1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. STACKER Manuals
  4. 3D Printers
  5. S4
  6. User manual

STACKER S4 User Manual

Industrial grade 3d printers
Hide thumbs Also See for S4:
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

See also: User Manual
STACKER S4 and STACKER S4-XL
USER GUIDE – PART I
©Copyright 2018 STACKER, LLC
Minneapolis, MN 55427
http://stacker3d.com
STACKER® is the registered trademark of STACKER, LLC.
Last Revised: 30 May 2018

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the S4 and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Related Manuals for STACKER S4

Summary of Contents for STACKER S4

  • Page 1 STACKER S4 and STACKER S4-XL USER GUIDE – PART I ©Copyright 2018 STACKER, LLC Minneapolis, MN 55427 http://stacker3d.com STACKER® is the registered trademark of STACKER, LLC. Last Revised: 30 May 2018...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 2 User Guide - STACKER S4/S4-XL - Part I TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Warnings 2. Introduction 2.1. Product Registration 2.2. Software Basics 2.3. Printer Specifications 3. Unboxing and Assembly 3.1. Hardware List 3.2. Assembly Instructions 3.3.

  • Page 3: Warnings

    PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 3 1. Warnings Stacker 3D printers are industrial machines that should never be operated around children or left unattended. Careful setup and training is required for optimal results. Read through this entire User Guide and view online resources before attempting to operate your printer. Please note, this printed copy of the User Guide may not be the most up to date version.

  • Page 4: Introduction

    Welcome to STACKER! Our high performance industrial grade 3D printers are capable of producing everything from one-off prototypes to multiple part production runs. To get the most out of your Stacker 3D printer, please read the entire User Guide Part I before attempting to operate your printer. Part I of the User Guide should provide all the information necessary to set up and operate your printer.
  • Page 5 GCODE file, which operates the printer. A GCODE file provides the commands that enable the printer to print a 3D object. Stacker RUN includes two open source slicing engines, Slic3r and Cura, and both of these slicing engines do a good job. Nevertheless, we highly recommend Simplify3D. We have found Simplify3D to be one of the best slicing engines available, and we provide a license for a downloadable copy with your Stacker 3D printer.
  • Page 6 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 6 2.3 Printer Specifications PRODUCT Stacker S4 Stacker S4-XL NUMBER OF EXTRUDERS BUILD VOLUME 510mm (X), 365mm (Y), 635mm (X), 610mm (Y), 655mm (Z) 610mm (Z) WEIGHT 88kg (195 lbs.) 140kg (310 lbs.) DIMENSIONS Width: 840mm (33”)

  • Page 7: Unboxing And Assembly

    PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 7 3. Unboxing and Assembly Your Stacker printer has been shipped in a wooden crate to protect the printer during transit. Should you ever need to transport the printer or return it to Stacker for warranty service, we recommend keeping both the crate and packaging materials.
  • Page 8 2.5mm Hex Driver (p/n 50-052) 0.007”/0.18mm Feeler Gauge (p/n 50-051) Filament Drive Cleaning Brush (p/n 50-044) S4 (1) or S4-XL (4) Filament Guide Tube Support Bar (p/n 50-078) Cable Ties (p/n 10-060) SD Card (p/n 10-094) USB Cable (p/n 10-042)
  • Page 9 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 9 3.2 Assembly QUICK OVERVIEW OF ASSEMBLY A. Remove Packaging Tape To protect your printer during shipping, low tack tape and protective film was attached to the printer. You MUST remove all of this packing material before attempting to operate the printer. You will find tape attached to the X-gantry and frame.
  • Page 10 There are two Z-rails, two Y-rails, one X-Rail, and one acme screw on the S4 and three acme screws on the S4-XL. Rub an oiled cloth along all five linear rails and the acme screws to assure they are clean and free of debris. For most users, you will likely need to wipe down and apply some oil or grease on a monthly basis.
  • Page 11 Handle the glass bed with care. Glass is fragile and can break if not handled gently. To secure the bed and prevent it from sliding on the aluminum surface of the S4-XL, you will tighten six nylon tipped set screws with a 1.5mm hex key. Always begin by sliding the glass bed forward toward the front of the printer, then tightening the two rear set screws.
  • Page 12 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 12 Once all of the set screws are snug to the glass bed, use the glass clips along the right and left sides of the bed to secure the bed into position.
  • Page 13 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 13 E. Attach the Filament Guide Tubes to Filament Drives Step 1. Using the 2.5mm hex driver, loosen the two screws on the filament guide tube mounting bracket. Step 2. Slide the grey filament guide tube sleeve toward the hot end to remove any slack.
  • Page 14 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 14 Step 4. By turning the grey filament guide tube sleeve, you can manipulate the tube’s arc. You want the arc to stand as tall as possible. Step 5. Tighten the screws on the filament guide tube bracket to secure the grey sleeve tube.
  • Page 15 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 15 Step 7. Your printer includes either eight (S4) or twenty (S4-XL) filament guide tube clips. Use the filament guide tube clips to secure the wire harnesses and silver guide tubes together. Secure each clip with a zip tie to the power cable.
  • Page 16 Part II of the User Guide. For typical operation, the printer should have at minimum a dedicated 15 AMP circuit. The lower C19 inlet is only present on the S4-XL and powers the heat bed. We recommend powering the bed with 240v AC for optimal performance.
  • Page 17 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 17 Always be sure to confirm that you have plugged your power cord into the correct outlet on the UPS. Typically some of the outlets provide only surge protection rather than both surge protection and battery backup.

