11-10-2016, 12:59 PM
1458626010-sailfish.pdf (Size: 6.67 MB / Downloads: 7)
Introduction
Sailfish began as enhanced control software for MakerBot printers,
incorporating new features intended for advanced users.
With its numerous features, Sailfish has evolved into the firmware
of choice for users of MakerBot-style printers based upon the
Replicator 1 and 2 series of 3D printers as well as the earlier
Thing-o-Matic and Cupcake lines.
A 3D printer’s firmware is the software which resides within
the printer and controls the printer’s behavior. It is the software
which receives printing instructions from MakerWare, ReplicatorG,
SD card files, and other desktop programs and then executes
them to create your 3D print.
This documentation is intended to help you navigate the
firmware on your printer, from basic setup and navigation of
the LCD screen, to advanced adjustments, updates, and the
particulars of diagnosing Sailfish-specific issues.
Note
Consult the documentation supplied with your printer for
general printing instructions. The Sailfish Reference Manual
only provides detailed information on the use of the Sail-
fish firmware and is not intended to replace your printer’s
documentation.
Suggested starting points in the documentation are:
• Chapter 2, Basic Usage: introductory information for new
3D printer operators.
• Chapter 3, Front Panel Operation: users who are familiar
with 3D printers, but new to Sailfish, can begin here.
• Chapter 6, Installing Sailfish: if you are seeking information
on installing Sailfish, start here.
The Sailfish firmware is open source and builds upon earlier
firmwares such as Gen 4, Grbl, and Marlin. MakerBot’s own
firmware for Replicators incorporates the core of Sailfish. Source
code for Sailfish is available for inspection and download at
Replicators
https://githubjetty840/Sailfish-MightyBoardFirmware
Thing-o-Matics, Cupcakes
https://githubjetty840/Sailfish-G3Firmware
Important information about the compiler and tools required if
you wish to build Sailfish yourself is located in the respective
doc/ directories in the avr-gcc.markdown file.
Basic Usage
This chapter is intended to provide new printer owners with basic
information pertaining to the initial setup of their printer in
order to help them familiarize themselves with their printer and
accomplish a first print. The information here is a supplement
to the documentation which accompanied your printer — the
information specific to your make and model of 3D printer.
2.1 Leveling the Build Plate
The first step towards ensuring the success of a 3D print is making
certain that the build plate — the surface atop which the
3D print is printed — is well “trammed” to the extruder nozzle.
Despite the fact that this process is commonly referred to as
“leveling”, you should not use a level as you are not leveling the
plate to the horizon. In actuality, you are making sure that the
top surface of the build plate is parallel to the plane the extruder
nozzle travels in. While machinists call this “tramming”, in the
world of 3D printing this is called “leveling”.
Important
If your printer features auto-leveling or assisted-leveling,
then consult the directions for your printer to check whether
or not you should manually level the build plate. It is
strongly advised that you follow your printer’s specific directions
for initial setup. Often, printers with these features
arrive already leveled and merely require some printer specific
“first run” checks.
Before beginning:
1. Check your printer’s documentation to determine where the
build plate’s leveling adjustments are. Most printers have
either three or four leveling adjustments.
2. Once the leveling adjustments are identified, determine how
to adjust them to raise and lower the plate. A common
form of adjustment is a threaded stud with thumbnut. If
you are looking down towards the top of the plate, you
then turn the thumbnut clockwise to raise the plate and
counterclockwise to lower the plate.
3. Find a sheet of paper to use as a “feeler gauge”. You will
use this to set a consistently small gap between the tip of
the extruder nozzle and the top of the build plate. Slicers
typically assume this gap to be about 0.1 mm — approximately
the thickness of a sheet of paper. If you have actual
automotive or machinist’s feeler gauges, then use such a
gauge instead.
4. If your build plate requires a surface treatment (such as
tape) which is not already applied, then apply it now before
leveling. Some build plates, such as those provided
CHAPTER 2. BASIC USAGE 6
with ZYYX printers, do not require any treatment. Most
build plates have an aluminum or glass surface that requires
a treatment of Kapton (polyimide) tape for ABS or blue
“painter’s” tape for PLA. Often, these plates come shipped
with tape already applied. Like your filament, the tape is
a “consumable” and will need to be replaced in time. Note
that if your plate requires a treatment but is shipped without
one, then you need to decide with what type of plastic
you will be printing. If you will not be using ABS or PLA,
consult the directions that came with your printer.
To level your build plate for the first time, the procedure is
as follows. Again, note that you should consult the documentation
that accompanied your printer to check for printer-specific
instructions, as the following instructions are generic by necessity:
1. Adjust the leveling points in order to lower your build plate
relative to its support mechanism (e.g., support arms). This
does not mean you should lower the entire assembly down
the Z rods. Rather, compress the springs on which the build
plate rides and tighten the thumbnuts, thereby lowering
the plate itself in relation to the arms and other structures
supporting it. This ensures that there is a significant gap
between the nozzle and the build plate’s surface in order to
reduce the risk of damaging either.
2. Remove any debris from the tips of the extruder nozzles. If
there is a small bead of plastic, it can be broken off with
small tweezers.
3. Turn on the printer.
4. From the main menu (Section 3.2) of your LCD display,
select the “Utilities” menu (Section 3.7) by pressing the
down key twice and then pressing the center key. The keypad
and the LCD screen are normally located close to each
other somewhere on the front of the printer.
5. Within the Utilities menu, press the down key to scroll
downwards until you have selected the “Home Axes” item
(Section 3.7.6). Press the center key to choose the item.
6. Having selected “Home Axes”, the printer will move the
extruders to the back, right corner. Then the printer will
raise the build platform twice, slowly the second time.
7. Once this homing operation is completed, manually slide
the extruder assembly over the build surface, ensuring that
it does not touch the top of the build surface anywhere.
If it does, then continue to lower the build surface using
the leveling adjustments. If the build surface cannot be
lowered further and the extruder is still hitting it, either
the Z endstop1 may need to be lowered or a shim should be
installed, after which Steps 5, 6, and 7 should be repeated.
8. Before beginning leveling, you need to heat up the build
plate if you will be printing with it heated. As some heated
build surfaces expand a small amount or may even “crown”
upwards in the middle a little when heated, the plate must
be leveled in its operational configuration. From the keypad
press the left key to return to the main menu, then scroll up
using the up key and select the Preheat item by pressing the
center key, Section 3.6. Make sure you are not heating the
extruders by scrolling to their lines and pressing the center
key to toggle the value to “OFF”. Likewise, ensure that
the heating platform reads “ON” before scrolling up to the
first line and pressing the center key to begin preheating.
A monitor screen will appear, similar to the one shown
in Figure 2.1. Wait until the platform reaches its target
temperature, which is usually 100° C for ABS or 50° C for
PLA; the temperatures are displayed in the form current
temperature/target temperature in degrees Celsius. Once
the platform is fully heated, press the left key to return to
the main menu.