Installation Instruction of CTC DIY 3D Printer Focus on high-end science and technology,focus on 3D printing Zhuhai CTC Electronics Co.,Ltd. www.ctcprinter.com 1
Introduction This DIY 3D printer can be used under different voltages according to different regions, please confirm the voltage of your region before using this printer (110V or 220V) Printer maintenance conducted by customer is required after it is used for a period of time. Frequent correct maintenance can be extend the using lifetime of the printer. 1.Safety Issues In order to obtain the best 3D printing effect, we do not recommend you to use consumables of other brand other than the exclusive consumables provided by CTC company. The maintenance and repairs caused by using consumables not provided by Zhuhai CTC Electronic Co.,Ltd is not valid for the product warranty of our company. When it is printing or has just finished printing, the temperature of the module, nozzle,print bed or the other parts within the printer body is very high, please do not touch these parts with your hand. When the printer is power on, it is forbidden to touch the power supply, power port cable, or motherboard cable with hand or conductive articles. It is forbidden to print directly on the heating bed. A piece of Borosilicate glass plate is required to be put on the bed under this condition. 2. Materials and Parts Note: All parts are listed in appendix, please refer to List of Materials for CTC DIY 3D Printer as attached. 2.1 Assembling of Frames 2
No. Item Name Specification Quantity Picture A1 XZ Frame EUY-MO1 1 A2 & A3 Left side & Right side frame A2-EUY-MO2(Left) A3-EUY-MO3(Right) 1 Frame parts are as above,use 3 M3 washer, 4 nut and 6 M3 x16mm screws to assemble each board for assembling a main framework. The installation direction must be comply with the following figures (Figure 1 to Figure 5). The connection of each board and assemblies are shown in Figure as below: 3
2.2 Assembling of Fan Accessories: 23 Fan x1; 5 M3x30mm screws x4; 3 M3 washer x 4; 4 nut x4; 9 Fan support column x 4 Install cooling fan to the back of the left cooling outlet of A1 board with 5 M3 x 30mm screws, 3 M3 washers and 4 nuts. The fan label should face to the back of A1 board. It is required to install 4pcs of 9 Fan support column. Please note the installation direction as shown in Figure as below. 2.3 Assembling of Power Supply Accessories: 25 Power supply x1; 7 M3x8mm screw x3; 20 3D power switch x 1; 6 M3 x16mm screw x2; 5 M3x30mm screws x4; 4 nut x4 4
Fix the 25 power supply on the A2 board on the right sight of the frame with 3pcs 7 M3x8mm screws, then fix 20 3D power switch onto A2 board by using 6 M3 x16mm screws, 4 nuts and 3 M3 washers. The connection of 3D power switch and power supply cables are shown in the following figures. 2.4 Assembling of Motherboard Accessories: 30 Motherboard ; 7 M3x8mm screw x 4; 11 Motherboard Support Column x 4 As shown in the figures below, insert 4 pcs support columns into the A3 board on the left side of the framework with 4pcs 7 M3x8mm screws. The follow Figure 8.3, press 30 motherboard with its holes in alignment with the 4 columns. Pay 5
attention to the installation direction. The main Structure s Installation and Connections of Power cable ports The major effect of main structure is shown in Figure 9 and Figure 10. The cable ports of motherboard and their functions are shown in Figure 11. In order to get the right installation, it is suggested to see the finished product display pictures to get general idea of the overall fitting effects and to identify the installation directions and positions. 6
Figure 9 Figure 10 7
Figure 11 (1.power source of motherboard; 2. heating bed; 3. Left nozzle power (spare) ; 4.Right nozzle power; 5. Left nozzle driver(spare); 6. Right nozzle driver ;7.Z shaft driver; 8. Y shaft driver; 9.X shaft driver; 10.motor power of Left nozzle(spare); 11. motor power of Right nozzle; 12. motor power of Z shaft; 13. motor power of Y shaft; 14. motor power of X shaft; 15. Cooling fan of nozzle; 16.Cooling fan of Power source; 17. Z shaft stopper; 18. Y shaft stopper; 19. X shaft stopper; 20. LED port. 21.SD card ports;22.temperature sensor socket of Right nozzle; 23.temperature sensor socket of Left nozzle 24.temperature sensor of heating bed(spare); 25.function reset key of motherboard ) 1. Collect all assemblies before installation: A4, A5, Display screen, Q & P assembly as shown in the following Figures: 8
