Academy

The Hotend is the part of an FDM 3D printer that deals with the melting and deposition of molten plastic material. A Hotend consists of a Nozzle that deals with depositing the molten material, a Heatblock that deals with the melting of the material and a Heatbreak that keeps the hot zone separate from the cold zone of the Hotend. The Heatbreak can be equipped with a heat sink, which in turn is equipped with a fan.

When assembling a Hotend, care must be taken to ensure that the PTFE tube is in beating with the Nozzle. This implies that the PTFE tube is inserted inside the Heatbreak, then the filament flows inside the PTFE tube and reaches the Nozzle directly, without intermediate zones; therefore, it is essential that the PTFE is tightly tightened and joined to the Nozzle, so that the filament flows forcibly through the exit hole of the Nozzle. In the event that there is even a slight gap between PTFE and Nozzle, then leakages of molten filament from the top edge of the Heatblock can occur, causing fillings and damage to both the print and the printer.

In addition, the PTFE tube, in the part in contact with Nozzle and Heatblock, tends to reach the same melting temperature set for the filament, however this is not a problem as PTFE supports temperatures up to 300C very well before melting, well beyond the normal printing temperatures of PLA, PETG and ABS. On the other hand, the higher the printing temperature, the greater the amount of heat that the Heatbreak must dissipate; in fact, when the heat is not dissipated properly, it tends to rise inside the PTFE causing the filament to melt in areas far from the nozzle, resulting in obstructions that prevent the filament from passing. In addition, the PTFE tube inside the Heatbreak also begins to lose its characteristics, thus causing obstructions. For this reason, it is necessary to accompany the Heatbreak with a heatsink with fan, in this way the passage of heat is quickly interrupted.

To solve these two problems, you can switch to a Hotend like the Hotend Trianglelab TCHC TR6 Model B, which is a Hotend with Bi-Metal thin wall Heatbreak; in this way the PTFE tube is not in contact with the hot Nozzle, but stops high in the Heatsink, where the temperature is cold. Therefore, the filament passes from PTFE to Bi-Metal thin wall Heatbreak when it is still solid, and so leakages of molten material cannot occur. In addition, the Bi-Metal thin wall Heatbreak is welded inside the Nozzle already factory, and therefore it is not possible for losses of molten material between the Bi-Metal thin wall Heatbreak and the Nozzle.

With this type of Hotend it is therefore possible to definitively solve two problems that afflict users of a 3D printer, namely the leakage of molten material between PTFE and Nozzle, and the deformation of the PTFE tube due to the high temperatures reached during the printing of materials such as PETG / ABS / NYLON.

The Hotend Trianglelab TCHC TR6 Model B is the same size as the Hotend MK8 of the Longer FDM 3D printers, so the installation is very user friendly and plug & play. The new Hotend fits both the Longer Classic Printhead and the new Longer Dual Blower, although the Longer Dual Blower is recommended as it provides greater heat dissipation of the Heatsink, as it has a much larger fan than normal. For installation, simply remove the print head cover and the fans, then just unscrew the old Hotend MK8 and screw the new Hotend TCHC TR6 Model B. Instead, as regards the connection of the cables, simply connect the two white cables of the heating resistor to the HEATER port on the mainboard, instead or two black cables of the temperature sensor must be connected to the TH port of the mainboard. The most skilled and experienced users can simply cut the cables of the old Hotend and solder them to the cables of the new Hotend.

Once the assembly and calibration procedures have been completed, you can immediately proceed with printing. You may need to reduce the retraction values inside the slicer and adjust small settings, however 3D printing will be much easier and more enjoyable thanks to this anti-leakage and PTFE-free Hotend in the hot zone.

LO 

Some users of Longer FDM printers prefer to use a BL-TOUCH automatic leveling system in order to obtain more precise and higher quality prints, as well as making the printing bed leveling process easier and more immediate.

However, the standard automatic leveling procedure is for the BL-TOUCH sensor to remeasure the plane points before each new print. This procedure takes time, and is often useless, especially in the case of making daily prints, the print bed maintains calibration and the printer is never moved. If these conditions are met, then you can simply recall a previous plan mesh before starting a new print, without the need to create a new one.

