FlashForge Inventor 3D Printer User Guide Pt 3

Chapter 6: About Software This chapter talks about the basic function of FlashPrint. 6.1 Software Installation 6.1.1 Software Acquisition Method 1: To get the installation package from the SD Card in the toolkit. Method 2: Open the link below to download the installation package: http://www.FlashForge.com Support---Downloads---FlashPrint---Choose the Software Version---Download 6.1.2 Software Installation and Start-up 1. Decompress the zipped file or start the installation program, and then install the software according to the direction. 2. Click the software icon to start the software with the start menu shortcut.(See 6-1 6-1 6.2 Exploring FlashPrint 6. 2.1 Machine Type Selection Notice! After starting FlashPrint, you need to select the target machine type first. When you start FlashPrint, a dialog box will pop up. Just need to select FlashForge Inventor in the machine type list and click [OK]. You can also change the machine type via clicking [Print]--[Machine type]. Please see graphic 6-2: 6-2 6.2.2 FlashPrint Menus 6-3 Load files. Enter the support edit mode View FlashPrint home screen from one of six viewing angles. Move model around on XY-plane; shift+click to move along Z axis Turn and rotate your model Scale the size of your object Cut the model into several parts Print it directly with your Inventor or export to your SD card. Select right or left extruder you want to print with. 6.2.3 Loading You can load a model file or Gcode file into your FlashPrint by the following six methods: Method 1: Click the Load icon on the main interface. Then select the object file. Method 2: Select the file for loading and drag the file to the main interface of the software. Method 3: Click [File]--[Load File]. Then select the object file for loading. Method 4: Click [File]--[Examples] to load the example files Method 5: Click [File]--[Recent Files] to load the files opened recently. Method 6: Select and drag the target file to the icon of FlashPrint. Note: 3D models can be stored by .STL, .OBJ, .3MF or .FPP flies and supported by FlashPrint for editing. Generating Rilievo Load a png, jpg, jpeg, bmp picture file into the FlashPrint. And the following dialogue box (6-4) will pop up. The setting box includes settings for shape, mode, maximum thickness, base thickness, bottom thickness, width, height, top diameter and bottom diameter. Shape: including plane, tube, canister and lamp. Mode: including “darker is higher” and “lighter is higher”. Maximum thickness: Z value of the model Base thickness: The minimum raft thickness and the default value is 0.5mm Width: X value of the model Depth: Y value of the model Bottom thickness: To set up bottom thickness for tube, canister, lamp and seal. Top diameter: To set up the top diameter for tube, canister, lamp and seal. Bottom diameter: To set up the bottom diameter for tube, canister, lamp and seal. 6-4 Plane 6-5 Tube 6-6 Canister 6-7 Lamp 6-8 Seal 6-9 6.2.4 Views ① Changing views Change model views by moving, rotating, scaling. ● Drag Click the [View] icon and then you can move the object by the following three methods: Method 1: Hold down the left mouse button and drag. Method 2: Hold down the mouse wheel and scroll up and down. Method 3: Hold down the Shift key, hold down the right mouse button and drag. ● Rotate Click the [View] icon and then you can rotate the object by the following two methods: Method 1. Hold down the right mouse button and drag. Method 2. Hold down the Shift key, hold down the left mouse button and drag. ● Scale Rotate the mouse wheel to enlarge or shrink the build plate. ② Set View Allow users to view the object on the build plate. Six views are under the view menu, that is, bottom view, top view, front view, back view, left view and right view. Method 1: Click the the [View] button, there are six views in the drop- down list Method 2: Click the the [Look] icon on the left, click it again and a submenu will appear with six views for selecting. ③ Reset View Allow users to reset views by the following two methods: Method 1: Click the [View] menu and select [Home View] Method 2: Click the [View] button on the left, click it again and you will see the viewing options, you can click [Reset]. ④ Show Model Outline Click [View]--[Show Model Outline], it will highlight the yellow border of the object ⑤ Show Steep Overhang Click [View]--[Show Steep Overhang]. When the intersection angle between the model surface and horizontal line is within the overhang threshold value, the surface has steep overhang and it becomes red in the software. Overhang threshold value could be set as needed. The default value is 45 degree. 6.2.5 Move Select the object and move the object by the following two methods: Method 1: Click the [Move] icon on the left, hold down the left mouse button and drag to adjust the location of the model in XY direction. Hold down the Shift key, hold down the left mouse button and drag to adjust the location of the model in Z direction. The distance and the direction of the movement shall be displayed. Method 2: Click the [Move] button on the left and then enter the distance value. Click [Reset] to reset distance values. Note: Users shall click [Center] and [On Platform] after the location adjustment to ensure the model(s) be within the build area and on the build platform. If a specified position is needed, only click [On Platform]. 6.2.6 Rotate Select the target object and rotate the object by the following two methods: Method 1: Click the [Rotate] icon on the left and three mutually perpendicular rings appear around the object Click one ring and rotate on the present axis, you will see the rotation angle and direction in the center of circle. In this way, you could make the model rotate on X/Y/Z axis. Method 2: Click the [Rotate] icon on the left, and then enter into rotating angel values in X/Y/Z axes positioning. Click [Reset] to reset rotating angel values. 6.2.7 Scale Select the target object and scale the object by the following two methods: Method 1: Click the [Scale] icon on the left, hold down the left mouse button and scale the model. The corresponding values will display near the object.. Method 2: Click the [Scale] icon on the left and then enter into scale values in X/Y/Z axes positioning. Click the [Maximum] button to get largest size possible for building. Click [Reset] to reset the size of model. Note: If the [Uniform Scaling] radio button is clicked, it will scale the model in equal proportion when changing value in any positioning of the model. Otherwise it will only change the value of the corresponding positioning. 