  • Page 18: Your First Print

    PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 18 4. Your First Test Print After you have completed all of the assembly steps in Section 3, you are ready to run a test print. Running a test print is the best method of familiarizing yourself with the printer and to confirm it is properly calibrated.
  • Page 19 B. Power Up Printer The Stacker S4 has one power switch, and the Stacker S4-XL has two power switches. On the S4-XL, be sure to turn on both power switches. The printer will will not operate properly if only one of the power switches is turned on.
  • Page 20 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 20 C. Load Filament Step 1. Load Filament Spool. Loosen and remove the thumbscrews on the Universal Filament Rail then carefully lift one side of the rail to slide the spool of filament onto the rail.
  • Page 21 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 21 With the filament drive idler assembly open, insert and push the filament upward by hand through the small hole of the filament tracking sensor (if present), up into the idler assembly, over the gear, and through the filament guide just above the gear.
  • Page 22 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 22 testing at Stacker. If you continue pushing by hand, you will eventually see your filament extrude from the nozzle. Step 5. Secure the Filament Idler Assembly. Close the assembly by hand while securing the Filament Idler Bolt in a position to prevent the assembly from opening.
  • Page 23 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 23 You should always double check your print bed to confirm that it is clear of tools and printed objects before starting a print. Do Not Activate the X-Max Endstop: The X-Max Endstop is located on the far right side of your X- Rail.
  • Page 24 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 24 GCODE file will begin to print as soon as the bed and nozzles have reach the temperatures specified by the GCODE file. F. Watch Your Test Print While your print is running, watch for any problems with the printer. Although the printer was calibrated prior to shipping, calibration can sometimes be thrown off during shipping.
  • Page 25 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 25 Another option for easy part removal is the BuildTak FlexPlate. The FlexPlate is a removable build plate which enables you to literally “pop” your parts off the BuildTak. Please check our website for availability of our FlexPlate systems for your printer.
  • Page 26 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 26 . Turning Off the Printer Wait for the cooling fans to fully cool your hot ends before turning off the printer. You can observe the temperatures on the LCD. Turning off the printer with hot extruders can damage your printer and reduce the life of nozzles and filament guide tubes.
  • Page 27 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 27 Reduce the print speed PART II Filament Oozing/Failing to Confirm the filament guide tube is properly seated 5.1.H. Retract inside the nozzle Adjust the retraction settings in your GCODE Slicing software You can find recommendations for improving print quality on the Simplify3D print quality troubleshooting guide: https://www.simplify3d.com/support/print-quality-troubleshooting/...

