Revision as of 09:35, 12 August 2022

Introduction

THUNDER is a high speed FDM 3D printer with a printing speed of up to 300mm/s. After two years of research and development and testing by GEEETECH engineers, it has achieved high speed printing while ensuring excellent printing quality. It is an excellent 3D printer that can save a lot of precious time for 3D printing enthusiasts.

File:Thunder.jpg

Product Features

•Technology: FDM

•High speed printing, speed up to 300mm/s

•All metal body, stable and reliable structure

•Fixed hotbed, no more frequent leveling

•High speed dual gear drive extruder, excellent performance,stand wear and tear

•Motor control: X/Y axis adopts closed-loop drive control,Z axis adopts TMC2208 drive

•Dual Z-axis

•Strong cooling hotend fan: 4010*1, Part Cooling Fan: 5015*2, Auxiliary Part Cooling Fan: 6020*2

•Leveling: support manual leveling and auto-leveing

•Filament broken detection: standard packed with filament broken detection sensor

•Screen password protection: During the printing process, the screen is locked with a password to prevent the printing failure caused by the accidental change of printing parameters

•One button to strong cooling: one button to completely open the hot end fan and auxiliary part cooling fan

•Multi printing modes: THUNDER inserted 4 printing modes for different speed level printing, meanwhile, it has a User Mode for users to customize printing parameters

•Break-resuming capability

•Printing lighting: THUNDER designed a white LED light on the hotend, convenient for checking the nozzle and model condition

Product Specifications

•CPU: ARM Cortex-M4 Core, 168MHz

•Printing Speed: ≤300mm/s

•Maximum Acceleration: x=5000mm/s², y=4000mm/s²

•Motion Controller CPU: ARM Cortex-M3 Core, 72MHz

•Printing Volume: 250*250*260mm

•Nozzle Max Temperature: 250℃

•Hotbed Max Temperature: 110℃

•Display: 3.5-inch Color Touch Screen

•Nozzle Diameter(Optional): 0.2mm, 0.6mm, 0.8mm

•Filament Diameter: 1.75mm

•X/Y Motor Control: Closed-Loop Control

•Z-axis Motor Control: TMC2208

•Power Input: AC 115/230V, 50/60Hz

•Power Supply: 350W

•Working Noise: ≤50dB，Normal Mode (Auxiliary Part Cooling Fan Not Turned On, Hotend Heat Dissipation Fan Strong Cold Mode Closed)

•Machine Size: 472(L)*488(W)*525(H)mm

•Package Size: 553(L)*544(W)*330(H)mm

•Net Weight: 10.7kg

•Packing Weight: 13.4kg

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Notice

•Please read this document carefully to ensure that you understand each installation step, which will improve the efficiency of your assembly and reduce errors;

•Before starting the power supply, ensure that the voltage range of the power supply is consistent with the local voltage used by the user to prevent power damage;

•Please place the printer in a spacious, flat and ventilated environment. If you do not use the machine for a long time, please pay attention to waterproof and moisture-proof protection for the printer;

•Do not touch any moving parts while the printer is running to avoid personal injury;

•Do not touch the nozzle and hot bed when the printer is working, so as not to cause burns;

•When using the touch screen in the printing process, please pay attention to the movement of the hot bed to prevent the hot bed from hitting your fingers;

•Please use the printer in the environment of 10~40℃, otherwise the printing will be adversely affected;

•Before using the 3D printer, please level the hot bed first. Thunder is equipped with 3D-Touch automatic leveling accessory. Please install the 3D-Touch before leveling the hot bed.You can also use manual hot-bed leveling if you do not have 3D-Touch installed.

Cura Configuration File

The THUNDER printing speed can reach 300mm/s. In order to ensure the printing quality even in high speed, the correct setting of slicing parameters is essential. We recommend the Cura slicing software and provide the THUNDER configuration file for Cura slicing software on this page.

Cura slicing software download link: https://github.com/Ultimaker/Cura

We offered 2 configuration files for THUNDER, see below about importing file to Cura software.

