Lulzbot TAZ Tractor Scale Model 3D Printing Tutorial

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  1. Start with a Sketchup file. Start the print of tubing in a vertical position - with the base in the xy axis. You can draw in any position, but at end, group it and rotate it to stand vertically.
  2. Install plugin to sketchup. For Linux, see how to install plugins under Wine - simply place the plugin in the correct directory. For Windows, use skp_to_dxf.rbz. See Sketchup page on wiki - see links there. In Windows, do Preferences-Exension-Install Extension (choose location of extension). With it installed, go to Tools-Export and choose STL as the export format. Do not change the filename, as it will not recognize the file format later.
  3. With the STL export - you need to fix it for printing. Use cloud service for fixing files - cloud.netfabb.com. We are using all inch formats. This is a converter for fixing your files. It sends you a link of the fixed file. You can view the fixed file in STL or download it. Download the file.
  4. Use Slic3r to generate gcode for printing.
  5. Make sure that you upload the correct configuration file - use 0.35 nozzle draft. Upload the configuration every time you use slic3r.
  6. Open your repaired STL file. It should appear like it is for real.
  7. Expert gcode. Then you are ready for Printrun.

Tractor 3D Printing Files

We observed that simply scaling the 1/4"x4"x4" tubing of Lifetrac by 8x (to generate 1/2" tubing) resulted in a 1/16" wall thickness instead of 1/32". So scaling is not working. We need to draw these tubes manually.

The tubes for 3D printing are 1/32" wall thickness x 1/2"x1/2" tubing. Draw these in sketchup by extruding a 1/2" square, then offsetting for a 1/32" face, to punch out the middle. Make sure that you offset for punching out the middle of the tube before extruding the holes.

To draw the holes, draw the first hole at 1/4" away from the middle of the edge, and make the hole 1/16" radius. Then here is a trick to multiply the circles.

The trick is: select the circle diameter and the circle face and once both are selected - and make them into a component. To create a component - right click on the selected circle diameter and face, and select 'Make Group.'

Select the move too

  • 3x 11 - tops transerse -
  • 2x 17 - top parallels -
  • 4x 13 - front verticals -
  • 5x 15 - 2 rear verticals, 3 bottoms transverse
  • 4x 19 - bottom parallels

Loader:

  • 2x 8 - forearms
  • 2x 16 - arms
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