3D Printer Instructions

If you have received this printer in one of our Technology Loaner Kits please watch the videos below to see how to setup the device. Once finished please also follow the written instructions further down this page.

Written Instructions and Manual:

OVERVIEW

MakerBot Print is our new desktop application that allows you to prepare, manage, and monitor 3D prints.
Prepare: Import design files in native CAD and fine-tune their settings for optimal results when printing.
Manage: Keep your projects organized by automatically arranging models across one or several build plates.
Monitor: Kick-off prints, control your printer, and monitor print progress remotely.

What Is MakerBot Print?

MakerBot Print is our new desktop application that allows you to prepare, manage, and monitor 3D prints.

Prepare: Import design files and fine-tune their settings for optimal results when printing.
Manage: Keep your projects organized by automatically arranging models across one or several build plates.
Monitor: Kick-off prints, control your printer, and monitor print progress remotely.

Note: Limited compatibility with 4th Generation Printers.

MakerBot Print Feature List

Native CAD Support
- Windows: Import native CAD files, including parts and assemblies
- Mac: Import STL files as an assembly
Projects: Projects help keep your prints that include multiple models and span across multiple build plates organized and easily accessible
Auto-Arrange: MakerBot Print will automatically arrange the files on your build plate or across your whole project
Remote Monitoring: Start, control, and monitor your prints remotely
New Print Preview: Preview the path that the extruder will take to create a print
Review layers individually or watch simulated preview to:
- Make adjustments before printing a model
- View support material placement
- Validate small features are printable
Automatic Software Updates: When there is a new version of MakerBot print available, your app will download it in the background and let you know when it’s ready to be installed
Update Printer Firmware: Update your printer's firmware from the application
Advanced Settings: Allows you to further customize your print settings
Z Calibration: Calibrate your Smart Extruder+ from MakerBot Print
Connect to Wifi: Ability to connect to your local Wifi and set up static IP
Example Prints: Print from our selection of example files for quick printing

Supported File Types

Mac: MakerBot (.makerbot), STL (.stl)
Windows: MakerBot (.makerbot), STL (.stl), SolidWorks (.sldprt, .sldasm), InventorOBJ (.ipt, .iam), IGES (.iges, .igs), STEP AP203/214 (.step, .stp), CATIA (.CATPart, .CATProduct), Wavefront Object(.obj), Unigraphics/NX (.prt), Solid Edge (.par, .asm), ProE/Creo (.prt, .prt., .asm, .asm.), VRML(.wrl), Parasolid (.x_t, .x_b)

Note: Users cannot import MakerBot (.makerbot) files. 2017+ versions of the file types mentioned above may have trouble communicating with MakerBot Print.

Upcoming Features:

Per-model print settings
Change language
Thingiverse integration

Installing MakerBot Print

Download MakerBot Print

1. Open a browser session and go to makerbot.com/print.

2. Click the Download button. Select your operating system from the dropdown menu on the download pack and click Download. Be sure to have the correct system requirements.

Install MakerBot Print

Double-click the MakerBot Print installer to run the installation wizard. Follow the installation instructions. **Note - Full administrator permissions are required to successfully complete the installation.

Before installing MakerBot Print 3.0, please uninstall previous versions (1.1-2.8) of the Print Software on Windows 7/10 machines.

Do You Have Full Adminstrator Permissions?

To install Print, a user must have administrator permissions. In MacOS, this information is available by accessing Apple > System Preferences > User & Groups. In Windows, you can see your access level through Start > Window Settings > Accounts.

In an office or school, this means that the system administrator will likely need to perform the installation. Print does NOT allow the user to pick the install location and will install in the user directory of the account active at the time of the installation. **Note - If you are the administrator, do NOT right click on the installer and click Run as administrator, please wait for the installer to prompt you for the Administrator credentials.

About the Software

The MakerBot Print software is set up to be installed individually for each user and is not optimized for any installation management platforms. We are unfortunately unable to provide alternate installers to accommodate simultaneous multi-user installations. If key files are moved post-install, the Print software will still default to its intended paths upon its next update. These updates are mandatory, with cancelations only delaying the process by 12 hours. Downloads are indicated by a progress bar towards the top of the virtual build plate on the software. Once the download completes, restarting the application will automatically launch the installer, which will require an administrator to be completed.

Having Trouble?

Click here for additional troubleshooting.

Network Configuration Requirements for MakerBot Print and Printer Communication

MakerBot Print reaches out to Makerbot’s servers to provide remote monitoring of printers, to provide user’s saved workflow data and to download software updates.

In order to allow operation of these functions, MakerBot Print must be allowed bilateral communication across the first two domains and the last site listed below. This means firewalls or antivirus programs will need to have exceptions manually entered accordingly.

http://thingiverse.com/

https://reflector.makerbot.com/

http://amazonaws.com/

Device Discovery

MakerBot Printers use MDNS to discover the printers on the local network.

Discovery will work automatically on home networks. For enterprise networks, you may need to add a configuration to allow MakerBot device discovery. For configuration instructions, see the manufacturer manual for your router.

MakerBot Device service string : _makerbot-jsonrpc._tcp

Device communication

MakerBot Printers listen for TCP socket connections on ports 9999 and 12309 in order to communicate with MakerBot Print.

