Tutorial – Page 2 – ITP/IMA Shop

Helix Mini Tutorial

Download the Helix Mini Illustrator template

Download and open the “Helix Mini Template”. This template is set up for the Helix mini.
- Artboard is set to the extent of the cutting bed.
- Color space is set to RGB.
- The color palette has laser-compatible color swatches.
- Either copy and paste your artwork onto the template or create your artwork directly in the template.
- Place all artwork starting at the upper left corner of the artboard, this is the origin position for the laser cutter.
- Save your document as a unique descriptive name.

2

Check the following attributes for each object on the artboard.

A. Color-should be an RGB swatch included on the template.

B. Stoke Weight-should be 0.01 pt

C. Variable Width Profile-should be Uniform

D. Brush Definition-should be Basic

E. Opacity-should be 100%

To check the attributes select all objects on the artboard and check the corresponding field at the top of the document.

3

Once all objects have been checked proceed to the print dialogue.

Navigate to the print dialogue box clicking File>Print.

4

Once the print dialogue box appears click “Setup” in the lower left of the box.

5

Inside the Setup dialogue Box click preferences located on the right side of the box.

6

In the Printing Preferences dialogue box, check the box to the left of “Auto Focus”.

7

Check the radio button to the left of “Combined”.

8

In the “Piece Size (inches) box set “Horizontal” to 24 and “Vertical” to 12.

9

In the “Raster Settings” box adjust “Speed” and “Power” and make sure “Engrave Direction” is set to “Bottom-Up”.

Note: Please use the settings listed on the material list. The list can be found on the wall next to the laser cutter as well as on the shop website under resources.

10

In the “Vector Settings” box adjust “Speed”, “Power”, and “Freq”.

Make sure “Vector Sorting” is checked and the drop-down menu next to it says “Optimize”.

11

Click “OK” at the bottom of the Printing Preferences dialogue box to save your changes.

12

Click “Print” in the Setup dialogue box.

13

Click “Done” in the Print dialogue box.

Note: Step 13 is a very important step, clicking “Done” will save all of the printing preferences to illustrator.

14

Once all objects have been checked, proceed to the print dialogue.

Navigate to the print dialogue box clicking File>Print.

15

Once the print dialogue box appears check that the “Document” and “Media” dimensions have changed to “24 in x 12 in”, then click “Print” in the lower right of the box.

The next steps will be on the laser cutter.

16

Place your material in the upper left-hand corner of the laser cutter bed.

Turn on the laser cutter.
Turn on the air compressor to the right of the laser cutter.
Turn on the BOFA filter under the laser cutter.
Close laser cutter lid.

17

Make sure your file name is displayed on the screen.

If your file name does not appear in the window using the up and down arrow keys to navigate to your file.

18

Press the green start button to begin your job.

Never leave the laser while a job is being run.

Wait one minute after the job finishes to allow fumes to dissipate.

Shut off the machine power, air compressor, and BOFA filter when finished.

Epilog Fusion Pro Tutorial

Download the Epilog Fusion Pro Illustrator template

1

Download and open the “Epilog Fusion Pro Template”. This template is set up for the Epilog Pro.

Artboard is set to the extent of the cutting bed.

Color space is set to RGB.

The color palette has laser-compatible color swatches.

Either copy and paste your artwork onto the template or create your artwork directly in the template.

Place all artwork starting at the upper left corner of the artboard, this is the origin position for the laser cutter.

Save your document as a unique descriptive name.

2

Check the following attributes for each object on the artboard.

A. Color-should be an RGB swatch included on the template.

B. Stoke Weight-should be 0.01 pt

C. Variable Width Profile-should be Uniform

D. Brush Definition-should be Basic

E. Opacity-should be 100%

To check the attributes select all objects on the artboard and check the corresponding field at the top of the document.

3

Once all objects have been checked proceed to the print dialogue.

Navigate to the print dialogue box clicking File>Print.

4

Once the print dialogue box appears click “Setup” in the lower left of the box.

Continue instructions in “Epilog Dashboard”

5

Open “Epilog Dashboard” from the taskbar at the bottom of the screen.

In the main preview window, using the mouse wheel, scroll out till you see your artwork.

Select your artwork by clicking on it and dragging it to the upper left of the image of the laser bed.

Note: Placing your material on the laser bed makes it easier to see you artwork once it is over the image in the preview window.

6

On the right side of the preview window in the settings box.