2. Find out 21 Dupont cable, use it to connect the motherboard on A2 and the power supply on A3. One end of the power cable connection is shown in Figure as below and the other end is connected to port 1 on the motherboard. 9
3. 3.Installation of P assembly - Printing bed Accessories: 6 M3 x 16mm screws x6 ; 4 nut x6 ; 22 Power cable x 5 (3 short +2 long) Align the holes of P assembly with the holes of previous installed main structure. Then fix the two and install P assembly to the main structure as shown in figure 18. Then follow figure 19 to install the bottom of P assembly to the A1 assembly. 4. Installation of 31 A4 assembly Accessories: 6 M3 x 16mm screws x3 ; 4 nut x3 ; 3 M3 Washer x3 Align the holes of A4 assembly to the A1 frame, fix it to the left bottom of the A1 10
assembly. Then connect the motor to port 15 on motherboard with short 22 Power cables, and connect the limit stopper cable to port 16 on motherboard. 5. Installation of 32 A5 assembly Accessories: 6 M3 x 16mm screws x3 ; 4 nut x3 ; 3 M3 Washer x3 Align the holes of A5 assembly to the A1 frame and install A5 assembly to the right bottom of the A1 assembly. Then connect the motor to port 11 on motherboard with the long 22 Power cables. 6. Installation of display screen Accessories: 6 M3 x 16mm screws x2; 4 nut x2 ; 3 M3 Washer x2 ; 13 display screen cable Align the holes of the display screen and A1 assembly to fix the two together. The LED display screen is outward as shown in Figure below. Connect the display screen to port 19 on the motherboard with 13 display screen cable. Port 19 on motherboard connect to EXP1 port on display screen, port 20 on motherboard connect to EXP2 port on display screen. 11
7. Installation of Q assembly Note: Because each size of assembly may bear some deviation on production, in order to obtain good installation and functions, it is suggested to pay attention to the installation of the Q assembly. If necessary, please adjust the right side of Q assembly to left or to right to ensure the normal functions, and adjust the length of the belt according to actual gap. Before assembly, the first Z-axis screw M5 ends connect flexible coupling 30, is prohibited after blowing hot and then install the flexible coupling to the M5 terminal end of the flexible coupling insert M5 depth of about 10mm. As shown below: 12
(1) Accessories: 38 Z top mount x 2; 6 M3 x 16mm screws x4; 4 nut x4 ; 3 M3 Washer x4 Align holes of the Z top mount with A1\A2 assemblies and with A1\A3 assemblies, fix them with screws as Figure shown below: (2) Accessories: 1 Smooth rod x2; 8 Screw locking ring x2 Get the guide rods 1 go through the hole of 38 Z top mount, 8 Screw locking ring and the outside bearing of the P assembly from up to down in both sides. 13
Adjust the distance between left and right side of P assembly, move 8 Screw locking ring to the joint of guide rod 1 and 38 Z top mount and fix it. (3) Accessories: 2 Threaded rod x2 Get the 2 Threaded rod go through the hole of 38 Z top mount from up to down in both sides, rotating into the internal hole of P assembly, and insert to the shaft couplings above the motors of A4 assembly and A5 assembly. Adjust the distance between the two sides of P assembly to ensure the correct installation. Adjust the horizontal distance between the outer ends of the two 2 Threaded rods as 320mm. Secure the tightening screws of shaft coupling on the upside of the motors. 14
(4) Connect the Stopper cable (red) of Q assembly to port 18 on motherboard. 8. Installation of Nozzle Accessories: 6 M3 x 16mm screws x2; 4 nut x2 ; 3 M3 Washer x2 First unscrew the cooling fan on the nozzle, dismantle the nozzle to L1,L2, L3 as three parts. Install L1 part to the movable part of P assembly with 6 M3 x 16mm screws, 4 nut and 3 M3 Washer. Please note that get 6 screw go through L1 first and then through the movable part of P assembly. Then install the nozzle and fan in the reverse steps as it was dismantled. Connect motor of the nozzle to port 10 on the motherboard with long power cable 22, and connect the fan cable to port 14 on motherboard. Connect power cable of nozzle to port 3 on motherboard. Connect temperature sensor of nozzle to port 21 on motherboard. 15
