Software and first print

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Software was provided on a flash card (with the kit), it contained:
Assembly Manual

• User Manual (including some software instructions)

• Marlin (to flash the printer motherboard with Arduino)

• Arduino (to configure the printer motherboard)

• Reptier (to control the printer - includes Slic3r to configure the build)

• Pronterface (to control the printer - used for initial set up - seems to be the best package and the one I ended up using for the first print)

Instructions were quite vague particularly about setting the nozzle height above the bed, after doing the paper contact test you need to put the new value in the Arduino software and re-flash the printer motherboard. A word search for "define MANUAL_Z_HOME_POS" found the file, then I replaced the 270 value with the new one (in my case 281.1). After the reflash the new Z value appears on the printer display.

Note - gcode is the key to making things work, a useful code is G28 as it raises and resets the printer head to the top positions, G29  is auto set up, I only attempted to use this after setting the new Z value.

After some failed attempts to use Repetier to perform the print (it did not seem to be able to communicate with the printer although it said it was connected) I gave up and ended up using Repetier to create the gcode with the embedded Slic3r and then importing the gcode into Pronterface and then set it to print.

After all this fiddling about, it finally printed the test cube, from the STL file provided (pictures below).

 

Orange cube on bed

 Close up of Orange cube

There should be an outer reference square ring but this didn't stick, I think the set Z height may still be too high. Also the print accuracy seemed to drop off, I think it was getting too hot and temperature should reduce as it moves away fom the cold build plate.

Conclusion - More experimentation required to produce quality products. I also need to decide if I will use PLA or ABS.

I prefer to use Linux, so will also explore alternative printer control software.