MakerBot Replicator Z18 User Manual
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MakerBot Replicator Z18 User Manual

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  • Page 1 USER MANUAL...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Legal Notices Safety and Compliance About the MakerBot Replicator Z18 GETTING STARTED Accessory Checklist Unpacking the MakerBot Replicator Z18 Setting up the MakerBot Replicator Z18 STARTUP The MakerBot Replicator Z18 Control Panel First Steps MAKERBOT DESKTOP Downloading and Installing MakerBot Desktop...
  • Page 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS TROUBLESHOOTING Printing Problems Leveling the Build Plate Updating Firmware Emptying the Filament Waste Bin REFERENCE Specifications Glossary Contact Welcome. Let’s get started. VERSION 1...

  • Page 4: Welcome

    WELCOME. Welcome to the User Manual for the MakerBot ® Replicator Z18 3D Printer. With the MakerBot ® Replicator Z18 you can print high-resolution, industrial-quality prototypes bigger than ever, but it also requires care and attention, so please be sure to read this manual all the way through.

  • Page 5: Legal Notices

    Manual in its sole discretion and at any time and makes no commitment to provide any such changes, updates, enhancements, or other additions to this Manual in a timely manner or at all. You agree to be bound by any modifications and/or revisions. Contact the MakerBot Support Team for up-to-date information.
  • Page 6 “as is” and without any express or implied warranties of any kind, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement of intellectual property. In connection with your use of this Manual, MakerBot shall not be liable to you for any damages whatsoever, be they direct, economic, commercial, special, consequential,...

  • Page 7: Safety And Compliance

    Washington, D.C. 20402. Changes and modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer or registrant of this equipment can void your authority to operate this equipment under FCC rules. MANUFACTURER MakerBot Industries, LLC One MetroTech Center, 21st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 347.334.6800...
  • Page 8 The MakerBot Replicator Z18 includes moving parts that can cause injury. Never reach inside the MakerBot Replicator Z18 while it is in operation. Warning: There is a risk of shock. The MakerBot Replicator Z18 is not user serviceable. Caution: Avoid leaving the MakerBot Replicator Z18 unattended during operation.
  • Page 9 Caution: The MakerBot Replicator Z18 melts plastic during printing. Plastic odors are emitted during this operation. Make sure to set up the MakerBot Replicator Z18 in a well-ventilated area. Caution: Never remove the Smart Extruder from your MakerBot Replicator Z18 or turn off the MakerBot Replicator Z18 during or immediately after printing.

  • Page 10: About The Makerbot Replicator Z18

    With the  huge build volume of the MakerBot Replicator Z18, this part of the process can take a long time. The method of 3D printing used by the MakerBot Replicator Z18 is called fused deposition modeling.
  • Page 11 ABOUT THE MAKERBOT REPLICATOR Z18 MAKERBOT REPLICATOR DIAGRAMS 1. Build plate 3. Build plate latches 5. Filament drawer 2. Filament waste bin 4. Control panel 6. Smart Extruder WELCOME.
  • Page 12 ABOUT THE MAKERBOT REPLICATOR Z18 MAKERBOT REPLICATOR DIAGRAMS 1. Power switch 3. USB port 2. Power input port 4. Ethernet port WELCOME.
  • Page 13 ABOUT THE MAKERBOT REPLICATOR Z18 MAKERBOT REPLICATOR DIAGRAMS 1. Gantry 3. Filament guide tube 2. Extruder carriage 4. Bellows WELCOME.

  • Page 14: Getting Started

    When you set up your MakerBot Replicator ® ® Z18 3D printer, remember that it was built and packaged very carefully at the MakerBot factory. We hope you’ll take your time and be just as careful unpacking it and getting it set up.

  • Page 15: Accessory Checklist

    ACCESSORY CHECKLIST Inside your MakerBot Replicator Z18 you’ll find everything you need to get started, including a spool of MakerBot PLA filament and a sheet of build plate tape. To order more build plate tape or filament, go to store.makerbot.com...

