3D printer SkyOne with installed engraving and milling set.

Preparing and start of three-dimensional milling with 3D printer SkyOne

Work piece dimensions and position

Standard fixing elements, which are supplied complete with milling and engraving set, are suitable for fixing of a detail height up to 5 mm.

Preparing for milling

In case if a work piece height is more, than 5 mm, it is necessary to replace fixing screws by longer. Any way, the fixing screws should not rise above the top edge of thumb-nuts. Otherwise, a printer's lever can be hurted by these screws.

Correct fastening of a work piece at the table of 3D printer SkyOne Incorrect fastening of a work piece at the table of 3D printer SkyOne

Fastening elements are used to fix a work piece on the table of a printer. If work piece dimensions (along any of axises X or Y) are close to dimensions of a 3D model, it is necessary to fix material on the table as close to the determined in BlenderCAM position as it possible. In other cases a milling picture may miss the limits of the work piece.

When place the workpiece on the table, take into account, that 0 of the Y axis of 3D printer SkyOne is located aproximately 5 mm from it's "home" position (it is position when the printer is turned off).

0 of the X axis is located at the center of the table, 0 of the Y axis is located at the table edge from the printer's side - about 0.5 cm apart from home position (when the printer is turned off, levers drives the tool to the home position).

Printer settings

Important! Because of a difference between height of a tabe for printing and milling, a height of a work piece and length of a milling tool, it is necessary to set new origin (0 coordinate) along Z axis. To set a new origin, it is necessary to proceed as follows:

  1. Turn the printer on and establish a connection in Repetier Host.
  2. Load the ready file with G-code.
    3D milling using 3D printer SkyOne - Load a file with G-code
  3. Make sure that the tool path is located correctly:
    3D milling using 3D printer SkyOne - Make sure that the tool path is located correctly
    3D milling using 3D printer SkyOne - Make sure that the tool path is located correctly
  4. Open the tab "Manual control".
  5. Make sure that nothing can hinder rotation of a spindle.
  6. Start a spindle motor - turn on the extruder. Set the maximum temperature of the extruder.
    3D milling using 3D printer SkyOne - Repetier Host - Manual control
  7. Move the table with the work piece to a safe distance in order to prevent an impact of the cutter and the table. To do it type in the command G1 Z50 into the field G-codes. If the height of a work piece is more, than 6-10 mm, this value along Z axis should be more (see at the place).
    3D milling using 3D printer SkyOne - Repetier Host - Manual control - input g-code.
  8. Move the cutter tool along Y axis about 30-40 mm so as the cutter center would be located above the surface of processed material. The command is G1 Y40.
  9. Lift the table little by little, until the cutter end (it should rotate) nearly touches the surface of the workpiece. Enter commands one by one with Z coordinate reduction: G1 Z39, G1 Z38 and so on. Enter fractional numbers if need - G1 Z38.5. Control the position of the cutter end all the time.
  10. As the top surface of the material nearly touched the end of the cutter, set the new origin of Z axis. To do it enter the command G92 Z0 (assign zero position along Z axis).
    Attention!!! Don't forget to enter the command G92 Z0.
    If the command G92 Z0 is not entered, it can lead to equipment failure and may cause serious injury!
  11. In case if the G-code contains the first path at high deep and all the cutter thickness, it is recommended to reduce move speed (feedrate) to the minimum for the first pass.
    3D milling using 3D printer SkyOne - Repetier Host - Manual control - minimum feedrate.
  12. Launch the printing and wait for finish. If necessary, increase feedrate value during cutting in order to decrease milling time.

See also: