| 1 | Flip the red power switch to the on position |
| 2 | Wait for the screen to read 'LulzBot TAZ 6 ready.' |
Unload the previous user's filament to select your own color/type. You can skip this section if you don't want to change the filament.
| 1 | Preheat the extruder: Press the black knob, select 'Temperature,' then 'Nozzle,' then use the knob to scroll to 205. Press the black knob again to select, then return to the main menu. |
| 2 | Once the extruder reaches the correct temperature, press the black knob to open the menu again, then scroll down to 'Change Filament' and click to select. |
| 3 | The printer will reverse the filament to push it out of the printhead. |
| 4 | Open latch by pushing up on idler screws (round knobs) to open filament feed hole. Then finish pulling out filament from extruder and reroll onto the spool above the machine. |
Now, load the filament you want to use.
| 1 | Make your filament selection from what is available |
| 2 | Clip off the melted end of filament using wire clippers. This helps to prevent the filament from jamming the extruder. |
| 3 | Place the spool of filament on the spool reel above the printer with the filament feeding counterclockwise. |
| 4 |
Follow prompts on printer screen to preheat nozzle, if the temperature has fallen below 205°. |
| 5 |
Open latch if not already open: pull upward on idler screws and release. |
| 6 |
Insert end of filament into extruder, then click the black knob to continue. Slowly push filament through extruder. When filament has gone through, it will begin to leak from the nozzle. |
| 8 |
Once the filament extrudes the correct color out of the nozzle, close the latch by raising the idler and sliding the two idler bolts and plate back into place to lock the filament. |
Bed leveling does not need to be done before every print. If the print before yours was successful, the bed probably does not need to be leveled. Ask library staff if you are unsure about bed leveling.
| 1 | Slide a piece of paper underneath the nozzle, adjust the Z axis end stop and home the Z axis until the tip of the nozzle applies firm pressure on the paper. You should be able to slowly pull the sheet of paper with only slight resistance. |
| 2 | Move the nozzle tip to the far right side of the X axis by using the +X 100 button. As X-axis carriage approaches the end of the Y-axis, use the +X 10 button and the +X1 button until the tip of the nozzle is near the front right corner of the bed. |
| 3 | Slide the same piece of paper under the nozzle and home the Z axis. Adjust the bed corner’s bed leveling screws so that the tension felt when moving the paper under the nozzle matches the tension felt previously. To raise or lower the front right corner of the bed, adjust only the screw with the spring. Turn the screw clockwise to lower the bed, decreasing the tension felt when moving the paper. Turn the screw counterclockwise (raising the corner) to increase the tension felt when moving the paper under the nozzle. Once adjusted, press the +Z 10 button to raise the Z axis. |
| 4 | Repeat the same process, first raising the Z axis, then using the +Y button to move the heated bed to place the nozzle on the rear right corner of the bed. Adjust the height of the bed using the same procedure as outlined above. Finally, raise the Z axis and move the X axis carriage over to the rear left corner of the bed and perform the same leveling procedure to adjust the last corner. |
Successful first layer
Build plate too close to nozzle
Build plate too far from nozzleThese instructions are specific to the Cura Lulzbot Edition (version 3.6.20).
| 1 | Open Cura Lulzbot Edition. |
| 2 | Change 'Material' to Polylite PLA (Polymaker). |
| 3 | Go to File > Open File, then choose your model file. You can also drag your file into Cura. (For more information on finding models, see 3D Printing Resources). |
| 4 | Select your object by clicking on it |
| 5 | Use right mouse button to rotate, use scroll button to move plate |
| 6 |
Adjust model using tools on the right:
|
| 7 | To change basic settings for your print, such as infill, turning on or off supports, and selecting your mode of build plate adhesion, use the sidebar menu on the right. (For info on supports and adhesion, see Print Settings). For more options, change the Print Setup to 'Custom' and open the dropdown menus to modify settings as needed. You can view more information about print settings in section 6, below. |
| 8 | To view the result of the settings, use the dropdown menu in the top righthand corner to change the view from 'Solid View' (default) to either 'X-ray View' or 'Layer View.' |
| 9 | Take note of your print time and file size on the bottom righthand corner of the screen. |
| 10 | When satisfied with settings, insert SD card into the workstation computer and click 'Save to File.' Save your file to the SD card (E drive). |
| 11 | Eject SD card and load it into the Lulzbot. Continue to Printing section of guide |
Remember that 3D printing is itself a kind of experiment. Choose options that you think will work best for your model.
Common elements to adjust in your object include: layer thickness, infill density, shell thickness, raft and supports.
| 1 | Once the SD card has been plugged into the Lulzbot, you are ready to print. Click the black knob to open the menu. |
| 2 | Scroll down to 'Print from SD,' then scroll to your file and click the black knob again to select it. |
| 3 | The printer will check the build plate leveling and preheat the bed and the extruder. You should wait with the printer for a few minutes to make sure your print starts successfully. |
After your print has finished, you need to wait for the part to cool down. Your parts will be easier to remove if you allow your heated bed to cool down to optimal temperature. This will allow the plastic to contract, making it easier to remove. When the bed has cooled, it will move forward and the extruder will move back, making it easier to access your print.
Once your heated bed has cooled, use the knife or the spatula to remove the item. Carefully insert the blade of the knife between your print and bed. Once underneath the part rotate the blade lifting with the sharp edge into the part, to gently pop the piece off your plate.
Extruder is too close, it’s burning the bed:
| 1 | Stop the print immediately and notify a library staff member. The print bed may need to be levelled properly. |
| 2 | Check your Cura settings, make sure you’re using the recommended print settings for your project. |
Extruder is jammed. Filament will not load or extrude correctly:
| 1 | Unload and reload filament. |
| 2 | Sometimes it’s just a matter of applying gentle downward pressure to the filament strand until you feel it ‘click’ into place. The filament may be caught inside the extruder and need to be properly aligned. Needle-nose pliers are helpful in this regard. |
Ask our at our service desk, consult the Lulzbot Taz 6 User Manual, or check out the LinkedIn Learning tutorial Learning to Use 3D Printers.
Chat