  • Page 16: Unpacking The Makerbot Replicator Z18

    UNPACKING THE MAKERBOT REPLICATOR Z18 REMOVE THE BOX Cut the straps holding the MakerBot Replicator Z18 box in place and lift off the cardboard lid and sleeve. REMOVE PACKAGING MATERIALS Remove the tape and foam holding the door and filament drawer of the MakerBot Replicator Z18 open.
  • Page 17 Take the accessory and filament boxes out of the MakerBot Replicator Z18 and set them aside. TAKE THE MAKERBOT REPLICATOR Z18 OFF OF THE PALLET Lift the MakerBot Replicator Z18 off of the pallet and place it on a stable surface.
  • Page 18 If the MakerBot Replicator Z18 shows any tendency to wobble, stabilize it using the adjustable leveling feet. To adjust one of the feet, tilt the MakerBot Replicator Z18 up at one corner and rotate the foot to raise or lower that corner of your 3D printer.
  • Page 19 UNPACKING THE MAKERBOT REPLICATOR Z18 REMOVE LID Use a tool to unlock the lid of the MakerBot Replicator Z18. Pull the lid off and set it aside. GETTING STARTED...
  • Page 20 UNPACKING THE MAKERBOT REPLICATOR Z18 REMOVE GANTRY CLIPS Remove the orange plastic clips from the top compartment of the MakerBot Replicator Z18. There are two clips, one on the belt at each side. GETTING STARTED...

  • Page 21: Setting Up The Makerbot Replicator Z18

    Utilities > System Tools > Attach Smart Extruder. Caution: Never remove the Smart Extruder from your MakerBot Replicator Z18 during or immediately after printing. Always allow the Smart Extruder to cool to 50° C completely before removing it from the MakerBot Replicator Z18.
  • Page 22 The filament will move up through the MakerBot Replicator Z18 to the top compartment. Stop feeding the filament when you see it emerge from the end of the filament guide tube.
  • Page 23 Then lift the top plate out of the MakerBot Replicator Z18. 4b. Peel the backing off of the sheet of build plate tape and lay the tape flat on the top plate, with the sticky side facing down.
  • Page 24 Caution: The socket outlet must be located near the equipment and must be easily accessible. 5d. Switch the power on and wait for the MakerBot Replicator Z18 to boot up. This will take several minutes. GETTING STARTED...

  • Page 25: Startup

    STARTUP The first time you turn on your MakerBot Replicator ® ® Z18 3D Printer, it will run a setup assistant that will introduce you to the control panel and walk you through everything you need to do to start your first...

  • Page 26: The Makerbot Replicator Z18 Control Panel

    THE MAKERBOT REPLICATOR Z18 CONTROL PANEL The MakerBot Replicator Z18 is operated by means of a control panel at the lower right of the 3D printer. The control panel includes a color LCD screen, a rotary/push dial, and two buttons.

  • Page 27: First Steps

    Once your spool of MakerBot PLA Filament is loaded into the filament drawer and routed up to the top of the MakerBot Replicator Z18, all you have to do is load the free end of the spooled filament into the heated MakerBot Replicator Smart Extruder.
  • Page 28 LCD panel will display the test prints we’ve loaded onto your MakerBot Replicator Z18 for you. Note: To view the files stored on your MakerBot Replicator Z18 at any time, go to Print > Internal Storage. 1. Use the dial to highlight one of the available prints.
  • Page 29 1. Locate an Ethernet cable (not included). 2. Connect one end of the cable to the Ethernet port at the back of your MakerBot Replicator Z18. Connect the other end to a wall jack or router used by your local area network. MakerBot Desktop will automatically detect your MakerBot Replicator Z18 during software setup.

  • Page 30: Makerbot Desktop

    3D content. Whether you print directly to the MakerBot Replicator Z18 3D Printer via ® USB cable, Wi-Fi or Ethernet, or you export your print files to a USB drive, MakerBot Desktop is where all your prints will begin.

  • Page 31: Downloading And Installing Makerbot Desktop

    Download. A system-specific installer will download to your computer. 3. Double-click the MakerBot Desktop installer to run the installation wizard. Follow the installation instructions. 4. When you open MakerBot Desktop for the first time, you will be asked to log in. • •...
  • Page 32 DOWNLOADING AND INSTALLING MAKERBOT DESKTOP 5. Select how you will connect your MakerBot Replicator Z18 to your computer. If you will print only via USB drive, click Skip. You will be asked to choose a MakerBot 3D Printer. Choose Replicator Z18. You can connect to your MakerBot Replicator via USB cable, Ethernet or Wi-Fi at any time.