If you want to print using the last saved mesh, simply change the START GCODE for BL-TOUCH to the following START GCODE:

-- BL-TOUCH START GCODE --
G21 ; metric values
G90 ; absolute positioning
M82 ; set extruder to absolute mode
M107 ; start with the fan off
; confirm BL-touch safety
M280 P0 S160 ; BL-Touch Alarm release
G4 P100 ; Delay for BL-Touch homing
G28 X0 Y0 ; move X/Y to min endstops
G28 Z0 ; move Z to min endstops
; reconfirm BL-touch safety
M280 P0 S160 ; BL-Touch Alarm realease
G4 P100 ; Delay for BL-Touch
; bed leveling
M420 S1 Z5 ; enable bed leveling
; prepare hot-end
G92 E0 ; Reset Extruder
G1 Z2.0 F3000 ; Move Z Axis up little to prevent scratching of Heat Bed
G1 X0.1 Y20 Z0.3 F5000.0 ; Move to start position

G1 X0.1 Y150.0 Z0.3 F1500.0 E15 ; Draw the first line

G1 X0.4 Y150.0 Z0.3 F5000.0 ; Move to side a little

G1 X0.4 Y20 Z0.3 F1500.0 E30 ; Draw the second line

G92 E0 ; Reset Extruder

G1 Z2.0 F3000 ; Move Z Axis up little to prevent scratching of Heat Bed

G1 X5 Y20 Z0.3 F5000.0 ; Move over to prevent blob squish
; -- end of BL-TOUCH START GCODE -- 

In this way, printing will start immediately, without mesh the print bed, using the last calibration made. However, sometimes you will need to create a new mesh, especially if the print plate has been moved or if the printer has been moved; in this case, simply create open "Notepad" on your laptop and paste the following GCODE:

; bed leveling
G28 X0 Y0 ; move X/Y to min endstops
G28 Z0 ; move Z to min endstops
G29; Auto leveling
M500 ; save data of G29 and M420
M420 S1 ; enable bed leveling

For last, save the file as levelling.gcode (be careful, do not save as .txt) and copy the GCODE you just created into the microSD of your printer. Whenever it will be necessary to calibrate the printing plate, simply start the GCODE from the printer display, like any other print file, and wait for the measurement to complete.

Longer LK4PRO & LK5PRO are two FDM printers capable of producing high-quality 3D prints. However, you can increase the ease and quality of printing by installing a BL-TOUCH or 3D-TOUCH compatible automatic leveling sensor.

Preparation

• Download and install the Pronterface software on your laptop:

  >>pronterface-windows<<

• Download and 3D print the bracket for BL-TOUCH

  a. >>Bracket for Classic PrintHead<<
  b. >>Bracket for DualBlower<<

• Download and install on your printer the update firmware compatible with BL-TOUCH (check the firmware update manual if you need):

  >>For LK4 PRO Classic PrintHead<<
  >>For LK5 PRO Classic PrintHead<<
  >>For LK4 PRO DualBlower<<
  >>For LK5 PRO DualBlower<<
  
  

• Prepare a USB cable, using a piece of insulating tape, as shown in the figure:

  

Wiring

1. Switch-off the printer
2. Find the position of motherboard, then screw down the mainboard cover
3. Unplug the Z-MIN wire (2-pin) from the mainboard
4. Connect the sensor's cables to the motherboard, as the picture below shows.
   
5. Screw up the mainboard cover
6. Remove the Z endstop switch, as picture showing below
   
7. Screw down the left 2 screws of the printhead module and mount the BL-TOUCH as picture showing below (follow the same step if you have DualBlower)
   

Configuration

• Confirm BL-TOUCH wiring and mounting is complete
• Power ON the printer
• Connect PC and printer with the modified USB cable.
• Open Pronterface software, select serial port (115200 baudrate) and connect it to the printer

