MakerBot 3D Printer
In the main room of the StudentRND Workspace, we have built a MakerBot Cupcake CNC 3D printer. It prints 3D models by heating ABS plastic to 230 degrees Celsius and extruding it into strips as thin as .1 mm.
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Exporting your model from SketchUp
Once you have completed/loaded your model in Google SketchUp, you must export it into a format usable by the MakerBot. Click on the tools menu and select "Export to DXF or STL".
If a dialog box opens stating that no objects are selected and asking if you want to export your entire model, select yes. For the export units, select millimeters, and for the DXF options, select "stl". Now, save your file somewhere accessible like junon.
Exporting your model from Blender
Once your model is complete, go to File -> Export and select "STL". Then name your file, choose where to save it, and click the "Export STL" button in the top right corner.
Generating the GCode for your model
The next step is to prepare your model for printing. Open up ReplicatorG and open up the STL file you just generated. Next click the "Generate GCode button".
Then, select the "cupake.abs" printing profile and check the "Use raft" box.
Now, remove the SD card from the MakerBot, insert it into your computer, and copy over the generated GCode file to it. The GCode file will be in the same location as your STL file and will have the extension ".S3G". WARNING: Your file name MUST be 8 characters or less, not including the extension. Remove the SD card and place it back in the MakerBot.
Printing your model
Now, make sure the MakerBot is on and connect it to your computer via the USB cable. Click on the "Connect machine" button in ReplicatorG.
If the connection is not successfully made, you may have to select the "Rescan serial ports" option from the Machine menu.
Once the MakerBot is connected, open the control panel by clicking on the button that has a picture of a cross with arrows.
Now, using the highlighted controls move the extruder head to the center of the platform and make sure it is approximately 1mm off the surface as seen here:
Once this is done, click the "Set zero button". Raise the head about 10mm and heating up the extruder by typing "220" into the target temperature box and pressing enter.
Wait for the current temperature to reach within 5 degrees of 220 and then wait for the graph to completely level out as shown:
Test the extruder by typing 255 into the "Motor Speed" box and clicking the "forward" radio button. Let it run for a few seconds and then select "stop". If the extruder is working correctly, some plastic should have extruded out of the print head, remove this with some pliers. Now you are ready to print. Lower the target temperature to 200, wait about 20 seconds, and lower the head back down to 0. To begin printing, click on the "Build from SD card" button on the top menu, select your model from the list, and click "OK".
The head will raise up and a test extrusion will occur, quickly remove the plastic with some pliers. Your model will now start printing. Make sure the line of plastic is slack at all times during the printing process and soon you will have your model.
