Flashforge Finder User Manual
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Flashforge Finder User Manual

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FlashForge Corporation
FlashForge Finder 3D Printer
User Guide
Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com
0086- 0579-82273989

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Summary of Contents for Flashforge Finder

  • Page 1 FlashForge Corporation FlashForge Finder 3D Printer User Guide Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 0086- 0579-82273989...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Chapter 5: Build Plate Leveling..................32 Chapter 6: About Software....................35 6.1 Software Installation..................35 6.2 Exploring FlashPrint..................36 Chapter 7: Basic Printing....................59 7.1 Generate a Gcode.....................59 7.2 Print Methods....................62 Chapter 8 Supports and Service..................65 Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...

  • Page 3: Preface

    FlashForge Finder. Even if you are familiar with earlier FlashForge machines or 3D printing technology, we still recommend that please read this guide, as there is lots of important information about the Finder for you to get a better 3D experience.

  • Page 4: Introduction

    ·The User Guide is written based on Windows 7 OS. ·The version of the FlashPrint is latest. The FlashForge Finder 3D Printer User Guide contains the information needed for you to set up and use this device. This User Guide including the following parts: Preface, Introduction and After-sale service.

  • Page 5: Notice

    ① Always use the Finder with a properly grounded outlet. Do not refit Finder plug. ② Do not use Finder in damp or wet locations. Do not expose Finder to burning sun. ③ In case of device damage, please use the power supply provided by FlashForge.
  • Page 6 20cm, and the distance of the front side space should be at least 35cm. · Filament Requirements Do not abuse the filament. Please make sure you use the FlashForge filament or the Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 7 FlashForge shall not be liable for errors contained herein for incidental consequential damages in connection with furnishing, performance or use of this material This document contains proprietary information protected by copyright.

  • Page 8: Chapter 1: 3D Printing Technology

    Fused Filament Fabrication(FFF) is the most common method of 3D printing. It is also the method that the Finder uses. It works by melting plastic material called filament onto a print surface in high temperature. The filament solidifies after it cools down, which happens instantaneously after it is extruded from the nozzle.
  • Page 9 Finder via USB cable, USB stick or WiFi. 1.1.3 Build the 3D Model: Once the output file has been transferred to your Finder, it will start to turn the 3D model into a physical object by laying down layers of filament.

  • Page 10: Chapter 2: About Finder

    7. Filament cartridge 2. Touch screen button 13. USB cable input 8. Extruder 3. Nozzle 14. Power input 9. Filament intake 4. Z-axis guide rod 15. Power switch 10. X-axis guide rod 5. Build plate Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 11 2.1.2 Terms The surface on which the Finder builds an object. Build Plate The blue tape that covers Finder’s build plate so that Build Tape the object can stick to the build plate well. The three dimensional amount of space that an object Build Volume will use once it is completed.
  • Page 12 0.4mm Build Speed 10-200 mm/s Software FlashPrint Input:3MF/ STL/OBJ/FPP/BMP/PNG/JPG/JPEG Support Formats Output:GX/G Win xp/Vista/7/8/10、Mac OS、Linux Device Size 420*420*420mm Net Weight 10Kg AC Input Input: 100V-240V, 50-60Hz Power: 65W Connectivity USB cable, USB stick, WiFi Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 13  Copy: To copy the files to the local memory card from the USB stick.(The button is not available while printing from local memory card )  Delete: To delete the print file  Back Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 14  Filament: To change filament during printing. (Note: You need to suspend the operation first)  Finish-Shutdown: To start auto shutdown  Cancel: To end the tool orders and return to the print interface. Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 15 The picture displays the preheat interface. It shows the real-time temperature and the target temperature. Tap the [Abort] button to abort the preheat job. Tap [Back] to back to the previous interface but not abort the preheat job. Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 16  X+: The extruder moves to the zero points, that is, to the right direction  X-: The extruder moves to the direction opposite to the X+.  Z+: The build plate elevates.  Z-: The build plate descends.  Back Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 17  Factory Reset：Return to factory setting. Update: To update the firmware version. Back WiFi:  Turn on WiFi: Turn on the WiFi, release the WiFi hotspot and set the WiFi on computer. Back Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 18 The filament detection is turned on. Note: Filament exhausted or interrupted will be detected. Filament exhausted or interrupted will be detected. Once the filament is not in the right place, the print job can not work normally. Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 19 Power Saving Mode Off The power saving mode status is turned off. Automatically shut down will not work. Status: It displays the real-time status of the extruder temperature, fan and filament. Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 20 About: It displays the basic information about the device. License It displays the basic information about the license. Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 21 Accessories Filament*1 Power Cable USB Cable Filament Guide Tube Quick Start Guide USB stick Screwdriver Allen Wrench(M2.0/2.5) Glue Stick Stamping Wrench Unclogging Pin Tool Power Adapter After-sale Card PTFE Tube Grease Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...

