Makerbot Replicator Niles Public Library Creative Studio Training/db 8/26/2015 1

3D Printing Cheat Sheet

Use free software to design 3D models that can be printed

with our MakerBot Replicator Desktop Printer.

Makerbot Replicator Niles Public Library Creative Studio Training/db 8/26/2015 2

Part 1: Find or Create a Design to Print

Thingiverse and Tinkercad are two sources for discovering, remixing, creating and sharing 3D designs. Both communities encourage members to use Creative Commons licenses, meaning that anyone can use or alter any design.

Getting Started In Tinkercad

Step 1. Create an account or log in to Tinkercad (www.tinkercad.com)

Tinkercad is an easy, web-based 3D design &

modeling application. You don’t need any

design experience. Tinkercad can be used by

anyone.

You can a free create an account using any

computer, but to use the software, you will

need a web browser that supports HTML5/

WebGL on Windows, Mac or Linux. Chrome

and Firefox perform the best.

In addition to 3D printing, Tinkercad can also

be used to design projects for laser cutting.

Step 2. Have A Look Around

At the top of the Tinkercad site are three main links: Features, Learn, and Gallery.

Click on Gallery to go to a page of interesting models you can peruse. Sort models by Hot Items, Newest Things, & Staff Favorites. If a model you see strikes your fancy and you want to see more, click on it to see a larger view. You can view it in 3D so that you can turn it around and zoom in and out.

Makerbot Replicator Niles Public Library Creative Studio Training/db 8/26/2015 3

Step 3. Take A Few Lessons

Click on Learn. Fun and short step-

by-step lessons introduce you to

the basics of the software, leading

you through progressively more

challenging design tutorials as you

go.

Complete as many or as few as

you like to grow comfortable with

the software.

Step 4. Choose a Design to Print.

Choose a design from the gallery or start your

own from scratch. In Gallery, you can search for

whatever you like (ex. Chicago Bears logo;

Minion)

Click on the design you want to select it. The Copy and Tinker button lets you copy the design to your own account, where you can make any changes you like.

Makerbot Replicator Niles Public Library Creative Studio Training/db 8/26/2015 4

Step 4. Tinker with the Design to Make It Your Own

In this example, I decided to

add hair to the Minion’s head.

The first step was to drag the

workplane to the top of his

head, where the hair will go.

In Tinkercad, you combine different kinds of shapes (geometric, numbers, symbols and more) to make designs.

I used cylinders to make the hair, joining them together with a small sphere where they attach to the minion’s

head.

Here is the finished Minion:

Makerbot Replicator Niles Public Library Creative Studio Training/db 8/26/2015 5

Getting Started In Thingiverse

MakerBot's Thingiverse is an online community where people can share their 3D designs.

Step 1. Log In or Create a Thingiverse account (http://www.thingiverse.com/)

Check the box to

prove that you are

not a robot.

Step 2. Start with a quick tutorial.

Click on Let’s Get Started!

This tutorial will lead you through the steps

to customize your profile, find things to save

and print later, and follow other makers.

Makerbot Replicator Niles Public Library Creative Studio Training/db 8/26/2015 6

Like, collect and comment on designs using the icons below each one.

Like = Heart on the left side

Collect = Rectangles in the middle

Comment = Word Bubble on the right side

Click Collect and select a collection to save it in.

Download Designs to print them. Designs

will download as STL files in a zip folder.

In order to print, designs must be opened in

MakerBot’s Desktop software. Prepare designs

for printing by scaling and slicing, and preview

your print. The software will produce estimates

for time and material used.

Makerbot Replicator Niles Public Library Creative Studio Training/db 8/26/2015 7

Part 2: Print A 3D Design

You will need to log in to a computer that has

MakerBot Desktop software installed, such as the

Trainer PC in Studio B.

Open the software (found in Programs) and sign in to

your Thingiverse account.

Open your Library – everything you’ve added to

your Thingiverse collections will be here – and

select the thing you want to print. You can also add

files from a flash drive or Tinkercad.

Click Prepare to ready your design for printing.

Here is where you can make final fixes like scaling

the design to the right size and positioning it

where you want on the build plate.

Export Print File when you are ready to print.

Makerbot Replicator Niles Public Library Creative Studio Training/db 8/26/2015 8

The option to print will not appear until your

3D printer is turned on and connected, via the

network, to the computer. If you don’t see

Ready To Print, then go back to Devices in the

MakerBot Desktop menu and select it. You may

push the round dial on the printer to affirm the

connection.

Once connected, you are ready to hit Print.

The Replicator has a camera on board so you can

watch the print in progress on the monitor. Make

sure that the build plate is prepped and ready to

go – clear of debris and covered with blue

painter’s tape – before hitting Start Print.

You can continue to watch the print in

progress using the Monitor.

The extruder will heat to 215 degrees Celsius

before beginning to print. Watch it heat up!

Elapsed Time, Estimated Time (the total time

for the print), and Filament Use (in grams)

also appear here.

Watch out for filament jams. The job will

pause if this happen, and you may need to

unload and reload the filament.

Makerbot Replicator Niles Public Library Creative Studio Training/db 8/26/2015 9

Part 3: Unloading and Loading Filament

Sooner or later you’re going to have to do this, whether the Replicator detects a jam and informs you that you

need to unload the filament, or you just because want to print something in a different color.

Start at the Home Screen on the Replicator’s control

panel. Turn the dial on the front of the printer to the

Filament icon.

Push the dial in to select it.

Now select Unload Filament.

The extruder will start heat to its printing temperature

of (215 degrees Celsius). Let it do its thing.

Makerbot Replicator Niles Public Library Creative Studio Training/db 8/26/2015 10

Once it’s heated, you will be instructed to pull the filament

out from the top of the extruder. You may have to pull hard.

This is what it will look like once you pull it free.

Notice that the filament is exposed on its spindle in the

background. The Replicator’s spindle loads and unloads from

the top/rear of the machine. A handy tab lifts the spindle

straight up. You may have to pull hard (taller people will have

an easier time with this) to lift it at first.

Now you are ready to remove the spool of filament

from the spindle. There are two tabs in the middle that

help to hold the spool in place. Push them in toward

each other, and slide the spool toward you to remove

it. The new spool will slide on, and the tabs will snap

into place.

Next, unroll enough filament to feed through the

flexible white tube and into the extruder. The

filament enters the tube up at this end…

And exits the tube down at this end.

Makerbot Replicator Niles Public Library Creative Studio Training/db 8/26/2015 11

Now you’re ready to push the filament into the extruder. Push it in

until you feel the extruder gently pulling it in by itself.

You should start to see a thin strand of filament feeding through the

extruder onto the build platform. Wait for it to cool and then clear it

away.

Once the filament is loaded, you are ready to push the spindle back

into the printer. And start printing!

One Last Tip:

Before printing, fix a piece or two of blue painter’s

tape over the build plate (which should already be

completely covered by its own square of blue tape) to

make your print jobs easier to remove.

Otherwise, you might end up having to use a rusty

utility knife to remove your print, because that’s all

you have on hand.

Makerbot Replicator Niles Public Library Creative Studio Training/db 8/26/2015 12

More Resources:

Tinkercad Help Center: https://tinkercad.zendesk.com/hc/en-us includes Knowledge base

(access FAQ), Community (post questions to other users), and Get help (open a support ticket)

Thingiverse Support: https://support.thingiverse.com/

Instructables: This is another source for projects, tutorials and just to see what other people

are making: http://www.instructables.com/howto/3d+print/