Chapter 6: About Software
6.1 Software Installation
6.1.1 Software Acquisition
Method 1: To get the installation package from the USB disk in the toolkit.
Method 2: Open the link below to download the installation package: http://www.flashforge.com
Steps:
Support---Downloads---Flashprint---chose the software version---download
6.1.2 Software Installation and Start-up
1. Decompress the zipped file or start the installation program, and then install the software according to the direction.
2. Start the software with the start menu shortcut or by clicking the software icon.(See
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6.2 Exploring FlashPrint
6. 2.1 Machine Type Selection
! After starting FlashPrint, you need to select the target machine type first.
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When you start FlashPrint, a dialog box will pop up. Just select Flashforge Guider Ⅱ in the machine type list and click [OK] . You can also change the machine type via clicking [Print] -[Machine type] . See graphic 6-2:
6.2.2 Software Introduction
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Load one or multiple files.
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Enter the support edit mode
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Print it directly with your Guider Ⅱ or export to your USB Stick
View FlashPrint home screen from one of six viewing angles
Move model around on xy-plane; shift+click to move along z axis
Turn and rotate your model
Scale the size of your object
Cut model into several parts
6.2.3 Loading
You can load a model file or Gcode file into your Flashprint by the following six methods:
Method 1: Click the Load icon file.
on the main interface. Then select the object
Method 2: Select the file for loading and drag the file to the main interface of the software.
Method 3: Click [ File ] -[ Load File ] . Then select the object file for loading.
Method 4: Click [ File ] -[ Examples ] to load the example files
Method 5: Click [ File ] -[ Recent Files ] to load the files opened recently.
Method 6: Select and drag the target file to the icon of Flashprint.
Note: .
STL, .OBJ, and .FPP
, ways to store 3D models, are supported by Flashprint for editing.
Generating Rilievo
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Loading a png, jpg, jpeg, bmp picture file into the FlashPrint. And the following dialogue box(6-3) will pop up. The setting box includes settings for shape, mode, maximum thickness, base thickness, bottom thickness,width, height, top diameter and bottom diameter.
Shape: including plane, tube, canister and lamp.
Mode: including “darker is higher”and “lighter is higher”.
Maximum thickness: Z value of the model
Base thickness: The minimum raft thickness and the default value is 0.5mm
Width: X value of the model
Depth: Y value of the model
Bottom thickness: For tube, canister and lamp to set up bottom thickness
Top diameter: For tube, canister lamp and steal to set up the top diameter
Bottom diameter: For tube, canister, lamp and steal to set up the bottom diameter
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Plane(6-5)
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Tube （ 6-6 ）
Cansiter(6-7)
Lamp(6-8)
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Seal(6-9)
6.2.4 Views
① Changing views
Change model views by moving, rotating, scaling.
● Drag
Click the [View] icon and then you can move the object by the following three methods:
Method 1: Hold down the left mouse button and drag.
Method 2: Hold down the middle mouse button and drag.
Method 3: Hold down the Shift key, hold down the right mouse button and drag.
● Rotate
Click the [View] icon and then you can rotate the object by the following two methods:
Method 1.
Hold down the right mouse button and drag.
Method 2.
Hold down the Shift key, hold down the left mouse button and drag.
● Scale
Rotate the mouse wheel to enlarge or shrink the build plate.
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② Set View
Allows users to view the object on the build plate. Six views are under the view menu, that is, home view, bottom view, top view, front view, back view, left view and right view.
Method 1: Click the the [View] button, there are six views in the drop- down list
Method 2: Click the the [Look] icon will appear with six views for selecting.
on the left, click it again and a submenu
③ Reset View
Allow users to reset views by the following two methods:
Method 1: Click the [View] menu and select [ Home View ]
Method 2: Click the [ View ] button on the left, click it again and you will see the viewing options, you can click [Reset] .
