Update Makerbot Replicator Z18 Software Download

This page will help yous gear up up your new Makerbot® 3D printer to use the All-In-One 3D printing software by Simplify3D™. The Replicator® line of 3D printers has been incredibly successful for Makerbot®. The Replicator® 1 was released in January 2012, the Replicator® 2 in September 2012, and finally the Replicator® 2X experimental printer in January 2013. The printer comes with an integrated LCD interface as well every bit an onboard SD bill of fare that makes printing a piece of cake. If you are setting up a brand new Replicator 3D printer, make sure to read the User Manual that comes with the printer. This describes the unboxing and final assembly including installing the filament guide tube and filament spool holder. You can also download an electronic copy of the User Transmission directly from Makerbot's Support Folio. The remainder of this folio is written specifically for the Replicator 2, merely the same process can be applied to the other Makerbot-style printers similar the Replicator i, Replicator 2X, MBot Cube, Flashforge Creator, etc.

Final Hardware Checks

Earlier nosotros dive into the software, in that location are a few final hardware checks you should perform earlier using your Replicator two. If you're confident your printer is ready to go, y'all can spring directly to the Software Setup Instructions. The Replicator two comes with several boosted pieces you lot volition need to install before performing your get-go print. These are too described in Makerbot'due south User Manual as mentioned above. The 2 important items of interest are the filament guide tube and the filament spool holder. The filament guide tube plugs into the extruder trunk and then attaches to the rear of the Replicator 2.

The filament spool holder has a tab that can be inserted into the rear console of the machine. The filament spool will so rest on this part allowing information technology to spin freely and continue to feed filament during normal operation. This sounds easy, but we establish that the filament spool holder supplied with our motorcar was not ideal, even for the included PLA filament spool. The spool holder was a bit also wide and actually created likewise much friction with the provided spool. The auto was originally plagued with constant extruder clicking during high-speed press, which was somewhen traced dorsum to this increased friction. Thankfully, there is an abundance of Replicator two upgrade parts bachelor and nosotros were able to resolve this problem past replacing the stock filament spool holder with whpthomas' revised design (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:38439).

The terminal affair to exercise is to power on your Replicator 2 by plugging in the included power cord and flipping the switch on the rear of the unit of measurement. The first time you exercise this, the build-in LCD menu volition automatically run the included startup script that will walk yous through the process of leveling your build plate and feeding your PLA filament into the extruder. One time this setup procedure is consummate, you're ready to start press!

Software Setup

The Makerbot Replicator 2 uses the x3g file format for printing. This is a binary file that the motorcar reads which contains all of the instructions for printing. The software tin can exist ready to output this file format directly thanks to it's integrated back up for the Makerbot printers. The output x3g file can then be printed in two ways. You can copy it to the automobile'due south SD bill of fare and use the built-in LCD menu or you tin stream the file straight to your machine via a connected USB cablevision.

The first step in this procedure is to configure the software to speak the aforementioned language as your Makerbot. Y'all tin can do this by opening the Simplify3D software and going to Tools > Firmware Configuration. Select the included Sailfish/Makerbot firmware profile from the drop-downwards list. This will allow the software to work with both the stock Makerbot firmware and the common Sailfish firmware upgrade (which you tin can read more nigh hither). In this aforementioned window, click on the X3G tab and select the correct auto contour (in this example, the Replicator 2).

At this point, y'all are ready to import an STL file and outset configuring your slicing settings. The software includes a Quick Start Guide that describes this basic procedure. This guide tin exist found at any time past going to Aid > Quick Beginning Guide from within the program.

Starting a Print!

Once you are happy with your FFF settings, you can press the Prepare button to create the car instructions required for printing. Please make sure that the filename does non exceed xxx characters. The software volition create ii files in the location that you specify. One of these files is the binary x3g instructions that y'all will use for press on the MakerBot (.x3g). The other file is standard ASCII Yard-Code (.gcode) which can exist blithe using the built-in Previewer. This allows you to see what the impress will look like before actually running it on your machine. If you lot are happy with the build preview, yous have two options to begin press. Outset, you could merely copy the output .x3g file to your Replicator 2's SD carte. Plug the carte du jour back into your machine and then use the built-in LCD menu to select "Build from SD" and choose the file you wish to print. The second option is to utilize the software's built-in Motorcar Control Console. Yous tin find this window by going to Tools > Machine Control Panel. The .x3g file y'all just prepared should be listed in your G-Code library along with the estimated print fourth dimension and filament usage. Select the line particular you wish to print and choose "Run Selected G-Lawmaking".

Congratulations! You lot've reached the end of the guide and you are now gear up to commencement making things using the Simplify3D software with your Makerbot 3D printer! If y'all have farther questions feel free to contact our technical back up staff and we will exist happy to assistance you.

Troubleshooting

If you run into problems during your first print, hither are a few common troubleshooting tips you can endeavor.

Please make sure that the filename you choose when clicking the Gear up push is less than 30 characters. Annotation: You cannot merely rename the file to something shorter, you lot must consign information technology a second time from the software using the shorter proper noun.
If you are using a Windows figurer, please make sure that you have installed the necessary MakerBot Mightyboard drivers. If you have already installed MakerWare or RepG, you do non demand to worry about this.
If y'all have MakerWare installed on your computer, please make certain that the Conveyor service is disabled before trying to connect to your printer using the Simplify3D software. You tin exercise this by opening MakerWare and going to Services > End Background Service.

Using a Dissimilar MakerBot Printer?

If you are using an older printer similar the Thing-O-Matic or the Cupcake CNC, there are only a few additional changes you will need to make. To brainstorm, information technology is a skillful idea to select the included Replicator 2 contour as a starting point. It is very similar to some of Makerbot's earlier printers then it will salvage you some boosted configuration. The next thing you volition need to practise is click the "Bear witness Advanced" button on your FFF settings window. This will display some of the more detailed settings that nosotros offer.

Many of Makerbot's earlier printers had a much smaller build volume than the latest Replicator lineup. If your machine has different X/Y/Z dimensions, y'all volition need to change them on the "Thousand-Code" tab of your FFF Settings window. The X/Y/Z dimensions for the "Update Machine Definition" department will need to exist updated to match your machine. Most Makerbot printers as well place the coordinate system origin in the middle of the build platform. In this case, you should also update the 10 and Y origin offsets to be one-half the 10/Y dimensions. For example, if your car has a 100x150x200mm build volume, you would want the origin offset to exist 50x75x0mm. The virtual build table in the software will be updated to lucifer the settings you specify here.

The last affair to practise is to edit the starting and ending Thou-Lawmaking scripts so that they work with your particular setup. For case, the Replicator 2 starting Grand-Code script uses a special position merely slightly off the border of the build plate which allows the nozzle to exist primed without getting plastic all over the build plate. The behavior in these scripts is specific to each individual automobile and will need to exist updated accordingly. You tin can notice these settings on the "Scripts" tab of your FFF Settings. If y'all take questions about this procedure, feel free to contact our support staff and nosotros will be happy to walk yous through information technology.