Adjusting Z-Offset

1. Clean up bed and nozzle, and ensure no materials stick on 
2. Send M851 Z0 to reset Z offset value.
3. Send G28 to home XYZ axis
4. Send G1 F60 Z0 to lower Z axis to the software origin. 
5. Send M211 S0 to inactivate software endstop function
6. Place a sheet of paper (0.10 mm approximately) on the bed and use Pronterface to lower the nozzle 0.1 mm by 0.1 mm until you feel friction between the nozzle and the sheet of paper (the paper is not to be jammed but not too free either). Then remove the sheet
7. Send M114 to get the current Z height value (usually negative) and take note of it. This is the z-offset value we need
8. Send M851 Z-x.x to set z-offset. (x.x is the value of previous value; for example, if previous value is -1.2, then send M851 Z-1.2.)
9. Send M500 to save current settings
10. Send M211 S1 to reactivate software endstop function. 
11. Send G28 to home XYZ axis
12. Send G1 F60 Z0 to test if the Z axis could go back to the actual Z origin by checking the clearance between the bed and the nozzle if it is about 0.1 mm (the thickness of a sheet of paper). If not, please repeat steps from 1 to 11.

START GCODE replacement

Inside the Slicer software (Cura, Slic3r, Simplify3D), replace the original START GCODE with the following START GCODE for BL-TOUCH.

-- BL-TOUCH START GCODE --
G21; metric values
G90: absolute positioning
M82: Set extruder to absolute mode
M107: start with the fan off
; confirm BL-touch safety
M280 P0 S160 ; BL-Touch Alarm release
G4 P100 ; Delay for BL-Touch homing
G28 X0 Y0 ; move X/Y to min endstops
G28 Z0 ; move Z to min endstops
; reconfirm BL-touch safety
M280 P0 S160 ; BL-Touch Alarm Release
G4 P100 ; Delay for BL-Touch
; bed leveling
G29: Auto leveling
M420 Z5 ; set LEVELING_FADE_HEIGHT
M500: save data of G29 and M420
M420 S1 ; enable bed leveling
; prepare hot-end
G92 E0 ; Reset Extruder
G1 Z2.0 F3000 ; move the Z Axis up little to prevent scratching of the heat bed.
G1 X0.1 Y20 Z0.3 F5000.0 ; Move to start position

G1 X0.1 Y150.0 Z0.3 F1500.0 E15 ; Draw the first line

G1 X0.4 Y150.0 Z0.3 F5000.0 ; Move to side a little

G1 X0.4 Y20 Z0.3 F1500.0 E30 ; Draw the second line

G92 E0 ; Reset Extruder

G1 Z2.0 F3000 ; move the Z Axis up little to prevent scratching of the heat bed.

G1 X5 Y20 Z0.3 F5000.0 ; Move over to prevent blob squish
; -- end of BL-TOUCH START GCODE -- 

While using an FDM 3D printer, you may need to replace the hotend. In fact, a little space between the heatbreak and nozzle, or a failure of the heatsink fan, or any other type of problem could cause a clog that prevents normal extrusion during printing, and the only way to repair the fault is to disassemble or replace the hotend.

Replacing the hotend is an easy procedure but one that requires the utmost attention.
In order to proceed with the replacement, follow these steps.

Disassembly

1) Unscrew the screw that holds the thermistor in place and remove the thermistor and temperature sensor

2) Disassemble the Hotend, then unscrew the screw that holds the Heatsink in place and remove the heatsink.

3) Remove the PTFE tube from the heatbreak.

4) In case the end of the PTFE tube is damaged, cut the damaged part, taking care to make a vertical cut at 90 degrees; an inaccurate cut will cause molten material to leak during printing, causing a new clog. In order to proceed to a precise cut, it is recommended to use a "PTFE cutter" available as an accessory for 3D printing or you can proceed to print an STL file by searching on Thingiverse for "PTFE cutter."

Replacement

1) Screw the Heatbreak correctly into the heatblock.

2) Screw the Nozzle into the Heatblock

3) Install the Heatsink

4) Mount the Hotend on the 3D printer

5) Unscrew a little the Nozzle (about half a turn), then insert the PTFE tube until it hits with the nozzle.

6) Insert the thermistor and the temperature sensor into the block, fixing them with the appropriate screw

7) Heat the Hotend up to 200°C, then screw the Nozzle well so that it is tight with the PTFE tube and the heatbreak.

Once you have completed these steps, the new hotend will be ready to use.
The correct assembly ensures good operation and avoids new clogs due to leakage of molten material between the heatbreak and the nozzle.

https://www.longer3d.com/products/lk5-pro-fdm-3d-printer

All Longer 3D printers offer excellent performance and guarantee high print quality, however some users love to install upgrades useful to change the aesthetic appearance or characteristics of the printer. For this reason, this article intends to present some of the most installed upgrades by users, offered by @Ciubecca Nicola.