④ Show Model Outline
Click [View] -[Show Model Outline] , it will highlight the yellow border of the object
⑤ Show Steep Overhang
Click [View] -[Show Steep Overhang] . When the intersection angle between the model surface and horizontal line is within the overhang threshold value, the surface has steep overhang and it becomes red in the software. Overhang threshold value could be set as needed. The default value is 45 degree.
6.2.5
Move
Select the object and move the object by the following two methods:
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Method 1: Click the [Move] icon on the left, hold down the left mouse button and drag to adjust the location of the model in XY direction. Hold down the Shift key, hold down the left mouse button and drag to adjust the location of the model in Z direction. The distance and the direction of the movement shall be displayed.
Method 2: Click the [ Move ] button on the left and then enter the distance value. Click
[ Reset ] to reset distance values.
Note: Users shall click [Center] and [On Platform] after the location adjustment to ensure the model(s) be within the build area and on the build platform. If a specified position is needed, only to click [On Platform] .
6.2.6
Rotate
Select the target object and rotate the object by the following two methods:
Method 1: Click the [Rotate] icon on the left and three mutually perpendicular rings appear around the object Click one ring and rotate on the present axis, you will see the rotation angle and direction in the center of circle. In this way, you could make the model rotate on X/Y/Z axis.
Method 2: Click the [Rotate] icon on the left, and then enter into rotating angel values in X/Y/Z axes positioning. Click [Reset] to reset rotating angel values.
6.2.7
Scale
Select the target object and scale the object by the following two methods:
Method 1: Click the [Scale] icon on the left, hold down the left mouse button and scale the model. The corresponding values will display near the object.
Method 2: Click the [Scale] icon on the left and then enter into scale values in X/Y/Z axes positioning. Click the [Maximum] button to get largest size possible for building.
Click [Reset] to reset the size of model.
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Note: If the [Uniform Scaling] radio button is clicked, it will scale the model in equal proportion when changing value in any positioning of the model. Otherwise it will only change the value of the corresponding positioning.
6.2.8
Cut
Left-click on the model to select it and double-click on the Cut icon to set the cut plane. The direction and position are available for setting.
① Draw with Mouse
② X Plane
③ Y Plane
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④ Z Plane
6.2.9 Supports
After loading the model, click [ Edit] -[Supports ] or click the Supports icon directly, then you will enter the support edit mode(as shown in the picture below). Click [ Back ] to exit when you finish editing.
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① Support Options
Click the Support Options, an option box will appear, supports options include
“treelike”and “linear”, when choose “treelike”, click [OK] , then it will generate treelike structure; when choose “linear”, click [OK] , then it will generate linear structure; if it is a model with supports, when you choose one of the supports options, software will judge whether existing supports need to be deleted or not on the basis of
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the type of existing support, and will pop up the corresponding prompt to let you make the choice.
② Auto Supports
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Click the [Auto Supports] button, the software will judge the position where supports are needed and generate corresponding treelike or linear supports. If it is a model with supports, the existing supports will be deleted and new supports will be generated.
③ Add Supports
Supports will be added once clicking the [ Add ] button. Move the cursor to the position where supports needed, left-click to choose the starting point of supports, hold down the left mouse button and drag the mouse the supports preview will show up(if support surface doesn’t need support or the support column angle is too large, will highlight the support review ). Loosen the left mouse button, if support column doesn’t meet with model, then support will be generated on origin and terminal point(the highlighted preview support won’t generate support structure )
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④ Clear Supports
Click [ Clear Supports ] , all supports will be deleted. The operation can be repealed via clicking [ Undo ] or pressing the shortcut key Ctrl+Z .
⑤ Delete Supports
Supports will be deleted once clicking the [ Delete ] button. Move the cursor to the supports needed deleting, current supports and its subnode support will be highlighted, click the left mouse button to delete these highlighted support.
6.2.10 Print
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① Preview: Choose to enter preview interface or not
② Print when slice done: Print or not when slice done
③ Material type: Choose according to the type of model
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④ Supports: When print suspended structure models, support is necessary. Click
[supports] to create support part for the printing.
