S
ELECTIVEL
ASERS
INTERING(
SLS)
ISAVERYEXCITINGTECHNOLOGYWHICHDIRECTLY FUSESPARTICLESTOGETHERLAYERBYLAYER,
THROUGHAHIGHENERGYPULSELASER.
S
IMILARTOSLA,
THISPROCESSSTARTSWITHATANKFULLOFBULKMATERIAL,
BUTTHISTIMEIN POWDERFORM.
A
STHEPRINTCONTINUES,
THEBEDLOWERSITSELFFOREACHNEWLAYERASDONE INTHESLS
PROCESS.
O
VERHANGSARENATURALLYSUPPORTEDBYTHEEXCESSBULKPOWDER MATERIALMAKINGTHOSEFEATURESMUCHMORESIMPLETOPRINTTHANUSINGFDM.
T
HEBULK MATERIALISTYPICALLYHEATEDTOJUSTUNDERITSTRANSITIONTEMPERATURETOALLOWFORFASTER PARTICLEFUSIONANDPRINTMOVES.
SLS
ISTHEPREFERREDRAPID-
PROTOTYPINGMETHODOF METALSANDEXOTICMATERIALS,
HOWEVER,
THEREAREADDITIONALCOSTSINENERGYUSEDFOR FABRICFABRICATINGWITHTHISMETHODWHICHMAYREVERSEANYSAVINGSREALIZEDINTHEMATERIALCOST
.
S
TEREOLITHOGRAPHY(
SLA)
ISANOTHEREXAMPLEOF BUILDINGAMODELLAYERBYLAYER,
BUTINSTEADOFEXTRUDINGMOLTENPLASTICTHROUGHANOZZLE
,
THEPROCESS REQUIRESALIQUIDPLASTICRESINCALLEDAPHOTOPOLYMERWHICHIS THENCUREDBYANULTRAVIOLET(
UV)
LASER.
T
HISPROCESSISEVEN MORECOMPARABLETOACNC
OPERATIONASTHESLA
MACHINE REQUIRESANEXCESSAMOUNTOFPHOTOPOLYMERTOCOMPLETETHE PRINT.
A
NSLA
MACHINE TYPICALLY STORES THE EXCESS PHOTOPOLYMERINATANKBELOWTHEPRINTBED.
A
STHEPRINT PROCESSPROCESSCONTINUES
,
THEBEDISLOWEREDFURTHERINTOTHETANK CURINGEACHLAYERCONSECUTIVELYALONGTHEWAY.
O
NCETHEFINALLAYERISCOMPLETETHEBEDISRAISEDOUTOFTHETANK,
EXPOSINGTHESOLID3D
MODEL.
SLA
HASAHIGHERRESOLUTIONBUTLONGERPRINTTIMETHANFDM
FDM
PRINTTOLERANCESRANGEFROM0.
05
MMTO0.
5
MMWITHTHEINDUSTRYAVERAGECOMING INATAROUND0.
2
MM.
S
OMEINTERESTINGBENEFITSOFF
USEDD
EPOSITIONM
ODELINGINCLUDE THEABILITYTOEASILYCUSTOMIZEINFILLSOFTHEOBJECTSBEINGPRINTED.
T
HISMEANSTHATITIS VERYSIMPLETOPRINTPROTOTYPEMODELSFORFITANDFINISHCHECKSWITHLOWINFILL,
OREVEN HOLLOW,
INORDERTOSAVEONMATERIALCOSTS.
F
USEDD
EPOSITIONM
ODELING(
FDM)
WORKSBYLAYING DOWN CONSECUTIVE LAYERS OF MATERIAL AT HIGH TEMPERATURES,
ALLOWINGTHEADJACENTLAYERSTOCOOLANDBOND TOGETHERBEFORETHENEXTLAYERISDEPOSITED.
T
HERESOLUTIONOFFDM
RAPIDPROTOTYPINGISLIMITEDBYTHEACCURACYOFTHEMOTORS ANDUSERCALIBRATION,
ASWELLASTHEPRINTTIMEAVAILABLE.
P
RINT TIMEINCREASESLINEARLYASPARTTOLERANCESBECOMETIGHTER.
lternati
ve
Types
of
Pri
nti
ng
T
HEREARE3
MAINTYPESOF3D
P
RINTING-
FDM,
SLS
ANDSLA.
