Creality Ender 3D Printer

Tutorial designed by: Natalie Chan, Innovation Wing tutor

Usage arrangement

FOR ALL
MEMBERS

Access
permission

CHECK-IN-OUT
WITH STAFF

Requirement
before usage

WITH

TUTORS

Buddy system
requirement
  1. [For All Members] All members of Innovation Wing are welcome to use the Ender 3D printer to support their hands-on works.
  2. [Talk to us] Before using our 3D printers, please let us know your print job and project works by filling the 3D Printing Job Registration Form. If you do not have a project supervisor, please contact our staff (Director of Innovation Wing/ technical staff/ tutor staff), we are very happy to help you.
  3. [Operate the 3D printer with tutors/technicians] Please operate the 3D printer with our tutors/technicians, we are very happy to help.
Usage procedure for members

  • Step 1. Create object model (.STL file)

    Use any object modeling software (e.g., Solidworks / Fusion 360) or download a 3D model online for printing. Prepare the object model in .stl file format.

  • Step 2. Printing pre configuration (.G-code file)

    Use Ultimaker Cura software to do pre-configuration of the print job. Do slicing and obtain the estimated printing duration and estimated material for the print job. Download the g-code file into a USB drive.

  • Step 3. Talk to on-duty tutor/technician

    Come to Innovation Wing and talk to any of our on-duty tutors/technicians. They will go through the printing file with members and do a final confirmation of the printing parameters (such as duration, layer thickness, dimension, ...etc) 

  • Step 4. Fill in the job registration form by members

    Once confirmed, members can fill the 3D printing registration form.

    Note: Printing jobs without a valid registration will be stopped immediately by staff. Printed items without a valid registration will not be collected by any members.

  • Step 5. Submit the print job to the 3D printer by tutor/technician (NOT by member)

    The tutor/technician will check the registration record and once the data are verified, the tutor/technician will operate the 3D printer and submit the job with the presence of the student member.

  • Step 6. Start printing and collection of printed items

    Member please come to Innovation Wing to collect the printed items. Members are encouraged to come to check the printing process frequently as there is NO GUARANTEE that the print job will be successful. 

    Printed items that are not collected for a week will be removed by Innovation Wing staff.

3D printing registration form
  • Members please come to Innovation Wing and talk to our on-duty tutors/technicians.
  • Innovation Wing tutor/technician will go through the printing file with members and do a final confirmation of the printing parameters (such as duration, layer thickness, dimension, …etc) 

  • Once confirmed, members can fill the 3D printing registration form

registration of 3D printing job in Innovation Wing
  • Innovation Wing tutor/technician will mark the assigned timeslot for the 3D printer on calendar.

User manual of Ender 3 series

Please click the following button to access the official user manual for Ender 3 printer.

Ender 3 official user manual
A backup of English version of the user manual
Safety rules

All users of this machine should read the following session about safety carefully before operating the machine.

The following are recapped from the user manual of the Ender 3 series printer.

  • Ender series 3D printers generate high temperatures and have hot moving parts that can cause injury. Never reach inside Ender 3D printers while they are in operation. Always control the printer with the touchscreen at the front of the power switch at the back. Allow the Ender 3D printers to cool down for 5 minutes before reaching inside.
  • Do not change or adjust any parts of the products unless the change or adjustment is authorized by the manufacturer.
  • Do not put items on Ender series products.
  • Ender series products are not intended for use by persons with reduced physical and/or mental capabilities, or lack of experience and knowledge unless they are supervised or have been given instructions concerning the use of the appliance by a person responsible for their safety
  • Children should be under constant supervision when using Creality Ender products.

Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)

These devices may not cause harmful interference, and these devices must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

An electrostatic discharge in some metallic parts of the devices may cause the interruption of the NFC communications, affecting the initial detection of the material spool. In these cases, a device restart should solve the problem

Electrical safety

  • Creality Ender products have been tested according to the IEC 60950-1 and/or IEC 62368-1. All relevant products have undergone and passed hi‐pot testing before shipment. This test guarantees the right level of insulation
    against electrical shock. An earthed mains socket must be used. Be sure that the building installation has dedicated means for over-current and short-circuiting. For more information, please visit the official website for the CB-certificate. The Creality Ender 3D printers are powered by mains voltage, which is hazardous when touched. Only trained staff should remove the bottom cover.
  • Always unplug Creality Ender products before performing maintenance or modifications.

Mechanical safety

  • Creality Ender products are compliant with the Machine Directive 2006/42/EU. The EC declaration of conformity can be found on our website. The Creality Ender 3D printers contain moving parts. No damage to the user will be expected from the drive belts. The force of the build plate may cause minor injury, so stay out of the reach of the build plate during operation.
  • Always unplug the product before performing maintenance or modifications.

Risk of burns

  • There is a potential risk of burns: the print heads of the Creality Ender 3D printers can reach temperatures above 200 °C, while the heated bed can reach temperatures above 100 °C. Do not touch either of these parts
    with your bare hands.
  • Always allow the product to cool down for 30 minutes before performing maintenance or modifications.
  • 3D printing thermoplastics may result in the release of ultrafine particles (UFPs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) depending on the thermoplastic used and settings of the 3D printer.
  • Creality Ender products are designed for use with PLA materials and are open for use with materials from third-party suppliers.
  • Do not touch the contact points on the back of the print core with your fingers.
  • When using a brim, be aware of the danger of cutting yourself when removing the print from the build plate. Use a deburring tool to remove the brim once the print is taken from the build plate.
  • Take the build plate out of the printer to avoid damaging the build plate clamps.
  • It is advised to wear protective gloves when the support structure contains sharp corners or when working with larger models.
  • Do not touch the contact points on the backside of the print core with your fingers.
  • Make sure there is no excess material below the tip of the nozzles and the build plate is clean before the start of a print or when you want to calibrate the build plate, or you might get inaccurate results.
  • Do not touch the Creality Ender during the active leveling procedure, as this could affect the calibration process.
  • Do not apply force to the build plate while fine-tuning with the calibration card, as this will lead to leveling inaccuracies.
Operational guideline (to be completed by tutor/technician)

This operational guideline is a walkthrough of the general printing procedure in Innovation Wing. You will act as a member and go through this process once.

  • Step 1. Find and search an object model (.STL file)
  • Step 2. Slicing – Printing pre-configuration (.G-code file)
  • Step 3. Talk to on-duty tutor/technician staff.
  • Step 4. Fill in the job registration form by members, mark on the usage calendar by staff
  • Step 5. Start printing and collection of printed items.

Step 1. Find and search an object model (.stl / .obj file)​

  • Download STL files on the Internet for slicing
  • Useful websites for interesting 3D models: 

✔ Thingiverse https://www.thingiverse.com/ 

✔ Grabcad (register required) https://grabcad.com/library

  • 1.1. Find an interesting model on the Thingiverse and download it. The files for slicing should be a STL or OBJ file (only STL and OBJ can be read in the slicing software).

Step 2. Printing pre-configuration (.G-code file)​

  • 1. Select 3D printer's type and material

    At the beginning, you shall select the type of 3D printer that you would like to use. You can choose these five 3D printers (listed in the figure above) by clicking the button.

  • Move and rotate the model(s) to a certain position (or angle) within the build plate

    Sometimes the position of the model is not good for printing. If the surface of model doesn’t touch the building plate, you should use “Move” and “Rotate” to adjust the position of it. 

  • Adjust the layer height of printing

    Depending the quality of model you want, you can adjust the layer height of printing. The layer height depend on the diameter of nozzle.

    The recommended layer heights are 0.05mm, 0.1mm, 0.12mm and 0.2mm. 

  • Adjust the wall thickness

    Depending the strength of model you want, you can adjust the infill density and pattern. The recommended "Wall thickness" is 1.2 mm & "Wall line count" is 3.