  • Page 33: Printing From Makerbot Desktop

    MakerBot Replicator Z18. Store lets you buy print files for premium 3D models. When you buy a model in the MakerBot Digital Store, a print file for your MakerBot Replicator Z18 will be added to your MakerBot Cloud Library.
  • Page 34 4. You will be shown a list of available files. Next to each listed file is another Prepare button. Click Prepare next to any STL or OBJ file. MakerBot Desktop will download your file and open it in the Prepare view. To add an additional part from the same Thing, return to the Explore view and click Prepare next to the additional part.
  • Page 35 PREPARING TO PRINT You should now see your model or models at the center of a gray rectangle. This is MakerBot Desktop’s representation of your 3D printer’s build plate. Let’s take a look at the other features visible in the Prepare view.
  • Page 36 PRINTING FROM MAKERBOT DESKTOP 4. Move • Click the Move button or press the M key to go into Move mode. • • • In Move mode, click and drag with your mouse to move your model around on the •...
  • Page 37 Click Save to Library to open a Save dialog. • • • If you are logged into your MakerBot account, you can choose to save an STL or • Thing file to your Library or to your local computer. See makerbot.com/support for •...
  • Page 38 3. Supports Select this checkbox to have your object printed with support structures. MakerBot Desktop will automatically generate supports for any overhanging sections of your object. Supports will be easily removable once you remove your finished object from the build plate.
  • Page 39 .makerbot print file to your MakerBot Replicator Z18. • • • If MakerBot Desktop is connected to your MakerBot Replicator Z18, the print file will be sent directly to your 3D printer. Click the control panel dial to confirm and start • your print.
  • Page 40 USB or a local area network, the camera image will refresh every few seconds. To take a photo, open the print monitor panel in MakerBot Desktop, mouse over the camera view, and click Take a Photo. MakerBot Desktop will take a photo and let you save it to your local computer.

  • Page 41: The Control Panel

    THE CONTROL PANEL The control panel on the MakerBot Replicator ® ® Z18 3D Printer allows you to interact with your 3D printer. You can use it to initiate prints, edit settings, and access information. This chapter describes the different things you can do with the control panel.

  • Page 42: Home Screen

    1. Print: Initiate a print stored on a USB drive or internal storage, or synced from your MakerBot account. 2. Filament: Load filament into or unload filament from the MakerBot Replicator Smart Extruder. 3. Preheat: Preheat the Smart Extruder. 4. Utilities: Access diagnostics and other tools.

  • Page 43: Print

    Select Internal Storage to print a file stored on the MakerBot Replicator Z18. The internal storage has a capacity of about 2 GB. Select Your Library to print a sliced file from your MakerBot Cloud Library. In the Library menu: •...
  • Page 44 • display the file screen. • • If you select something from your MakerBot Cloud Library, you will see a list of all • the layouts associated with the file. Scroll through the available layouts and select • one in order to go to the file screen.
  • Page 45 PRINT PRINTING During a print, you will be able to view print progress information as well as other details about your print. 1. Percentage of the print completed. 2. Time elapsed and estimated time remaining in the print. While the Smart Extruder is heating, this area will display the current and target temperatures.
  • Page 46 – other Thingiverse users will love to see how your prints of their designs come out. To share a photo, click Share to Thingiverse in MakerBot Desktop. The MakerBot Replicator Z18 will take a photograph of your build area and post the photo to the Thing page.

  • Page 47: Filament

    When filament is loaded, insert the end of the filament guide tube unto the Smart Extruder’s loading tube and replace and lock the lid of the MakerBot Replicator Z18. To unload filament: 1. Use the dial to select unload filament.
  • Page 48 3. Remove the spool from the filament drawer. 4. Place the new spool in the drawer with the MakerBot logo facing up. 5. Detach the free end of the filament from the spool and insert it into the hole at the back left corner of the filament drawer.

  • Page 49: Preheat

    PREHEAT Select the Preheat icon to preheat the Smart Extruderr. When you select Preheat, the Smart Extruder will immediately start heating. The current and target temperatures will be visible on the main screen. UTILITIES Use the Utilities menu to access plate leveling, diagnostics and other tools. Level Build Plate Select to begin the assisted leveling process.
  • Page 50 Select to run a diagnostic sequence or to copy recent diagnostics logs to the USB drive. System Logs Select to clear the log files for your MakerBot Replicator Z18 or to copy them to a USB drive. Restore Factory Settings Select to return all settings on your MakerBot Replicator Z18 to the factory defaults.

  • Page 51: Settings

    • Unlink Account. Select to unlink your MakerBot account from the MakerBot • • Replicator Z18. You will not be able to share to Thingiverse or print items from your MakerBot Cloud Library when logged out. Other Settings • Name. Select to change the name used to represent your MakerBot Replicator Z18.

  • Page 52: Info

    Use the Info menu to view your 3D printer’s history and statistics. Firmware View the version number of the firmware currently installed on your MakerBot Replicator Z18. Statistics Select to view printing statistics, including total print time and the amount of space available in internal storage.

  • Page 53: Troubleshooting

    As you get to know your MakerBot Replicator ® ® 3D Printer, you may run into issues with different parts of the printing process. Here is a handy guide to some simple-to-fix problems. For help with issues not covered in this chapter, go to makerbot. com/support.

  • Page 54: Printing Problems

    Printed object is stuck to Remove the plastic top plate from your the build plate. MakerBot Replicator Z18 if you have not already done so. If you are still not able to remove your print from the build plate, try flexing the plastic plate slightly.
  • Page 55 See page 38 for more on printing with a raft. Touchscreen doesn’t respond. The control panel screen on the MakerBot Replicator Z18 is not a touchscreen. Turn the dial to scroll through the available options on the screen. Press the dial to select.
  • Page 56 To ensure that this does not happen, make sure the front door of the Replicator Z18 is securely closed before beginning a print or preheat. If these solutions don’t solve your issue, or if you are having a problem that doesn’t appear here, please visit makerbot.com/support.

  • Page 57: Leveling The Build Plate

    LEVELING THE BUILD PLATE The build plate on your MakerBot Replicator Z18 is leveled at the MakerBot Factory and locked into place, but over time it might shift slightly. If you observe that your prints are consistently peeling off of the build plate, you may need to level the plate again.
  • Page 58 LEVELING THE BUILD PLATE 4. Follow the directions on the control panel. The Makerbot Replicator Z18 will move the Smart Extruder to different positions on the build plate. At each point it will prompt you to adjust one of the leveling knobs and prompt you again when the plate is in the correct position.

  • Page 59: Updating Firmware

    Firmware is the software that runs on your MakerBot Replicator Z18. Keeping your firmware up to date will help ensure that your MakerBot Replicator Z18 is in the best possible working order. Firmware updates allow MakerBot to add new features to your MakerBot Replicator Z18 and improve old ones.

  • Page 60: Reference

    REFERENCE...

  • Page 61: Specifications

    30.0 L X 30.5 W X 45.7 H cm [11.8 L X 12.0 W X 18.0 H in] Layer Resolution: 100 microns [0.0039 in] Filament: 1.75 mm [0.069 in] MakerBot PLA Filament Nozzle Diameter: 0.4 mm [0.015 in] Print File Type: .makerbot...

  • Page 62: Glossary

    Replicator Z18. Sheets of build plate tape MakerBot Replicator Z18 that slides out to for the MakerBot Replicator Z18 are available allow you to load a spool of MakerBot PLA for purchase at store.makerbot.com. Filament. BUILD PLATFORM: The support for the FILAMENT GUIDE TUBE: The plastic tube build plate.
  • Page 63 The menu button will often allow you to open contain instructions for your MakerBot a menu containing additional options. Desktop 3D Printer. .OBJ: A file format used for 3D models. MAKERBOT ACCOUNT: The username and password you will use to sign in to MakerBot REFERENCE...
  • Page 64 SETUP ASSISTANT: The set of tasks TOP COMPARTMENT: The top chamber that runs when you turn on the MakerBot Replicator Z18 for the first time. The setup of the MakerBot Replicator Z18. It contains assistant helps you level the build plate, the extruder carriage and is separated from load filament and start a test print.

  • Page 65: Contact

    Support makerbot.com/support Our website has extensive documentation and troubleshooting information about your MakerBot Replicator Z18. It’s a great resource when you want to try to solve issues quickly on your own. makerbot.com/support/new/support At MakerBot, we take pride in offering expert, responsive, friendly customer support to customers around the world.
  • Page 66 MakerBot One MetroTech Center, 21st Floor, Brooklyn, NY makerbot.com...

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