Quick Start

The following guide provides a high-level order of operations to ensure ongoing success with the AON3D machine. Make sure that all linked articles are read in their entirety as this section is only meant to serve as a quick start overview.

1. Basic System Setup and Preparation

1.1. Clean the Machine

  • Make sure that the machine is clean and that there is no unwanted material(s) around the lead screws and/or around the linear guides and guide rails.
  • Make sure that the nozzle is clean. Use the wire brush to clean the nozzle while it is set above the material’s glass transition temperature (Tg).
  • Make sure that the print surface is clean and free of solvents and/or unwanted materials.

Refer to Clean Build Platform and Build Chamber.

Do not use compressed air to clean the machine component(s) unless otherwise specified. The use of compressed air can cause damages to machine component(s).

1.2. Load/Replace Filament

Make sure there is sufficient filament on the spool before a print is started. Simplify3D® gives an estimate on the weight of filament necessary for each part in the G-Code viewer. To calculate the weight of filament necessary:

  1. Weigh the spool of filament to be used.
  2. Subtract the weight of an empty spool from the weight of the spool of filament to be used.
  3. Compare the above results to the estimated weight in Simplify3D®.

Make sure that the filament density in Simplify3D® is entered correctly. In Simplify3D®, select Edit Process Settings > Other.

1.3. Prepare Heater Block Assembly

Install the heater block assembly that has a nozzle size that matches your print profile. Refer to Replace Heater Block Assemblies.

1.3.1. Heat the Heater Block Assembly to Extrusion Temperature

Use the Graphical User Interface (GUI), or web browser, to heat the toolhead(s) to the extrusion target temperature for the chosen material:

  1. Select Temp.
  2. For T0, enter the target temperature in the field under Target.
  3. Select the ON/OFF icon to power ON the T0 heater.
  4. Do steps 1 to 3 for the adjacent toolhead, if necessary.

Temperature UI Settings

1.3.2. Purge Filament

Do not touch the hot ends when the toolhead heater(s) are active. The temperatures in the hot end(s) range from 200°C to 500°C (390°F to 932°F) and will result in injury when touched.

  1. Make sure the hot end is at the correct target temperature.
  2. Found on top of each extruder body is a tab (1) and a lever (2):
    • Compress the tab (1) and lever (2) together with light finger pressure to temporarily lock the internal gears apart and let filament pass through. Dyze Extruder Tab and Lever Overview. Extruder Levers
  3. Manually put the filament in the extruder, and carefully push it down into the hot end until it extrudes from the nozzle.

    Do not push the filament too hard through the extruder assembly. This can cause a restriction in the feed path, and/or, cause damage to machine component(s).

  4. After the filament has been successfully extruded from the nozzle, compress the extruder tab (1) and lever (2) to release the locking mechanism and engage the extruder drive gears onto the filament. When the extruder drive gears are engaged, the filament cannot be manually pulled from the extruder.
  5. Install the PTFE tube into the extruder fitting.
  6. On the GUI, select the Control > Motion.
  7. Select the Left Tool, set the Extrusion Distance (mm) to 100 and set the Extrusion Speed (mm/sec) to 5. Extrude Screen
  8. Select Extrude two times to feed 200 mm of the filament through the hot end. Filament will now be extruded from the nozzle.
  9. Do steps 1 to 8 for the adjacent toolhead, if necessary.

1.3.3. Retract Hot End Filament

Filament must be retracted from the AON M2+ (CE), AON M2+ (R-NZ), and AON M2+ hot end assembly(ies) when there is no print in progress.

Use of the GUI/web browser to perform a retraction of 20 mm.

Failure to retract the filament from the hot end(s) can signal the GUI to give an error message.

Retract Error GUI

Turn the power to hot end heater(s) OFF when there is no print in progress. Do not let the hot end heater(s) idle for an extended period of time without extrusion. This can cause the polymer filament to burn and clog the nozzle(s). Refer to Hot End Heater Timeout Feature.

1.4. Prepare the Build Platform

1.4.1. Select the Build Platform

Refer to the Build Platform Adhesion guide to determine a compatible build platform.

1.4.3. Apply Adhesion Aid

Some filament and build platform combinations require the use of an adhesion aid.

  • The Nano Polymer Adhesive can be applied to increase build sheet adhesion.
  • The Nano Polymer Adhesive can be used as a release agent to facilitate part removal without damaging the part and/or PEI build sheet.

1.4.2. Install Build Platform Start Vacuum Bed Feature

The build platform must be correctly installed to get satisfactory print results.

The AON M2+ (CE), AON M2+ (R-NZ), and AON M2+ machines have the Vacuum Bed Feature. Refer to Vacuum Bed Feature.