1) LONGER LK4Pro & LK5Pro Display Cover

This upgrade allows you to install a cover on the display of the Longer LK4PRO & LK5PRO printers, so as to protect the screen from dust when the printer is not in use

Download link: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4929422

2) LONGER LK4Pro & LK5Pro Adjustable LED Light Bar Mount

This upgrade allows you to install a lamp through an adjustable stand, so as to obtain a good illumination of the printing plate of LK4PRO & LK5PRO.

Download link: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4980580

3) LONGER LK4Pro & LK5Pro Mini SD Card/USB Holder

This upgrade allows you to install a holder for microSD cards, USB pendrives and SD cards, so you always have any type of flash memory next to the printer

Download link: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5230892

4) LONGER LK4Pro & LK5Pro Front rail cover with Bed Leveling Reminder

If you do not need the previous Card Holder, then this upgrade can be a good choice; this upgrade is a reminder that allows you to remember from which direction you have to turn the leveling knobs to raise or lower the printing surface

Download link: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4981797

5) LONGER LK4Pro & LK5Pro Screw Cap

An upgrade as simple as it is functional, of the simple caps to cover the screws of the aluminum frame of the LK4PRO & LK5PRO printers. Choose your favorite color to customize your printer to the maximum!

Download link: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5186277

6) LONGER LK4Pro & LK5Pro Spool Clamp

Some filament coils tend to move on the Spool Holder; therefore, if this is a problem for you then you can install this upgrade, which allows you to hold the coil in its position

Download link: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5186749

7) LONGER LK4Pro & LK5Pro Flexible Arms

This upgrade consists of a flexible arm, which was used to install a camera that can record the printing process. However, if you have a different camera or if you don't need a camera, then you can modify the original design and use the flexible arm for any kind of customization you have in mind. Bring your ideas to life!

Download link: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5186245

Our Longer LK4 PRO and LK5 PRO 3D Printers are very similar, but the differences between them are not limited only to the different printing area, but on the LK5 PRO there are other small improvements that make this printer much superior to LK4 PRO.

However, if you already own an LK4 PRO and do not intend to buy LK5 PRO as well, here is a series of tips to make your LK4 PRO like a mini-LK5PRO, thus improving its printing capacity and hardware structure.

1) Hotbed Cable Bracket Holder

The LK4 PRO has a Hotbed power cord simply connected via a clip-on connector. This, as a result of repeated movements during printing, may disconnect, bend or break; for this reason it is really important to install a cable bracket that makes the connection fixed, exactly as for LK5 PRO. About that:

1. Download the official Bracket Longer: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4818795
2. Print it using 0.1mm Layer Height & 100% Infill as recommended settings
3. Proceed to the installation as follows:
   • Unscrew and remove the 4 leveling knobs, remove the hotbed
   • Place the bracket on the metal plane, place the leveling spring in the bracket compartment
   • Assemble the hotbed again and screw in the 4 leveling knobs
   • Attach the cable to the Bracket using two fixing clamps
4. Here is the final result:

2) Mainboard fan protection grid

The LK4 PRO's mainboard fan does not have a protective grid like that of the LK5PRO, so if you don't have a compatible metal grid then you can install a printed one. About that:

1. Download the official Longer mainboard grid:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4957827

1. Print it using 0.1mm Layer Height & 100% Infill as recommended settings
2. Proceed to the installation as follows:
   • Unscrew the 4 mainboard fan screws
   • Place the grid
   • Start the 4 screws
   • Note: Due to the grid, you need to use 4 screws longer than the originals
3. Here is the final result:

3) Spool Holder on the side

The LK4 PRO printer provides for the installation of the Spool Holder at the top; however, if you prefer to install the Spool Holder on the side of the printer, as for LK5 PRO, here is a practical upgrade to print and install easily:

1. Download the official Longer bracket for Spool Holder: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4957817
2. Print it using 0.2mm Layer Height & 100%Infill as recommended settings
3. Proceed to the installation as follows:
   • Attach the original Spool Holder to the Bracket, using two bolts of correct size
   • Attach the bracket to the printer using at least two T-Nuts
4. Here is the final result:

4) Ultrabase Plate in Micro-perforated Latex

Differently from LK5 PRO, which is equipped with a Micro-perforated glass plate, LK4 PRO has a glass plate covered with a rough ceramic film, excellent for having a perfect print adhesion, however it may often be difficult to remove the prints from the glass, as the adhesion remains unchanged even with a cold plate.