⑤ Raft: This function will help the model to stick well on the platform.
⑥ Wall: During dual color printing, this function will help to clear the leaking filament of another extruder.
⑦ Vase Mode: No capping for the model
⑧ Resolution ： You have three resolution solution(with default setting)to choose from, high resolution is corresponding with slow printing speed, opposite for the low resolution. For PLA printing, an extra solution “Hyper” is available.
⑨ More options: Click [More options] to set for layer, shell, infill, speed and temperature. Different resolution solution is corresponding to different defaults, click
[Restore Defaults] to back to default setting.
●Layer a. Layer: Layer thickness of the printing model. With a small value, the surface of the model will be more smooth.
b. First Layer Height: This is the first layer of the model, which will affect the sticking performance between the model and platform. Maximize is 0.4mm, usually the default is ok.
c. Shell: Contains the outside shell value, capping layer value (under vase pattern, top solid layer setting is invalid.)
● Primeter Shells: Maximize is 10 a. Top Solid Layer: Maximize is 10, minimum is 1.
b. Bottom Solid Layer: Maximize is 10, minimum is 1.
● Infill a. Fill Density means fill rate.
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b. Fill Pattern is the pattern of filling shape which effects printing duration.
c. Combine Infill: You can select the layers for combining according to the layer thickness. The combined thickness should not exceed 0.4mm. “Every N layers” is for all the infills while “Every N inner layers” is only for inner infills, which generally can save print time.
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● Speed a.
Print Speed is the moving speed of the extruder. Generally, the lower speed is, the better print you will get. For PLA printing, 80 is recommended.
b. Support Print Speed is needed to set when choosing Slic3r as the slice engine which can control the moving speed of the extruder when printing the supports.
c. Travel Speed is to control the moving speed of the extruder under non-printing
Status during work. For PLA printing, 100 is recommended.
Note: Modify parameters settings to get better prints as different models need different parameters.
● Temperature
Extruder Temperature: Recommended extruder temperature is 220 ℃ .
Note: Different temperatures have subtle influences in prints. Please adjust the temperature according to the condition in order to get a good print.
● Others
Pause At Heights: Allows users to pre-set a height in which the print will suspend automatically. The function usually applied when you want to change the filament at a certain point.
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(6-14) Click[Edit], then you can add or remove a height.
6.2.11 File Menus
① New Project
Click [ File ] -[ New Project ] can build a blank project. If there is an unsaved modification on previous project, then it will inform you whether the modification needs to be saved or not. Click [ Yes ] will save the modification, click [ No ] will abandon it. If click [ Cancel ] or close tool tip, then will cancel the new project.
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② Saving
After finishing the model edit and adjustment, there are two ways below to save all models in the scene.
Method 1:
Click [File] -[Save Project] in the menu bar to save the file as a project file with the
“.fpp”suffix, all models in the scene (include support) are independent . After reloading the files, extruder configuration information and model position will be the same as the configuration during saving.
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Method 2:
Click on [File] -[Save as...] to save the model as project file .fpp or .stl and .obj.
For .stl and .boj, models are integrated as one(include support part). If load it again, only the position of the model was saved, not included the printing parameters.
③ Preferences
Click [File]--[Preferences] , you can choose language and if needs detecting update when start
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● Language: The software supports six languages, namely, Chinese(simplified
Chinese and traditional Chinese), English, French, Korean, Japanese and Russian.
● Printing Window Type: Including Base Mode and Expert Mode
● Check for Update after start up: It is used to preset if it is necessary to activate the online automatic update function, if choose yes, every time when you open software, it can online detect if it is a new version software, once new version found, it will reminds users to download and install new version firmware.
6.2.12 Edit Menus
① Undo
Allows users to undo the recent edits by the following two methods:
Method 1 : Click [ Edit] -[Undo] .
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Method 2: Press the shortcut Ctrl+Z .