1.5. Preheat Machine Components

1.5.1. Preheat Build Chamber and Bed

Use the Graphical User Interface (GUI) to heat the bed and chamber target temperatures for the chosen material:

  1. Select Temp.
  2. For the bed, enter the bed temperature in the field under Target.
  3. Select the ON/OFF icon to power ON the B heater.
  4. For the chamber, enter the chamber temperature in the field under Target.
  5. Select the ON/OFF icon to power ON the T2 heater.

1.5.2. Wait for Thermal Equilibrium (Heat Soak)

Refer to Preheat Build Chamber Components.

2. Calibration

2.1. Heat the Heater Block Assembly to Bed Temperature

Use the Graphical User Interface (GUI) to heat the toolhead(s) to the extrusion target temperature for the chosen material:

  1. Select Temp.
  2. For T0, enter the bed temperature in the field under Target.
  3. Select the ON/OFF icon to power ON the T0 heater.
  4. Do steps 1 to 3 for the adjacent toolhead, if necessary.

Temperature UI Settings

2.2. Calibrate the Z-Axis

AON3D recommends calibrating the Z-axis before every print.

2.2.1. Start the Probing Sequence

Refer to the Calibration Index to select the correct calibration procedure for your machine:

2.2.2. Set the Z-Axis Offset

  1. Select Tool Adjustment Distance, and select 0.1mm or 0.05mm increment.
  2. Under Adjust Printing, select Farther or Closer to adjust the distance between the build platform and the nozzle.
    • Select Farther to move the build platform down (away from the nozzle).
    • Select Closer to move the build platform up (toward the nozzle).

      Make sure to give the Z-axis the time necessary to move in the selected direction.

      Make sure the flex probe is not compressed at this point. This can occur if the Z offset is set too near to the build platform. To prevent toolhead collision(s), keep a small distance between the nozzle and build platform.

  3. Make sure that the nozzle does not touch the build platform. If the nozzle touches the build platform, select 0.1mm, then select Farther until there is a distance between the nozzle and the build platform.
  4. Select the Farther and Closer buttons to adjust the Z offset until the nozzle is approximately 0.1 mm from the build platform.

2.2.3. Save Z-Axis Offset with M500

Use the Graphical User Interface (GUI)/web browser as follows:

  1. Select Settings > Terminal.
  2. Input the M500 command to save the offset.
  3. Let the machine run the command.

2.3.4. Set the Z-Axis Offset for T1

  1. Do steps 2.2.1 to 2.2.3 for the adjacent toolhead, if required.

2.3. Calibrate X/Y Toolhead Offsets

If a print uses the two toolheads for the same print, the toolheads must be calibrated along the X/Y-axes before a print is started. The X/Y-axes calibration procedure adjusts the coordinate system of the two toolheads to be in line with each other.

2.3.1. Print X/Y Calibration - 0.1 mm Scale

To make sure that the X/Y Toolhead Offsets Calibration procedure is done correctly, AON3D provides STL files.

Refer to the X/Y Toolhead Offsets Calibration procedure.

2.3.2. Enter Correction Factor

When the print is complete:

  1. Open the build chamber door.
  2. Use the parts removal tool to remove the printed scale from the build print surface.
  3. Close the build chamber door so as to not let the build chamber temperature decrease.
  4. Examine the lines to calculate the necessary T1 offset(s) to align the two toolheads.
  5. Select Motion > XY Calibration.
  6. Select 0.1mm as the Offset Adjustment Distance (mm).
  7. Use the - or + button to input the offset value on the X-axis.
  8. Use the - or + button to input the offset value on the Y-axis.
  9. Select Apply to save the offsets.

2.3.3. Re-Print 2 to 3 Times

Repeat the X/Y calibration - 0.1 scale print and adjust the X/Y Toolhead Offsets until the X-axis and Y-axis scales center lines are aligned.

3. Run the G-Code

3.1. Load G-Code File Through Web Browser

To upload a file into the GUI:

  1. On the web browser, select Files.
  2. Select Upload Files, and import the G-code file onto the AON3D machine.

3.2. Heat the Heater Block Assembly to Extrusion Temperature

Heat the heater block assembly to the necessary extrusion temperatures before a print is started.

3.3. Start the Print

  • On the GUI/web browser, select Files.
  • Select Print on the file to print.
  • Select Print to confirm.

3.4. Evaluate the First Layer and Live Adjust Z-Axis Offset

  • Make sure that the quality of the first layer height is correct before a print can continue.
  • The Z offset calibration can be adjusted in minute increments to help get the correct first layer:
    1. Select Tool Adjustment Distance, and select 0.1mm or 0.05mm increment.
    2. Under Adjust Printing, select Farther or Closer to adjust the distance between the build platform and the nozzle.
      1. Select Farther to move the build platform down (away from the nozzle).
      2. Select Closer to move the build platform up (toward the nozzle).

Last modified: April 18, 2023