I have a 3D printer!

I got it from a friend that is not using it anymore, thank you so much! I'm super exited to see it at work!

The Printrbot Simple Metal is an old 3D printer model, despite that it includes everything you need to get started in the world of 3D printing. This device uses a USB interface for a virtual serial comm port and It comes with Auto-Leveling bed.

Specifications

• Build Volume: 15 cm x 15 cm x 15 cm

• Print Resolution: 50+ Microns

• Filament: 1.75 PLA

• Hot End: 1.75 Ubis 13 Hot End with 0.4mm Nozzle

• Construction: Steel and Aluminum Body

• Print Bed: Semi-Auto Leveling via Software, heated.

• Belt: GT2

• Pulley: Aluminum

• Rods: 12mm

• Product Weight: 6 Kg

• Print Software: Compatible with Repetier Host and Pronterface

• Finished Dimensions: 35.56 cm x 25.4 cm x 40.64 cm

• Power Requirements: 12V (6 amp) ATX power supply

The motherboard is a Printrboard revision F4 (https://reprap.org/wiki/Printrboard).

Firmware

Firmware information can be retrived using gcode command M115

FIRMWARE_NAME:Marlin V1; Sprinter/grbl mashup for gen6 FIRMWARE_URL:http://printrbot.com PROTOCOL_VERSION:1.0 MACHINE_TYPE:Printrbot EXTRUDER_COUNT:3 UUID:00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000

By the looks of it there should be a newer firmware version (Marlin 2.x), at some point I will probably update it and write a blog post!

Nozzle specifications

Ubis 13 Hot End can mount nozzles with the following specifications:

• Thread: M6 x 1.0 (external male, ~7mm hex/D-shaped flats).​

• Filament: 1.75 mm diameter.​

• Stock Orifice: 0.4 mm or bigger

• Length: ~12-13 mm total (E3D V6 standard, 4.6-5 mm threaded portion).​

• Material: Brass (standard); optional plated steel for abrasives.

Fans

The extruder is equipped with two fans connected in parallel to the power supply. This means that is not possible to control them independently. However, seems possible to have a fine control at fan level recompiling the board firmware, I will write about this if it will ever happen!

Conclusions

The printer came with everything: power supply, Raspberry PI and lot of filament! I will soon set it up, what should I print first?