DeltaMaker -‐ Repetier-‐Host & Slic3r setup and use

– Windows

Introduction

This  guide  shows  the  process  to  download,  setup,  install  and  use  Repetier  Host  and  Slic3r  with  aDeltaMaker  3D  printer.  This  document  is  created  with  the  beginner  in  mind  -­  more  advanced  users  may  usedifferent  configurations  or  settings,  however  in  the  case  of  slicing  issues,  it  is  suggested  to  test  with  thisconfiguration  as  it  has  proved  reliable.

Since  the  DeltaMaker  3D  printer  has  an  onboard  computer  running  OctoPrint,  you  will  only  useRepetier-­Host  for  its  embedded  Slic3r  functions,  not  for  connecting  and  controlling  the  printer.

3D  printing  software  is  continually  changing  (for  the  better!)  -­  this  document  was  created  with  screenshotsfrom  Repetier-­Host-­Windows-­0.95D.

Download, Install, and Open

Download  /  install  repetier  host  for  Windows  from  www.repetier.com/downloadDownload  the  current  DeltaMaker  Slic3r  config  -­  slic3r_config_dm_12_07_2013.ini  from:

http://things.deltamaker.com/support/slic3r_config_dm_12_07_2013.ini

Open  the  repetier-­host  download  (Repetier-­Host-­Windows-­_0.95D.exe)  -­  this  will  open  a  window  showingRepetier-­Host  Setup  Wizard  –  click  next,  then  accept  the  terms  and  conditions  and  continue  as  instructedby  the  setup  wizard.

Open  Repetier-­Host  Windows  from  your  start  menu,  or  from  explorer.

Once  Repetier-­Host  is  running,  you  may  see  a  First  Steps  tutorial  open.  This  document  is  intended  to  be  aDeltaMaker  specific  replacement  for  that  tutorial  -­  close  it  for  now,  you  can  always  return  to  it  later  using  theHelp  -­>  First  Steps  menu  option.

You  should  now  have  a  Repetier-­Host  window  like  below:

Overall Configuration

Note:  During  this  process  it  is  very  common  to  have  a  number  of  warnings,  etc  show  up  in  the  log  at  the

bottom  of  the  Repetier-­Host  main  screen  -­  they  may  or  may  not  match  these  screenshots.

Configuring Slic3r

Click  the  Slicer  tab  on  the  Repetier-­Host  main  screen.

 In  the  Slic3r  section,  click  Configure  button  with  the  gear.

Slic3r  will  launch,  and  may  be  visible  on  your  doc.  A  few  seconds  later,  a  new  Slic3r  window  will  appear  andmay  launch  yet  another  window  with  the  Configuration  Assistant.  Cancel  the  assistant,  as  we  will  beimporting  the  configuration  file  you  downloaded  earlier.

 Once  the  Configuration  Assistant  is  cancelled,  you  will  be  at  the  standard  Slic3r  configuration  screen.

With  the  Slic3r  window  active,  choose  File  -­>  Load  Config  from  the  File  menu.

Select  the  .ini  configuration  file  that  you  downloaded  earlier  (from  the  beginning  of  this  document).

You  will  return  to  the  Slic3r  configuration  screen  on  the  Print  Settings  panel  with  the  .ini  filename  nowshowing  in  the  top  left  dropdown.

You  must  save  this  config  for  each  of  three  settings  panels  (Print  Settings,  Filament  Settings,  and  PrinterSettings).  This  IS  NOT  intuitive,  and  is  a  common  source  of  configuration  problems.

FOR  EACH  OF  THE  3  SETTINGS  PANELS  (Print  Settings,  Filament  Settings,  and  Printer  Settings)● You  should  see  the  config  file  (.ini)  in  the  drop  down.  Click  disk  icon  to  save  current  settings  for  that

panel  -­  it  will  create  a  preset  with  the  same  name  as  the  .ini  file  and  show  a  small  window  with  thatprofile  name  to  be  saved.  Click  ok  to  save  that  preset.

Print  Settings:

Filament  Settings:

Printer  Settings:

After  saving  all  three  profiles,  close  the  Slic3r  window  (using  the  x  in  top  right)

Configuring Repetier-‐Host to use Slic3r profiles

At  this  point  Slic3r  has  saved  profiles,  but  Repetier-­Host  must  be  setup  to  use  those  profiles.On  the  Repetier-­Host  Slicer  tab,  you  will  see  Slic3r  and  the  Print  Settings,  Printer  Settings,  and  FilamentSettings  dropdowns  are  blank.

For  each  of  print  settings,  printer  settings,  and  filament  settings  (extruder  1)  dropdowns,  choose  the  profilesthat  you  created  when  importing  the  .ini  settings  file.

Configuring Repetier-‐Host Printer Settings for your DeltaMaker

You  now  have  Slic3r  configured  and  Repetier-­Host  configured  to  use  the  proper  Slic3r  profiles,  but  still  needto  configure  Repetier-­Host  for  the  DeltaMaker.

Open  the  Repetier-­Host  printer  settings  by  clicking  on  the  Printer  Settings  toolbar  button  (has  3  gears)  or  bychoosing  Printer  -­>  Printer  Settings  using  the  Repetier-­Host  menu  or  choose  Config  -­>  Printer  Settings.

Since  we  use  OctoPrint  to  connect  to  the  printer,  NOT  Repetier-­Host,  we  only  care  about  the  “printer  shape”panel.  Select  it  and  change  the  settings  to  match  the  screenshot  below.

Click  Ok  to  save  the  printer  settings.  When  you  return  to  the  main  Repetier-­Host  screen,  the  3D  Viewshould  now  show  a  circular  print  area.

Congratulations,  you  are  ready  to  slice!

Slicing using Repetier-‐Host and Slic3r

Downloading a 3D model (.stl file)

To  test  your  configuration,  please  use  a  known  good  model.  We  suggest  the  Maker  Faire  Robot  onthingiverse.

Locate  and  download  the  MAKE_Robot_V6.stl  file.  This  file  is  the  “arms  up”  robot  which  does  not  requiresupport  material.  It  is  a  good  test  for  print  quality,  and  who  doesn’t  like  little  robots?

Loading a 3D model into Repetier-‐Host

Once  you’ve  downloaded  the  .stl  file,  go  back  to  the  Repetier-­Host  screen.  Make  sure  that  “3D  View”  isselected  on  the  left,  and  “Object  Placement”  is  selected  on  the  right.

Click  the  “+”  button  to  add  an  object  and  choose  the  downloaded  .stl  file.The  Make  Robot  will  drop  onto  the  build  area.

At  this  point,  you  can  position  the  object  on  the  bed.  Click  the  icon  with  the  moving  truck  and  the  arrows  onthe  left  toolbar,  then  you  can  drag  the  part  to  your  desired  location.  You  can  also  specify  translation  valuesin  the  right  panel  instead  of  dragging.

You  can  use  the  side  toolbar  buttons  to  select  other  3D  Views,  and  then  use  the  cursor  to  change  the  viewdynamically  -­  this  allows  you  to  see  all  sides  of  your  .stl  file  model.

Other  buttons  (not  using  for  this  example):● “Copy  Object(s)”  will  create  copies  if  you  want  to  print  more  than  one  at  a  time● “Center  Object”  should  center  the  object,  but  doesn’t  in  this  configuration  (need  to  research)● “Auto  Position”  lays  out  multiple  objects● “Drop  Object”  will  ensure  that  your  part  is  against  the  print  surface● “Add  STL  File”  and  “Remove  STL  File”  allow  you  add  and  remove  objects  -­  you  can  print  different

objects  at  the  same  time!● “Fix  Normals”  will  attempt  to  correct  issues  with  your  model  file.● “Object  Informations”  will  give  you  some  basic  details  about  the  currently  selected  object

Slicing the 3D model

Return  to  the  Slicer  panel  and  click  “Slice  with  Slic3r”  -­  this  will  launch  Slic3r.  You  will  see  the  Slic3r  iconbouncing  in  the  dock,  and  Repetier-­Host  will  have  Slic3r  messages  in  the  on-­screen  log.  Wait  until  you  seethe  log  entry  that  starts  with  “Done”.    At  this  point,  Repetier-­Host  will  automatically  show  the  G-­Code  Editor

panel.

Inspect  the  3d  model  to  make  sure  there  are  no  obvious  errors.  You  can  use  all  the  same  left  toolbar  viewoptions  as  when  inspecting  your  3D  model.  In  this  view,  the  blue  is  showing  filament  that  will  be  printed,  andthe  other  lines  are  showing  head  movement  between  filament  areas.

Saving the g-‐code

Click  the  floppy  disk  icon  to  save  the  g-­code  to  your  computer  and  the  following  box  will  appear.  Click  Save.

We  suggest  naming  the  file  something  that  is  short,  yet  obvious  because  OctoPrint’s  file  list  does  not  showmany  characters  (You  can  hover  over  a  file  in  OctoPrint  to  see  the  full  name)

Uploading g-‐code to the DeltaMaker using OctoPrintOpen  your  web  browser,  navigate  to  http://deltamaker.local,  and  log-­in  if  required.  This  guide  assumes  youalready  know  how  to  connect  the  DeltaMaker  to  your  network  and  to  log-­in.  Consulting  the  DeltaMakerGetting  Started  Guide  for  more  information.

There  are  two  ways  to  upload  g-­code  to  OctoPrint:● Find  the  saved  g-­code  file  from  the  prior  step  in  Finder,  then  drag  and  drop  the  file  from  finder  to  the

center  of  the  OctoPrint  screen  (easy  and  fun!)● Press  the  OctoPrint  upload  button  and  then  specify  the  file  location.

Now  that  the  file  is  uploaded  to  OctoPrint,  you  are  ready  to  print  it  as  per  the  instructions  in  the  DeltaMakerGetting  Started  Guide.