For this reason, it could be a good solution to proceed with the installation of a Micro-perforated glass plate also on the LK4 PRO, so as to obtain excellent adhesion during printing and easy removal of prints from the cold plate. In fact, the Longer Micro-perforated Latex plate is equipped with micropores, which with heat (starting from 60 °C) it "sticks" to the first printing layer, thus ensuring excellent adhesion as long as the plate remains hot. At the end of printing, cooling the micropores gradually it releases the printed surface, so the printed object will simply be placed on the plate and can be easily removed.

This upgrade can be got really easily, as it can be purchased at all our official Longer stores, at a very low price:

• Longer Official Store:
  https://www.longer3d.com/collections/lattice-glass/products/ceramic-coated-glass-to-longer-lk4-lk4-pro
• Longer Amazon Store:
  On your local Amazon website
• Longer Aliexpress Store:
  https://a.aliexpress.com/_v4j7KG

Once you install all these upgrades, your LK4 PRO will be like a mini-LK5 PRO!
Our guide ends here, but if you need more spare parts or would like to make extra upgrades, then do not hesitate to contact us on our Official Longer Facebook pages or at our email address:  support@longer3d.com

https://www.longer3d.com/products/lk5-pro-fdm-3d-printer

First of all

LONGER LK5 PRO firmware download: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xvMYLhAvwqhYiqoT559U8gBzruGjQ_AE?usp=sharing

1. About LK5 PRO install steps

If you find it lost, please contact our technical team at support@longer.net; after confirmation, we will resend the new part to you.

We make video tutorials about installation steps; please follow:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_VzVxOhHSo

2. First turn on

The touch screen is not bright

Confirm whether the input voltage range of the switching power supply is consistent with the electricity voltage in the area and the screen cable is connected.
If still does not work, check the power indicator and the mainboard indicator (method: remove the bottom mainboard protective cover; refer to the video in the link below.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8Jwu-faDfQ

Fan noise and abnormal sound.

Make sure that the fan blades are not damaged and that there are no foreign objects. You can email fan photos to support@longer.net help you confirm.

3. Leveling bed

The distance between the hot end nozzle and the hot bed is 0.1-0.2 mm. follow below video leveling bed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ0MOFPuOTQ. If it still can't be solved, put the hot bed glass and aluminum substrate on a flat table to check whether there is bending, if the bed bending, contact LONGER 3D technical team: support@longer.net

4. Zeroing failed

Failed to return to zero/abnormal noise of return to zero/impact limit still does not stop motion. Please check whether the limit switch is complete and the installation condition, and follow the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3sQGZVFDqY., check the cable installation condition.

About the Z-axis limit switch height adjustment, refer to the video in the link below.
https://youtu.be/F_VzVxOhHSo?t=255

5. Load/unload filament

Error8

Check the real-time hot-end temperature display on the screen. If it is negative, check the installation of the thermistor plug; make sure it is installed as below:

If anything good about thermistor, that is hot end issue, in this case we should follow the below video to change hot end: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwpLTFwFzAg

Error0 or Error12

Check the installation of the hot-end thermistor and the plug of the hot-end heating rod.
If the installation is normal, the cable may be broken. Replace the hot end;

The extruder is not working

1. Check the installation of the extruder cable plug (E refers to the extruder).
   2. The extruder defaults to work after reaching the hot end set temperature (minimum 195 degrees). If it still cannot work, check the installation of the extruder motor wire.
   3. If it still can't work, exchange the X and E motor wire plugs, control the movement respectively, and report the situation to the after-sale service.

Filament cannot be extruded

When, without loading the filament, the extruder works fine, this situation is a hot end block. When the filament is not loaded, the extruder works abnormally; please contact the after-sales service directly support@longer.net

Nozzle smoking

Check the thermistor is completely detached or loosely installed (check when cooling); reinstall it.