  • Page 22: Chapter 3：Unpacking

    Make sure you read the whole unpacking guide) (3-1) Place the packaging box on a clean work surface Open the box, grasp the two handles and then lift your Finder out of the box. （3-2） Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com...
  • Page 23 (3-3) Your Finder is wrapped by packaging materials, remove these materials step by step. (3-4) Remove the side protective foam sheets. Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 24 (3-5) Remove all protective wrapping, and then you will see your Finder. （3-6）On the top foam sheet, you can see one Quick Start Guide and a tool bag( USB stick*1, leveling knob*1, Allen wrenches*2, stamping wrench*1, unclogging pin tool*1, grease*1, and screwdriver*1).
  • Page 25 (3-8) Cut off four ribbons that used for fixing the guide rod. Then slide the extruder to make sure the extruder is in good condition. (3-9) Take the filament(Assign random color)out of the Finder. 3-10 Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com...
  • Page 26 (3-10) Lift the build plate up and take out the glue stick, power cable, power adapter and USB cable. Congratulations! You have unpacked your Finder. Next, let’s move on to hardware assembly of Finder. Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...

  • Page 27: Chapter 4: Hardware Assembly

    Your Finder has been installed before leaving factory, you can start up the Finder for printing after mounting the filament spool and completing leveling. 4.1 Filament Installation (4-1) The filament cartridge is at the rear of Finder. Lift the cartridge out of the Finder. The black part is Filament Detecting Equipment (4-2) Take out the filament and thread it through the filament detecting equipment.

  • Page 28: Printer Start-Up

    After installing the filament, put the cartridge back to the printer. 4.2 Printer Start-up (4-3)Insert the power supply into the power input on the back of the Finder and plug the power cable into an electrical outlet. Then turn on the power switch.
  • Page 29 (4-6) Insert the filament from the filament guide tube into the filament intake. filament.(Note: Please lower the build plate to Next, we will load the FlashForge increase the distance between the nozzle and build plate to 50mm at least for avoiding nozzle jam.)

  • Page 30: Unloading Filament

    Then the filament will be drawn through the extruder. Do not tap [Cancel] until the filament load the extruder steadily. 4.4 Unloading Filament 4-11 [Tools]-[Filament]-[Unload] (4-11) Tap and the extruder starts heating up. Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 31 Note: Do not pull out the filament with force as it will damage the gears. If the melted filament has cooled down in the extruder, please repeat the steps above. Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...

  • Page 32: Chapter 5: Build Plate Leveling

    Chapter 5: Build Plate Leveling Finder creatively adopts three-point intelligent leveling system, which will give clear and comprehensive feedback to users. There are three spring-loaded knobs under the build platform. The distance between the plate and nozzle increases while tightening the knobs.
  • Page 33 If still not, please follow the prompts to adjust again till you see [OK] button. (5-5) Repeat steps 2 through 4 above to complete second and third points leveling and then Tap [Finish] to exit. Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 34 （7）Then move to the center of the build plate for a check. Confirm that the paper slides between the nozzle and build with a moderate amount friction. （8）Tap the [Abort] button and finish leveling. Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...

  • Page 35: Chapter 6: About Software

    Chapter 6: About Software This chapter talks about the basic function of FlashPrint. For more information about advanced function, you can browse our website www.FlashForge.com. 6.1 Software Installation 6.1.1 Software Acquisition Method 1: To get the installation package from the USB stick in the toolkit.