W
ITHINTHISHANDBOOKWE WILLBEDISCUSSINGFDM,
ALSOKNOWNASF
USEDD
EPOSITIONM
ODELING.
O
THERFACTORSTHATCANHELPBEDADHESIONISHAVINGTHEPROPERZ-H
EIGHTASWELLAS MAKINGSURETHEENTIREBEDISLEVELBEFOREPRINTING.
B
RIMCANOFTENBEDIFFICULTTOREMOVE,
BUTITISNEEDEDFORANYABS
PRINTTOSTICKTOTHE BEDPROPERLYANDNOTWARP.
S
INCEBRIMOFTENADDSLINESTOEVERYPARTOFTHEBOTTOM LAYER,
INCLUDINGHOLESINTHEMIDDLEOFTHEPRINTTHATARENOTNEEDEDFORBEDADHESION,
YOUCANACTUALLYADDACLOSE.
01
MMDISTANCESKIRTTOACHIEVETHESAMEFUNCTION.
A
BRIMISAWHENTHEPRINTERLAYSLINES AROUNDTHEBASEOFTHEPRINTWHICH ESSENTIALLY ACTASANCHORSFORTHE ENTIREPRINT.
T
HEAMOUNTOFLINESADDED CANBECHOSENINTHESLICINGSETTINGS.
P
OLYETHERIMIDE(
PEI
)
REQUIRESNOADDITIONALADHESIVESSUCHASGLUE ORTAPE,
BUTDOESREQUIREAGLASSBEDTOBEATTACHEDTO.
PEI
ISALOWSURFACEENERGYPOLYMERWITHAHIGHGLASSTRANSITIONTEMPERATUREWHICHRESISTS DEFORMATIONTHROUGHOUTSUCCESSIVEHEATINGANDCOOLINGCYCLES
.
I
TISUSEDASTHETOP SURFACETOTHEBUILDPLATFORMINORDERTOENHANCEADHERENCETOTHEBEDALONGWITHTHE ABILITYTOCOLDRELEASEMANY3D
PRINTABLEMATERIALSWITHOUTRESORTINGTODESTRUCTIVE METHODS.
G
LASSFILLEDPEI
FURTHERENHANCESTHESEFEATURESBYADDINGADDITIONAL RESISTANCETOSTRUCTURALDEFORMATIONDURINGTHEHEATINGANDCOOLINGPHASES.
EXPERIENCEANYWARPINGORLACKOFBEDADHESION
.
I
NDIVIDUALSWILL OFTENUSEBLUEPAINTERSTAPEASAMEANSTOGETTHEPARTTOSTICKTO THEBED.
W
EHAVEDONETHISINTHEPASTBUTTHEBOTTOMSURFACE QUALITYISNEVERASGOODASWHENPRINTEDONGLASS.
T
HISALSO REQUIRESTHETAPETOBEREPLACEDFREQUENTLY.
PRINTSTICKTOTHEBED
,
CAUSINGTHEREMOVALOFTHEPARTTOBEVERYDIFFICULT.
I
FYOUDO NOTHAVEAHEATEDBEDITWILLBEVERYDIFFICULTTOONLYUSEHAIRSPRAYANDNOT
G
LASSB
EDSHAVEAVERYSMOOTHSURFACE WHICHISPREFERREDOVERACRYLIC.
D
UETOTHE SMOOTHTHESURFACE,
ADDITIONALPRODUCTSAREREQUIREDFOR ADHESION.
W
EPREFERTOUSEHAIRSPRAY.
G
LUESTICKSANDOTHER SIMILARMIXTURESHAVEBEEN TRIED,
BUTTHESEOFTENMAKETHEed
Adhesi
on
G
ETTINGAPRINTTOSTICKTOYOURBEDCANOFTENBEADIFFICULTTASK.
N
OTONLYDOMANY MATERIALSREQUIREAHEATEDBUILDPLATE,
SOMEEVENREQUIREADDITIONALADHESIONS.
NEGATIVETOUSEONLARGER
ABS
PRINTSDUETOITSSHRINKAGERATES.
Y
OUHAVETOKNOW WHATMATERIALYOUAREPRINTINGINANDWHATSETTINGSTHATPARTICULARFILAMENTPREFERS.
