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AST2 INVENT3D Operating Instructions And Troubleshooting Manual

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INVENT3D
Printer Operating Instructions and Troubleshooting Guide
TM
INVENT3D Printer
Operating Instructions & Troubleshooting Guide
Version 6
AST2 © 10/26/16
Page 1

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Summary of Contents for AST2 INVENT3D

  • Page 1 INVENT3D Printer Operating Instructions and Troubleshooting Guide INVENT3D Printer Operating Instructions & Troubleshooting Guide Version 6 AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 1...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

     Limit Switch  Z-axis OPERATING VIDEOS Videos are available on YouTube and INVENTORcloud website (www.inventorcloud.net)  Installing Slic3r: https://youtu.be/-kWy8JPh2IQ  INVENT3D – Keys to Success: https://youtu.be/4-TP87f_Dtk  Changing Filament: https://youtu.be/GkhGFjlLo9Y  Part Removal: https://youtu.be/YJ2lwoVA1l4  Print Board Leveling: https://youtu.be/t5xmp9knYew ...

  • Page 3: Overview Of Printer Components

    Printer Operating Instructions and Troubleshooting Guide I. OVERVIEW OF PRINTER COMPONENTS  X, Y and Z Axes The INVENT3D printer creates three dimensional objects by moving the printer hot end assembly and print board along X, Y, and Z axes. Z-axis X-axis motor...
  • Page 4 The filament then passes through the hot end nozzle. The hot end has a thermistor embedded which relays the temperature of the hot end to the printer’s operating program which is referred to as firmware and is located in RAMBo board. AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 4...
  • Page 5 Z-axis via the Z-axis lead screw. For the best results, the print board assembly should be approximately 2” or more below the hot end before starting a print. AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 5...
  • Page 6 All wired components connect to the RAMBo circuit board mounted to the bottom of the printer. Wired components include 4 motors (X-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis, extruder), three limit switches (X-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis), two fans, hot end, thermistor, LCD screen, and power. AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 6...
  • Page 7  Filament The INVENT3D Printer uses 1.75mm PLA (polylactic acid) filament. PLA is a bio-degradable polymer created from various plant products including corn and potatoes. PLA is a type of thermoplastic, becoming soft and moldable when heated and returning to solid when cooled.

  • Page 8: Turning The Printer On And Off

    To prevent plugging the hot end, be sure that the hot end temperature is less than 50 C before turning off the printer. The fans should turn off at 50 AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 8...

  • Page 9: Overview Of Printer Interface

    III. OVERVIEW OF PRINTER INTERFACE The INVENT3D Printer is controlled by the user via the control knob on the front of the LCD. Rotate the knob to the left or right to scroll through menu options. Push the knob in to select the highlighted field.
  • Page 10 Push the control knob in to go back to the motor select submenu. AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 10...
  • Page 11 Nozzle: Change temperature of the hot end. 220 C is the default.  Fan Speed: Always set at 0 as the fan speed of the INVENT3D printer is not  adjustable. Flow: Change flow rate through the hot end nozzle. Should always be set at 100.

  • Page 12: Loading / Unloading Of Filament

    Printer Operating Instructions and Troubleshooting Guide IV. LOADING / UNLOADING FILAMENT It is important to remember that the INVENT3D printer is only compatible with 1.75mm PLA. Loading Filament 1. Place the spool on the spool holder. Each filament spool has one side where the center is cut deeper;...
  • Page 13 5. Rotate control knob counter-clockwise until filament backs out of the hot end. 6. Do not attempt to unload filament without first heating the hot end. The extruder motor will not function if the hot end is not at least 200 C. AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 13...

  • Page 14: Calibrating Z-Axis Limit Switch End Stop

    Obtaining a level board is integral to successful printing and production of high quality parts. Therefore, it is imperative to check and maintain the level of the print board before printing begins. AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 14...
  • Page 15 Step 7 above.) 10) While holding the Z-axis knob, hand tighten the yellow Z-axis lock thumbscrew to lock the print board so it can’t move up or down along the Z-axis. AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 15...
  • Page 16 Z-axis end stop screw until you hear it press the Z-axis limit switch and make it click. 16) Loosen the yellow Z-axis lock thumbscrew, then use the Z-axis knob to lower the print board a few inches. AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 16...
  • Page 17 Attempting to remove a part from the print board while it is still connected to the printer is a quick way to get your print board way out of level, and very well may damage the printer. AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 17...