For Cura 4.x version, the import path for the two configuration files is:

"geeetech_Mizar_Pro.def.json" put into

C:\Program Files\Ultimaker Cura 4.13.1\resources\definitions

File:Config1.png

"geeetech_Mizar_Pro_extruder.def" put into

C:\Program Files\Ultimaker Cura 4.13.1\resources\extruders

File:Config2.png

For the Cura 5.x version, the import path for the two configuration files is:

"geeetech_Mizar_Pro.def.json" put into

C:\Program Files\Ultimaker Cura 5.1.0\share\cura\resources\definitions

File:Config3.png

"geeetech_Mizar_Pro_extruder.def" put into

C:\Program Files\Ultimaker Cura 5.1.0\share\cura\resources\extruders

File:Config4.png

User Mode Introduction

In order to enable users to better use and adjust THUNDER, we have opened the parameters of the core algorithm of THUNDER firmware. Users can adjust the parameters of THUNDER according to the usage scenarios and requirements to obtain better print quality. It should be noted that THUNDER may also get worse print quality due to the adjusting of some parameters.

User mode requires using the Smartto Kits tool and modifying parameters via USB. Users can also export and share their configuration parameters with other THUNDER users, or import parameters from other users into THUNDER.

Here we provide a download link for the Smart Kits tool that you can download and use it by yourself. Here is how to use Smartto Kits.

1.Install the CH340 driver (the TF card attached with the printer has the driver file, or you can search and download the CH340 driver from the Internet).

2.Plug the B-type interface of the USB cable into THUNDER and the other end into your computer.

File:Thunder007.jpg

3.Install Smartto Kits, open Smartto Kits, choose "Quck Start"

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4.Choose "Debug" in the new page, enter User Mode parameter setting page.

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5.Click the "Disconnected" button in the upper right corner. The Setting interface is displayed in left side. Select the serial port for THUNDER, set the serial port baud rate to 115200, and click "Connect" to Connect THUNDER.

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Smartto Kits Basic Menu Description

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Import: Import THUNDER configuration parameters

Export: Exports the THUNDER configuration parameters

Get Status: Reads the current parameters of THUNDER

Use Default: Use the factory Default parameter of THUNDER (print mode)

Save: The saved parameter is valid only for this time. The parameter becomes invalid after restart THUNDER

Apply: Write the modified parameters to the THUNDER Flash memory

Thunder UI parameters explanation Fastprint Mode

You can choose Normal mode, Fast mode, Crazy mode, User mode and Slow mode. Except User mode, all the parameters are preset by the printer. The user cannot edit them.

•First Layer Mode

Set the printing mode of the first layer (currently the default is 0.3mm height, all below is considered as the first layer). For some filament, high speed switching of the first layer will lead to poor adhesion of filament to the hot bed. It is necessary to lower the acceleration and deceleration so that the first layer can be enabled to print stably. The default mode is S4.

•Curve Mode

The default value ranges from 0 to 7. Different parameters affect the speed of the trajectory of the model. The speed of the trajectory decreases when the parameter ranges from 0 to 7, and the default value is 6.

S0~S3: the motion trajectory basically keeps running at high speed, and the speed decreases step by step; Suitable for some models, easy to cause model edge bulge; Enabling these modes will restrict the implementation of some algorithms, resulting in invalid parameter Settings.

S4~S7: The motion trajectory is slowed down to different degrees by coupling processing of multiple algorithms. The larger the parameter, the flatter the printing. It is generally recommended to use S5~S7, S4 in some models easy to cause jitter.

•Corner Line Threshold

Represents the length threshold of a small consecutive line segment at the junction of a corner (unit: mm). Line segments less than this value will have special treatment at the corner to prevent overshooting; Choosing different thresholds can well reduce the strong jitter problem caused by continuous short line segments (about 0.4~1.5mm line segments connected into a curved surface, circle or ellipse) and small angles at high speed; The parameter range is [0.01,100].

•Max Junction

Indicates the maximum startup speed when the corner between two commands is at a right Angle. When Mode 4-7 is selected in Curve Mode, the motion speed curve generated by the algorithm will shift upward or downward according to this value. The larger the parameter is, the faster the overall velocity is. Generally, the set value is between [6,40], and the unit is mm/s.

•Dynamic Acceleration(Minimum)

Represents the minimum preset acceleration of the printer, and the preset acceleration greater than this will be dynamically adjusted according to the bending degree of the movement trajectory. The value ranges from [500, 9000]. The value 9000 indicates that this function is disabled. Suitable for models that requires stable printing process.