A
CTIVEC
OOLINGREFERSTOAFANACTIVELYBLOWINGONTHEPRINTASEACHLAYERIS LAIDDOWN
.
T
HISPROCESSISNEEDEDFOR HIGHSURFACEQUALITYONPLA
PRINTSAND SIMILARMATERIALS.
T
HISCANACTUALLYBEAA
CTIVECOOLING,
ANDOFTENTHEBARRELFAN,
WILLREQUIRETHEFIRMWAREONYOURPRINTERTO BEFLASHEDWITHCORRECTPI
D
SETTINGS.
W
ITHOUTTHIS,
ANACTIVECOOLINGFANCANACTUALLY CAUSETHENOZZLETOCOOL-
OFTENENOUGHTOCAUSEAPRINTTOFAIL.
T
HEMAJORITYOFFDM
PRINTERSWILLHAVEAFANONTHE BARRELTOPREVENTHEATCREEPANDFRUSTRATINGNOZZLECLOGS
.
W
HENPLASTICMATERIALISBEINGMELTEDTOEXTRUDETHROUGHTHENOZZLE,
THATHEAT WILLOFTENTRAVELUPTHEPLASTICFILAMENTSTRIP.
T
HISHEATWILLCAUSETHEFILAMENTTO EXPAND.
I
FTHISEXPANSIONOCCURSINTHEMIDDLEOFTHEBARREL,
THEFILAMENTWILLGETA LARGEBULGE,
ONETOOLARGETOPASSINTOTHEHOTENDORTOBEPULLEDOUTOFTHEEXTRUDER.
T
HISOFTENLEADSTOACLOGTHATREQUIRESTHEDISASSEMBLYOFTHEEXTRUDER.
T
OPREVENT THIS,
ABARRELCOOLINGFANISNEEDED.
COMPONENTSBYEXPANDINGTHEAREAAVAILABLEFORCONVECTIVEHEATTRANSFER
.
W
HILETHESEMOTORSAREDESIGNEDTORUNHOT,
THEREISALIMITTOHOWHOTYOUWANTTHEMTOGETFORPROLONGED PERIODS
.
O
NEOFTHESIMPLESTWAYSTO COOLYOUR COMPONENTSWITHOUTDISRUPTINGTHEOPERATIONOFTHE OVERALLSYSTEMISTOADDPASSIVEHEATSINKS.
T
HESEHEAT SINKSWILLINCREASETHEHEATDISSIPATIONOFTHEINDIVIDUALooli
ng
C
OOLINGISANESSENTIALPARTFORPRINTSTOFINISHSUCCESSFULLY.
N
OTONLYDOMOTORS ANDOTHERPARTSNEEDTOBECOOLEDTOPREVENTOVERHEATING,
BUTTHEBARRELANDPRINT ITSELFOFTENREQUIREACTIVECOOLING.
H
AVING DUALOR MULTIPLE EXTRUSIONS ALSO ALLOWS FOR MULTI-
COLOREDPRINTS.
A
NOBJECTCANBEDESIGNEDWITHMULTIPLE COLORSORTHEREAREDESIGNSALREADYAVAILABLEFORDOWNLOAD ONLINE.
G
ENERALLY,
WHENPRINTINGWITHDUALEXTRUSIONS,
PRIMINGTOWERS ANDOOZESHIELDSAREREQUIREDINORDERTOHAVEAPRINTWITHA GOODSURFACEQUALITY.
W
HENDUALEXTRUDINGITISOFTENSUGGESTEDTOUSEH
IGHI
MPACTP
OLYSTYRENE(
HI
PS)
FOR SUPPORTMATERIAL.
T
HISISBECAUSEHI
PS
ISDISSOLVABLEINL
IMONENE,
ACOLORLESSLIQUID HYDROCARBON.
W
HILEWEHAVEEXPERIENCEDSOMEDIFFICULTYWITHDISSOLVABLEHI
PS,
THE IDEAISTHATYOUCANINCREASEYOURSUPPORTSTRUCTUREFILLAMOUNTUPTO1
00.
T
HIS SHOULDREMOVEALLUGLYUNDERSIDESOFPRINTSASWELLASMAKEPOST-
PROCESSINGMUCH EASIER.
Y
Y
OUCANALSOPRINTSUPPORTINPVA
(
WHICHISDISSOLVABLEINWATER)
,
ORINPLA
(
WHICH CANBEDISSOLVEDINS
ODIUMH
YDROXIDE)
.