7

Make sure “Auto Focus” is set to “Plunger” by clicking the box to the right and selecting “Plunger”.

8

Set “Process Type” to “Vector”.

9

Set “Power”, “Speed”, and “Frequency”

Note: Please use the settings listed on the material list. The list can be found on the wall next to the laser cutter as well as on the shop website under resources.

10

“Beziers” should be set to “On”,

“Vector Sorting” should be set to “Optimize”, and “Cycles” should be set to “1”.

11

Click “Print” at bottom of the “Epilog Dashboard” to send the file to the laser cutter.

The next steps will be on the printer.

12

Your file name should appear on the screen of the laser cutter, the most recent file will be listed at the top of the list.

13

Tap the file you want to cut, it will turn blue to indicate it has been selected.

14

Press the Play/Pause button illuminated with a blue circle.

15

Once the Play/Pause button is pressed the illumination will turn green indicating the job has been started.

The screen also shows the progress of the job including elapsed time and what part of the process has been completed.

After the job is finished please wait 1 minute for the fumes to dissipate before removing your material.

Ultimaker S3 Cura Tutorial (unsupported)

Download this tutoral in PDF format

Note: This tutorial is for unsupported prints, if your print need support, use the tutorial for supported prints. Read more about supported vs. unsupported print here.

1

Open Cura, this is what the default screen should look like.

2

Choose the printer you want to create a print file for using the drop-down menu.

3

Select Ultimaker S3.

4

Check to make sure the materials in Cura match the printer you want to use. If you are printing WITHOUT supports and your material settings do not match the printer please proceed to step 5. If your material settings match please proceed to step 11.

Note: All Ultimaker S3’s on the floor has two material extruders, there are two configurations for our machines. Please make sure you are using a machine that matches your needs. If you are printing WITHOUT support make sure the machine you are using has PLA in both extruder positions. See the example at the top. If you are printing WITH support position 1 should be PLA and position 2 should be PVA. For detailed instructions see our Printing With Support Guide (link).

5

Click the drop-down menu arrow in the material selection window.

6

Select material spool 1 by clicking the tab with the circled “1” icon on it.

7

To the right of “material” use the drop-down menus to navigate to “Black Tough PLA”.

Material > Ultimaker > Tough PLA > Black Tough PLA

8

Repeat this same process for material slot 2.

Select material spool 2 by clicking the tab with the circled “2” icon on it.

9

To the right of “material” use the drop-down menus to navigate to “Black Tough PLA”.

Material > Ultimaker > Tough PLA > Black Tough PLA

10

Once your Cura looks like the example at right you are ready to import your file.

Files MUST be saved as an .STL

Drag and drop the file into cura or use the file menu option to select your file.

Multiple files can be printed at the same time.

11

After the file has loaded you will see it on the build plate in Cura.

12

Adjust the position of the object if needed.

Note: Taller objects should be placed at the rear of the build plate, this will reduce the time the print takes.

13

Optional. Adjust scale if needed.

Note: Dimensions of the object should be set before the .STL is exported from the CAD/Modeling software. This ensures that the part is the right size and multiple parts will fit together.

14

Rotate part to place flat surface on the build plate. When printing WITHOUT support is imperative that the part have a flat surface AND has no overhanging features.

Use the first icon in the menu to reset the rotation
Use the second icon in the menu to “Lay Part Flat”
Use the third icon in the menu to chose a face to position on the build plate.

15

Optional. This button will mirror your part.

Note: It is better to mirror your part in the CAD/Modeling software.

16

Choose the color of the material for printing your part

17

The print settings are located on the right-hand side of Cura.

Click the drop-down arrow to adjust the settings as needed.

Note: Most files will print well with the default settings of Fine – 0.01 mm 20% fill.

18

Set the slice height using the radio buttons to the right of “Default”.

Note: Slice height will have major effects on your print.

For a prototype choose 0.2
For a final with small details choose 0.06
For a final with no details choose 0.1 or 0.15

Slice height, also referred to as Layer Height, makes a big difference in how long your print will take. For example, 0.1 will take TWICE as long to print as 0.2 For information regarding the other profiles please see our guide to Advanced Printing (link).

19

Set infill to 20% for most prints.

Note: If your print needs to be a functioning structural part up to a 90% infill can be used, HOWEVER, this will dramatically increase the time your print will take, up to 15x depending on the size of the part. For information regarding Gradual Infill please see our guide to “Advanced Printing”.

20

Printing with supports is covered in our “Guide to Printing With Supports” (link).

