Engineering H2C
The lab's engineering FDM printer for CoPE, TPU and ASA, with a heated enclosure and AMS.
This is the machine for parts that have to survive use. It runs the engineering materials (CoPE, TPU 90A, TPU 95A, ASA), and its heated enclosure is what keeps ASA from warping halfway through a print; filament comes from the AMS. Dry your filament before printing anything here, per the drying notes in the profile tables below.
Quick Start
Settings
Verified profiles. Start from these; adjust only if you know why.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Nozzle temp | 240-260C |
| Bed temp | 70-85C |
| Speed | Slow (30-50mm/s) |
| Cooling | 20-30% fan |
| Enclosure | Heated enclosure recommended (45-50C) |
| Drying | Dry at 70C for 4-6 hours before printing |
Troubleshooting
Heat the nozzle to printing temperature, retract and reinsert the filament, then do a cold pull if you still feel resistance. If the clog survives that, use an acupuncture needle.
Confirm the filament path is clear, check the extruder gear for grinding, and trim the filament tip at an angle before loading.
Re-level the bed, clean the plate with IPA, check the nozzle-to-bed z-offset, and lower the first layer speed.
Check filament diameter and dryness, reduce retraction speed, and inspect the gear teeth for filament dust.
Check belt tension, look for a mechanical obstruction, and reduce print speed and acceleration.
Repair Guides
Wash the build plate with warm soapy water and wipe it with 99% IPA, then dry it completely. Re-level the bed using the auto-leveling sequence and apply glue stick or Magigoo for CoPE/ASA prints. If it still lets go, increase bed temperature by 5°C.
When the AMS displays a filament feed error, gently push the filament by hand to help the feeder grab it. Verify the spool isn't tangled and reseat it in its slot. Check the PTFE tube for kinks, and clean the AMS feeder gears if they're dirty.
Heat the nozzle to 250°C and manually push filament through until it flows smoothly. Let it cool to 90°C, then yank the filament out quickly to perform a cold pull; inspect the pulled tip for a clean nozzle impression and repeat 2-3 times if the clog persists. If it's still blocked after that, replace the nozzle.
Check filament diameter (1.75mm ± 0.05mm) and dry the filament at its recommended temperature. Reduce retraction speed to 25mm/s and clean the extruder gear teeth with a brass brush.
Check belt tension (the belt should twang at ~100Hz) and inspect the pulleys for loose grub screws. Reduce print speed and acceleration by 30%, and lubricate the linear rails if the carriage moves roughly.
Make sure the heated enclosure is closed and reaches 45-55°C. Add a brim or raft, increase bed temperature to 100-110°C, and drop part cooling to 10-20%.
Rules
- Wear appropriate PPE when handling high-temperature materials like CoPE and ASA.
- Stay at the printer until the entire first layer has visibly adhered.
- Unattended overnight prints require exco approval and a visible contact label on the printer.
- Clean the build plate with 99% IPA after every print, once it has cooled.
- Report all hardware issues, clogs, or unusual noises to exco immediately.
- Remove filament spools from the AMS after printing and store them in dry boxes with desiccant.
- Trained users may adjust standard print settings; advanced profiles require exco authorization.
- Firmware updates are exco-only.
- Log every print job (material, duration, username) in the workshop registry.
- Never force filament through the AMS by hand; follow the official unloading protocol.