Debugging and Notes 1. Make sure the temperature sensor cable of the nozzle is in the correct position, as shown in Figure as below: 16
2. Make sure the connection of cables are in normal state. Then debug if position function of the limit stopper is normal, in particular pay attention to the debugging of Z-axis limit stopper. Click Function Key to choose Prepare, then choose Auto home and click confirm to check each stopper. Adjust the nut of the long screw on the left of Q assembly, adjust the lowest position of Z-axis moves down to ensure the gap between the nozzle and the printing bed. 3. Cut off the power and put the square glass with masking tape on top of the red heating bed, fix it with the 4 Dovetail clamps, please note the position of the dovetail clamps should not affect the functions of the nozzle and among others. Move the nozzle to check if the printing bed is parallel with the nozzle, and keep a proper gap. Then power on, check the original position of the nozzle and the gap between nozzle and the printing bed, make sure there is proper gap. 17
4.Check if the threaded rod of the Z-axis is deformed, make sure the gap between axis couplings of motors of A4 & A5 assemblies and the bed is 3mm.Try to keep the shaft line of Z-axis threaded rod and the output shaft of motor in the same straight line. Keep the horizontal distance of the upper and bottom sides of Z-axis threaded rod is equal. Adjust these distance and gaps until no noise occur when motor is moving on working. 5. The bundling of cables should not affect the moving space and functions of each parts. Adjust the heating temperature of the printing head according to practical conditions. 6.The sounds of rotational motors and cooling fans are normal. 7.Heating tube damage(suitable for all FDM 3D printers): When stop using the printer or need to clean the nozzle, use spanner to clamp the square aluminum block and unscrewing the nozzle. Make sure the square aluminum block can not move when unscrewing the nozzle, otherwise the heating tube would be damage. 8. Adjustment of belt: Cut the black nylon tie, readjust the size of the belt, fix it, then secure it with nylon tie. 9. Filament feeding port is the outside one, refer to Figure as below: 18
10. Spool holder with filament installation 19
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11. Y-axis motor fixing (back-up accessory) Finish Product Display : 21
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Product Parameters 1. Propose Environment Operation Environment: Good ventilation. No dust Temperature: 15 C~35 C Relative humidity: 20%~80%(no condensation) Storage Environment: Temperature:0 C~40 C Relative humidity: 10%~80% (no condensation. Free of corrosive gas and clean) 2. Printer Parameters Structure size: 200mmx200mmx180mm(these are the maximum size. It is advised to decrease practical size) Input voltage: 110V -220V Applicable operation system: Windows 7/8(32bit/64bit) Software: Cura Printing raw material: PLA Raw material property: Special PLA designed for 3D printing (exclusive composition) Layer precision: 0.1mm~0.5mm Positioning precision: X/Y axis, 0.011mm; Z-axis,0.025mm Filament diameter: 1.75mm Nozzle diameter:0.4mm 24
Moving axis speed: 30mm/s~100mm/s Recommended nozzle moving speed: 35~40mm/s Input file type: stl Cooling method: wind cooling Maximum temperature of nozzle: 260 C (usually 210 C) Maintenance 1. Cleaning nozzle The printing head have to be cleaned after the printer is used for a period of time. Dismantle the printing head, remove the fan and the step motor, as well as the black block at the feeding port on the motor, you will see the extruding gear of the nozzle, clean the material in the extruding gear will be ok, then install these parts back to the printer. 2. Tightening belt. Notes: (1). Belt should be seamlessly contacted with the belt wheel. (2). Forces of the two sides of the Y-axis wheel belt should be the same (3). X-axis shall be perpendicular to Y-axis 3. Maintenance of axis and threaded rods Oil the bearing steel of X,Y,Z axis with high quality lubricant. The oil amount is not supposed to be too much. Just a little to lubricate the surface will be good. 4. Trouble shooting 4.1 Offset: If offset remains after screw tightening, please check if the belt wheel is 25
