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→General Procedure
====General Procedure====
====General Procedure====
# Preparing the F370
# Preparing the F370
## Powering on the Printer
## Powering on the Printer
## Acceptable Prints
## Acceptable Prints
### The maximum part size is 14 x 10 x 14 inches, or 35.56 x 25.4 x 35.56 centimeters. Any part that large should be shown to a lab volunteer to discuss options.
### The maximum part size is 14 x 10 x 14 inches, or 35.56 x 25.4 x 35.56 centimeters. Any part that large should be shown to a lab volunteer to discuss options.
### Generally, a part will be fit for the F370 or [[Dimension 3D Printer|Dimension]] printer if it is highly detailed and/or has holes that require fairly high tolerances. If it is a small, detailed part, a Form 2 printer should suffice. If the part is quick and simple, a Prusa will likely suffice.
### Generally, a part will be fit for the F370 if it is highly detailed and/or has holes that require fairly high tolerances. If it is a small, detailed part, a Form 2 printer should suffice. If the part is quick and simple, a Prusa will likely suffice.
### If your part is designed to take advantage of the dissolving support material the Stratasys machines use, then verify with a lab volunteer that it will be okay to print.
### If your part is designed to take advantage of the dissolving support material the Stratasys machines use, then verify with a lab volunteer that it will be okay to print.
### Even if you are certain your part belongs on the [[Dimension 3D Printer|Dimension]] or F370, double check with a lab volunteer before you add it to the pack. Their goal is to help you, but the Prototype Lab would like to avoid excessively expensive and/or unnecessary prints.
### Even if you are certain your part belongs on the F370, double check with a lab volunteer before you add it to the pack. Their goal is to help you, but the Prototype Lab would like to avoid excessively expensive and/or unnecessary prints.
# Preparing the file: GrabCAD
## GrabCAD Print is the software shared by the F370 and [[Dimension 3D Printer|Dimension]] printer. It allows one to easily orient and view the part that needs to be printed. Both printers are web based, which allows one to start the print from the one of the lab's computers. '''Give yourself a few days before your project is due to print on either F370.''' Prints will generally be started when a tray is full or at the end of a day by a lab volunteer, and unless there is little to be printed, it is unlikely your print will be started just because you waited until the last minute. Be proactive.
## On Opening GrabCAD, make sure that you navigate to the bottom right of the screen and select the menu next to "Print." Select the printer you want to use; in this case, the F370, which will appear as "f370D30365". The volunteers in the lab can help you determine which printer would work best.
## To begin preparing your part, click on "Add Models". This is how you import your file into GrabCAD. '''Your file must be in .stl format.''' After you have added your part, you can begin preparing it to be printed. Multiple models can be added to the project. Additionally, models can be placed on new trays if the current one runs out of space.[[File:Icons.png|300x300px|none|thumb]]
## Notice that once a part has been added, an hourglass shaped tower will appear next to your part and scale with the size of your part. This is called a "purge tower" and is where a printer expels excess material upon switching filaments. The purge tower can be moved around on the plate as needed, but cannot be rotated. To move your part on the plate, one can simply click and drag to place it where they want to be printed. Keep in mind that the build plate is to scale, where you place it in the software will be where it prints in reality.
## To change how one is viewing the plate, hold on the middle mouse button and drag to move the plate, or click and hold the right mouse button to orient the angle the plate is viewed from. There are also icons on top to choose various viewpoints, such as an isometric view, top, left, etc. The icons on the right side of the screen are your print options. All of the options are intuitive, but you are still encouraged to practice manipulating your part so you understand how to use each function. The top three 'icons are different views, starting from a normal Model View, which is roughly how your part will appear when done.
## Analysis Mode shows faulty areas of a part, and Slice Preview shows model material and support material in the part. Below the Slice Preview Icon is the Model Info, where you can change the units of a selected part if needed.
## Next is Print Settings, which will be addressed below. The Arrange icon automatically arranges parts to optimize print time. Orient allows one to either let the software orient the part, orient a particular face to a plane, or rotate the model on the XYZ axis. Lastly, the Scale icon gives the option to change the size of the model, either with uniform scaling or on a particular axis. It also gives you the part dimension for each axis.
## '''You MUST print your part with "Sparse - low density" fill.''' It is expensive to print with Stratasys materials, thus you must consult a lab volunteer if you have a part you feel needs a denser fill. All of standard settings generally do not need to be changed.[[File:Density.png|thumb|none|300x300px]]
## If you would like more information on specifics, head to the GrabCAD website's [https://help.grabcad.com/article/199-take-a-quick-tour Help Center] for further details and tips, guides, or answers to FAQs. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8K4YTekXRw This] video contains a basic rundown of GrabCAD. Remember that the lab volunteers are available to answer your questions or provide assistance.
##
# Printing the part: F370 Touchscreen Operation
##
# Soaking the part: Dissolvable Support Bath
'''Printing your part:''' After your part has been prepared, save the project before continuing. Generally, you will not start the print in the lab itself, since a volunteer will start it when a tray is full or when the day ends, but the workflow is as follows.
Select "Print." The software will prepare the print. For larger trays, this may take several minutes, but usually takes around 30 seconds. If a print is currently ongoing, a bar across the top will read, "Print job queued successfully." Once your part has been prepared, you can click on on "View Estimates" in the bottom right-hand corner. You will see print time and the amount of model and support material that will be used, in cubic inches (in^3).
[[File:Estimate.png|left|687x687px]]
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This is an example of what the tray estimation page looks like. The model and support material used can be input into the Job Log in the lab.
==Safety==
==Safety==
Tools - The last menu has various settings and functions for the printer. One of the icons in this menu will be a sun, which turns the light inside the printer on and off so a print can be viewed. Otherwise, do not mess with or change settings without speaking to a volunteer first.
Tools - The last menu has various settings and functions for the printer. One of the icons in this menu will be a sun, which turns the light inside the printer on and off so a print can be viewed. Otherwise, do not mess with or change settings without speaking to a volunteer first.
<figure-inline><figure-inline><figure-inline><figure-inline><figure-inline><figure-inline><figure-inline><figure-inline>[[File:F370 Touchscreen.jpg|560x560px]]</figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>
<figure-inline><figure-inline><figure-inline><figure-inline><figure-inline><figure-inline><figure-inline><figure-inline><figure-inline>[[File:F370 Touchscreen.jpg|560x560px]]</figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline></figure-inline>
'''To start your print:''' The image above shows the home screen for the console. If a build plate is in place, the F370 has sufficient materials, and the correct tray is displayed, simply select "Print" and the print will begin.
'''To start your print:''' The image above shows the home screen for the console. If a build plate is in place, the F370 has sufficient materials, and the correct tray is displayed, simply select "Print" and the print will begin.