  • Page 36: Exploring Flashprint

    Note! After starting FlashPrint, you need to select the target machine type first. When you start FlashPrint, a dialog box will pop up. Just select FlashForge Finder in the machine type list and click [OK]. You can also change the machine type via...
  • Page 37 Load files. Enter the support edit mode. Print it directly with your Finder or export to your USB Stick. View FlashPrint home screen from one of six viewing angles. Move model around on XY-plane; shift+click to move along Z axis.
  • Page 38 Bottom thickness: For tube, canister and lamp to set up bottom thickness Top diameter: For tube, canister lamp and seal to set up the top diameter Bottom diameter: For tube, canister, lamp and seal to set up the bottom diameter Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 39 Plane(6-5) Tube（6-6） Cansiter(6-7) Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 40 Change model views by moving, rotating, scaling. ● Drag Click the [View] icon and then you can move the object by the following three methods: Method 1: Hold down the left mouse button and drag. Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 41 [Reset]. ④Show Model Outline Click [View]--[Show Model Outline], it will highlight the yellow border of the object Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 42 In this way, you could make the model rotate on X/Y/Z axis. Method 2: Click the [Rotate] icon on the left, and then enter into rotating angel values in X/Y/Z axes positioning. Click [Reset] to reset rotating angel values. Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 43 6.2.8 [Cut] Left-click on the model to select it and double-click on the to set the cut plane. The direction and position are available for setting. ①Draw with Mouse ②X Plane Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 44 Supports After loading the model, click [Edit]--[Supports] or click the icon directly, then you will enter the support edit mode(as shown in the picture below). Click [Back] to exit when you finish editing. 6-10 Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 45 Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 46 Supports will be deleted once clicking the [Delete] button. Move the cursor to the supports needed deleting, current supports and its subnode support will be highlighted, click the left mouse button to delete these highlighted support. 6.2.10 Print 6-12 Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 47 Maximize is 0.4mm, usually the default is OK. c. Shell: Contains the outside shell value, capping layer value (under vase pattern, top solid layer setting is invalid). ● Primeter Shells: Maximize is 10 Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 48 Note: Different temperatures have subtle influences in prints. Please adjust the temperature according to the condition in order to get a good print. ● Others Pause At Heights: Allows users to pre-set a height in which the print will Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 49 Method 1: Click [File]--[Save Project] in the menu bar to save the file as a project file with the “.fpp”suffix, all models in the scene (include support) are independent . After Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 50 Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 51 Select the object and duplicate the object through the following two methods: Method 1: Click [Edit]--[Duplicate] Method 2: Press the shortcut Ctrl+D ⑥ Delete Select the object and delete the object through the following two methods: Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 52 [Edit]--[Supports] to enter supports setting interface. 6.2.13 Print Menus ① Connect Machine You can connect the Finder with your PC via a USB cable or WiFi. Note: The machine icon on the bottom right displays the connection status: Connected Disconnected Method 1：Connect Via USB Cable...
  • Page 53 FlashPrint. Then the following dialog box pops up. You need to select “Wi-Fi” in Connect Mode. Enter into the IP Address shown on the Finder touch screen and then click [Connect]. 6-19 If successfully connected, you will see the following red mark.
  • Page 54 ②Connect Finder with your PC under STA mode [Tools]-[Setting]-[WiFi]-[WiFi ON] to a. Tap turn on the WiFi of Finder and connect your PC and Finder with the same WiFi network. b. Click [Print]-[Connect Machine] on FlashPrint. Then the following dialog box pops up.
  • Page 55 6.2.14 Tool Menus ①Control Panel [Tools]--[Control Panel] After connecting PC with Finder, click to open the control panel. 6-23 ● Jog Controls a. Jog Mode： Select the distance that extruder/ build plate move a single time (that is, the distance extruder/ build plate move upon your single click).
  • Page 56 X/Y Speed and Z Speed: Set the move speed of extruder/ build platform. ● Limit Switch: In order to protect your Finder, three limit switches are equipped to control the maximum position, and the three limit switches corresponding to X/Y/Z axis limit switch.
  • Page 57 After confirming the printer is in free state, the software will automatically update the firmware 6-24 Step 3 ： Reboot you Finder and wait for 4-5 seconds, then you can see the update Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 58 ③Check for Updates ： Click [Help]--[Check for Update] to detect the available updates online. ④ About FlashPrint ： Click [Help]--[About FlashPrint], the software information box will pop up. The contents include the current software version and copyright information. Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...

  • Page 59: Chapter 7: Basic Printing

    FlashForge Finder (7-2)Click to select (7-3)Click the [Load] icon to load a .stl model file and the object will display on the build area. [Edit]--[Surface to Platform] to make your model perfectly positioned （7-4）Click Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 60 Note：If you’ve place your model in a right place, you can skip the step above. (7-5) Click the [Print] icon on the top, you should make some setups for your print job. Preview: If you check the [Preview] box, you can preview your model after slicing is Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 61 Gcode file. Note: .gx files are available for preview while the .g files are not. They are displaying as follows: g. Files gx. Files Next, we are going to print the model. Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...

  • Page 62: Print Methods

    7.2 Print Methods After generating the Gcode file, you can transfer it to your Finder. You can transfer the file through USB cable and USB stick. 7.2.1 Print from Computer (USB connection) ①Connect your Finder with your PC via a USB cable.
  • Page 63 PC will transfer the Gcode file to the printer. 7-10 ● After finishing transferring, the printer will heat up automatically. And when heating finishes, the print will start to build the model. Finder User Guide | www.flashforge.com 400-699-1063...
  • Page 64 7-11 7.2.3 Print from USB Stick ①Insert your USB stick with target .g or .gx file to your Finder. . ②Turn on the Finder. Make sure the build plate has been leveled and the filament is loaded. [Print] and then tap the USB Stick Card icon in the middle.

  • Page 65: Chapter 8 Supports And Service

    FlashForge team is on standby and ready to help you with any challenges you may have with your Finder. If the issues or questions are not covered in this User Guide, you can seek for solutions on our official website or contact us via telephone.

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