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PrintMZ on your 3D Systems Cube

The following guide will help you get started in printing a MakeCNC PrintMZ model on your Cube. We assume you are familiar with your Cube, and the software that accompanies it. If not, you may want to go through your Cube User Guide first before printing anything.

The files supplied for the 3D Systems cube are in “xxx.creation” format. This format allows you to be able to load the model into the “Cube Client” software, and select your desired settings. Once you have set the options that best meet your needs, you can then save a print file that can be read by the “Cube” printer.

Choosing the model you want to print

PrintMZ models will come in various sizes and formats for different printers. Your choice will be dependent on your printer type, and your size preference. In the case of this document, you will be looking at models that are available for the 3D Systems Cube (1st or 2nd Generation) printer.

After downloading the PrintMZ model package from MakeCNC, you will need to extract the zip file, and select your preferred model accordingly.

The file structure will be as follows

PrintMZModelName -> 3DPrinterModel -> Size -> PrintableModel.FileType

You will need to open a model print file found in the “Cube” section for 3DPrinterModel.

The sizes available are entirely your choice. See the “PrintMZ Sizing Guide” for more information on how to choose a model size. (You may want to print a model of each size, just to get an idea of what they are all like). The model you have downloaded will also have a detailed size map, which will provide you with overall model dimensions.

Once you have selected the size, your will need to open the “xxx.creation” files in your “Cube Client” software. There may be several print files needed for a model, so each will need to be opened in the software and converted to a “xxx.cube” print file that can be read by the Cube Printer.

We recommend you save the .cube file with the same name format as the .creation file.

An example folder structure would be: Cube\Locust\SmallHeavy

The file naming conventions are as follows

PrintMZModelName_3DPrinterModel_ModelSize_PlateNumber.FileExt

For the Cube, the 3DPrinterModel will be CG12 for Cube Generation1 and Generation2 printer.

Model Sizes will be S, M L for Small, Medium and Large, and if a density sizing is available, R for Regular, and H for Heavy.

The PlateNumber is simply a number that defines the print order of the plate. Printing in this order is not mandatory, but does help you keep track of what you have printed when multiple plates are to be printed.

An example file name for a Cube print is as follows: Locust_CG12_SH_P1.creation

Follow the next few steps to get a PrintMZ creation ready for printing on the Cube

1. Open your Cube Software that should be installed on your PC:

2. Open the creation file by importing it into the cube client. Ensure that you search for file type “Creation Models (.creation)”

3. Ensure your printer settings are set correctly for the model printer you have (1st or 2nd Generation Cube). Rafts and Supports should be “Off”, unless specified in the model documentation. Print Mode should be “Strong”

4. “Heal” the model

5. Build the model. Select a filename for the output file. This will be sent to your “Cube” printer. Take note of the estimated build time. (Use the same filename convention as the .creation file)

6. Send your file to the printer, either by using the built in WiFi network feature of the Cube, and Cube Client software, or by copying the “xxx.cube” file just created to a USB flash drive, and plugging that onto the cube.

7. Follow the printing instructions issued by the Cube User Guide in order to finish printing the model on the cube.

8. You may have a model that has more than one file that needs to be printed. This will be depicted by a plate number suffix at the end of the file name (eg: xxx_P1.creation, xxx_P2.creation etc.). You will need to print all the plate files to print the complete PrintMZ model.

9. Refer to your PrintMZ Model Assembly Guide to put it all together.

PrintMZ Sizing Guide

The Wooden 3D puzzles available for CNC or Laser cutting machines at MakeCNC use a sizing method that indicates the material thickness required for the slot sizes in the pattern. 3D Printing does not have a restriction that requires prior knowledge of the pattern requirements for material thickness, as the required material thickness will be printed as needed.

However, when sizing 3D Puzzles that have been converted for 3D printers, we still try to maintain the relationship between the slot size / material thickness and the overall model size.

For example, a 3mm CNC template may produce a final assembled model that is 39cm in length. The 6mm size (meaning the slot is 6mm broad, needing a 6mm thick piece of material) will scale up to 78cm length model.

However, when converting the 3D Puzzels to PrintMZ, some deviation to the relationship between model size and slot size may occur, as sometimes a model thickness may be too thin and over flexible, so a thicker part size is used, but retaining the overall model dimensions. So, using the above example, if the 3mm CNC template is scaled down to 1mm, giving you an overall model length of 13cm, the part thickness of 1mm may produce an undesirably over flexible model. To compensate, the part thickness is increased to 1.5mm – but the model size remains the same – leaving you with a sturdier model.

So, for overall size, we have scaled the converted 3D Wooden Model templates down to fit at least one or two sizes on the smaller 3D printers. We have scaled these templates down to 1mm, 1.5mm and 2mm to give an overall size scale. These give us the sizes of “Small”, “Medium” and “Large” respectively.

Models that have a part thickness that matches the scale (ie: no alteration made to increase the part thickness) are termed as “Regular”, and those that are made thicker are “Heavy”

So a 1mm scaled model, with no part thickness alteration will be a SmallRegular model. The thicker part version will be SmallHeavy.

We are introducing prints for the 3D Systems Cube, and will have the following sizes:

SmallRegular, SmallHeavy, MediumRegular, LargeRegular.

Some Large models may be too large to print on the Cube, so in this case, such models may be made available for larger printers at a later date. Model alteration to allow for a larger model on a smaller bed may be considered in the future as well.

Since 3D printers can print a whole lot more then converted wooden puzzles, other models that are not dependant on part thickness will simply be sized as “Small”, “Medium” and “Large”.