First print

Video tutorials are available as well as a step-by-step guide below on how to slice a print as well as tips and tricks.

1. Prusa Slicer

Step 1:

Before continuing this guide please download Prusa Slicer

Prusa Slicer

Step 2:

Add the Prusa XL 0.4mm Nozzle printer (Check with a staff member to double check the nozzle size)

On the printer drop-down, go to add/remove printers

Then navigate to "Prusa Research" -> "Original Prusa XL - 5T Input Shaper" -> Select the correct nozzles -> Finish

Step 3:

Sign into Prusa Connect on the top right of the slicer. You might need access to the specific workgroup, so ask a staff member to help you get access

2. Find a Print File (If you don't have one already)

Step 1:

The act of making 3D models is much more time intensive than finding already made 3D models off of the internet to 3D print

One of the best websites to find these models for free is Thingiverse as well as Printables.

Step 2:

Choose your file!

Search for something that you may be interested in or think looks cool and download the .stl file

If this is your first print ever, I advise picking something that is only one piece and is not too large
Try to find a file that does not have supports so that you will not have to remove anything afterwards

I chose this Elephant Phone Stand

Step 3:

Once you have selected your part, scroll down to click on Thing files

The file type you typically want to download for 3D printing is a .stl file

From here I will select the blue Download button to download the file

3. Upload Your File

Step 1:

Make sure you have the new "Original Prusa XL - 5T Input Shaper" selected under printers

These printers have a 360 x 360 x 360 print volume, and have 5 different colors you can print off of (and in the same print!)

1: Orange

2: Purple

3: Blue

4: Red

5: Yellow

Also, make sure that the correct filament is selected, currently all of my extruders are selected for PETG, but each one can be changed and be different fillaments

Step 2:

Add files by clicking the +box on the top left

4. Layout

Step 1:

The slicer automatically sets the print on the bed, but you need to make sure that it fits inside the bed volume

If you don't see as many tools as I do in the photo, go to the top right and change it from beginner mode to expert mode

Step 2:

In this view, you can manipulate the location, orientation, size, and more for your part.

Tip: You can rotate the view by clicking and dragging anywhere (other than the part)

Step 3:

If you want to print multiple files in one print, click the +box button on the top right again to add more files

If you want to rotate the piece, click the rotate button

If you want to place a face on the bed, press the "Place on Face" button and select one of the highlighted faces

There are plently other options that you can select, but these are typically the main ones

5. Slice Your File

Once you have your 3D model to your liking and you are ready to print, you have to convert that into instructions that the printer can follow.

But first! Step 1: Supports

IMPORTANT: You must determine if your model needs support! If the 3D model has overhangs greater than a 45 degree angle then you will need to add supports. (See example)

If you are unsure, check out the Changing Slicer Settings page to learn more. If after that you are still unsure, please ask a staff member.

Click the supports dropdown, and select Supports on build plate only

Then make sure the infill, is to your liking, you can check the Changing Slicing Settings In 3DPrinterOS to learn about infill and many other settings for the print

Then select Brim if the piece needs a brim, it is usually safe to select it, but if you are unsure, ask a staff member

Click the Slice Now button in the bottom right of the screen

The print should now look like this:

Stacking two filamnets on top of each other (or more) Step 1:

Before you slice the piece, if you want to print the bottom in one filament, but the top in a different filament, use the cut tool

position the plane (which is where it's going to cut) where you want it by moving the gray ball, or even rotate it but grabbing and moving the red or green arrows

Step 2:

Once you have it in the place you wish to cut it in half, make sure you have Parts selected, then click Perform Cut

Step 3:

The piece should now look like this:

Now you can select each half and change what extruder it will come from

Make sure the filament matches what fillament you are using, so since I have the bottom set to extruder 5, and the top to extruder 4, and lets say I want to use PETG for the bottom and TPU for the top, I will change the extruder 4 to Generic PETG and extruder 5 to Generic FLEX

You can do this process as many times as you want, and can do even more layers using even more extruders!

Now Slice!

Changing Fillament:

To change filament, first navigate to Filament on the UI, and select Change Filament if there is a filament loaded already, if it is empty, then select Load Filament and select which tool head (extruder) you wish to change

Once it heats up, it will prompt you to remove the previous filament (you can skip this step if you selected Load Filament)

Once you unload the filament, load your filament into the correct tube, they are labeled on the side

Depending on if you selected Change or Load filament, this step might be out of order, but the printed will prompt you to select what type of filament you are loading, I am loading PETG, so I will select PETG

It will ask you to press Continue and then push the filament into the extruder

It might need to heat up. But once it starts extruding, you can see the filament start to come out

It will then prompt you to select if the color is correct, if the color that it is extruding the same that you loaded, then click yes, if not (and if it is not extruding) select purge more.

If filament is still not extruding, then please ask a staff member

If everything went smoothly then you have changed out filament succesfully!

Cleaning the Bed:

Before every print, make sure to clean the bed with isopropyl alcohol

Take some of the paper towels, and push down on the bottle to dispense

Wipe down the entire bed to ensure it is clean

Printing:

In Prusa Slicer, make sure it is sliced correctly, and select Send to Connect

First make sure you have access to the right workgroup, ask a staff member to help with this. Then select which printer you wish to print on. Ask a staff member if you are unsure which is which

IMPORTANT

once your print is picked up, either check with staff or set the printer to set ready by navigating to control on the UI and selecting set ready

Congratulations!! You just sent your first 3D print! Please don't remove prints, staff will take care of that. You can pick up your print in the finished prints box or from the cashier.

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