  • Page 18: Converting .Stl File To G-Code

    VII. CONVERTING .STL FILE TO G-CODE CAD files saved as .stl must be converted to a G-code file prior to printing on INVENT3D using a slicer program. The G-code file tells the printer how to print a desired part, controlling print parameters such as temperature, speed, orientation, and scale as well as part options such as fill type (rectilinear, honeycomb, etc.) and support material usage.
  • Page 19 3.6. Output options – It is not recommended to change default settings. 3.7. Multiple Extruders – It is not recommended to change default settings. 3.8. Advanced – It is not recommended to change default settings. AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 19...
  • Page 20 3D printer itself and not in the slic3r program. 4.1.4. Board – Should be set at 0°C /0°C. The INVENT3D printer does not use a heated board. 4.2. Cooling – It is recommended not to change default settings.

  • Page 21: Printing A Part And Removing Part From Print Board

    Remove the print board (see Step 8 of this Section), clear the filament from the board, replace the board, and try the print again. If irregularities persist, refer to Troubleshooting Guide in this document. Observe the part outline and first layers AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 21...
  • Page 22 Push the front clamp back into place and tighten the blue thumbscrew. Move the print board from side to side to ensure that it is locked in place. AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 22...

  • Page 23: Replacing Buildtak

    However, it is inexpensive and readily available. Brown painters’ tape secures the part better but may be difficult to remove from the printed part. AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 23...

  • Page 24: Troubleshooting Guide And Operating Videos

     Broken Grinding of Y-Axis  Noise when raising on lead screw If you do not find information regarding your issue or the remedies prescribed do not resolve issue, please submit a Support Ticket to http://support.inventorcloud.net/. AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 24...
  • Page 25 Z Axis Calibration: https://youtu.be/jwzYRii9fM0 Note: Certain components on the INVENT3D Printer have been redesigned and therefore, the printers displayed in videos may look slightly different, however, functionalities have not changed and all content is relevant to all versions of INVENT3D Printer.
  • Page 26 Support Ticket. If filament has melted between the filament drive and hot end, attempt to remove the extruder motor and clean the melted filament with a small flathead screwdriver. Fracture the filament both above the hot end and below the filament drive. Once this filament AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 26...
  • Page 27 Place the extruder top back on the extruder motor and tighten the silver thumbscrews. Heat the hot end and feed the filament through the filament drive to verify that the issue is corrected. AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 27...
  • Page 28 Probable Cause: Filament pressure adjustment screw too tight.  Remedy: If there are filament shavings in the filament drive, too much tension is being placed on the filament by the extruder motor gear. Locate the filament pressure adjustment screw AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 28...

  • Page 29: Print Quality

    Remedy: Release the tension on the belt. Loosed the two set screws with Allen wrench. Rotate the gear so that one set screw aligns with flat side of motor drive. Retighten set screws and belt. AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 29...
  • Page 30 If it appears the board is perfectly level but simply too far from the hot end, rotate the Z-axis end stop counter-clockwise half a turn so that the limit switch engages closer to the hot end. Rotate another half a turn if necessary. AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 30...

  • Page 31: Lcd

    Ensure that the LCD wires are plugged into the correct ports on the RAMBo board. The LCD wires should cross once if properly plugged in, meaning that the right wire plugs into the left port on the RAMBo board and vice versa. Check that the wires are plugged into AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 31...

  • Page 32: Power Issues

    Remedy: If it appears that the Z-axis end stop is at the appropriate height and are experiencing a problem with just one of the thumbscrews, review that each of the red thumbscrews are compressing a wave spring on top of a spacer. Review that the springs are AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 32...

  • Page 33: Hot End

    Ticket to place order. When the replacement wire is received, remove the broken wires from the wire sleeve, removing the appropriate side cover and zip ties as needed, and disconnect it from the RAMBo board. Ensure that there is no power to the printer when replacing the AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 33...
  • Page 34 Remedy: Repeat the process to align the z-axis lead screw and embedded ACME nut. Probable Cause 3: The Z-axis knob is grinding on top plate or Z-axis bearing is not properly seated.  Remedy: Loosen the screw in the knob, then reset the bearing and height of knob. AST2 © 10/26/16 Page 34...

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