Step - 4 The First Print on MANU Easy

Product MANU E1 3D Printer
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First print on MANU Easy

Information

Requirements:

  1. Filament spool with 1.75mm diameter (PLA filament comes with the printer).
  2. Build plate suitable for the material (Acrylic build plate comes with the printer).
    • Different materials require different types of build plates.
    • Acrylic build plate works for PLA, the most common printing material.
  3. Slicing software to create gcode files from STL 3D models (Simplify3D – Recommended).
  4. Correct material profile for the slicing software (.fff file for Simplify3D; .fff contains settings for the printers & printing materials).
  5. Wi-Fi setup ready to send or upload gcode files to a 3D printer.

Inserting the build plate

The Manu Easy 3D Printer has a self-calibrating build platform. Prints are done on plastic plates, and it is crucial to use a correct plate that supports the filament. For PLA prints, use the Acrylic build plate supplied with the printer. Always remember to insert the build plate first to prevent the machine from crashing. Ensure that the plate is sufficiently clean and does not have any protective film or leftover prints on it (the supplied plates are fully ready to use out of the box).

Prepare filament spool

Check the filament wire end. If it is deformed, make sure to cut the deformed part at the end for easier loading (side cutters are included with the machine). It is highly recommended to clean the end of the nozzle before loading, but as long as it moves in the Teflon tube without much force while inserting, it should be fine.

Loading the spool

First, make sure the filament spool is seated properly as shown in the picture. Ensure that it is not tangled or twisted. The spool should unwind towards the back to function correctly. Push the filament inside the Teflon tube until it reaches the end of the tube. There are currently two ways to load the filament:

  • Run the extruder motor from the display.
  • Manual insertion.

Preheat the machine

Currently, the nozzle has to be preheated before inserting filament. There is a shortcut [1] on the printer display to heat up the nozzle to 200 degrees. Make sure not to touch the nozzle while it’s hot!

Insert the filament (display)

After the nozzle has preheated:

  • [1] Run the extruder motor from the display.
  • [2] Push the filament by hand just a little bit so that the motor is able to catch it (you will feel that it is being pulled slowly in).
  • [3] You have to repeat the “Extrude 10mm” button click 3-4 times until there is filament coming out of the nozzle (inspect inside the machine). Make sure the extruded filament color matches the spool color. Now the nozzle is filled with the new material and is ready to print.

Note: Carefully pull the filament string from inside the machine after loading. Do not touch the hot nozzle! Use a soft brass brush to clean the nozzle if it’s dirty (comes with the printer).

Insert the filament (Manually)

This method is useful for quick filament changes. After the nozzle is preheated, it is possible to move the filament manually. For this, we need to manually operate the toolhead (arm) and then push the wire in or pull it out.

Starting the first print

Now that the filament is loaded and the printing bed is inserted, we can send our first gcode.

  • [1] Click “upload and start” and navigate to the print file and send it.
  • [2] There are also ready sample prints in the printer that can be started with the web user interface. Just browse to the “jobs” tab, and there should be a ready samples folder.

Inspecting the first layer and proper starting

It is recommended to check that the first layer starts well without problems. The printer cleans the nozzle in the corner of the plate before starting [1]. The first layer should look somewhat similar to the image on the right [2]. If there is no material coming out, then recheck the loading process. If you are still experiencing problems, feel free to contact support@mehtaheino.com.

Removing the part

To remove the part, it is important to:

  1. Not bend the plate too much.
  2. Be careful not to hurt yourself while removing.
    The part is printed on a raft layer, which helps with removal and works with almost any printing filament. After the print is ready, carefully bend the plate and check if the part pops out. If not, you may need to use the supplied spatula tools to peel between the first layer and the plate. Once it is removed, make sure to remove any pieces of plastic from the plate. Reinsert the plate, and it’s ready to print again.