REQUIRETHEENTIREHOTENDTOBEDISASSEMBLED
,
THENOZZLESLEVELED,
ANDTHENHAVINGTHE HOTENDREASSEMBLEDBEFOREPRINTINGCANBESUCCESSFULLYATTEMPTED.
L
EVELINGTHENOZZLESCANBEONEOFTHEMOSTDIFFICULT THINGSINVOLVEDWITHDUALEXTRUDING.
E
ACHPRINTER HASITSOWNMETHODOFLEVELING,
ANDSOMECANSEEM IMPOSSIBLETOPERFECT.
L
ARGERNOZZLEDPRINTERSWITH LARGERLAYERHEIGHTSAREABITEASIER,
BUTASLIGHT DIFFERENCEINTHEIRHEIGHTSWILLLEADTOTHELOWER NOZZELKNOCKINGINTOTHEPRINT.
S
OMEPRINTERSEVENual
Extrusi
on
M
ANYPRINTERSCOMEWITHTHEABILITYTOUSEMORETHANONEEXTRUDERDURINGTHEPRINT.
T
HISCANALLOWPRINTSINMULTI-
COLOR,
OREVENDISSOLVABLESUPPORTMATERIAL.
W
HILE THISSOUNDSLIKEAGREATADDITIONTOFDM
PRINTING,
THEREAREMANYHEADACHESAND PROBLEMSINVOLVED.
O
VEREXTRUSIONWILLCAUSEPRINTSTO BETOOLARGE,
HOLESTOBETOOTIGHT,
SURFACESWILLLOOKOVERSTUFFEDAND CAUSELAYERSTOBEBULGINGOUT.
S
INCE THEPRINTER IS OVER FEEDING THE FILAMENT,
EACHLAYERWILLLIKELYBE PUSHINGINTOTHELAYERBELOWIT.
T
HIS LEADSLEADSTOVERYPOORSURFACEQUALITY PRINTS
.
W
HILETHISISTRUE,
OVERHANGSAREMUCHEASIERTOPRINTWHENOVEREXTRUDING.
U
NDERE
XTRUDINGWILLHAVEPRINTSWITHGAPSINTHETOPLAYERS,
THEYWONTBE WATERTIGHT,
ANDTHEYWILLNOTBEASMECHANICALLYSTRONGASTHEYCOULDBE.
O
VERHANGSAREALSOVERYDIFFICULTTOPRINTWHENUNDEREXTRUDING.
H
OWEVER,
YOU WILLNOTNOTICEMUCHOFASURFACEQUALITYPROBLEM(
OTHERTHANPERHAPSLAYER DELAMINATION)
.
T
HEREISAVERYHELPFULVIDEOTUTORIALONTHISYOUCANACCESSBYWATCHINGT
HOMASS
ANLADERER’
SY
OUT
UBEC
HANNELE-S
TEPSREFERSTOTHEAMOUNTOFSTEPSTHEMOTORSHOULDMOVE FORWARDWHENFEEDINGFILAMENT,
INASTEPS/
MMMEASUREMENT.
I
N ORDERTOCALIBRATETHIS,
YOUWILLNEEDTOCOMPARETHEAMOUNT OFFILAMENTTHATSHOULDBEFEDTHROUGHYOUREXTRUDERVSTHE AMOUNTTHATISACTUALLYBEINGFED.
T
HISINVOLVESMEASURINGOUT ACERTAINAMOUNTOFFILAMENTANDTHENTELLINGYOURPRINTERTO EXTRUDETHATAMOUNT.
Y
OUCANTHENMEASURETHEDIFFERENCE BETWEENBETWEENWHATSHOULDHAVEEXTRUDEDVSWHATWASACTUALLYFED
.
U
SINGASIMPLECALCULATIONCANHELPYOUFLASHYOURFIRMWARE WITHTHECORRECTE-
STEPS.
xtrusi
on
Setti
ngs
M
AKINGSUREYOUREXTRUSIONSETTINGS(
ORE-S
TEPS)
ARECORRECTISMANDATORYTOHAVE SUCCESSFUL,
CLEANPRINTS.
