Project Dashboard Accessories and Upgrades LulzBot Mini 2 LulzBot SL Tool Head Installation Workflow

1 Getting Started

Follow the instructions below to quickly install your LulzBot SL Tool Head (Small Layer | Aerostruder v2 Micro) on a LulzBot Mini 2 3D Printer.

LulzBot SL Tool Head

2 Included Materials

LulzBot SL Tool Head

3 Additional Items Required

You will also need

  • 2.5 mm metric hex key, included with your LulzBot Mini 2
  • USB cable, included with your LulzBot Mini 2
  • GNU/Linux/Windows/Mac-based computer
Additional Items Required

4 Power Off Your LulzBot 3D Printer

4A
Power off and unplug the power cord from the rear of the printer.

4B
Unplug the USB cable from the front of the printer if installed.

Power off your Mini 2

5 Remove Connector Cover

5A
Using the 2.5 mm hex key included with your LulzBot Mini 2, remove the three M3 screws.

5B
Lift off the cover, exposing the tool head connector.

Remove 3 screws
Cover removed

6 Disconnect Tool Head

Depress the retaining tab on the connector housing and gently wiggle the connector free. Do not pull on the wires, only the connector housing.

Retaining tab
Unplug the tool head connector from the wiring harness

7 Remove Tool Head

7A
The tool head is attached with three screws. The print surface can be damaged if the tool head is allowed to fall onto the print surface. With one hand, support the tool head while following removal steps below.

7B
Using the 2.5mm hex key, unscrew the three M5 screws securing the tool head to the X-axis carriage. Remove the rear screw first, followed by the remaining top two screws.

7C
Remove the tool head from the printer by moving the tool head away from the printer.

Note: In previous versions of our tool heads, the Esteps (Extruder Steps Per Unit) were listed along the back of the tool heads for the customer to update. For the new Aerostruder tool head however, the Esteps are now set up within the firmware, and no manual updates are required.

Rear screw
Top screws

8 Mount the New Tool Head

8A
Press the tool head onto the X-axis carriage, aligning the cutouts on the back of the new tool head. Do not pinch any wires between the mount and the carriage.

8B
Secure it to the X-axis carriage by loosely screwing in the top two screws. Leave the top two screws loose.

8C
Loosely screw in the last screw through the rear of the X-axis carriage.

8D
Tighten the top two screws.

8E
Tighten the rear screw.

Align the tool head.
Aligning and install the top two screws, followed by the rear screw

9 Plug in Tool Head

Connect the two connectors, making sure to fully seat the connectors until they lock.

Ready to connect
Fully seated and locked

10 Install Cover

10A
Cover the connector with the connector cover and attach it to the X-axis carriage using the three M3 screws and the 2.5 mm hex key.

10B
Channel the wires together going to down the vertical pathway on the cover mount, and try not to pinch any of the wires when securing the cover. Slide down carefully into place, and hold while screwing in.

Screw in cover using three M3 screws

11 Install or Update Cura LulzBot Edition

11A
Install the latest version of Cura LulzBot Edition. It is important to have the LulzBot Edition of Cura, as it has preset machine configuration profiles built into it.

11B
Cura LulzBot Edition is available from http://LulzBot.com/Cura.

11C
Plug in your LulzBot Mini 2 3D printer to the power supply and power on your 3D printer.

11D
Once powered on connect your 3D printer to your computer using the USB cable.

11E
Open Cura LulzBot Edition.

Power on your 3D printer and plug in USB cable
Open Cura LulzBot Edition

12 Setup New Tool Head in Cura

12A
In the top right-hand menu for Cura LE, Select the Settings drop-down arrow > Printer > Add Printer

12B
Select LulzBot Mini 2, SL | 0.25 mm (Micro), and click Add Printer.

12C
Select Finish.

Add Printer
Select LulzBot Mini 2, and SL | 0.25 mm (Micro)
Add Printer

13 Update Firmware

13A
From the drop-down menu at the top right-hand side of Cura LE, Select Manage Printers

13B
Confirm that the LulzBot Mini 2 | SL | 0.25 mm is selected, and click Upgrade Firmware.

13C
Select Automatically Update Firmware. The Update EEPROM checkbox should be checked by default. Close any dialog windows after the firmware has been updated.

Select Manage Printers
Select Upgrade Firmware
Automatically Upgrade Firmware

14 Set Hotend Temperature

14A
Select Print Monitor Control Tab from the menu above the virtual print interface.

14B
Click Connect.

14C
Type 205 into the Select temperature field.

14D
Select Heat Extruder.

Select Monitor tab
Click Connect
Set Hot End Temp to 205, select Heat Extruder

15 Remove Factory Calibration Filament

Note: Always heat the hot end to extrusion temperature before attempting to remove filament. If switching between different material types, set the hot end to the approximate average extrusion temperature of the two materials.

15A
Once the hot end has reached the extrusion temperature of 205, remove the test filament used during factory calibration by entering 5 for the Extrusion amount in Cura LE. Click the Extrude button. Change the value to 60 and click the Retract button.

15B
Once filament has retracted 60 mm, squeeze idler inwards, and pull the filament out. You may need to loosen the idler slightly by turning the silver idler wheel clockwise.

15C
Tighten the idler by turning the silver idler wheel counter-clockwise if loosened.

Extrude first, then retract filament

16 Load Filament

Filament Loading Tip: Cutting the filament at an angle will help with inserting into the extruder.

16A
Load the sample filament into the extruder. Squeeze the idler arm inward and insert the filament into the extruder filament guide.

16B
Enter 60 in Extrusion amount and click the Extrude button.

16C
Purge factory filament by continuing to select the Extrude button until the hot end extrudes material.

16D
Level the X-axis by clicking the Level X Axis button.

Insert filament
Extrude Filament
Level X-axis

17 3D Print Rocktomek Test Model

Your first print: the LulzBot Rocktomek: Download and Save

17a
Load the RocktomekPose05.stl 3D model.

17b
Select the sample material: PolyLite PLA (Polymaker) and the Profile: High Detail.

17c
Press the Print via USB button to start your print!

All Hail the LulzBot Rocktomek
Starting the print

18 Improve Adhesion By Tuning Your Z-Offset

You may need to fine tune your Z-axis offset, also known as Z-offset, to get the perfect first layer. Follow the instructions in the Advanced section of the LulzBot Mini 2 User Manual for detailed instructions.

More Information: LulzBot Mini 2 User Manual - Adjusting Z-offset

Adjust your Z-offset during the first layer of the print by following these steps:

18A
Press in on the Graphical LCD Controller knob on the LulzBot Mini 2 and select Tune.

18B
Select Z Offset

18C
Rotate the knob counterclockwise to bring the hot end nozzle closer to the print surface. Rotate the knob clockwise to move the hot end nozzle farther away from the print surface.

18D
Note the Z-offset value once adjusted. Follow the instructions at LulzBot.com/z-offset to store your ideal Z-offset.

Tune
Z offset
Adjust as desired
Ideal first layer height
Done! Take me home