6. Start printing

If LK5 PRO printer does not recognize the Micro SD card file

Use a tool to format the Micro SD card and reload the file.
Micro SD Card Formatting Software
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TgCT1CBsjI4-7prSu1nEUXxQ6vhsJzms?usp=sharing
Micro SD card preload file download address
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zz5mlLMBoa3DguuyG6YDHJJXnhL-XKnJ?usp=sharing
Dip the SD card in alcohol, pull out and insert it into the SD card slot several times. Wait for the alcohol to evaporate completely, and restart the machine to check whether it works again.

If still not work, contact LONGER 3D technical team: support@longer.net

Newly added files not recognized

LONGER LK5 PRO recognizes the Gcode file in the root directory of the Micro SD card and checks the format of the newly added file.
P.S. Gcode files can be generated by slicing software.
If still not work, contact LONGER 3D technical team: support@longer.net.

Error 9

Check that the touch screen displays the real-time hotbed temperature, and if it is negative, check the installation of the hotbed cable plug.
The cable is installed normally. Use a multimeter to check the resistance of the aluminum substrate.
video about measure the resistance of the hot bed socket: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFV3JCilzA8

If still not work, contact LONGER 3D technical team: support@longer.net

Error 1/13

Check the heatbedcable plug installation.
Check the resistance of the aluminum substrate. If it is normal, replace the cable for testing. If the cable is still abnormal, contact LONGER 3D technical team: support@longer3d.com

The print size is too small

Check the computer slicing software to set the print format.
If this does not resolve, check the printer firmware information.
PS: LK5 Pro firmware and update guide files can be downloaded at the link: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rRos32XckF5ZlI5tYlCTlyt22E_BlQXP/view?usp=sharing. 

LONGER LK5 PRO 3D printer firmware upgrade in this article:

https://www.longer3d.com/blogs/academy/longer-lk5-pro-full-use-tutorial Filament not sticking to platform

Check whether the slicing software parameters are the default parameters of the Cura Longer machine, and try to relevel (the proper distance between the nozzle and the printing bed is the thickness of a sheet of A4 paper). For leveling the bed, check the video in the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ0MOFPuOTQ
After leveling bed, add "ralf" while slicing the model
If still not work, please check, Check if the heat bed is bent in  3, Leveling bed

Filament not extruded

1. When the motor shaft of the extruder rotates, the engagement gear does not rotate; install the engagement gear fixing screw.
2. If the extruder does not work, switch the motor test; refer to the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCjrieoyZ1c
3. If the distance between the hot end nozzle and the hot bed is too close, relevel it.
4. If the hot end is blocked, replace the hot end. Refer to 5.4 for the inspection method.

7. Other issue

Wrong firmware

Download the LK5 Pro firmware and update the guide file and update the firmware:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rRos32XckF5ZlI5tYlCTlyt22E_BlQXP/view?usp=sharing
Refer to 6.5.

During the printing process

If the power input is normal, it still display "Resume printing." In this situation, please update the firmware to the Marlin 2.0 version. the following is the firmware download link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10mY1k7CIIJYEa2HbqzdXNSre7h4x6Zfa/view?usp=sharing

Refer to the link below for the firmware update tutorial.
https://www.longer3d.com/blogs/academy/longer-lk5-pro-full-use-tutorial
After updating the firmware, the problem still cannot be solved; contact LONGER 3D technical team at support@longer.net

bending, After the printer turned on, the touch screen is stuck on the boot page, and the firmware cannot be loaded, please confirm the touch screen cable is connected situation, if cable not issue, please contact LONGER 3D technical team: support@longer.net

For centuries, Valentine’s Day has been an important day for millions of couples all over the globe. As soon as February begins, you see stores decorated with red heart balloons, teddy bears, and other Valentine's Day themed goodies. Finding a gift on Valentine’s Day for a loved one that's unique can be a little complicated. You might get lost going through multiple stores in an attempt to find something meaningful for your significant other. After all, the day is meant to be a symbol of your love.

You might have the perfect dinner planned at the best restaurant in town, but the gift is the real star of the show that they will cherish forever. Gifts are essential on Valentine's Day, just as it is on a birthday or any special occasion. However, the difference here is the meaning attached to the day. Valentine's Day gifts are practically your way of saying how much you love your significant other. It is a gift that they will cherish for years to come and consider a symbol of your love. The question then is how to give innovative and unique gifts. If you need some help, we've got great Valentine’s Day gift ideas for you.