② Redo
Allows users to redo the most recent edit you have undone to your model file by the following two methods
Method 1: Click [Edit] -[Redo]
Method 2: Press the shortcut Ctrl+Y .
③ Empty Undo-stack
To clean up the recorded operating steps so as to release the memory.
④ Select All
By the following two methods, you could select all models in the scene. (When models are too small to be seen or out of viewing scope, please click [Center] and
[Scale] buttons to adjust the model.)
Method 1: Click [ Edit] -[Select All] .
Method 2: Press the shortcut Ctrl+A .
⑤ Duplicate
Select the object and duplicate the object through the following two methods:
Method 1: Click [ Edit ] -[ Duplicate ]
Method 2: Press the shortcut Ctrl+D
⑥ Delete
Select the object and delete the object through the following two methods:
Method 1: Click [ Edit ] -[ Delete ]
Method 2: Press the shortcut Delete
⑦ Surface to Platform
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After selecting the model, you can make the model surface to platform via the following operation.
Click [ Edit ] -[ Surface to Platform ] into surface to platform mode(As shown in the picture)
（ Surface to Platform ）
⑧ Auto Layout All
Click [ Edit ] -[ Auto Layout All ] after loading one or more than one models, all models will be placed automatically as automatic placement rule.
6.2.13 Print Menus
① Connect Machine
You can connect the Guider Ⅱ with your PC via a USB cable or WIFI.
Note: The machine icon on the bottom right displays the connection status:
Connected
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Disconnected
Method 1 ： Connect Via USB Cable a. Connect your Guider Ⅱ with your PC via an USB cable.
b. Turn on your Guider Ⅱ and start Flashprint.
c.Click
[Print]--[Connect Machine] , then select USB in the [Connection Mode] option and select machine you want to connect in [Select Machine] option. If you can not find your machine, click the [Rescan] button to scan your machine and select it.
Finally click [Connect] button to connect to the printer. If you still can not find your machine after rescan, it means you haven’t installed the driver in the software.
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Method 2 ： Connect Via WIFI
① Connect Guider Ⅱ with your PC under AP mode a.Turn on your Guider Ⅱ b.Tap
[Tools]-[Setting]-[WIFI]-[WIFI ON] c. Click on the wireless network on the left bottom, and find the wireless signal-“Guider Ⅱ ”. Click [Connect] to finish network connection.
d. Click [Print] [Connect Machine] on Flashprint. Then the following dialog box
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pops up. You need to select “Wi-Fi” in Connect Mode. Enter into the IP Address shown on the interface and then click [Connect] .
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If successfully connected, you will see the following red mark.
② Connect Guider Ⅱ with your PC under STA mode a. Turn on the WIFI of Guider Ⅱ and connect your PC with Guider Ⅱ via the
WIFI. Press [ Tools ] , [ Setting ] , [ WIFI ] , and [ WIFI ON] .
b.“Guider Ⅱ ” continuous signal will be found available on the network list.
c. Once your PC is connected with your Guider Ⅱ . Open the Internet browser and enter “ 10.10.100.254
” and enter the default user name(admin) and password(admin) .
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You will enter the WIFI setting panel, it displays as follows:
6-21 d. Select WIFI mode as STA mode, and then complete the corresponding setups, you can change the SSID(the WIFI’s name) and the password, select [Enable] in DHCP auto get IP, then click [Save] . The following interface will appear.
6-22 e. Click the [Restart] button. You need to restart your Guider Ⅱ ’s WIFI. And then
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your Guider Ⅱ will connect with your computer via the WIFI that you’ve set up.
② Disconnect Guider Ⅱ
Click [Print]--[Disconnect] to disconnect your PC and Guider Ⅱ .
6.2.14 Tool Menus
① Control Panel
After connecting PC with Guider Ⅱ , click [Tools]--[Control Panel] to open the control panel.