U
NDEREXTRUSIONCANLEADTOAPRINTTHATDOESN’
TFINISH ANDOVEREXTRUSIONCANLEADTOVERYPOORSURFACEQUALITY.
O
VERTHEPASTCOUPLEOFYEARS,
THEFILAMENT OPTIONSFORFDM
PRINTINGHAVEEXPANDEDTO INCLUDEANIMMENSEAMOUNTOFCHOICE.
F
ROMFLEXIBLE,
TOCARBONFIBER INFUSED,
TOHIGHHEATRESISTANT,
TOFDA
APPROVED-
THEREARENOW OPTIONSTHATCANSUITEANYNEED.
T
HEISSUESBEGINTOARISEWHEN ATTEMPTINGTOPRINTCOMPLEXMODELSORNOTENTIRELYUNDERSTANDINGTHE PREPERATIONSREQUIRED.
H
IGHHEATRESISTANTMATERIALSREQUIREAN ENCLOSEDPRINTER.
M
ANYFLEXIBLEMATERIALSANDNYLONSREQUIREAPVA
W
ATERSOLUTIONBEADDEDTOTHEBED.
S
OMEMATERIALSJUSTCANNOT PRINTPRINTPARENTSUPPORTMATERIAL
.
B
YUSINGTHESEUNIQUEMATERIALSAND UNDERSTANDINGTHELIMITATIONS,
SOMEAMAZINGTHINGSCANBEPRINTED.
STYRENE
)
.
W
ITHVERYMINIMALSHRINKAGERATESANDA CHEAPPRICETAG,
PLA
ISTHEGOTOFORPARTSTHATDO NOTREQUIRESTRESS.
S
INCETHESHRINKAGERATEISSO LOW,
PARTSDONOTWARPWHILEPRINTINGPLA.
T
HIS MAKESPLA
EASIERTOPRINTTHANOTHERFILAMENTSSINCEIT’
SNOTREQUIREDTOBEINAN ENCLOSEDENVIRONMENTFORLARGEPARTS.
W
HILEPLA
BOASTSAHIGHTENSILESTRENGTH,
ITIS ALSOMOREBRITTLETHANMOSTOTHERMATERIALSWEUSEWITHAVERYLOWIMPACTRESISTANCE.
I
TCANCRACKORBREAKWHENDROPPEDANDDOESNOTHAVEMANYMECHANICALUSES.
ABS
HASAVERYHIGHGLASSTRANSITIONTEMPERATURE(
105°
C)
WHICHMEANSTHATITREQUIRESAHEATEDBUILDPLATEFORBEDADHESIONAND TOPREVENTWARPINGANDLAYERDELAMINATION
.
D
UETOTHEHIGH SHRINKAGERATES,
LARGERPRINTSALSO REQUIREANENCLOSEDOR CONTROLEDENVIRONMENTWITHAMBIENTTEMPERATURESOFAROUND55°
C.
ABS
ISGREATFORMECHANICALPARTSANDHASTHEABILITYTOBE ACETONEVAPORFINISHED.
T
HE2
MAINTYPESOFMATERIALSUSEDTODAYAREPLA
(
POLYLACTIC ACID)
ANDABS (
A
CRYLONITRILE BUTADIENEFDM
EXTRUDERSAREBUILTFOREITHER1.
75
MMOR3
MM DIAMETERFILAMENTS.
T
HEREISDEBATEONWHICHISPREFERRED.
FDM
FILAMENTANDMATERIALOPTIONSAREGROWINGEVERYDAY.
T
HEREAREAVAST AMOUNTOFCOMPANIESTHATNOWSUPPLYSTANDARDPLA
ANDABS,
BUTTHEREARE NOWALSOTHOSETHATPRODUCEMATERIALOPTIONSWITHVARYINGPROPERTIES.
i
lament
opti
ons
T
HEEXTRUDERFOR3
MMFILAMENTWILLHAVETOTURNITSSTEPPERMOTORLESSTOEXTRUDETHE SAMEAMOUNTOFMATERIAL,
DUETOTHETHICKERDIAMETER.
T
HISCANLEADTOLESSGRINDING OFTHEFILAMENTWHICHWILLLEADTOLESSLIKELIHOODTHATTHEFILAMENTWILLBEGRINDEDTO THEPOINTOFBREAKING.
1.
75
MM,
ONTHEOTHERHAND,
ISMOREFLEXIBLEWHILEONTHESPOOL ANDISEASIERTOFEED.