Try Out a 3D Printer:

When it comes to Valentine’s Day gifts for her, we’re sure a personalized gift will be considered extra special. Think about a gift that you created on your own that was executed to perfection. Even if you feel as if you are unartistic or can’t draw well, a 3D printer can do all of that for you! Since it is a technological innovation that creates a physical object from s picture, it’s a great way to make Valentine’s Day gifts for him too.

All you need to do is get your hands on a 3D printer, and you can make new fantastic gifts on many Valentine's Days. The great thing about these is that there are no limits to what you can create. It's left to your imagination. It could be an inside joke, the place you met, a little keepsake, or even a big centerpiece.

What Can 3D Printers Do?

If you don't know much about 3D printers, then you're in for a surprise. These phenomenal devices can create a three-dimensional object from an image using CAD (computer-aided design). It works somewhat like ordinary printers but with a twist. Instead of using ink and paper, a 3D printer uses a material of your choice, such as plastics, composites, or biomaterials, to create the image that you instructed it to create.

For example, if you wanted to create a little figurine of a boat out of plastic, you just load a roll of plastic up into the printer. It will melt it and place it in a way that will create the figurine that was selected. You can create this image in any software as long as it is a 3D image. It does so by layering the materials that you selected to objects of any shape, size, rigidity, and color.

A Great 3D Printer:

If you're interested in this excellent method to make Valentine's Day gifts, a great option is the LK5 Pro FDM 3D Printer from the trusted company LONGER 3D. This is one of the many 3D Printers that are available from LONGER, which has had multiple successful customers in the past. Moreover, now the Love Season Sale of LONGER has a huge discount. Here are some features of the LK5 Pro:

• Assembly and structure:

The LONGER LK5 Pro is one of the printers that comes mostly preassembled. It is incredibly annoying to put one together from scratch, but this one is much easier. It is an affordable 3D Printer that is 90% preassembled. It has a printing structure of 300*300*400 mm, which is pretty great for your Valentine's Day gifts. Its dual inclined rods, along with the stable triangular structure, hold all three axes steadily in place.

• Glass bed:

The bed of the printer is immensely important. It needs to have enough friction for the project to stay in place during printing but be smooth enough to peel off once it is complete. The LK5 Pro has a glass bed coated with ceramic. This allows for both steadiness during printing and eases while peeling it off.

• High temperature resistance:

The Teflon tubes within the printer can withstand up to 280℃. This means that the nozzle won't clog up with material, and the printing will be constant. No gaps or inconsistencies will occur due to nozzle blockage.

• Quiet printing:

The printer has three kits of TMC2208 chipsets for all of the axis. This means the entire printing process will have an extremely low noise as the motor will not work too loudly. Unlike many other 3D printers, the LK5 Pro will work quietly throughout the printing process.

• Touch screen control:

The printer has a 4.3-inch touch screen in color. This provides a better user interface that will help you work with the printer.

How to Make Your Valentine’s Day Gifts:

If your Valentine’s Day ideas now involve a 3D Printer, you might want to know how to make one. Here is a step-by-step method on how to make a fantastic gift on Valentine’s Day with a 3D printer:

1. Create your image using any software and save it into an SD card. The extension should be “.gcode” as this is what the printer will recognize.
2. Preheat your printer and grab your material. To check if the heat is alright, insert your material into the extruder until some of it starts coming out of the nozzle.
3. Insert your SD card into the printer. On the touch screen, select print, then files, and select whatever you want to print. After this, hit print, and the printer will start doing its job.
4. Wait for the printer to finish. When it is done, the screen will display a message saying the printing is complete.
5. Peel your Valentine's Day gifts off the base, and you've got the perfect gift for your loved one.

What Can You Make:

With a 3D Printer like the LK5 Pro, you can make almost anything that you put your heart into. If you feel stuck, here are a few ideas:

• A figurine of your first date. For example, if you went on a yacht ride, get the yacht printed out.
• A little figurine of an inside joke. This could be anything at all. Think about a special moment in your relationship and get creative.
• A model of something you plan to do together in the future. For example, design a house that the two of you plan to build with time or a city you’d like to visit.
• Go classic with roses. Who wouldn’t want a bunch of roses that last forever? With a 3D printer, you can make it happen!