  • Page 28: Changing Nozzles And Filament Guide Tubes

    PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 28 5. Changing Nozzles and Filament Guide Tubes Nozzles and filament guide tubes are wear parts which require periodic replacement. Improper nozzle installation is the most common reason for poor quality prints. Be sure to follow the steps carefully to prevent nozzle oozing and clogs.
  • Page 29 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 29 Your Stacker printer comes with four 0.40mm mid temp nozzles pre-installed. We recommend experimenting with different nozzle sizes after you become familiar with the operation of your printer. Changing your nozzle size can increase print speeds (with larger nozzle sizes) or improve the fine detail of your prints (with smaller nozzle sizes).
  • Page 30 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 30 Note: Whenever you return filament to a spool, avoid filament crossover by pushing the end of the filament through one of the side holes on the filament spool. Filament crossover will prevent the filament from feeding and cause the printer to jam.
  • Page 31 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 31 To remove the tube from the fitting, (1) push the filament guide tube down into the fitting, then (2) depress the push-fit type fitting with your finger while (3) pulling the filament guide tube up and out of the fitting.
  • Page 32 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 32 E. Remove the heater block assembly. Carefully disconnect the electrical connector with your finger by pressing down on the tab and sliding off the connector. DO NOT USE A PLIERS because pliers can damage these small plastic connectors.
  • Page 33 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 33 Removing the nozzle when the Filament Guide Tube is stuck. If the filament guide tube is stuck in the nozzle (from Step C). Just let the tube rotate along with the nozzle as you unscrew it with the wrench.
  • Page 34 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 34 To make certain you have seated the filament guide tube within the nozzle, you can measure and mark the filament guide tube at approximately 57mm when using a Mid–temp nozzle (measure 52mm for High-temp nozzles).
  • Page 35 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 35 Filament Guide Tubes are sold on our website. You will likely need to trim the filament guide tube before using it on your printer. Refer to section 10.3 for ideal filament guide tube lengths.
  • Page 36 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 36 K. Slide grey sleeve over filament guide tube, and then reattach filament guide tube to the filament drive. Slide the grey filament guide tube sleeve over the filament guide tube. To complete the installation of the filament guide tubes and sleeves, follow the steps in Section 3.2.D.

  • Page 37: Printer Calibration

    PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 37 6. Printer Calibration 6.1. Adjusting First Layer Height First layer height is critically important to 3D printing. When the printer is calibrated correctly, the first layer has a perfect amount of “squish”. If your nozzle is too far away from the print bed, the filament...
  • Page 38 Stacker RUN software is an enhanced version of Repetier Host customized for using Stacker printers. Most of the installation and documentation available from the Repetier website is applicable. To familiarize yourself with Repetier Host, please visit their website.
  • Page 39 Stacker RUN. When all other software has been closed on your computer, click the Connect button located in the upper left corner of Stacker RUN. A drop down menu will allow you to select the four or two head model.
  • Page 40 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 40 because these filament manufacturers use highly advanced laser tools for precise diametric measurements, as well as a host of other controls to ensure consistent filament diameters. Regardless of what filament brand you use, always confirm consistent filament diameter with a digital caliper.
  • Page 41 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 41 Step 3. Insert the Filament: Insert the filament upward through the small hole beneath the filament gear, and then push the filament upward past the gear and through the filament guide just above the gear. To avoid wasting...
  • Page 42 5mm of filament. Step 6. Change the EEPROM Steps Per mm: Open your EEPROM window in Stacker RUN by pressing Alt+E or select “Firmware EEPROM Configuration” under the Config menu to see your current...
  • Page 43 Stacker nozzles use a system of small machined dots around the tip for identification purposes. Be sure to enter the correct nozzle size in your slicing software. Stacker’s standard nozzle size is 0.40mm, also called a 040 nozzle, and these were pre-installed on your printer.
  • Page 44 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 44 A Note about Stacker’s MID and HIGH temp nozzles: For most filaments and applications, it is best to use our MID temp nozzles. Our HIGH temp nozzles are optional and only necessary when using filaments which require temperatures between 275°C and 300°C.

  • Page 45: Combo Drive

    PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 45 7. Combo Drive Your printer includes Combo Drive extruders which can operate in either a Bowden or Direct Drive configuration. The printer shipped with the extruders in the Bowden configuration because your printer will typically achieve the best quality prints in the Bowden configuration.
  • Page 46 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 46 Step 3. Use the 2.5mm hex key to carefully loosen and remove the three M3 x 8mm screws (p/n 20-011) which attach the extruder to the filament extruder bracket. As you remove these screws, be sure to support...
  • Page 47 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 47 Step 6. Loosen, but do not remove, the two screws to lift and remove the filament guide tube support bracket from the hot end. Step 7. Reinstall the nozzle using the nozzle installation process from section 5. The only...

