Dimension 3D Printer
The Dimension is an FDM printer made by Stratasys. It is designed with ultimate simplicity in mind. The system enables you to build parts quickly, even if you’ve never used a 3D printer before. Its display panel prompts you to press a few keys to get you modeling quickly.
The system models with ABS plastic, so modeled parts are strong and durable. ABS also ensures you’ll be able to drill, tap, sand, and paint your creations. With the speed and convenience of Breakaway Support Technology (BST) or Soluble Support Technology (SST), your completed parts are quickly available for review and test. SST allows for parts that are printed on the Dimension to have a more porous or odd geometry, such as overhangs, to be printed with relative ease in comparison with other filament based 3D printers.
Documentation
Training
GrabCAD Print
GrabCAD Print is the software that both the Dimension and F370 use, and allows you to easily orient and view the part you want to model. Both printers are web based, which allows you to start the print from the one of the lab's computers.
On Opening GrabCAD, make sure that you select the printer you want to use for the part you want to print, the volunteers in the lab can help you determine which printer would work best. The menu the the right of the image shows the printer options, make sure you select the correct printer, in this case it is the Dimension. After ensuring you have the software correctly set up, open your file and place it on the build plate, Note: your file has to be in STL format to work with any printing software. The build plate is correctly scaled to the actual build plate, so when sizing up or down you can check the size and placement of the print with the build plate. Note: The following pictures show a single part being printed, during regular lab hours the Dimension is only started when the plate is mostly full to be printed overnight.
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After opening and correctly orienting your part, you may see a red error like the one in the image above, to fix this, click analysis mode, the second icon from the top. The image below shows analysis mode, which quickly troubleshoots any problems with your file and shows any potential errors your part could have. To quickly fix your part, click Repair all Models which fix most problems with your model.
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After repairing your part, click Slice Preview to see how the Dimension will print your part, total layers, and path of the nozzle. Inspect your part to ensure that it will print correctly, and has a low chance of failing. You can watch an animation of your part being built, layer by layer, and do other analysis before printing. Click View Estimates, found in green near the bottom right corner, to see an approximation of how long the print will take, and the amount of material used. Be sure that this information is recorded in the Job Log. Fix any potential problems that you may have seen, and when you are sure that the part is correctly oriented on the build plate. You may now click Print, locate on the bottom right of the screen. Note: Very rarely will a single part be printed on the Dimension or F370, do not start a print without other parts unless cleared by the lab helper.
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Printing
Once the Job has been sent to the Dimension, the control panel will display the most recent job sent to it. Check that the amount of support and model material, indicated on the top most display, is sufficient for the print and when ready, press the button to the right of the display that says start model.
Finished Parts
Once your part is finished, the plate can be removed by moving the tabs downward, pulling the plate forward, and lifting to remove. The following pictures show that process.
Removing Support Material
After removing the plate from the Dimension remove your part from the build plate by using the scraping tool and running the tool along the build plate, as shown in the picture below, and hitting the support material. Continue this process until the part is chipped off of the build plate. Once the part is removed, place in the Dissolvable Support Bath to remove any left over support material.
Maintenance and Setup
Changing Material
*Only volunteers will change out materials. If the Dimension runs out of filament or you would like to use a different color, please speak to a lab volunteer.*
The Dimension has two separate types of material, Model and Support. These two filaments are located on the front of the Dimension, with the Model in the top slot, and the support on the bottom. To change material for either modeling or support, click the button next to the display that says "Material . . ." and then click "Unload" from there. Select which filament you want to exchange, and then press in on that cartridge to remove it. The cartridge will click out, and you can now reel in the material as the Dimension removes it by spinning a wheel on the right hand side.
To load a material is very similar. Select the filament you want to replace, and insert the tip into a hole located in the slot. The Dimension will grab the filament and pull it up to the extruder nozzle. Place the cartridge back into the Dimension, and push it forwards until you hear a click.