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Bfb RapMan 3.2 Operation Manual

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  • Page 1 Page 1...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    1. RapMan 3.2 Operations Manual ........

  • Page 3: Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual RapMan 3.2 Operations Manual Welcome to the RapMan 3 Operations Manual. This manual is designed to get you up and running as quickly as possible. It can be read either on-line or off-line (see below). Requirements To complete the exercises in this manual the user will a fully assembled RapMan.
  • Page 4 Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual If you have a slow internet connection, it is possible to select individual sections of the manual to export, making it possile to download small sections at a time. Simply tick the boxes next to the sections you need.

  • Page 5: Introduction

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual 1. Introduction Before first use, the RapMan needs careful setting up. The list below illustrates some of the essential operations which must be carried out before operation: It's very important to [check your firmware version] , especially if you have a multi-head unit.

  • Page 6: How This Manual Works

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual 2. How this manual works This manual leads you through the essential pre-print operations towards your first actual 3D print. Page 6...

  • Page 7: Manual Symbols

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual 3. Manual symbols CAUTION: notes to prevent damage to the machine. DANGER: notes to prevent injury to the operator. Page 7...

  • Page 8: Process Overview

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual 4. Process overview... how the RapMan 3 works This section briefly introduces how the RapMan prints. A print file from Axon (the Bits from Bytes print processing software) is transferred to the printer using a USB memory stick. To complete...

  • Page 9: Print Material

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual 5. Print material We support two print materials: PLA and ABS. Both have different properties and can be used in different build/support combinations. Typically, PLA performs well as a build material with an ABS raft, and (if needed) ABS support.

  • Page 10: Pre-Print Checks

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual 6. Pre-print checks It is essential that all pre-print checks are carried out before starting a print. This section of the manual guides the user through these checks: a. Clearing the print bed b. Check the print bed is fitted correctly c.

  • Page 11: Clearing The Print Bed

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual a. Clearing the print bed It is essential to clean the print bed before printing. This makes sure that the first printed layer makes a good contact with the bed. Remove existing prints from the print bed Remove any previous prints with the model removal tool.
  • Page 12 Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual Page 12...

  • Page 13: Check The Print Bed Is Fitted Correctly

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual b. Check the print bed is fitted correctly Ensure that bed is correctly fitted to the printer. The four clamping bolts should sit comfortably at the end of the corner slots. If not, remove the bed, then refit it - as shown in the next two sections.

  • Page 14: Power Up

    Ensure the power cable is attached, and that power is being supplied to the printer. To start the printer, press and hold the function button for 2 seconds. This will boot the printer, activating the boot screen (the BFB logo). Touch the screen to show the home menu.

  • Page 15: Test All Axes

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual d. Test all axes It is important to check that the print head can move freely in all 3 axes: X, Y and Z. First power up the printer, then use the manual move function to...
  • Page 16 Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual Page 16...

  • Page 17: Check The Hot-End Nozzles Are Clean From Plastic Debris

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual e. Check the hot-end nozzles are clean from plastic debris Ensure that the metal nozzle tips are clean from any plastic debris. All tips should be clearly visible. If not: Lower the bed to make access to the nozzles easy.

  • Page 18: Check The Print Bed Is Level

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual f. Check the print bed is level To get a good print, the bed must be level. The print bed is mounted on three sprung bolts which allow adjustment of the bed height in three places.
  • Page 19 Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual It may take several movements of the extruder, and consequent bolt adjustments to ensure that the bed is level. Ensure that axes are checked from the appropriate side of the machine (to better judge flatness): Use the Up and Down arrows to reduce the gap between the hot end and bed to approximately 2 mm. This will enable finer levelling.

  • Page 20: Check The Bed Is Referenced To The Extruder Nozzles

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual g. Check the bed is referenced to the extruder nozzles After levelling the bed, the nozzles must be set to the correct height, to ensure that the first printed layer sticks properly (if the nozzle is too high the filament will not stick to the bed, if the nozzle is too low the bed may block the nozzle).

  • Page 21: Load The Extruders

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual h. Load the extruders NOTE: If you have a double head RapMan, and this is your first setup you will need to calibrate the heads which requires PLA in both heads, so follow the steps below but using PLA in both heads until you have completed the head calibration.
  • Page 22 Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual After positioning the reels, feed the filaments through the appropriate holes along the conduit, making sure the filaments exit the tubes at the correct extruders: c. Setting the extruder pressure bearings to refine the spring compression on the pressure bearing (nominally 12mm).

  • Page 23: Extruder Control

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual i. Extruder control Make sure all extruders are loaded. Use 'Manual move' (see d. Test all axes ) to move the extruders to the centre of the machine, and lower the bed. This makes it easy to clean any purged material.

  • Page 24: Purge The Extruder

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual j. Purge the extruder Ensure filaments are loaded into the extruders, as defined in the h. Load the extruders Make sure the springs on the extruder pressure bearings are compressed (as detailed in c. Setting the extruder pressure bearings ) enough to push the filament into the teeth of the drive shaft.

  • Page 25: How To Start A Print

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual k. How to start a print Before starting any print, make sure that the all pre-print checks have been completed. The following sections will ask you to run two test files: a raft check file, and a duck. When asked to print a file you will need to follow the procedure below: Insert the memory stick into the USB slot.

