Find answers to common questions to help you get started with 3D printing. If you can’t find the answer to your question – please contact us
Getting Started (7)
You can print your first object within 15 minutes of receiving your new THREEDY. The THREEDY is sent out after it has been built, calibrated and tested. Each THREEDY comes with a spool of plastic pre-installed and print ready test…
If the first layer of your print is not sticking to the surface or is not appearing correctly this may be because your platform is not level or your nozzle is the wrong distance from the platform. Select the menu…
To change the filament the nozzle must be heated. Use the menu option “Control -> temperature -> nozzle”. Set the temperature to “220C” or a value appropriate for your plastic type. Lift the black rubber filament grip which is in…
Wood is thermally stable and does not vibrate.
The machine settings for Cura are shown in the dialog below. These can be entered using the wizard or the machine settings dialog : In addition the filament diameter should be set to 1.75mm on the Basic tab and the…
Each spool has 1 kg of plastic. NB this does NOT include the weight of the spool itself, which is an additional 230 g (this is useful information when you want to calculate how much plastic you have remaining on…
If you don’t fancy designing your own prints, there are loads of 3D printable files available on the world wide web that you can download to print on your own 3D printer. Some offer professionally designed models, others are creations…
Software (4)
The machine settings for Cura are shown in the dialog below. These can be entered using the wizard or the machine settings dialog : In addition the filament diameter should be set to 1.75mm on the Basic tab and the…
MODELLING SOFTWARE Any 3D modelling software that is capable of producing STL files or files capable of being converted to STL files. Many of these modelling softwares are available for free download. Examples include OpenSCAD, TurboCad, Rhino, Sketchup, Solidworks, AutoCAD…
STL (STereoLithography) is the file format of the 3D model produced on a computer that is used to create your 3D print. It is essentially a mathematical description of the 3D object. This file type will be created by the…
G-Code is the language used to tell your THREEDY 3D printer how to print something. It gives the printer instructions on where to move, how fast to move and what path to move.
Printing (5)
The optimum printing temperature range for our THREEDY ABS Filament is 220 C to 255 C, depending upon the speed. Because the THREEDY 3D Printer is a high speed printer, we typically print at 250 C.
The optimum printing temperature range for our THREEDY PLA Filament is 195 C to 230 C, depending upon the speed. Because the THREEDY 3D Printer is a high speed printer, we typically print at 225 C.
THREEDY has very low running costs. As a rough guide, printed items work out at approximately 2 pence per gram of plastic.
No, there is not a scanner attached to THREEDY or manufactured by PuzzleShed. However, if you have a 3D scanner that produces .stl files, the scanned objects can be printed by THREEDY
The most common materials to use for desktop 3D printing are various types of plastics. We use PLA, ABS and Nylon. There are other materials you may like to experiment with. For example, Bronzefill
About 3D Printing (4)
3D printing is a process of making a three-dimensional object of virtually any shape from a digital model.
It is achieved using an additive process where successive layers of material are laid down. Each layer is a thinly-sliced, horizontal cross-section of the eventual object. Each object begins with a digital Computer Aided Design (CAD) file, created with a…
Virtually any three-dimensional shape can be printed. If you can draw it, you can print it! THREEDY was originally designed to print puzzles, at which it excells, but it can be used to print an infinte number of other objects.…
THREEDY currently comes with two different bed sizes. The classic THREEDY can print to 210 mm x 210 mm x 160 mm. The large THREEDY can print to 310 mm x 210 mm x 160 mm.
Designing Prints (3)
MODELLING SOFTWARE Any 3D modelling software that is capable of producing STL files or files capable of being converted to STL files. Many of these modelling softwares are available for free download. Examples include OpenSCAD, TurboCad, Rhino, Sketchup, Solidworks, AutoCAD…
If you don’t fancy designing your own prints, there are loads of 3D printable files available on the world wide web that you can download to print on your own 3D printer. Some offer professionally designed models, others are creations…
Your 3D printer is no use unless you have something for it to print! You need a 3D model file. You may wish to download a model, but if you are feeling creative or need to make something specific that…