3
MMALSOHASASMALLERTOLERANCEPERCENTAGERANGINGFROM2.
8
MM-
2.
9
MM(
1.
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VS1.
75
MMOF1.
7
MM-
1.
8
MM(
2.
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T
HEREARESOMESIMPLECOMMANDSTOKNOWFOREASY USEOFYOURPRINTERFROMTHETERMINALC
URA,
S
LIC3
R,
ORTHEM
AKERBOTPROGRAMTHATCOMESWITHITS PRINTERS(
M
AKERBOTACTUALLYUSES.
X3
GINSTEADOFG-
CODE)
.
A
PAID PROGRAM CALLEDS
IMPLIFY3D
IS GREAT FOR PERSONALIZATIONOFSETTINGS,
BUTITCANBEABITOVERWHELMING ATFIRST.
T
HEREARENUMEROUSBASICSETTINGSFOREACHMATERIAL SUCHASTEMPERATURE,
SPEED,
ANDLAYERHEIGHTSANDTHEREARE ADVANCED SETTINGS FOR INFILL,
SUPPORT,
RETRACTION ANDMORE.
T
UTORIALS,
BLOGS,
ANDOURCOMPLETEPLA
ANDABS
PROFILESETTINGSGUIDEON OURWEBSITECANHELP,
BUTATTHEENDOFTHEDAY,
TRIALANDERRORISALWAYSREQUIRED.
T
HIS ISBECAUSEDIFFERENTPRINTERSUSINGDIFFERENTHOTENDSWITHDIFFERENTMATERIALSMADEBY DIFFERENTMANUFACTURERSWHICHCANALLLEADTOCHANGESINSETTINGS.
O
NCEHAPPYWITHTHESETTINGSCHOSEN,
ITISAMATTEROFEXPORTINGTHEPARTASA.
GCODE TOWHATEVERDEVICEISUSEDFORPRINTING(
SD
CARD,
O
CTOPRINT,
ETC)
I
NORDERTOGETAG-
CODE,
ONEMUSTCREATEA“
SLICE”
OFA3D
FILE.
T
HIS ISDONEBYUSINGASLICINGPROGRAM.
T
HEREAREFREEPROGRAMSSUCHASFDM
PRINTINGCANBETHOUGHTOFAS2D
PRINTINGOVERAND OVERAGAIN,
LAYERBYLAYER.
T
HISPROCESSISDONEBYFEEDING THEPRINTERA.
GCODEFILE.
T
HEPRINTERTHENREADSTHISG-
CODEBYTELLINGTHEPRINTERHOW TOMOVEINTHEX-
YDIRECTIONFOREACHLAYER,
HOWMUCHFILAMENTTOFEED,
ATWHAT TEMPERATURETOPRINT,
ANDHOWMUCHTHEPRINTERHEADSHOULDMOVEINTHEZ-
DIRECTION AFTERCOMPLETINGTHATLAYER.
T
HEPROCESSISTHENREPEATED.
-code
G-
CODEISALANGUAGEINWHICHPEOPLETELLCOMPUTERIZEDMACHINETOOLSHOWTOMAKE SOMETHING.
T
HE"
HOW"
ISDEFINEDBYINSTRUCTIONSONWHERETOMOVE,
HOWFASTTOMOVE,
ANDWHATPATHTOMOVE.
TOENSUREYOUR
HBP
ISASUNIFORMANDGRADIENT-
FREEASPOSSIBLE.
S
INCEWEHAVEBEENRESEARCHINGTHEEFFECTSOFHBP
THERMAL GRADIENTSFORQUITESOMETIME,
WEDECIDEDEARLIERTHISYEARTOTAKE ASHOTATFIXINGTHEISSUE.
W
EINCORPORATEDAVERYSPECIALBED STACKINTOOURBETA3DG
ENIE(
3DG)
AUTOMATEDFDM
PRINTERWITHT
HERMOPLASTICSAREVERYSENSITIVETOTEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS,
SPECIFICALLYWHENTHEYAREBEING RAPIDLYEXTRUDEDATTEMPERATURESWELLABOVE THEIRGLASSTRANSITIONTEMPERATURE.