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● Jog Controls a. Jog Mode ： the distance extruder/ build plate move upon your single click).
b. Six blue arrow direction button: Control the move along X/Y/Z axis. X/Y axis button control extruder move, Z axis button control build plate move. Click X-, extruder will move leftward a specified distance; Click X+, extruder will move a specified distance rightward. Click Y-, extruder will move forward a specified distance;
Click Y-, extruder will move backward a specified distance. Click Z-, build plate will
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move upward a specified distance; Click Z-, build plate will move downward a specified distance. (Specified distance refers to the move distance you set in Jog
Mode.
c. Stop: Click the [stop] button to abort the current movement.
d. XYZ coordinate frame on the right side: Show the current position of extruder/build plate.
e. Make Current Position Zero button: Set the current position of the extruder/build plate as (0, 0, 0). ( NOTE: X, Y, and Z boxes are for display purposes.
Changing the value in the boxes will not affect anything.
f. Center X/Y/Z button: Extruder and build platform will back to the zero (0, 0, 0) you set last time.
g. X/Y Speed and Z Speed: Set the move speed of extruder/ build platform.
● Limit Switch: In order to protect your Guider Ⅱ , three limit switches are equipped to control the maximum position, and the three limit switches corresponding to X/Y/Z axis limit switch. It has two status: a. Not Triggered: If the extruder/build plate don’t move to its maximum, X/Y/Z axis limit switch is not triggered, and shows “ Not Triggered ”.
b. Triggered: If the extruder/build plate moves to its maximum, X/Y/Z axis limit switch is triggered, and shows “ Triggered ”.
● Stepper Motor Controls: Allows users to control to stepper motor. Click [Enable] , and lock the motor so it does not allow any movement; click [Disable] , and unlock the motor to be controlled manually.
● LED Color: Allows users to change the LED color of Guider Ⅱ .
● Extruder Controls: You can set the value of “ Motor Speed(RPM) ”, which can control the rotation speed of filament feeding wheel. The motor rotation time can be controlled via setting the value of “ Extruder Duration ”.Generally we suggest the users choose option of continuous time 60 seconds. The filament must loaded in the
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extruder before motor starts.
Therefore, do not start rotation operation until the extruder temperature reaches to the printing temperature of filament.
For PLA filament, the extruder temperature should reach 200 ℃ , after reaching the extruder temperature, click the [Forward]/[Reverse] rotation button to control filament load and filament unload. Furthermore, if you want to stop filament load and unload, you can click [Stop] .
● Temperature Control: Input the temperature you want to get in the left frame, click
[Apply] , the printer will automatically heat the corresponding part, the right side shows the current actual temperature of corresponding part. After starting heating, the below curve of temperature form will start to change, different color correspond different parts’ temperatures
② Update Firmware
Every time when you start Flashprint, it will automatically detect and download the up-to-date firmware. If any update is available, a dialog box will pop up for reminding the users to update.
Step 1: Click [Tools]--[Update firmware] . It needs to cut off connection before updating firmware. If software and printer are already in connection, it reminds you cutting off the connection, choose [Yes] and go on to the next step.
Step 2: Choose corresponding printer type and firmware version and click [OK] in the firmware updating box. After confirming the printer is in free state, the software will automatically update the firmware
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Step 3 ： Reboot you Guider Ⅱ and wait for 4-5 seconds, then you can see the update process bar. When the update finishes, it will go back to the main interface.
Step 4 ： Tap [Tools]--[About] to check ] to check whether the updated version is right.
③ On Board Preferences
When the computer and printer are in connection, click [Tools] -[On Board
Preferences ] , you can check the printer name.
④ Machine information
When the computer and printer are in connection state, click [Tools]--[Machine information] , you can check the machine type, machine name and firmware etc.
6.2.15 Help Menus
① Help Contents ： Click [Help]--[Help Contents] , you can read the help contents.
② Check for Updates ： Click [Help]--[Check for Update] to detect the available updates online.
③ About FlashPrint ： Click [Help]--[About Flashprint] , the software information
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