Project Dashboard Accessories and Upgrades LulzBot TAZ 6 Aerostruder Tool Head Installation Workflow

1 Getting Started

Follow the instructions below to quickly install your LulzBot TAZ Aerostruder on a LulzBot TAZ 6 3D Printer.

LulzBot TAZ Aerostruder Tool Head

2 Included Materials

Included materials

3 Additional Items Required

You will also need

  • LulzBot TAZ 6 desktop 3D printer
  • 2 mm and 2.5 mm hex keys or drivers
Items Not Included

4 Position the Z-Axis

4A
Power on your LulzBot TAZ 3D Printer.

4B
Home your 3D printer by using the Graphical LCD controller to home the printer.

4C
Raise the Z-axis through the Graphical LCD controller.

Navigate to: Prepare > Move Axis > 1.0 > Z-axis > Change the value to at least 200.

4D
After the Z-axis stops moving, push the X-axis carriage over by hand to the middle of the X-axis.

Raise Z-axis, position X-axis

5 Power Off Your LulzBot 3D Printer

5A
Once the Z-axis has finished moving to the shipping position, turn the printer off.

5B
Unplug the AC power cable from the wall outlet, then unplug from the rear of the printer.

5C
Unplug the USB cable (if installed).

Unplug cables

6 Remove Existing Tool Head

6A
Unplug the tool head connector from the wiring harness.

6B
Be sure to support the tool head with your hand to prevent it from falling onto the print surface.

6C
Unscrew the tool head mounting screw by turning counter-clockwise from the X-axis carriage with your 2.5 mm hex key.

Note: In previous versions of our tool heads, the Esteps 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.

Unplug tool head connector from wiring harness
Support tool head and unscrew with 2.5 mm hex key

7 Mount Tool Head

7A
Seat the new tool head into the X-axis carriage, allowing the tool head to self-center.

7B
Support the tool head with your hand to prevent it from falling onto the print surface.

7C
Secure the tool head to the X-axis carriage with the M3 screw from the earlier step, screwing it in with the included 2.5 mm hex key.

Secure tool head to X-axis carriage with M3 screw and 2.5 mm hex key

8 Plug in Tool Head

8A
Pull foam off of 16-pin connector piece.

8B
Find the side of the connector piece that has a small arrow and align it with the same side on the other connection piece.

8C
Connect the two 16-pin connectors, making sure to match them based on the pins in the connector.

Align and connect 16-pin connectors

9 Install or Update Cura LulzBot Edition

9A
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.

9B
Go here to install Cura LulzBot Edition http://LulzBot.com/Cura.

9C
Plug in your LulzBot TAZ 3D printer to the power supply and power on your 3D printer.

9D
Once powered on, connect your 3D printer to your computer using the USB cable.

9E
Open Cura LulzBot Edition.

Open Cura LulzBot Edition

10 Setup New Tool Head in Cura

10A
Power on the printer.

10B
Select Settings dropdown > Printer > Add Printer

10C
Select LulzBot TAZ 6 Aerostruder, and click Add Printer.

12D
Select Finish.

Add Printer dropdown
Add Printer
Select Finish

11 Update Firmware

11A
Power on the printer.

11B
Select Settings dropdown > Printer > Manage Printers

11C
Confirm the LulzBot TAZ 6 Aerostruder is selected, and click Upgrade Firmware.

11D
Select Automatically Update Firmware.

Settings > Printer > Manage Printers
Upgrade firmware
Select Automatically Update Firmware

12 Set Hotend Temperature

12A
Insert temperature as 205°C for Extruder 1. 205°C is the removal/print temperature for PLA (factory filament left in the tool head from calibration).

12B
Select Heat Extruder.

Insert temperature as 205, select Heat Extruder

13 Remove Factory Filament

Note: Always heat the hot end to extrusion temperature before attempting to remove filament as this will prevent clogging or jamming in the filament chamber.

13A
Once hot end has reached the extrusion temperature of 205, remove test filament used during factory calibration by manually winding gear as shown in image. You can also do this by entering 60 for the Extrusion amount in Cura and clicking Retract.

13B
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.

13C
Tighten the idler by turning the silver idler wheel counter clockwise if loosened.

Wind gear to retract filament

14 Load Filament

Note: If filament other than PLA is being used, refer to page 30 of the LulzBot TAZ 6 User Manual for recommended hot end temperatures. Repeat Step 12, entering in appropriate temperature value within range suggested for chosen filament before loading filament.

14A
Load your filament into Extruder 1. Squeeze the idler arm inward and insert the filament directly downwards.

14B
Rotate the gears by hand as shown in the image to help pull the filament into the tool head.

14C
Purge factory filament by continuing rotating gear by hand as shown in image until extrusion transitions into your filament of choice.

Entry point for filament
Squeeze idler
Wind gear as shown to help load and extrude filament

15 Enjoy Printing with Your New Aerostruder Tool Head!

15A
You've now finished installation and are ready to start printing with flexible and rigid materials using your LulzBot TAZ Aerostruder! Try performing a test print, such as the Rock2pus.

If you encounter issues please contact Technical Support by emailing Support@LulzBot.com, or by calling +1-970-377-1111.

Try out the Rock2pus for your first print!
Done! Take me home