  • Page 26: Double Head Calibration

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual l. Double head calibration You only need to read this section if you have a double head RapMan. If you have a double head RapMan, and this is your first setup you will need to calibrate the heads. Once this is complete you will not need to calibrate the heads again.

  • Page 27: Print A Successful Raft

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual m. Print a successful raft It is essential that a good raft is printed to guarantee a good build. Therefore the height of the hot-end nozzle over the bed for the first layer is critical: If the nozzle is too far away from the bed, the filament will not stick to the bed If the nozzle is too low it will not be able to extruder the filament, and there is a risk of damage to the bed and the nozzle.
  • Page 28 Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual Potential problems If the raft pad appears damaged, match the imperfection to the two scenarios below, and follow the corrective action suggested. Note that there may be some imperfections in the raft, but that the process is very forgiving and even the images shown below will generally not spoil a full print.

  • Page 29: Print The First Model

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual 7. Print the first model To get your RapMan printer up and running as quickly as possible, we have included a duck in the test print files (if you have not already downloaded the zip file, you can do so by clicking the link below).

  • Page 30: Essential Post-Print Operations

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual 8. Essential post-print operations After a print you must remove the printed model using the model removal tool. a. Print removal and post-processing Page 30...

  • Page 31: Print Removal And Post-Processing

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual a. Print removal and post-processing This section covers the following post-processing questions: How do I get the finished part off the print bed? I can't get the finished part off the bed The part has left marks on the bed, what can I do about it?
  • Page 32 Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual If a part is very difficult to remove, persist with the scraper. Tough removal is because the nozzle was referenced at an incorrect height to the nozzle - i.e. it was too low when it started printing the first layer. Refer to the manual to ensure that the nozzle is correctly referenced before the next print.

  • Page 33: Further Operations

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual 9. Further operations This section includes further operations and maintenance procedures: a. Power down b. Reloading the extruders c. Setting the extruder pressure bearings d. Control panel functions e. Upgrading your printer firmware f. Handling a ground-out filament...

  • Page 34: Power Down

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual a. Power down To turn off, hold the function button for 2 seconds when the main menu is showing. Page 34...

  • Page 35: Reloading The Extruders

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual b. Reloading the extruders Load the extruders for all references: Remove pressure bearing. Heat up the nozzle to extrusion temperature (see Extruder control). Pull remaining filament out of extruder using pliers. After removing the remaining filament, follow the instructions inthe "Load the extruders" section to load a new filament.

  • Page 36: Setting The Extruder Pressure Bearings

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual c. Setting the extruder pressure bearings The pressure bearing pushes the filament into the extruder drive shaft. In turn, the drive shaft pushes the filament through the hot-end. The pressure bearing setting is critical to the extrusion process during a print. It is essential to test this setting when first using the printer.
  • Page 37 Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual Page 37...

  • Page 38: Control Panel Functions

    Start a print Extruder mapping The extruder remapping menu allows users to reassign extruders between the .BFB file and the physical printer. This makes it possible to switch materials after compiling the .BFB file without having to physically change the materials over.

  • Page 39: Level Bed

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual Make sure the bed is in position before homing the tool head. The bed contains a sensor necessary for homing. Without the sensor, the machine will drive the bed frame into the waste disposal stand-offs. Repeated collisions will damage the machine.
  • Page 40 Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual Incorrect general settings will severely affect the print quality. Do not change any general settings without fully understanding each setting first. The following two sections for explain the general settings: Ignore G92 The "ignore G92" setting is required because of the previous method of managing extruder offsets which involves using the Gcode G92 command.

  • Page 41: Upgrading Your Printer Firmware

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual e. Upgrading your printer firmware Upgrading your printer firmware will improve the print and operational performance for your printer. Click here for free firmware upgrades. Alternatively please go to: www.bitsfrombytes.com > Support > Technical Resources > Downloads.

  • Page 42: Handling A Ground-Out Filament

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual f. Handling a ground-out filament If a pressure bearing is poorly assembled, or the nozzle suffers from a blockage (e.g. printing too close to the bed), the back of the filament may be ground out by the extruder drive shaft. The drive shaft will then be unable to push the filament down into the nozzle, preventing the extruder from extruding.

  • Page 43: Print Your Own Models

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual 10. Print your own models Now your printer is set up, you will need to return to our Technical Resources website by clicking the logo at the top of the screen (or visit www.bitsfrombytes.com -> Support -> Technical Resources) to:...

  • Page 44: Troubleshooting

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual 11. Troubleshooting Please make sure that all steps in this manual have been followed, and the user is aware of all content in Further operations Click here for troubleshooting guides. Alternatively please go to: www.bitsfrombytes.com > Support > Technical Resources > Troubleshoot...

  • Page 45: Specifications

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual 12. Specifications Please visit our website at http://www.bitsfrombytes.com to view specification sheets on the RapMan. Page 45...

  • Page 46: Appendix

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual 13. Appendix Manual version Version Description Date 1.0.0 Original release 23/11/2011 Page 46...

  • Page 47: Home

    Rapman 3.2 Operations Manual Home Error formatting macro: redirect: java.lang.NullPointerException Page 47...

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