Project Dashboard Accessories and Upgrades LulzBot TAZ MOARstruder Tool Head v2 Installation LulzBot TAZ 5 Workflow

1 Getting Started

After following this Quick Start Guide, your LulzBot 3D printer will be MOAR capable than ever.

MOARstruder
MOARstruder Open Source Hardware Association Vase

2 Included Materials

Included Materials

  • MOARstruder v2 Tool Head
  • Clear t-glase sample filament, 8 m (26.25 ft) long
  • Glue stick (Elmer's® brand)
  • M3 mounting screw, 20 mm (0.79 in) long
  • Metal washer

Note: Do not cut the clear plastic wrap.
Unfold the cardboard insert to remove the tool head.
Save the packaging for future storage and shipping needs.

Included materials

3 Items Required

You will also need

  • LulzBot TAZ 5 desktop 3D printer
    Note: Your LulzBot TAZ 5 tool head harness must have the matching v2c style connector.
  • USB cable, included with your LulzBot TAZ
  • GNU/Linux, Mac OS X, or Windows-based computer
  • 2.5 mm hex key or driver

Note: If your LulzBot TAZ 5 3D printer does not have a compatible connector purchase this product: v2c style connector

Items required
Compatible v2c connector
Additional items may be required

4 Position the Z-Axis

Let's get started!

4A
Power on your LulzBot TAZ 3D printer.

4B
Home the TAZ 3D printer using the Graphical LCD Controller by navigating to: Movement > Auto Home.

4C
Raise the Z-axis up by using the Graphical LCD controller by navigating to: Movement > Move Axis > Move 1mm > Move Z

4D
Change the value to at least 200.

Raise Z-axis

5 Power Off Your LulzBot 3D printer

Completely power off your LulzBot 3D printer and unplug the power cord and USB cable (if used) before proceeding.

Power off yout TAZ 3D printer, disconnect the USB cable

6 Remove Existing Tool Head

6A
Gently unplug the connectors for your current tool head taking care to not bend any pins.

6B
With one hand support the tool head and unscrew the single M3 screw securing it to the X-axis carriage, and remove it by lifting the tool head up.

Unplug tool head connector and remove tool head mounting screw

7 Record MOARstruder E-steps

Your new MOARstruder has a different Extruder Steps Per Unit (ESteps) value than the standard TAZ tool head. This important new value can be found on a sticker on the back of the extruder.

Record this value before continuing.

Record MOARstruder ESteps

8 Mount New Tool Head

8A
Remove the protective foam from the tool head connector.

8B
Place the tool head onto the X-axis carriage by firmly but gently seating it while supporting the tool head with your other hand.

8C
Secure the tool head to the X-axis carriage with the included M3 screw. Tighten until finger tight.

DO NOT OVER-TIGHTEN

Mount new tool head
Secure new tool head

9 Plug In Tool Head

Connect the two 16 pin connectors, matching pin orientation, sticker-side up.

Verify the connectors are appropriately connected before proceeding.

Connector Stickers Face Up
Push connectors together

10 Install Or Update Cura LulzBot Edition

Cura LulzBot Edition is available from:

http://LulzBot.com/Cura.

10A
Install Cura LulzBot Edition if not already installed on your computer.

Note: If Cura has already been installed, update to the latest version by installing it from the link above, as it has preset machine configuration profiles and the required firmware updates included.

10B
Plug in your LulzBot TAZ 3D printer to the power supply and power on your 3D printer.

10C
Once powered on, connect your 3D printer to your computer using the USB cable.

10D
Open Cura LulzBot Edition.

Download or update Cura LulzBot Edition
Open Cura LulzBot Edition

11 Setup New Tool Head In Cura

In Cura:

11A
Select Machine > LulzBot TAZ 5

11B
Select Machine > Machine settings

In the Machine settings window:

11C
Select Change Tool Head

Select LulzBot TAZ 5
Open Machine settings
Select Change tool head

12 Choose Your Tool Head

12A
Select v2 (LulzBot hexagon).

12B
Select Single Extruder.

12C
Press the Next button.

12D
Select MOARstruder.

12E
Press the Next button.

You will flash the firmware in the next step.

Select v2 LulzBot hexagon
Select Single Extruder
Select MOARstruder

13 Install Firmware

13A
Press Flash the firmware.

13B
Press Start to load the MOARstruder firmware.

13C
Press the OK button.

13D
Select Finish and the tool head wizard will close.

13E
Press the OK button to close the Machine settings window.

13F
Unplug the USB cable.

Install firmware
Select Finish to close the wizard

14 Update the MOARstruder E-steps

14A
Use the Graphical LCD controller to clear the EEPROM settings from the previous firmware.

14B
Navigate to: Configuration and select Restore Failsafe.

14C
Scroll up and select Advanced settings > Esteps/mm to update the extruder steps per unit (E-steps or esteps) to get the best performance from your MOARstruder Tool Head.

14D
Select Esteps/mm and update the value with the Esteps recorded in Step 7.