on the same parallel line. 4.2 Abnormal temperature display 0-1024. Check if the thermocouple is correctly connected. If so, change the thermocouple. 4.3 Temperature display is N/A. Check if the thermocouple is correctly connected. If so, change the thermocouple. 4.4. X-axis moves abnormally with vibration. The X-axis motor cable should be changed. 4.5 LCD screen turns blue without information or sudden rebooting after printer is started or the Stopper switch of motor does not stop. Check if the sensor is connected correctly. If so, then change the sensor cable. 4.6 Cooling fan does not work. First check if the fan can rotate when temperature is over 40 C. If not, use screwdriver to check the ports connection or test it by battery. If still not work, replace a new fan. 4.7 Motor does not rotate, change the motor driver board. 1.Shifted layers Common Problems and Solutions (A).Screws are firmed but still shift a.check the pulleys make sure they are parallel b.check if belts are loose, tighten them B).Check drive on the mother board. Exchange drive boards of X Y Z for testing C).Check elements such as bearing on the Q module,make sure they are firm 2. Screen shown as below means temperature sensor or temperature wire is not 26
connected well 27 is temperature of nozzle, 0 is setting temperature for nozzle 0 is temperature of platform, 0 is setting temperature of platform Check if connection of the wires of platform or mother board is connected well. If both temperature 0 are not changed, it means temperature is not setting yet or mother board broken. 3.X-axis moves abnormally or shaking (a). Check the bearing of the belts and see if they are damage or deformation (b). Check wires of the X-axis motor, if any problem change the wires 4. a.the LCD screen on but without display b.the machine restart suddenly after switch on c.the motor can not stop after touch the limit switch Check connection of the sensor s wires, if connection is no problem, there will be problem of the wires, change the wires. 5.The fan is not working. Make sure the temperature is above 50 C, if fan is not rotated,check the interface and reconnect it. Or test by battery, if still not rotated, change the fan. The default rotating speed of the fan is 255, if is 0,please adjust it to 255. 6. Motors can not rotate, check connection wires of the motors, exchange the 27
wires for testing, if motor rotating, change the wire, if not,change drive board of the motor. 7.Filament is blocked: a).filament is too thick b).dismantle the nozzle. 8.Sliding: filament is too thin,cut part of filament 9. Nozzle is blocked: heating tube is blocked by filaments, dismantle heating part and heat it to 220, then get filaments out with tweezers. 10. Abnormal temperature: thermocouple is damaged,change the thermocouple 11.Printing offset: Screw is loosened, check and tighten screw 12. Sample edge deformations: bed is too high, adjust the bed height 13. Filament is glued onto nozzle: supporting material are pulled by nozzle,reset the parameters 14. Filament does not flow out: model is faulted,transform the model into code and set parameters after model being corrected. 15.Driver or software cannot be installed: wrong system configuration, re-install the system 16. print samples cannot be glued on platform: too large gap between nozzle and bed,readjust the bed 17.Click any mode when printer is powered, the motor does not move,change a new printer identifier. 18.Tape cannot be moved off: heat the platform to 20 or 30 and take off the 28
tape completely. 19.When finish printing or need to change filament during printing. Please choose the function of discharge, do not pull out the filament by force,the way will deform the filament which is hot in the heating tube,thus will jam or damage the extrusion gear. 20.The wood fix Y-axis is easy fracture, if it is broken, request for A13 wood for replacement. 21.Z-axis can not move up and down or move very slowly, please operate Z-axis in controlling setting. Otherwise exchange the motor wires or drive board of the motors for testing. 22.Platform glass damaged. Do not press the platform glass heavily. After finish printing, use the blade to prize up the model carefully and take it down. Do not pull it up directly, this way will damage the platform glass easily. For the model which wasn t taken down on time. As after finish printing, the printer will be cooling down, temperature of the platform will turn down to normal, thus the model will be stick on the platform and hardly to take down, in this situation, heating the platform up to 100 C, then it can be taken down easily. 23.LCD screen is not on. (a). Check and confirm if connection wires of the screen and mother board are connected correctly. (b). Check if the white switch on the blue controller on the back of the screen is loose, firm it with screw and see if the screen is on. 29