W
HENTHERE ISASIGNIFICANTDIFERENCEINTEMPERATUREONONE SIDEOFTHEHBP
COMPAREDTOTHEOTHER,
WECALL THATATEMPERATUREGRADIENT.
T
HESETEMPERATURE GRADIENTSGRADIENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL FLUCTUATIONS
THEAIMTOELIMINATESIGNIFICANTGRADIENTSATTHEPRINTSUFACE
(
PICTUREDTOTHERIGHT)
ARETHELEADINGFACTORSTHATLEADTOPARTFAILURESDUETOWARPING.
T
EMPERATURE GRADIENTSABOVETHEHBP
CANALSOLEADTOANEFFECTKNOWNAS“
DELAMINATION”,
WHERETHEPRINTREMAINSADHEREDTOTHEBED,
BUTINDIVIDUALLAYERSABOVETHEHBP
SURFACEBEGINTOWEAKENANDSEPARATEFROMEACHOTHER.
S
OIFYOUWANTTOHAVE STRONGPARTSTHATPRINTRELIABLY,
AGOODSTARTINGPOINTWOULDBET
HEGLASSTRANSITIONTEMPERATURE(
T
G)
ISTHETEMPERATUREREGIONWHERETHE POLYMERTRANSITIONSFROMAHARD,
GLASSMATERIALTO ASOFT,
RUBBERY MATERIAL.
P
RINTSWILLOFTENDEFORM AROUNDTHISTEMPERATURE,
BUTITIS NEEDEDFORTHEBEDTOHEATTOJUST AROUNDAROUNDAMATERIALSGLASSTRANSITION TEMPERATUREINORDERTOHAVEGOOD BEDADHESION
.
Y
OUCANGETAWAYWITH PRINTINGPLA
ONANON-
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EATED
BUI
LD
PLATE
M
ANYBASICPRINTERSDONOTCOMEWITHAHEATEDBUILDPLATE,
BUTITISNECESSARYTO HAVEONEIFYOUWOULDLIKETOPRINTINMATERIALSWITHHIGHMECHANICALPROPERTIES.
T
HROUGHTRIALANDERRORWEHAVEFOUNDTHATTHETHREEMOSTUSEFULPATTERNSARE DIAGONAL,
LINEAR,
ANDHEXAGONAL.
T
RIANGULARSTRUCTURESCANALSOBEUSEDTOSPEEDUP THEPRINT,
BUTWHENITCOMESTOSTRENGTHVSMATERIALUSED,
THOSETHREESEEMTOHAVE THEBESTRESULTS.
W
ITHINCERTAINSLICINGPROGRAMSTHE USERISABLETO CREATEUNIQUEINFILL PATTERNSINORDERTOTESTTHESTRENGTH OFEACHATDIFFERENTFILLPERCENTAGES.
D
ECORATIVEPATTERNSSUCHASM
OROCCAN STARS ANDC
ATFILL SHOW POOR PERFORMANCEANDSHOULDONLYBEUSEDIF THEYTHEYAREEXPOSEDANDAREPARTOFTHE DESIGN
.
T
HEREALDEBATEISBETWEENL
INEAR,
D
IAGONAL ANDH
EXAGONAL PATTERNS.
V
ARYING COMBINATIONSOF INFILL PERCENTAGE AND PATTERN CAN INFLUENCESTRENGTH,
MATERIALUSAGE,
AND PRINTTIMES.
S
OMETIMES,
IN ORDERTO IMPROVEIMPROVETHEMECHANICALPERFORMANCEOF A
3D
PRINTEDPART,
ITCOMESATTHEEXPENSEOFPRINTSPEED,
AFFORDABILITY,
AND QUALITY.
A
NINFILLOFOVER25%
ISNOTNEEDEDFORMOSTSTRUCTURES.
T
HISISONEREASONTHAT3D
PRINTINGISUSEFULINAVIATION.
D
RONESANDOTHERSIMILARSTRUCTURESCANHAVESTRENGTHYETREDUCED WEIGHT
.
I
NORDERTOHAVEAPRINTWITHACLEANTOP SURFACE,
LARGER PRINTSWILLREQURIEAN INFILL MINIMUMOF1
0%.
nfi
ll
I
NFILLREFERSTOTHESTRUCTURETHATISPRINTEDINSIDEOFACLOSEDOBJECT.