14E
Scroll up and select Configuration > Save memory to store the updated values.

Update E-steps

15 Load OSHW Vase Model

15A
Download this file: OSHWA_vase_MOARstruder_first_print.stl

Save the file by right clicking and selecting Save as or Save link as.

15B
Load the OSHWA_vase_MOARstruder_first_print.stl into Cura LulzBot Edition

OSHW Vase model loaded

16 Select Material and Quickprint Profile

16A
Under Material ease of use select All.

16B
Under Material select t-glase (Taulman).

16C
Choose the Spiral vase quickprint profile.

16D
Remove the SD Card from the TAZ 5 Graphical LCD Controller and install it into your computer.

16E
Save the sliced model to the SD Card by pressing the Save GCode button.

16F
Remove the SD card and place it back into the SD card slot in the TAZ 5 Graphical LCD Controller.

Note: Large or time-consuming 3D prints are more reliable when initiated and controlled through the Graphical LCD Controller.

Select print options

17 Prepare Your 3D Printer

17A

Locate the included glue stick.

17B
Most polyester-based filament like t-glase will adhere exceedingly well to the print surface. To aid part removal, evenly apply glue stick to the print surface.

Failure to do so may cause the printed object to bond too well to the PEI print surface.

17C
Turn on the hot end through the Graphical LCD Controller by navigating to Temperature > Custom temp > Nozzle > 220°C.

17D
Heat up the print surface through the Graphical LCD Controller as well, by selecting Bed > 65°C.

Glue stick applied to print surface
Set Extruder Temperature

18 Remove Filament

Your tool head was calibrated before leaving our Colorado, USA factory. This filament will need to be removed and purged.

18A
Wait until the Graphical LCD Controller displays a hot end temperature greater than 170°C.

18B
Using the idler retainer, compress the springs and slide up, allowing the hinged idler to to rotate into the open position.

18C
Remove the calibration filament from the tool head.

Remove calibration filament

19 Load and Purge Filament

19A
Feed the t-glase filament sample through the filament guide tube and into the feed hole in the extruder body and through the hot end, until a small amount of filament comes out of the tip of the nozzle.

19B
Compress the springs with the idler retainer and rotate the hinged idler clockwise into an upright position. Lock the hinged idler into place by sliding the idler retainer back down into the locked position.

19C
Once your 3D printer is at the appropriate extrusion temperature of 220°C, purge the calibration filament by rotating the large gear counter-clockwise until the extruded filament underneath the hot end nozzle runs clear.

19D
Wait ten seconds for the filament to cool, then remove the extruded filament with the included tweezers.

Insert filament
Purge calibration material

20 Monitor the Z axis during the first homing movement

20A
To prevent damage to your 3D printer, power it off immediately if the tool head looks like it is on a course to lower into the print surface or Z-axis end stop trigger before triggering the Z-axis end stop.

If the tool head looks like it will prematurely trigger the Z-axis end stop too high above the print bed, adjust the thumb screw higher and redo this step.

20B
Home the 3D printer by using the Graphical LCD Controller to select Movement > Auto Home.

Monitor the Z-axis during the homing process.

Z-axis end stop trigger

21 Home the Z-axis

Note: The hot end and print surface will be hot. Avoid direct contact.

21A
When the Z-axis is at home, the nozzle tip should be right above the glass with a small visible gap.

21B
Adjust the Z-axis end stop trigger as needed, re-homing until a piece of paper folded over 4 times slides underneath the tool head. Some resistance should be felt when moving the paper while underneath the hot end.

Z-axis homed with small gap

22 Your First MOARstruder Print

22A
Wait until the Graphical LCD Controller displays a hot end temperature of 220°C, and a print surface temperature of 60°C.

22B
On the Graphical LCD controller, select Print from SD and navigate to the OSHWA_vase_MOARstruder_first_print.gcode file.

22C
Select the file to begin the 3D print.

Your LulzBot TAZ 3D printer will automatically home each axis and begin 3D printing!

3D printed OSHWA vase

23 Print Removal Tips

While the vase is being printed, review some part removal tips:

  1. Take your time!

  2. Your 3D printed object will be adhered rather well to the PEI print surface. Gently use the blue-handled part removal tool to probe around the edge of the printed object until you find a gap. Do not force the printed object off the print surface.

Find gap under the printed object
Gently lift from under the printed object

24 Remove Print

The bed will move forward once the print is complete. Do not remove the printed object until the print surface has cooled to the recommended object removal temperature of 50°C.

Remove your print by using the blue-handled part removal tool to separate the part from the bed.

To switch back to the original tool head, follow the same steps outlined in this guide, except this time, select the Standard LulzBot TAZ tool head and options instead.

Store the MOARstruder in the original packaging, taking care to slowly fold over the cardboard insert flaps to secure the tool head.

Have questions, or ideas? Share them with community by joining our user forum at Forum.LulzBot.com

Your first MOARstruder 3D print
Lift part off bed with tool
Done! Take me home