 9.8) are very sophisticated and allow you to alter a number of parameters which can greatly improve the quality of your prints (MAC users refer to www.slic3r.org).

Install Python 27 directly into your C: directory (MAC users refer to http://www.python.org/getit/).

Install Pronterface (can also be downloaded as ZIP from https://github.com/kliment/Printrun) similarly and put a shortcut on your desktop. On older versions of windows, you may need to download Python 2.7.3 from http://www.python.org/getit/. If you go to open up Pronterface and the user interface comes up, everything is working correctly (MAC users refer to http://koti.kapsi.fi/~kliment/printrun/ and https://github.com/kliment/Printrun). 

• Once you have become a pro with Pronterface, download Repetier Host from http://www.repetier.com/. This software will allow you to control the speed of the print and provide you with a visual before printing (both very, very important for long 10-15 hour prints). You will use this program essentially to replace Pronterface.

• These are the only programs you will need to run the printer. Later, you may wish to install Arduino 23 to modify the firmware, Google Sketchup (or an alternative CAD program) to create your 3 dimensional objects, and Meshlab (or a similar program such as Netfabb) to make sure your objects are watertight.

• To get the printer running, you may also need to download the FTDI driver for the Gen6 circuit board. With most versions of windows, it will load the driver automatically once the printer is turned on, connected to your computer, and your computer is connected to the Internet. If this does not happen, you can download the appropriate driver from here: http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm. For Windows 7 64 bit, download the "setup executable " under the Comments column.