21

Always leave the Adhesion box checked.

22

To slice your file click the blue button “Slice”.

23

Once the file is sliced the estimated time and amount of material will be displayed.

Note: Please record the time your print is estimated to take this will be needed when making reservations for printing.

24

Click the preview button in the estimation box.

25

Using the slider on the right-hand side of the screen, scroll through the layers of the print checking to make sure that all parts of the print touch the build plate.

Note: If not all parts are touching the build plate please see “Guide to Printing With Supports”.

26

Save your Ultimaker Print File to a flash drive.

The next steps will be on the printer.

27

Insert your flash drive and wait for the system to load the file structure.

28

Tap “Select from USB”.

29

Navigate to your file and tap it to select.

30

Tap “Start Print” to begin the printing process.

Note: If there are any “conflicts” visible on this screen, the settings of the file do not match the settings of the printer. Please compare the settings on the printer with the settings in Cura and re-export your file.

Ultimaker S3 Cura Tutorial (supported)

Note: This tutorial is for supported prints, if your print does not need support, use the tutorial for unsupported prints. Read more about supported vs. unsupported print here.

1

Open Cura, this is what the default screen should look like.

2

Choose the printer you want to create a print file for using the drop-down menu.

3

Select Ultimaker S3.

4

Check to make sure the materials in Cura match the printer you want to use. If you are printing WITH supports and your material settings do not match the printer please proceed to step 5.

If your material settings match please proceed to step 11.

Note: all Ultimaker S3’s on the floor has two material extruders, there are two configurations for our machines. Please make sure you are using a machine that matches your needs. If you are printing WITHOUT support make sure the machine you are using has PLA in both extruder positions. See the example in the photo above. If you are printing WITH support position 1 should be PLA and position 2 should be PVA.

5

Click the drop down menu arrow in the material selection window.

6

Select material spool 1 by clicking the tab with the circled “1” icon on it.

7

To the right of “material” use the drop-down menus to navigate to “Black Tough PLA”.

Material > Ultimaker > Tough PLA > Black Tough PLA

8

Repeat this same process for material slot 2. Select material spool 2 by clicking the tab with the circled “2” icon on it.

9

To the right of “material” use the drop-down menus to navigate to “Natural PVA”.

Material > Ultimaker > PVA > Natural PVA

10

The extruder type needs to be changed for PVA as well. To the right of “ Print Core” use the drop-down menu to navigate to “BB 0.4”.

11

Once your Cura looks like the example at right you are ready to import your file.

Files MUST be saved as an .STL

Drag and drop the file into cura or use the file menu option to select your file.

Multiple files can be printed at the same time.

12

Choose the printer you want to create a print file for using the drop-down menu.

13

Adjust the position of the object if needed.

Note: Taller objects should be placed at the rear of the build plate, this will reduce the time the print takes.

14

Optional. Adjust scale if needed.

Note: Dimensions of the object should be set before the .STL is exported from the CAD/Modeling software. This ensures that the part is the right size and multiple parts will fit together.

15

Rotate part to the desired orientation, since this print will have supports choose the orientation that makes the most sense for the object.

Use the first icon in the menu to reset the rotation
Use the second icon in the menu to “Lay Part Flat”
Use the third icon in the menu to chose a face to position on the build plate.

16

Optional. This button will mirror your part.

Note: It is better to mirror you part in the CAD/Modeling software.

17

Choose material spool (Circled “1” Icon), so the part will be printed in Tough PLA.

18

The print settings are located on the right-hand side of Cura.

Click the drop-down arrow to adjust the settings as needed.

Note: Most files will print well with the default settings of Fine – 0.01 mm 20% fill.

19

Set the slice height using the radio buttons to the right of “Default”.

Note: Slice height will have major effects on your print.

For a prototype choose 0.2
For a final with small details choose 0.06
For a final with no details choose 0.1 or 0.15

20

Set infill to 20% for most prints.

21

Check the box to the right of “Support”. Choose “Extruder 2”, this should match the material window at the top of the screen.

22

Always leave the Adhesion box checked.

23

To slice your file click the blue button “Slice”.

24

Once the file is sliced the estimated time and amount of material will be displayed.

Note: Please record the time your print is estimated to take this will be needed when making reservations for printing.

25

Click the preview button in the estimation box.

26

Using the slider on the right-hand side of the screen, scroll through the layers of the print checking to make sure that all parts of the print touch the build plate or are supported. Supports are shown in CYAN.