3D Printer SOP

Equipment Roster & Toolchain

All Hands Active maintains three FDM 3D printers. Slicing profiles currently live on the 3d printer workstation located next to the 3d printers. The profiles on computer existi in the following Slicer software:

Printer Models

• Elegoo CC (Web Dashboard UI) -> OrcaSlicer
• Prusa Mini+ (PrusaConnect / Web UI) -> PrusaSlicer
• Ender 3 v2 (OctoPrint UI) -> PrusaSlicer

Prerequisites

• .stl, .obj, or .3mf model file to be loaded into a slicer.
• Slicer or access to the 3d printer Workstation in near the 3d printer area.
• Filament: PLA, PETG, and TPU only.

Important: Only PLA, PETG, and TPU filaments should be used at All Hands Active. TPU should not be used unless you know exactly what you are doing and have been trained on the material’s unique handling requirements. If you’re interested in printing with TPU, ask on matrix in the #3dprinting channel on our Matrix server.

Material Specifications

Ensure your slicer profiles match the physical material loaded. In general, the rough thermal targets are:

• PLA: Extruder 200-215°C | Bed 60°C
• PETG: Extruder 230-240°C | Bed 80-90°C
• TPU: Varies based on hardness.

Operation Protocol

Pre-Operation Hardware Checks

Before using the 3d printer, perform the following checks:

1. Build Plate Inspection: Ensure the spring steel sheet is securely on the magnetic base and free of debris. Clean with 90%+ Isopropyl Alcohol if the bed looks greasy or stained. Shop towels (blue towels in the Common Room and cleaning supplies) are preferred over paper towels to avoid leaving lint on the print surface.
2. Nozzle Clearance: Check the hotend block for accumulated plastic or potential clogs. Do not attempt to clear a clogged nozzle while the hotend is cold. If a clog is suspected, heat the nozzle to the target extrusion temperature and use a brass wire brush or a cold pull technique with nylon filament.
3. Check the filament: If there filament currently loaded, check the currently loaded filament matches your sliced G-code parameters, and its filament that you want to use. If a swap is required, initialize the standard load/unload heating cycle via the printer’s onboard UI. If using the Ender 3, access the OctoPrint interface to perform the filament change. Ensure the new filament is free of moisture and has been dried if necessary.
4. Load the filament: If the filament is not already loaded, use the printer’s onboard UI to heat the hotend to the target extrusion temperature. Insert the filament into the extruder and feed it until you see a consistent flow of molten plastic from the nozzle. Make sure to reseal the filament bag once you’ve finished loading the filament to prevent moisture absorption.

Loading filament

1. Remove the filament from the desiccant zipper bag. After removing the spool, always re-seal the bag to keep the desiccant packet as dry as possible.
2. Check the end of the filament when you pull it out of the bag. Make sure it’s secured in the side of the spool. If it’s not, you will need to try your best to ensure it isn’t crossing under another loop to prevent a print failure.
3. Feed filament in from the top, push on the spring lever to allow it to be inserted easily. Continue to push the filament in until the color changes to the new filament’s color, or you get a decent flow from the nozzle.

Starting the print

1. Slice the model using your preferred slicer to generate the G-code instruction file.
2. Network Transfer: The local 3d printer workstation has the necessary credentials and network access.
   • Elegoo / Prusa: Upload directly via the respective IP-based web dashboards, or connct them to your slicer.
   • Ender 3 v2: Upload via the OctoPrint web interface.
3. Initiate the print sequence from the printer’s respective dashboard.

First-Layer Adhesion & Live Z-Adjustment

CRITICAL: Stay with the machine until the first layer has completed. This is the most likely point when the print is likely to fail.

1. First layer nozzle height should be close enough to slightly squish the extruded filament into an “oval” profile. It should not be too far away so as to drop it onto the bed, or so close that it flattens the filament entirely.
2. When the print is finished, wait until the bed has cooled completely before trying to remove it – it should come off more easily when cool. Try to avoid scraping it off, which can gouge the bed.

Print Monitoring

During the print, monitor for:

• Layer Shifting: Misalignment of layers due to mechanical issues or skipped steps.
• Stringing or Oozing: Excess filament between parts, indicating the extruder may be over-retracting.
• General Print Quality: Warping, under-extrusion, or other anomalies that may require pausing the print and adjusting settings.
• Bed Adhesion: Ensure the print remains adhered to the bed throughout the process. If detachment occurs, pause the print and attempt to re-secure the part if possible, This isn’t always possible, and sometimes you may need to restart from the beginning.

Generally, you can let the print run while taking care of other tasks around the space, this is a great time to sweep or take care of some of the other todo tasks!

Post-Print Cleanup

Part Removal Completion

1. Part Removal: Remove the spring steel sheet from the magnetic base and gently flex it to release the part. Never use metal tools or scrapers directly on the print surfaces.
2. Sanitization: Wipe down the build plate with IPA and re-seat it flat on the magnetic base so its ready for the next person.

Unloading and storing filament

1. Always unload and store filament in its desiccant zipper bag when you’re done printing for the day. If left out, it will begin to absorb moisture from the air, which will cause it to become unusable over time.
2. Make sure the print head is heated to the working temperature. There may be an option in the printer screen to automatically unload filament.
3. When unloading the filament, be sure to capture and tuck the loose end securely into the edge of the spool. If you let it flop loose, it’s very likely that it will end up crossing under an adjacent loop, which will cause filament feed issues during its next use!

Maintenance & Error Reporting

Hardware faults, thermal runaway errors, failing kinematics, or mechanical wear must be logged immediately to prevent cascading damage.

Report all unexpected behaviours to the Matrix channel: #3dprinting. Include the specific machine, any digital error codes thrown by the firmware, and a brief description of the hardware symptoms.