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LulzBot Mini Quick Start Manual
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LulzBot Mini Quick Start Manual

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Download this manual See also: User Manual
Thank you for choosing the LulzBot Mini desktop 3D printer and welcome to the LulzBot
Community. By the time you finish this Quick Start you will have your very own 3D printed
rocktopus, the mascot of the LulzBot Mini.
Every LulzBot Mini is covered by a one-year warranty and customer support, so if you have
questions along the way please contact us by emailing support@LulzBot.com or calling
+1-970-377-1111. Learn more at LulzBot.com/support. Now let's get you 3D printing!
Read the included User Safety Sheet completely before beginning the Quick Start. Find the full user manual
for your LulzBot Mini online at LulzBot.com/Mini.

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Summary of Contents for LulzBot Mini

  • Page 1 Community. By the time you finish this Quick Start you will have your very own 3D printed rocktopus, the mascot of the LulzBot Mini. Every LulzBot Mini is covered by a one-year warranty and customer support, so if you have questions along the way please contact us by emailing support@LulzBot.com or calling +1-970-377-1111.
  • Page 2 LulzBot Mini on a flat and level surface with 30 centimeters (12 inches) of clearance in every direction. Your LulzBot Mini comes with an octopus that was made by your 3D printer during the final stage of quality assurance. Several tools for maintaining your LulzBot Mini are also included, learn more about...
  • Page 3 Remove all packaging foam and confirm everything on the Packing List is included in the box. Save all of the provided packaging materials in case you need to transport your 3D printer in the future.
  • Page 4 STEP Download and Install the Software for Your LulzBot Mini Visit LulzBot.com/Cura to find download and installation instructions for Cura LulzBot Edition, the software that will control your 3D printer. Even if you already have Cura installed on your computer, visit LulzBot.com/Cura anyway to get the latest version.
  • Page 5 Launch Cura. Begin the Configuration Wizard to select your machine and under “What kind of machine do you have”, select LulzBot Mini. Click Next >, and then click Finish > to complete the Configuration Wizard. Cura LulzBot Edition is now installed and ready for use.
  • Page 6 STEP Connect and Power On Your LulzBot Mini Check that the Power Switch is Off Connect the USB Cable Connect the Power Cord Power On...
  • Page 7 A 3D model named rocktopus will automatically load onto Cura’s virtual print bed the first time you run the software. The rocktopus is the first object you will 3D print on your LulzBot Mini. If the rocktopus model is not present on the virtual print bed, you can download it from LulzBot.com/rocktopus or from the included USB thumb drive, then load it using the Load Model button...
  • Page 8 On the left side of the screen under “Select a quickprint profile”, select Normal quality print. Then under “Material”, select HIPS. Cura Interface...
  • Page 9 STEP Control Your LulzBot Mini and Set the Temperature Using your computer, click the Control button on the main Cura interface. A new window called the Printer Interface will open. If the Control button does not appear, verify that that your software was fully installed during Step 2.
  • Page 10 Your LulzBot Mini is tested for quality assurance before being packaged. You will need to remove the remaining filament left in the tool head from this process before loading new filament for your next print. 240°C is the required hot end temperature to remove HIPS from the tool head. See Step 14 for the required temperature for other materials.
  • Page 11 The hot end is now heating up to 240°C (464°F) and can burn your skin. HIPS Filament Hot End Tool Head...
  • Page 12 Lower the Hinged Idler and Remove Loaded Filament Locate the tool head of your LulzBot Mini. Using the idler retainer, compress the springs with your thumb and slide up, allowing the hinged idler to move freely. Then lower the hinged idler counter-clockwise.
  • Page 13 Wait until the status bar of the Printer Interface shows the Temperature has reached 240°C. Once the Temperature has reached 240°C, pinch the HIPS filament loaded in the tool head and remove it by pulling up. HIPS Filament...
  • Page 14 STEP Prepare and Load Filament Face the front of your LulzBot Mini. Find the filament holder, which is mounted to the top right corner of the printer frame. Starting with the filament holder in a down position, rotate the filament holder counter-clockwise into an upright and locked position.
  • Page 15 We strongly recommend using the included 1 meter HIPS filament sample for your first rocktopus print. Mount the HIPS filament sample on the filament holder so the filament can feed down into the tool head. HIPS Filament Sample Tool Head STEP 8 Continued...
