4-Printing

Once you have sliced your 3D model, you're ready to upload it to your Nautilus. The primary way to do this is to use the Upload button that replaces the Prepare button once the slicing has finished. If you have multiple Nautili connected you can select the one you wish to upload to by clicking the arrow located on the right side of the upload button.

Once you have clicked Upload, a progress bar will appear at the center of the Cura window. When the upload is complete a new message will replace the upload bar, letting you know the upload is complete, and an open browser button gives you a quick way to open the Duet Web Control interface for the Nautilus you have just uploaded to.

You are now ready to start the print, instructions are detailed in the next section.

There are two ways to start a print. We recommend always starting a print from the Control tab on the Nautilus as it is always a good idea to visually check that everything is set up properly on your Nautilus before initiating a

print. If you are confident that your printer is ready to begin a print, you can also begin a print from Duet Web Control, which you can access by typing your printer’s IP address into any web browser.

1. After preparing your part in Cura and uploading it to the Nautilus, make sure that your Nautilus is ready to print the part you’ve selected i.e. the correct material, Tool Cartridge, and Print Surface is loaded, the build area is clear, and the purge bucket is securely in place. (Note that the correct material and tool cartridge must be selected in Cura; however, the print surface is not specified in Cura.)
2. If everything is good to go, select the Files button located in the lower left portion of the Control tab of the touch screen.
3. A list of all G-code files on your Nautilus will appear; select the one you would like to print
4. A popup will appear displaying the file details, press the Print button and follow any on-screen prompts.
5. The Nautilus will now begin its preprint procedure and will begin printing as soon as it is done heating up. It is a good idea to stay close by until the first layer begins to ensure nothing critical goes wrong; particularly that the first layer goes down smoothly and has good adhesion to the Print Surface.

• After preparing your part in Cura and uploading it to the Nautilus, make sure that your Nautilus is ready to print the part you’ve selected i.e. the correct material, Tool Cartridge, and Print Surface is loaded, the build area is clear, and the purge bucket is securely in place.
• If everything is good to go, select the g-code files button located in the left sidebar of Duet Web Control.
• A popup will appear asking if you would like to begin the print, press the Print button, and follow any on-screen prompts.
• The Nautilus will now begin its preprint procedure and will begin printing as soon as it is done heating up. It is a good idea to stay close by until the first layer begins to be laid down to ensure nothing critical goes wrong; particularly that the first layer goes down smoothly and has good adhesion to the Print Surface.

• Once a print has finished, the build plate will cool to the ideal part removal temperature, which will be specified in a popup on the printer display.
• It is recommended to wait until this temperature is reached, removing your part at the right temperature will ease the removal process and can help prolong the life of your Print Surface and build plate magnets.
• The Nautilus will play a notification beep as well as presenting another popup when the part removal temperature is reached. You can now remove the magnetic Print Surface.
• Remember to acknowledge the print finished message as the Nautilus will maintain the part removal temperature on the bed until the user presses “OK.” Note that the hotend is turned off automatically once the print has finished.

⚠ CAUTION The part removal temperature is not necessarily safe to touch with bare skin. We recommend wearing a pair of gloves to protect against burns. The part removal temperature should never be above 100°C (boiling point of water).

Many parts can be removed by flexing the Print Surface. However, some parts might need some assistance with the included spatula.

Flexing the Print Surface to remove a part

Be cautious flexing the build plate with thin parts, as this may crack or break the part. Consider using the spatula instead.

⚠ CAUTION The spatula is sharp and we recommend gloves for this process. Always scrape with the spatula facing away from your body.

If a print fails or needs to be stopped for some reason, go to the Print tab at the bottom of the printer display and select Pause. The printer will finish its current moves and then pause. If the print cannot be salvaged, press the Cancel button to stop the print.

⚠ IMPORTANT The red STOP button in the top left of the display is for emergencies only. Use this or the power button on the side of the printer only if damage will occur to your printer if it is not stopped immediately.

One crucial factor in the performance of your printer and the quality of your printed parts is the filament that is being printed. It is important to use a well-toleranced, high-quality filament to ensure consistent and accurate printing.

To avoid tangles and other issues, you should always print with your filament on a spool, especially for long prints. Whenever handling the free end of a spool of filament always make sure the free end is in your hand or secured in the spool/ printer. All spools supplied by Hydra Research have holes in the rim for securing filament when not in use. If the end of the filament is left free, it is very easy for tangles to form in the spool which puts extra strain on your extruder and can cause failed prints.

If you find a tangle in your spool, unwind it a few rotations past the tangle (to ensure the tangle is completely removed) and then rewind it back on the spool. Then secure the free end of the filament through the hole on the rim of the spool.

Most filaments for 3D printing are made from are hygroscopic materials, which means they absorb moisture from the air. Wet filament can cause a variety of problems including discoloration, added stringing, poor layer adhesion, or even failed prints. If you notice aesthetic issues with your prints or hear sizzles or pops during printing, it may be due to wet filament.

If you already have a dry spool of filament, store it in a sealed bag or dry box with a desiccant pack to keep it that way. If your filament has already absorbed moisture (sometimes this happens during manufacturing or shipping!) then the desiccant may not absorb much moisture from the filament so it is recommended to actively dry it. Filament can be dried by placing it in an oven or a food dehydrator for a few hours. If drying in an oven, make sure to preheat your oven BEFORE placing the spool inside. Make sure to look up recommended drying temperatures in Section 5, if it gets too hot your filament could fuse or your spool could melt!

After printing, many parts require post-processing to remove printed aids like brims and supports. Parts can also be post-processed to change the aesthetic finish of the part, this is material-specific and is covered briefly in Section 5.

• The deburring tool and hobby knife are the two best tools for removing brims from your parts.
• First, remove as much of the brim as you can with your bare hands, frequently you can pull off most of the brim
• For long, flat or slightly curved sections place the bend in the deburring tool against the bottom corner of your print where the brim attaches and carefully pull the blade towards you along the edge of your part, pressing inward lightly. It may take a couple of passes, but the brim should come off fairly easily
  • ⚠ CAUTION The blade of the deburring tool is very sharp and can cut you, be careful. Gloves are recommended.
• For parts of the brim that do not come off easily with the deburring tool, you can use your hobby knife to carefully cut the brim from your part.

• Most supports can be removed by pulling them out with pliers
• For hard to reach areas, it can be useful to use your hobby knife and tweezers to remove small pieces of supports in hard to reach areas