Connecting to your PC for the first time/Print guide. Our current suggestions for software for use with the mUVe 1 include Repetier host. It has Slic3r built-in and is capable of being the nearly all-in-one solution for model positioning, slicing, and printing. Also on the list AutoDesk Meshmixer which can be used to generate support if your models require it. Their website and YouTube channel have some great video tutorials on how to generate support, they are worth watching.

Drivers and Software Installation Download and install Repetier Host on your PC using the instructions provided here: http://www.repetier.com/documentation/repetier-host/rh-installation-and-configuration/. We have our own settings for the printer configuration so refer back to this guide once you have it installed. After you have completed installation plug your printer into your PC via USB. If you ordered one of our kits that includes electronics there is a USB cable provided. We use RAMPS 1.4 and Arduino Mega 2560 compatible boards. Drivers for the system can be found on our software information and download page: http://www.muve3d.net/press/supportsources/muve-1-software/. After you have installed the software you may wish to check which COM port was chosen for your system. Use your PC’s device manager to look for COM ports and make note of which one is labeled as “Arduino Mega 2560.”

If you wish to update the firmware of your printer now if a good time to go back to the software page and follow the instructions to do so. Firmware is updated regularly so pay attention to the releases and make sure to keep your printer running the latest and greatest. Next, start Repetier Host. Once the splash screen fades and the program pops-up, press the “Printer Settings” button near the top-right corner of the program.

Connecting to your PC for the first time/Print guide. On the next screen you will have the option to configure your printer. Use the screenshot below to setup your machine. The only difference could be the COM port, which you may have made note of earlier.

Next Click on the “Printer” Tab.

Connecting to your PC for the first time/Print guide. Again mirror the settings shown here to what you have on your PC. Pay special attention to the checkboxes. If you have any of them checked it may cause some unwanted results.

Connecting to your PC for the first time/Print guide. And finally the “Printer Shape” tab. Then press the “Apply” button and press “Ok” to close the dialog box.

Connecting to your PC for the first time/Print guide. The next step is to configure the built-in Slic3r so that we can slice models for the mUVe 1. Click on the “Slicer” tab.

Make sure you have downloaded the mUVe 1 Slic3r profile from the software page before continuing. On the slicer settings tab we are going to import and save the default mUVe 1 profile so that the models we load are sliced according to our current best guess settings. Press the “Configure” button on the slicer tab. We aren’t using Skeinforge so you can ignore the duplicate buttons in the lower box.

Once you’ve pressed this button it will open up Slic3r. We need to load our profile into it, save the profile, and then close the Slic3r program box. From the “File” menu in the top-left corner select “Load Config.”

Connecting to your PC for the first time/Print guide.

Browse to the place on your PC where you saved the mUVe1.ini file that is your Slic3r profile and select it. Then in each of the three tabs you need to save the profile, you can use the default name of mUVe 1, or any other name you wish to use.

Save

Once saved simply close the Slic3r window that is open. You should now see that the profile name that you chose in in each of the Slic3r settings drop-downs. You are now ready to load a model, slice it, and print.

Connecting to your PC for the first time/Print guide.

Loading a Model, Slicing, and Printing The first step to printing a model is to choose what you wish to print. If this item has overhangs that are over 60 degrees then you may wish to first generate some support material. The supported models for Repetier Host are *.STL and *.OBJ, you must use one of these to be able to load, slice and print. Press the “Load” button in the top-left corner of Repetier Host and choose a model.

The model will then load into the panel and will be displayed on the build platform. The program will also switch to the “Object Placement” tab. Here you can move the object if you wish, or you can scale the item/s. It will also tell you if your 3D mesh is solid and if there are other errors in the part. If you find many errors you may wish to correct the file with a service such as NetFabb Online.

Connecting to your PC for the first time/Print guide. Once you are satisfied, switch to the “Slicer” tab and press “Slice with Slic3r.” A dialog box will open and your part will begin slicing. *If you get an error then you may have your first layer height set to 0mm. This will need to be changed. Click the “Configure” in the Slic3r area of the tab to bring the Slic3r config screen back up. The second item you see should be “First Layer Height” and it needs to be changed to something other than 0. The same value of your other layers is a fine choice.*

If all is working well then the “Slicing Info” dialog box will pop-up for a period of time and then your GCode will load back into Repetier Host’s display window in blue. The log at the bottom of the Repetier window does show Slic3r progress as well. If you would rather print from SD card then you can grab the output GCode, the location will be displayed in the log, then copy it to your SD card outside of the Repetier program. This is much faster than copying it over the serial connection.

Connecting to your PC for the first time/Print guide. Press the “Connect” button to connect to your printer. This should then turn the button green and it will turn into the “Disconnect” button.

Once connected you can go to the “Manual Control” tab in the top-right corner of the Repetier Host window and administer manual commands to the machine. You can ignore the Extruder and Heated Bed controls as well as the Fan controls. The printer won’t move until it is first homed. The laser cannot be turned on until the laser power is set, see below.

Manually Type Commands and Send Them Here

Connecting to your PC for the first time/Print guide. Manually Controlling Your Printer/Custom GCodes for the mUVe 1 M650 D L P S - This must be set inside of your starting GCode in Slic3r, it can also be changed at any point during printing. D - Set Distance in mm - Set to 0 to remove the peel P - Pause in milliseconds - Set to 0 to ignore pause L - Laser power, range 0-255 - Default 255 S - Peel move speed, mm/s - 2mm/s max unless max speed for Z and E axis changed in configuration.h in the firmware Example: M650 D2 P500 L255 S2 - Peel distance 2mm, pause .5 seconds, laser full-power, peel speed 2 mm/s M651 - Initiate the peel move with the settings chosen. This needs to be input as the layer change GCode in Slic3r. M652 - Turn Laser off GCode General Reference Link - @ RepRap.org

These settings above are what configure the main operations that allow the mUVe 1 to work, they should be configured in your Slic3r profile in the area for “Start GCode” and must be there in some regard for the machine to be able to print.

Turning on the Laser Once the laser power has been set by either GCode sent via file, or manually, the laser can then be turned on. If the printer has been reset the laser power will need to be set again before it can be turned on. To turn on the laser simply send “G1 E1” after you have set an appropriate laser power with the M650 command.

Connecting to your PC for the first time/Print guide.

Getting Ready to Print: Prep 1. Before printing make sure the non-stick coating of your reservoir is still intact and doesn’t need replacement. 2. Add resin to the reservoir if necessary, you should maintain at least 5-10mm at all times when printing. 3. Install the build platform, look at the platform from above to make sure it is centered over the reservoir before using the 4 build platform screws to lock it in place. Running a Print Job 1. Home the machine using the home button. 2. Press the “disable motors” button or send the M84 GCode 3. Once homed use either the acorn nuts on the Z leadscrews, or just grab the motor coupler, and make sure the Z axis is actually homed. This is easy to see just by looking at the top exposed nut of the Z axis slider/screw/build mount. Because this piece is spring loaded you can simply spin the leadscrew until the top nut starts to compress the spring and sink the nut into the socket. Do this for both sides of the Z axis. At this point you have bottomed out the platform and are ready to print. 4. Make sure you have enough resin in the reservoir for the print you are about to run. Make sure it is well mixed. 5. To run GCode that was sliced inside of Repetier Host simply press the “Run Job” button after slicing. Otherwise you can open GCode files you have already sliced using the same “Load” button used to open models, or you can print from SD card using the “SD Card” button.