•X/Y Frequency

Max Frequency (Hz) represents the upper limit of oscillation Frequency of X/Y axis. When the motion part set in the model moves back and forth, movements higher than this Frequency will decelerate accordingly. The frequency unit is Hz. This will effectively reduce the printer shock caused by printing small infill models. The frequency is limited to [0, 200].

Minimum Speed (%) Specifies the Minimum Speed factor that limits the Minimum amount of deceleration. Parameter range [0, 100].

•Acceleration

Compute Mode: If you choose Acceleration, adjusting the parameters of Print Acceleration and Travel Acceleration is valid. If you choose Total Acceleration , adjusting the Print Acceleration and Travel Acceleration is invalid.

Print Acceleration: Represents the default acceleration, the unit is mm/s2.

Travel Acceleration: Represents the acceleration of empty driving, the unit is mm/s2.

•Jerk

Jerk represents the starting speed of X/Y/E, where the maximum starting speed of X/Y/E can be set.

•Extruder

Max_advance_speed：Specify the upper limit of the pressure adjustment speed (LINE ADVANCE); Prevent the extruder from producing strong noise and abnormal discharge due to high speed; The parameter range is [0.1,35]; The default value is 16mm/s. Too high speed will cause extruder vibration, too low will cause printing acceleration reduction.

Advance K: Represents the K value of pressure regulation. The larger the value, the more extruder retraction will be. Generally, the remote extruder is set between [0.05,0.8], and the short-range extruder is set between [0.01,0.2].

General Page

Platform Size: Adjust printing volume. Since the machine structure already limited the volume, we don’t suggest users to change it.

Motor Page

Motor Step: Set step motor parameter

Motor Direction: Change the motor movement direction

Maximum Speed: The X/Y/Z axis and the extruder maximum speed of the are modified here. The maximum printing speed of the print cannot be changed here

Maximum Jerk: Change the maximum start speed of X/Y/Z axis and extruder

Maximum Acceleration: Setting or edit the maximum acceleration of X/Y/Z axis and the extruder

PID Page

Edit the PID parameter for extruder and hotbed.

Custom Page

On this page, users can send command directly.

Firmware Upgrading

THUNDER does not support TF card upgrading firmware directly. You need to use Smartto Kits to upgrade the firmware through the USB cable. The steps are as follows:

1.Install the CH340 driver (the TF card attached has the driver file, or you can search and download the CH340 driver from the Internet).

2.Plug the B-type interface of the USB cable into THUNDER and the other end into your computer.

File:Thunder007.jpg

3.Install Smartto Kits, then open Smartto Kits, select "Quick Start", then select "Update" to go to the firmware upgrade page.

4.Click the "Disconnected" button in the upper right corner. The Setting sidebar is displayed in left side. Select the serial port for THUNDER, set the serial port baud rate to 115200, and click "Connect" to Connect THUNDER.

File:Thunder013.png

5.Click the blank space in the Update page and select the firmware you want to upgrade.

File:Thunder014.png

6.Click "Update" to start upgrading the firmware.

File:Thunder015.png

File:Thunder016.png

7.When it prompts "Update Succeeded", firmware upgrade completes.

File:Thunder017.png

UI Upgrading

A TF card or USB flash drive is required to upgrade the UI of THUNDER. See following steps:

Step 1: Copy the "System" folder to TF card or USB drive root menu.

File:Thunder018.png

Step 2: Insert the TF card or USB drive into THUNDER, and then power on THUNDER. At this time, you will see that the display screen is updating the UI. This process takes a long time, please wait patiently.

Step 3: When it prompts "Update succeeded", please remove the TF Card/ U-Disk and restart the printer. UI upgrade is complete.

Note: After UI upgrading, delete the "System" folder on the TF card or USB flash drive to avoid repeated UI upgrade during power-on.

Settings of Nozzle with Different Diameter

In addition to the 0.4mm diameter, THUNDER also supports 0.2mm, 0.6mm and 0.8mm diameter nozzles. For these diameter nozzles that is not commonly used, there are some parameters that need to be set and adjusted when using the slicing software. Based on experience and validation, we offer 0.2mm, 0.6mm, 0.8mm diameter nozzle slice parameters for THUNDER for user reference, see the table below (or download the Excel table).

File:Thunder019.png

X/Y Axis Closed-loop Motor Calibration and Abnormality Elimination