Subnets

If the Wi-Fi and the Ethernet are on separate subnets, it will not be possible to connect a computer connected to the Wi-Fi network to a MakerBot 3D printer connected via Ethernet, and vice versa unless you have MDNS discovery configured so that devices can be discovered across subnets (see Discovery for more information on configuring MDNS for MakerBot discovery). Be sure that the MakerBot 3D printer and the computer are within the same subnet or that MDNS discovery is configured to cross the subnets. If this is not an option, you can enable remote monitoring and printing.

IPv4 vs IPv6

We recommend setting your network to IPv4 protocol. If your network is set up with IPv6 protocol, a MakerBot 3D printer may not be able to connect to

System Requirements

System Compatibility

Required Software for using MakerBot Tough Filament.
Software Bundle: MakerBot Print
Operating Systems: WINDOWS (7 and 10, 64-bit only) and MAC OS (10.11 or higher). Not Supported: Windows 8, XP, Vista, Server, and Linux

The following GPUs are not recommended when using macOS High Sierra (10.13) or macOS Mojave (10.14):

Intel Iris Plus Graphics 650 1536 MB
Intel Iris Graphics 550 1536 MB
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 1536 MB
Intel Iris 550 1536 MB
Intel HD Graphics 515 1536 MB
Intel Iris Graphics 540
Intel HD Graphics 515

System Requirements

RAM: 2GB, 8GB or more recommended
Disk Space: 2.5GB, 20GB or more recommended
Video Card (GPU): NVidia, AMD, or Intel, post 2011. 512MB video memory, 8GB or more recommended.
Screen Resolution: 1280 x 1024 minimum, 1920 x 1080 or more recommended.
CPU: AMD or Intel, post 2011.
Network: Ethernet or wireless connectivity to Local Area Network
Installation: Broadband Internet connection
Browser for Online Documentation: Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer 11 or above
Connectivity: USB, ETHERNET, WI-FI

Installation Requirement

To install Print, a user must have administrator permissions. In an office or school, this means that the system administrator will likely need to perform the installation. MakerBot Print 3.0 and later versions now default to installing in the Program Files directory. It is also now possible to mass deploy with the use of SCCM and AGPM platforms. System Administrators, please click here to learn more.

Setting Up Network Connection

Connecting to Wi-Fi Network

Navigate to the Printer Panel and select the printer whose network connection you wish to view.
Select Utilities.
Select Network Preferences.
You will see the Wi-Fi connection status of the printer. If the Wifi status is Unconnected, select the Enable Wi-Fi.
Select the Wi-Fi network from the Network Name drop-down menu. If you do not see Wi-Fi network you are looking for, select Refresh.
Enter the password to the Wi-Fi network and select Connect.

Assigning a Static IP Address

Connect your MakerBot printer to a computer using a USB cable.
In MakerBot Print, select your printer to open up the printer panel.
Select Utilities.
Select Network Preferences.
Checkmark the Enable Wi-Fi checkbox.
Select the network to which you'd like to assign a static IP from the dropdown menu.
Checkmark the Enable Static IP Address checkbox.
Enter your IP, netmask, gateway, and DNS server addresses.
Click Apply Settings.
Enter the password for the Wi-Fi network and click Connect.
Go back to the Utilities menu, you should now see the IP address next to the image of your printer. If you don't see the IP address come up, please double check that you've typed everything correctly and try again.

Quick Print Guide for MakerBot Print

The MakerBot Print software has many features that will allow you to prepare and manage your prints. This software can also connect to your 5th Generation Printer to allow you to start/send prints and perform other tasks.

Preparing Your Model to Print

Getting your file ready for printing can be overwhelming the first time around. After connecting your printer, follow these instructions to help you start printing your files.

Adding a Model to Your Virtual Build Plate

You can add a model to your build plate in a few ways. You can follow the way that is represented below or go to File > Insert File. If you don't yet have files of your own to print, you can access our example files to try out by going to File > Insert Example File.

Rotating and Scaling Your Model

Selecting Orient and Scale will allow you to change the orientation of your model and let you rescale your model respectively.

changing settings for complex Models

Some files may be more complex than others, files like the one below will need Supports added to its face and hair to ensure a successful print. You can learn more about Custom Settings here. *Please note that Supports are not automatically selected and that this is not a true representation of the Print Preview slicing speed.

preview Your Model

Selecting Print Preview will show you a visualization of how your model will print on your printer. This will show you where the raft and supports will print as well as provide you with a print time estimation. This is a good tool to use to check if there are any errors in your print model. *Please note that complex models will take longer to render a preview.

printing Your prepared Model

Once you've prepared your file to print and have loaded filament on your printer, you are ready to print! To do so, select your printer and select either the Print or Export button, they will be located in the same location depending on how you're sending prints to your printer.

If you are connected to your printer, your printer will automatically start heating up. If you are exporting your file, you'll need to export your file to a USB jump drive and take it to the printer.

When finished with the printer, please withdraw the filament and pack it carefully in the supplied box in the same way it arrived. If it is low on filament, or you run out/need more please contact loanerkits@georgialibraries.org

*For further instructions and support refer here.

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