The Ultimaker2 print video series!

Over the next month, I'll dedicate posts to key video snippets of the 1 hr "SEP medal" print process, describing in each what is happening. For the full 5 series, check out my test upload to Blendspace (trying it out as a platform alternative to Youtube to help keep kids focused and for classroom PCs that block/limit Youtube access).

Take a look here at step one, where in the far left corner you'll see a small pile of filament that the extruder deposits to make sure it's nozzle is clear before it positions itself to make a single outline pass of the entire medal before starting to print the project. And prior to even getting this far, what I did was:

• Export my stl file from tinkercad
• Import my file into a g-code generator (I used Slic3r, but Cura also works - both are free downloads)
• Save the g-code to my PC and copy it to an SD card
• Remove the SD card from my PC and insert it into the 3D printer

This is what the 3D printer did:

• We untangled the filament from the bigger spool that feeds into the extruder. In this case, we calculated it would take 1 meter of filament, so just cut that amount from the spool to reduce the chance it would get tangled or hung up during the print job.
• We took an ordinary glue stick, and wiped it several times across the glass print bed so the print job would stay in place while the extruder nozzle passed over the printing area using the g-code instructions.
• Once the g-code was initialized (selected from the SD card inserted into the printer), the printer warmed up the print bed and extruder (takes 10 minutes) so that the filament was soft enough to squeeze through the nozzle and stick to the print bed.