  • Ajust the infill density and pattern

    Depending on the strength of model you want, you can adjust the infill density and pattern.

    Models and figurines: Lightning, lines, zig-zag

    “Standard” 3D prints: Grid, triangles, tri-hexagon

    Functional 3D prints: Cubic, cubic subdivision, octet, quarter cubic, gyroid

    Flexible 3D prints: Concentric, cross, cross 3D

  • Select proper adhesion type and enable support feature 

    Skirt:

    Regulate hot end temperature and printing flow

    Adjust 3D printer bed leveling

    Brim:

    Increase surface area -> not curl away from the building plate

    Raft:

    Increase surface area -> not curl away from building plate

    Don’t affect the surface quality

  • Select appropriate slicing tolerance

    Tolerance is important in 3D printing. Slicing tolerance is the way sloped areas are sliced. In the above image, a layer is sliced in a 2D way at a particular height. The layer can be sliced in three ways.

    Inclusive: Slice at the outermost part of the layer, always including the model

    Middle: Slice at the middle of a layer. This is the standard setting

    Exclusive: Slice at the innermost part of the layer, allowing the model to be smaller than the actual slice

    You can adjust the slicing tolerance in Ultimaker Cura. The recommended is Exclusive.

  • Save the file and input into the selected 3D printer

    Save the file to SD card by using adaptor and insert into the Ender Printer.

    You may now find the file you saved on the screen.

Step 3. Talk to Innovation Wing tutors/technicians

CHECK IN-OUT
WITH STAFF

Requirement before usage

  • 3.1. Members come to Innovation Wing and talk to our tutors/technicians.
  • 3.2. Innovation Wing tutor/technician will go through the print file and double confirm the printing parameters and materials (such as layer height, in-fill, support, etc.).

Step 4. Fill in the job registration form by members

  • 4.1. After confirming the print job, members will fill in the 3D printing registration form.
  • Note: tutors and technicians who go through this tutorial, please also fill in the form once and fill the following info:
    • Please use your name and student/staff ID
    • Project supervisor as “Innovation Wing”
    • Supervisor email as “innowing@hku.hk”
    • Project type please select “Training – Work on the training material”.
Registration of 3D printing job in Innovation Wing
by member
  • 4.2. Tutor/technician will check received registrations. (Please use the login account mentioned in the staff training workshop to check the following registration list.)
Check 3D printing registration
BY INNO WING TUTOR/TECHNICIAN

Step 5. Start printing and collection of printed items

WITH TUTORS

Buddy system requirement
  • Tutor/technician will submit the print job to the Creality Ender and assist with operating the machine.
  • 5.3. Submit print job to Creality Ender and start printing. Use the circular button in the front to select PRINT, and then select the file to print. Creality Ender will start printing.
  • 5.4. After collecting the printed object, please show this to the technical manager (Seto) for recording the completion of this tutorial.
  • 5.5 Please put the printed object inside your tutor/technician badge when you are on-duty 😉

To seek help and assistance

  • Please try to troubleshoot by yourself first by reading the user manual.
  • Seek help from other tutors and technicians if needed.
  • Approach the technical manager if you have questions about machine operation, maintenance, and usage rules.
Loading / unloading printing filament

Loading printing filament for Creality Ender with Bowden extruder.

Loading printing filament for Creality Ender with Drive drive extruder.

Acknowledgment
  • This tutorial is prepared by our tutor Kit Lo from the Innovation Tutorship Training Scheme on Dec 2020.
  • This tutorial is edited by CS Seto (technical manager of Innovation Wing), Edison (technical staff of Innovation Wing) on Jan 2021.
  • Materials from this tutorial include some recap of the official user manual from Creality Ender. With some additional materials added by our staff.
For Inquiries, Please Contact

Please contact

    • Natalie Chan (natcychan[at]hku.hk), the teaching assistant of the Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing, or
    • Ryan chan (ryancck[at]hku.hk), the senior technical assistant of the Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing