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300X USER GUIDE
ABOUT 3D PRINTING
You built your 300x 3D printer! Now let's learn how to print.
Drew's Note: To better understand 3D printing, here is a brief overview of the process,
materials, and how to troubleshoot. More pictures coming soon!
THE 3D PRINTING PROCESS
The 3D printing process is usually split into three main parts: creating or finding a digital file, converting the
digital file for your printer, and printing!
PART 1: CREATE OR FIND A DIGITAL .STL FILE
You can create a 3D model—a digital geometry—using any CAD (computer- aided design) software program.
We recommend free programs, such as TinkerCAD and OnShape. Autodesk's Fusion360 is my favorite and free
for education. These programs take some time to learn, and can be challenging. But they are also rewarding,
especially when you watch your own creation being printed on your 3D printer! There are also many websites with
premade file libraries. Check out the
Every CAD program allows users to save or export digital files for 3D printing. You want to save your file as an STL
file ("filename.stl"). The STL file is the standard file format for 3D printing. In some programs, it's as easy as the
Save command. In others, you need to select the File > Export option, and choose the STL format. OBJ files can
also be sliced and 3D printed. If your file is not designed properly or is corrupted, it will not print properly. If the
print fails, this is where digital troubleshooting will begin.
PART 2: CONVERT YOUR DIGITAL FILE FOR YOUR 3D PRINTER (SLICING)
Slicing is the process of converting your design to Gcode that the printer can read. On the 300x, slicing is easy,
because it includes Cura, a popular slicer engine! However, the 300x is pending as one of the pre-selected non-
networked machines in Cura, if you want to download it on your computer.
To print on your 300x, just tap on your STL file (or click it, if connected through a web browser). Then you need to
choose the physical properties of how your model will print. You can change the print profile to "High Quality" for
a smoother, higher quality part, although the build will take longer, or "Fast Quality" to print at a lower quality in
less time. You may also need to check "Generate Support" if your model needs to print with support, change the
infill if you want a stronger, more dense model.
The following is an introduction to Cura and how to set up your machine on your computer. When you are satisfied
with the slicing settings and have chosen the filament you are using, you are ready to begin printing!
This work is licensed under the creative commons Attribution
Non commercial-no Derivatives 4.0 International license.
Maker
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Last Updated 12.23.2020
Version v1.1
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