  • Page 48: Filament Tracking Sensor

    PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 48 Step 10. Re-install the grey filament guide tube sleeve, secure the grey tube to the rear bracket, and then reattach the filament guide tube clips to the grey sleeve. On head one, the filament must travel through the filament tracking sensor before entering the grey tube in its path to the extruder.
  • Page 49 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 49 8. Filament Tracking Sensor Located below extruder one is the filament tracking sensor. The printer uses the tracking sensor to monitor the movement of the filament during printing. The sensor enables the printer to...

  • Page 50: Maintenance

    9.2. Linear Guides The linear rail system on Stacker 3D Printers uses recirculating linear bearings and profile rail guides. For optimal performance, lubrication of these parts is essential. Lubrication promotes smooth operation, minimizes friction and wear along the raceways, dissipates heat, and prevents corrosion.
  • Page 51 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 51 9.3. Filament Drive Gears Dirty gears can lead to stripped out filament and jams. The filament drive gears should be cleaned periodically to remove any debris which can prevent the smooth flow of filament.
  • Page 52 Also, never apply glue stick to BuildTak, glue stick will ruin the adhesive properties of BuildTak. If you notice your BuildTak is no longer securing parts during printing, it may need to be replaced. Replacement BuildTak sheets for Stacker 3D printers are available at www.stacker3d.com. To replace a sheet of BuildTak, 1.

  • Page 53: Leveling The Bed

    PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 53 10. Leveling the Bed Your print bed was leveled (adjusted to be coplanar to the nozzles) at the factory, and for most users, the bed will remain level during shipping. Nevertheless, if you notice inconsistent layer heights across the bed, or nozzles are scrapping on your build surface in some areas, you may need to re-level the bed.
  • Page 54 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 54 Start by adjusting the left rear leveling screw. Turn the nut driver clockwise or counter-clockwise until the feeler gauge slides beneath the nozzle with a small amount of friction from the nozzle. When you have a small amount of friction on the left side, slide printhead number two by hand to the far right side of the gantry.
  • Page 55 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 55 Step 5. Confirm the crown position: When you apply heat to your aluminum bed, the middle rear of the bed will typically crown slightly, decreasing the gap between the nozzle and the bed. Move head number two to the middle rear of the bed, and test the location with the feeler gauge.

  • Page 56: Useful Information

    11. Useful Information 11.1. Printer Settings for a Slicing Engine Most slicing software will not have a default profile available for Stacker printers. To create a profile, you will need to enter the following information: Printer Name: Stacker S4 - 040 Nozzle or Stacker S4-XL - 040 Nozzle...
  • Page 57 0.60mm or larger nozzle. 11.3. Filament Guide Tube and Silver Support Tube Lengths Newly purchased tubes from Stacker are sold at maximum lengths. Please use the table below to trim your filament guide tubes and silver support tubes to the correct length.

  • Page 58: Terms And Conditions

    STACKER, LLC TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE & LICENSE As used herein, “Seller” shall mean Stacker, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company, or any wholly-owned subsidiary of Stacker, LLC. These terms and conditions, and any applicable Seller quotation, sales order acknowledgment and Separate Software License, along with any other documents incorporated by reference in any of the foregoing (hereinafter collectively the “Agreement”), bind the buyer (“Buyer”) and Seller as to any hardware products sold by Seller to Buyer (“Hardware”), any...
  • Page 59 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 59 DOCUMENTATION: Seller shall provide Buyer with that data/documentation that: (1) is specifically identified in the applicable Seller’s quotation and/or order documents; and (2) is made commercially available and provided by Seller with the applicable Goods in Seller’s normal course of business.
  • Page 60 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 60 License or any other agreement shall restrict or otherwise affect any rights and/or obligations Buyer may have, or conditions to which Buyer may be subject to, under any open source licenses to any open source code or software provided in or with the Software;...
  • Page 61 PART I: STACKER S4/S4-XL USER GUIDE 61 whatsoever, including, without limitation, any obligation to retrofit, change or improve Goods purchased by Buyer prior to the discontinuance or change. 11. LIMITATION OF REMEDY AND LIABILITY: THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY HEREUNDER SHALL BE LIMITED TO REPAIR, REPLACEMENT OR REFUND UNDER THE LIMITED WARRANTY SET FORTH IN SECTION 9 ABOVE.

This manual is also suitable for:

S4-xl

Table of Contents