Printing with Cura
{TODO: Screenshots, Setup for Taz 3 in 21.08}
The current preferred way to print on Lulzbot printers is to use the latest Cura Lulzbot edition for the Mini's and Taz 6. for the Taz 3, use Version 21.08.
This can be installed and run from your own laptop (installer linked above) or use one of the space laptops. If in doubt, the space laptops will always be running versions of cura compatible with space 3D Printers.
Setting up Cura with a new printer
On first time loading Cura, if no printers are set up, select the correct printer model (e.g. Lulzbot mini) and use the following options through the setup wizard (3.x and later):
(Settings->Printer->Add Printer will run the wizard again to add more later)
Taz 6 (stock)
- [Legacy] TAZ 6
- Tool head: Lulzbot TAZ 6 'Single Extruder'
Taz 6 with Hardened steel nozzle
- [Legacy] TAZ 6
- Tool head: HS | 0.80mm | Hardened SST
Lulzbot Mini (standard)
For Somakeit Mini with stock nozzle
- [Legacy] Mini 1
- Single Extruder
- No Graphical LCD
Lulzbot Mini (flexystruder)
For Somakeit Mini with a flexystruder (mainly green)
- [Legacy] Mini 1
- Flexystruder v2
- No Graphical LCD
At the bottom of the Add Printer dialog, edit the name of the printer to something recognisable for selection later like "Flexy Mini" or "E3D Taz6" etc.
When the Machine Settings page comes up, all the defaults are fine to accept so just click finish.
Printing with Lulzbot Cura 3.x
Select your output printer from the dropdown in the top left of the screen or select from the Settings->Printer menu.Select your desired material from the presets in the material dropdown (if you can't see xthe material you need, change the Category option to All)
For PLA, PLA(Vervatim) is a good generic choice.
Select the printing profile for the detail level you want, e.g. High speed for low detail, and High detail but slow speed.
Load an STL model by loading through the menu, clicking on the folder icon or dragging the model into the window.
Arrange your parts on the bed as you wish, rotating or resizing as you wish. if auto slice is enabled the button at the bottom right should say "Save to File" or "Save to Removable media" if it says "Slice" then click it when you are happy with your arrangement. if you are connected to a printer via USB then you will have a "Print" option too.
Save it to the SDCard if printing via SDCard or save to disk if using Octoprint (octoprint can also be network connected from within cura but that is out of the scope of this wiki)
Direct Connection
Connect the computer to the USB port of the printer and make sure the printer is powered on.
Click the Monitor tab along the top row of the screen next to the Cura Logo to see the printer control panel. from here you can connect to and directly control the printer, then start printing the sliced G-CODE.
If you hear a brief woosh of fans coming from the printer, then connection was successful and ready to print.
Upload to Octoprint
********* BEFORE YOU START PRINTING ***********
Run through the 3D Printing Checklist to prevent damage to the printers, printing surfaces and minimize failed prints
Printing
The printer will take a minute or two to heat up the nozzle and build plate. This is normal. The Taz 6 and the minis are self levelling and the printer goes through a routine to detect that it's level at the start of every print.
It's important to observe this levelling procedure as damage can occur to the print bed under certain circumstances:
- The printer will wipe the nozzle on a cleaning pad on one side of the build plate. This is to clear any excess plastic around the nozzle.
- The print head will then tap the nozzle on the metal clamp on each corner LIGHTLY. If the nozzle appears to push so hard that the build plate gets pressed down, this means the nozzle wasn't clean, and wasn't able to properly detect the level of the bed. IF THIS HAPPENS THE NOZZLE WILL HIT THE BED WHEN PRINTING STARTS. RESULTING IN EITHER DAMAGE TO THE TOP SURFACE OR THE GLASS BED ITSELF
- If levelling is unsuccessful, then cancel the print, manually clean the nozzle tip and start the print again.
Once the nozzle and bed are fully up to temperature, printing will begin. It's recommended to always watch the first few layers to make sure that filament is coming out and it's adhering to the bed properly. Let the print run and it's progress will be displayed in the cura control panel, on the LCD screen or on the octoprint control panel.
Once the print is finished the printer will cool the build plate and push the plate forward when it's ready to remove from the plate. This is needed because of adhesion from the heat as attempting to remove the piece before it's cooled can result in the build surface being pulled up and/or ripped.