6.2.8 Cut Left-click on the model to select it and double-click on the [Cut] icon to set the cut plane. The direction and position are available for setting. ①Draw with Mouse ②X Plane ③Y Plane ④Z Plane 6.2.9 Extruder (6-10) Choose L/R extruder to print, pitch on the model, click on now you can set extruder . two times, 6-10 6.2.10 Supports After loading the model, click [Edit]--[Supports] or click the Supports icon directly, then you will enter the support edit mode (6-11). Click [Back] to exit when you finish editing. 6-11 ①Support Options Click the Support Options, an option box will appear, supports options include “treelike” and “linear”, when choose “treelike”, click [OK], then the support generated will be treelike structure; when choose “linear”, click [OK], then the support generated will be linear structure; if the model already had support, when you choose one of the supports options, software will judge whether existing supports need to be deleted or not depend on the type of existing support, and will pop up the corresponding prompt to let you make the choice. 6-12 ② Auto Supports Click the [Auto Supports] button, the software will judge the position where supports are needed and generate corresponding treelike or linear supports. If the model already had support, the existing supports will be deleted and new supports will be generated. ③ Add Supports Supports will be added once clicking the [Add] button. Move the cursor to the position where needs supports, left-click to choose the starting point of supports, hold down the left mouse button and drag the mouse the supports preview will show up(if support surface doesn’t need support or the support column angle is too large, will highlight the support review ).Loosen the left mouse button, if support column doesn’t meet with model, then support will be generated on origin and terminal point(the highlighted preview support won’t generate support structure ) ④ Clear Supports Click [Clear Supports], all supports will be deleted. The operation can be repealed via clicking [Undo] or pressing the shortcut key Ctrl+Z. ⑤ Delete Supports Supports will be deleted once clicking the [Delete] button. Move the cursor to the supports needed deleting, current supports and its child node support will be highlighted, click the left mouse button to delete these highlighted support. 6.2.11 Print 6-13 ① Preview: Choose to enter preview interface or not ② Print when slice done: Print or not when slice done ③ Material Right/Left: Choose according to the type of model ④ Supports: When print with model contains part hanging in the air or top-heavy, support is necessary. Click [Supports] to create support part for the printing. ⑤ Raft: This function will help the model to stick well on the platform. ⑥ Wall: During dual color printing, this function will help to clear the leaking filament of another extruder. ⑦ Brim: Expand the outline of model’s bottom layers to a Brim which helps anchor the edges of the model to the plate to avoid warping. ⑧ Resolution ： You have three resolution solution (with default setting)to choose from, high resolution is corresponding with slow printing speed, opposite for the low resolution. For PLA printing, an extra solution “Hyper” is available. ⑨ More options: Click [More options] to set for layer, shell, infill, speed and temperature. Different resolution solution is corresponding to different defaults, click [Restore Defaults] to back to default setting. ●Layer a. Layer: Layer thickness of the printing model. With a small number, the surface of the model will be smoother. b. First Layer Height: This is the first layer of the model, which will affect the sticking performance between the model and platform. Maximum is 0.4mm, usually the default is ok. c. Shell: Contains of the outside shell number, capping layer number (under vase pattern, top solid layer setting is invalid.) ● Perimeter Shells: Maximum is 10 a. Top Solid Layer: Maximum is 30, minimum is 1. b. Bottom Solid Layer: Maximum is 30, minimum is 1. ● Infill a. Fill Density means fill rate. b. Fill Pattern is the pattern of filling shape which effects printing duration. c. Combine Infill: You can select the layers for combining according to the layer thickness. The combined thickness should not exceed 0.4mm. “Every N layers” is for all the infills while “Every N inner layers” is only for inner infills, which generally can save print time. 6-14 ● Speed a. Print Speed is the moving speed of the extruder. Generally, the lower the speed is, the better print you will get. For PLA printing, 80 mm/s is recommended. b. Travel Speed is to control the moving speed of the extruder under non-printing Status during work. for PLA printing, 100 mm/s is recommended. Note: Modify parameters settings to get better prints as different models need different parameters. ● Temperature Right Extruder Temperature: Recommended extruder temperature is 230℃. Note: Different temperatures have subtle influences in prints. Please adjust the temperature according to the condition in order to get a good print. Platform Temperature: To set the temperature of Platform. ● Others Cooling Fan Control: Set up the time to turn on the cooling fan. You can pre-set the height and make the cooling fan begin to work at the point. Pause At Heights: Allows users to preset a height in which the print will suspend automatically. The function usually applied when you want to change the filament at a certain point. 6-15 (6-15) Click[Edit], then you can add or remove a height. 6.2.12 File Menus ① New Project Click [File]--[New Project] can build a blank project. If there is an unsaved modification on previous project, then will inform you whether the modification needs to be saved or not. Click [Yes] will save the modification, click [No] will abandon it. If click [Cancel] or close tool tip, then will cancel the new project. 6-16 ② Saving After finishing the model edit and adjustment, there are two ways below to save all models in the scene. Method 1: Click [File]--[Save Project] in the menu bar, can save the file as a project file which suffix is ”.fpp” in this type of file,all models in the scene (include support) are independent .after reloading the files, extruder configuration information and model position will be same as the configuration during saving.