24.The threaded rod bend, replace it. 25.Printer can not connect to computer: The computer without COM interface drive will not be able to be connected. 26.Filament break off or stop extrusion: Check if plastic extrusion gear is loose or damage, or the nozzles and heating tube are jam, or filament tray is stuck. 1. Quality guarantee Warranty statement and permit agreement Each product you bought is attached with the promise given by CTC. We ensure that each product manufactured by us is of high quality through strict accessory fabrication standards and assembling inspection flows. 2. After-sale guarantee (1) We promise to change or repair the product with quality problem within 3 days after your receipt of the product (free of charge and we will bear the two-way transport fees) (2) We promise to change or repair the product with quality problem within 7 days after your receipt of the product(free of charge and we will bear half of the two way transport fees) (3) We promise to change or repair the product with quality problem within 15 days after you receipt of the product free of charge. And you should bear the two-way transport fees. 30
(4) We offer free of charge consultation service to you about any product problem after 15days since you have received the product. However, you should bear all the cost for any accessory change and the two-way transport fees. (5) Do not upgrade the firmware(as Figure shown below). Any damage caused by upgrading the firmware is not within the warranty policy. 3. Notice for return or change (1) Customer should carefully check if all the parts are included in the package according to bill of materials as soon as you receive the printer (2) CTC will not liable to any part damage caused if you have not complied with the installation instructions. And you should bear all the cost of any part needed to be changed and the transport fee. (3) Because DIY printer will be installed by customer, the printing quality varies from one customer to another. We will not accept any return request once the printer is completely installed. (3.1) Basic conditions for return/change: All the accessories, instruction manual and outer package of the product should be the same as it was sold to you. We will not accept return or change request if any one of the aforesaid is missed. You can keep the free-of-charge articles for product change; You should send the 31
free-of-charge articles to use with the product for product return. (3.2)Return /change due to quality problem. Please carefully check the completeness of product as soon as you have received the product. If any quality problem is found, please take a photo and contact us within 5 days. (3.3) Please note the following terms, otherwise, we will not offer return/change service to you. (1) Any product that you request to change/return shall have all the complete outer package, accessories and instruction manual, etc. (2)We will not accept return/change if the product has been stained or damaged by personal acts. (3) free-of-charge articles are not eligible for return/change. (4)No return/change is accepted if you have used non-ctc consumables. (5)Product that has been invoiced are not to be returned. You can change the product with quality problem. 4. About Product Care:(1) After you finish printing, try to clean all the residual consumables inside the nozzle to prevent nozzle being blocked next time. This is also the rudimentary maintenance for 3D printer. Note: We will not offer repair warranty if nozzle is blocked by consumables provided by other suppliers. (2) You can add some anti-lubricant to guide track once a month. (3) During printing, do not cut off the power directly or touch the conductive parts of printer with metal. 32