Summary:

Now you probably know what to do on Valentine's Day when you understand the power of 3D Printers. Giving your loved one a gift on Valentine’s Day is probably much easier now, isn’t it? We understand how important this gift can be, which is why an innovative gift that has a personal touch is a great idea. The LK5 Pro FDM 3D printer from Longer is a great option if you are looking for a phenomenal printer that will produce the best gift ever. It has multiple benefits and is extremely user-friendly. So, you can definitely create a perfect Valentine’s Day gift, or two, for your significant other in no time.

https://www.longer3d.com/products/lk5-pro-fdm-3d-printer

Last mont LONGER 3D release a new accessories for FDM 3D printers.

This dual blower kit perfectly fit for LONGER LK4/LK4 PRO/LK1/LK5 PRO and compatiable with U20/U30/U30 PRO 3D Printer, improves the quality of printing, have strong power on cooling nozzle to get a better and smooth surface of model.

And installation steps, some 3D printers fans didn’t know. Now you can follow our turorial step by step.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/zEA-eM5sfho

So install new dual blower kit for your FDM printer, you need remove the old hot end fan cover and sheet metal first, the fixed the new dual blower kit in the gantry beams, connect the fan wires in order, then done.

Ps: The plugs do NOT get replaced the same as the stock fan, they must be switched exactly opposite. (Former red/black gets new blue/yellow & visa versa.) 

If you going to install BL touch, please download support bracket for the BL Touch. 

Longer 3D collect all 3D printers coupon in discount  page. If you need 3D printers or upgrade part from LONGER 3D, check the link and find out coupon code you need.

Original post: https://www.longer3d.com/blogs/academy/longer-new-dual-blower-kit-installation-tutorial

https://www.longer3d.com/products/lk5-pro-fdm-3d-printer

A Detail Guide about LONGER LK5 Pro Upgrades and How to Upgrade LONGER LK4 Pro in Easy Steps

1.Since the motherboard of the LK4 Pro, LK5 Pro printer is an open source motherboard, use electrical tape to paste the pins on the side of the USB cable socket before connecting to the computer to isolate the computer from supplying power to the printer motherboard. If the pins are not attached, the printer will not work properly use.

2.To connect the computer to the printer, you need to install the driver, which can be installed on the LONGER official website. The official website link is as follows:

https://www.longer3d.com/blogs/news/printer-download-guildelines

3.After pasting the pins of the USB cable with tape, you can connect the printer to the computer, and then you need to update the printer's firmware through the slicing software cura.

4.Cura software version 4.8 or 4.9 does not add a LONGER printer by default. You need to add it manually. The following link is the video of adding a LONGER printer to cura4.8 or 4.9. Refer to the video in the link to add a LONGER printer;

MAC OS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKqRb434USw&t=6s

WINDOWS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdLYBYFEBlQ&t=9s

If the computer cannot connect to the printer, please refer to the video operation in the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwmKZmtTOPw&t=10s

5.Next, you need to save the firmware to your computer. The firmware link of the corresponding model is below:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11X1MZV4ll47kG4dhw2PgXniOwwo7UkmP/view?usp=sharing

6.After the firmware download is complete, please turn on the printer power, connect the printer to the computer, open the cura software, and select the "MONITOR" page to control the printer. And the firmware update is also completed on this page.

Next, on the "Monitor" page, select the corresponding model to update the firmware, and then click "Manage Printers", the operation is as follows

Click "Update Firmware" in the pop-up "Preferences" option box, refer to the figure below.

In the pop-up "firmware update" prompt box, click "upload custom firmware"

Then select the file with the suffix format ".hex" in the firmware installation package to upload, and you can start to update the printer's firmware. Do not cut off the power of the printer or turn off the computer during the firmware update process, and also ensure that the USB cable is properly connected.

LONGER LK5 Pro FDM printer base on 300x300x400mm printed size, if you interested, check the page get more detail: https://www.longer3d.com/blogs/academy/longer-lk4-pro-lk5-pro-3d-printer-firmware-update

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