LulzBot AO-100 3D Printer
 | This tool is currently broken, please contact the area host for more information. |
 | |
| Owner/Loaner | PS:One |
|---|---|
| Make/Model | Aleph Objects AO-100 |
| Arrival Date | January 2013 |
| Usability | WORKING |
| Contact | Aeva Palecek |
| Where | 2nd Floor |
| Authorization Needed | yes |
| Hackable | no |
| Estimated Value | $1725 |
| Host Area | {{{hostarea}}} |
Operation
Do not leave the printer unattended while printing Also, don't forget to turn the printer off when you are no longer using it.
Windows Drivers
Windows users will need to install drivers. For everyone else, It Just Works™. Where everyone = Linux and OSX users.
Host Software
Users of Linux, Windows, OSX will need to install the following software:
- Pronterface - for manual operation of the printer as well as for starting print jobs
- Slic3r - for creating print jobs from 3D models
- Additionally, Lulzbot provides a slic3r config file for the AO-100.
Suggested Settings
Lulzbot's slic3r config has the infill density set at 0.75. Resulting prints are very sturdy as a result, but the filament consumption and print time go up because of this. It is recommended to turn it down to 0.15 or 0.25, and to increase the number of infill shells. Doing so should have a similar surface quality, but produce a print with significantly less mass.
Other Resources
The manual is available online. A printed form of it can be found near the printer. The manual explains how to operate the printer. Read it =)
Filament
The printer is currently configured for 3mm ABS plastic. Only use this kind of plastic. Until Aeva has a chance to upgrade the extruder, PLA can damage the hot end. Additionally, the Makerbot is not configured for 3mm ABS, and so the filament for these respective printers is currently not interchangeable.
Find Something to Print
Thingiverse is a great place to find printable 3D models that other people have designed, and to publish your own.
Designing 3D Models
3D models for printing should be saved in the STL format (binary or ascii). Your model should be "watertight" (the mesh has a mathematically determinable interior), correct normals, and a manifold topology. Shapeways has a nice tutorial explaining this.
All software suggestions in this section are open source, and are available for free.
- For individuals new to 3D modeling software, Blender is a good tool for designing models for 3D printing, as well as for debugging fussy models (Blender can highlight the parts of a model which make it non-manifold). Blender recently had a total overhaul of its codebase and user interface, and has become quite user friendly. Additionally, the Blender foundation produces and sells video tutorials. The video tutorials are distributed on dvd data disks, but are creative commons licensed, and so you may legally download them for free online. The videos are created by artists, and cover a wide array of topics from basic usage of the program, modeling techniques, and the more advanced capabilities of Blender.
- Meshlab is an open source tool for repairing 3D models.
- FreeCad is a general purpose feature-based, parametric 3D modeler for CAD, MCAD, CAx, CAE and PLM, aimed directly at mechanical engineering and product design but also fits a wider range of uses in engineering, such as architecture or other engineering specialties.
- OpenSCAD is a different take to 3D modeling. OpenSCAD is a programming language that generates parametric 3D models.
List of Currently Certified Users
| qualified member | trained by |
|---|---|
| Lyn Cole | Colin Parsons |
| Arkadiusz Czubak | Colin Parsons |
| Michael Skilton | Steve Finkelman |