  • Page 16 Locate the feed hole in the extruder body where you removed the loaded filament during Step 7. Filament feeds through this hole and down into the hot end for printing. The hot end is still 240°C (464°F) and can burn your skin. Tool Head Feed Hole...
  • Page 17 Make sure the idler retainer is touching the springs so it is out of the way. Then push the HIPS filament sample down into the feed hole in the extruder body and through the hot end until a small amount of filament comes out of the tip of the nozzle. The HIPS filament sample should travel approximately 100 millimeters (4 inches) down through the extruder body and into the hot end.
  • Page 18 STEP Raise the Hinged Idler Using your thumb, compress the springs with the idler retainer and rotate the hinged idler clockwise into an upright position. Lock the hinged idler into place by sliding the idler retainer back down. Idler Retainer Hinged Idler...
  • Page 19 STEP Verify Print Extrusion Make sure your LulzBot Mini is ready for printing by verifying the printer’s ability to extrude filament. Using your computer, click the Extrude 10 button in the Printer Interface and look for filament to feed through the nozzle.
  • Page 20 If you do not see filament coming through the nozzle and the drive gear stops moving, click the Extrude 10 button once more and wait. Repeat as needed until you see consistent and repeatable extrusion. Extruded Filament Tweezers Wait ten seconds for the filament to cool, then remove the extruded filament with the included tweezers.
  • Page 21 Wait! Are you sure you are ready to print? Check one final time to make sure you removed all the packaging foam from your LulzBot Mini during Step 1. Did you make changes to your object on the virtual print bed after opening the Printer Interface window? If so, you will need to close the Printer Interface window and click Control again to incorporate these new changes.
  • Page 22 Click Print in the Printer Interface window to start your first 3D print, then watch your LulzBot Mini automatically prepare itself for 3D printing.
  • Page 23 Your LulzBot Mini will first cool down and move to the back of the bed to clean off its nozzle. After cleaning, your LulzBot Mini will then conduct an automated bed-leveling sequence, heat up to final temperature, and start printing. This process can take approximately four minutes.
  • Page 24 Remove Your 3D Printed Object After your LulzBot Mini is finished 3D printing, the hot end and print bed will automatically move into the cooling position (with the tool head in the top left and the print bed set back).
  • Page 25 Once finished cooling, the tool head will move to the top right and the print bed will move forward. After the print bed moves forward, remove the thin outer print layer. Then remove your rocktopus by lifting gently underneath it with the included blue handled knife. Carefully pry under each tentacle, then slide the blade under the center beneath its head.
  • Page 26 Congratulations! Now that your LulzBot Mini is up and running, share your 3D printing skills on social media using #rocktopus. Don’t forget to tag us in your post, then follow us for the latest news. You can find LulzBot on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn. Next, join us on the LulzBot Forum at Forum.LulzBot.com!
  • Page 27 STEP Your Next Print There is a small length of the HIPS filament sample remaining in the hot end after your first rocktopus print. You can remove this remaining filament by following Step 6 and Step 7 (above). After removing filament (as outlined above), a small residual amount remains in the hot end that needs to be cleared out through a process called purging.
  • Page 28 Filament Reference Guide Print Bed Preparation Printing Print Bed Filament (See Maintenance section Temperature (°C) Temperature (°C) for more information) HIPS Isopropyl alcohol wipe Isopropyl alcohol wipe Isopropyl alcohol wipe T-Glase Isopropyl alcohol wipe Nylon 618 PVA Gluestick Nylon 645 PVA Gluestick Nylon Bridge PVA Gluestick...
  • Page 29 Selecting the higher temperature between the two filaments is important, otherwise you may lower the quality of your next print or even clog the nozzle. Purge the residual filament that remains in the hot end using the Extrude 10 button, as shown in Step 10.
  • Page 30 Clear the virtual print bed by right clicking (or holding control and clicking) the rocktopus model and selecting Delete Object. Then upload the new model that you want to print next by clicking Load Model in the main Cura Interface. With your new object set, re-open the Printer Interface window by clicking Control in the main Cura interface and set the final temperature using the recommended temperatures from the Filament Reference Guide in Step 14B.
  • Page 31 This process is vital to the continued functioning of your LulzBot Mini. A clean metal surface on the nozzle is critical for the automated bed leveling process to be successful.
  • Page 32 Your LulzBot Mini has a PEI film print surface, which helps printed objects adhere to the bed. Note that the oil on your skin can negatively affect print adhesion. For optimal performance, lightly wipe the print bed with a dry paper towel between prints.