I
FYOUWANTED SOMETHINGPRINTEDHOLLOW,
YOUWOULDPRINTWITHA0%
INFILL.
100%
WILLFILLTHE ENTIREOBJECTWITHMATERIAL,
CAUSINGTHEWEIGHTANDTIMEREQUIREDTOPRINTTOINCREASE.
E
ACHAXISINACARTESIANPRINTERREQUIRESITSOWN STEPPERMOTOR.
T
HISMOTORCANWEAROUTOVERTIME JUSTLIKEANYOTHERPARTONYOURPRINTER.
S
CREWS MAYBECOMELOOSEANDTHEPULLEYMAYNOTSPINTHE PROPERAMOUNTOFTIMESINWHATTHEPRINTERTHINKS ISAFULLROTATION.
T
HISWILLNOTONLYLEADTOXY
A
XISS
HIFTS,
ASMENTIONEDLATER,
BUTITMAYMAKETHE PRINTPRINTTOOLONGORTOOSHORTINONEDIRECTION
,
ALONGWITHTHEUNDER/
OVEREXTRUSIONISSUESTHAT COMEALONGWITHTHAT.
P
ERIODICALLYCHECKYOUR STEPPERMOTORSANDTHEIRPULLEYSTO SEETHAT EVERYTHINGISJOGGINGSMOOTHLY.
I
FYOUAREPRINTINGFREQUENTLYYOUWILLWANTTOMAKESURETOOCCASIONALLYLUBRICATE THERODS.
W
HENJOGGINGYOURCARRIAGEORBUILDPLATEYOUWILLOFTENBEABLETOTELLIF THEREAREANYROUGHAREASTHATARENOTMOVINGSMOOTHLY.
Y
OUCANDOTHISWITHYOUR HANDSWHENYOURSTEPPERMOTORSARETURNEDOFF.
I
FTHEREAREANYAREASTHATYOUCAN TELLISNOTSLIDINGRIGHT,
ADDSOMEWHITELITHIUMGREASEORSIMILARLUBRICATIONPRODUCT.
N
OMATTERTHESTYLEOFPRINTER,
EACHFDM
MACHINEWILLNEEDTOFIND
“
HOME”
BEFOREEACHPRINT.
T
HISREFERSTO HITTINGANENDSTOPINORDERTOKNOWWHERETOBEGIN.
S
INCETHISISAMECHANICALPROCESS,
ITISALWAYSGOODTO BOTHVISUALLYANDPHYSICALLYCHECKTOSEEIFTHEX,
Y,
ANDZ
AXISARESTARTINGCORRECTLY.
I
I
TISALSOVERYIMPORTANTTOMAKESUREYOUHAVEAL
EVELB
UILDP
LATEAND PROPERLYCHECKTHEZ-H
EIGHT(
AS MENTIONEDLATERINTHISHANDBOOK)
oggi
ng
and
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J
OGGINGYOURPRINTERMEANSTHATYOUAREMOVINGTHECARRIAGEANDBEDALONGTHEIR GIVENAXIS.
W
HENPRINTINGITISALWAYSBESTTOMAKESURETHATYOURGEARSANDAXISARE PROPERLYCALIBRATEDANDSLIDINGSMOOTHLY.
T
HISMEANSTHATYOUSHOULDPERIODICALLY CHECKANDCONFIRMWHERE“
HOME”
ISFORYOURPRINTER.
T
HISCANSAVEAMAJORHEADACHE WHENYOUPREVENTALONGPRINTFROMFAILING20
HOURSIN.
PACKWHICHYOUSHOULDNOTOPENUNTILREADYTOUSE
.
T
HETYPEOFMATERIALWILLDEPEND ONHOWMUCHITISEFFECTED.
N
YLONSWILLSATURATEQUICKLYANDWILLLIKELYPOSEPROBLEMS WHENPRINTINGIFNOTSTOREDINPROPERHUMIDITY.
W
HETHERYOUPRINTINADRYHOTCLIMATEORACOLDHUMIDCLIMATEWILLDRASTICALLYCHANGE YOURSETTINGANDQUALITY.
C
OLDWINDSORAPRINTERDIRECTLYUNDERANAIRCONDITIONVENT CANLEADTONEVERENDINGFAILEDPRINTS.
Y
OUHAVETOKNOWYOURSURROUNDINGSIFYOU EVEREXPECTTOTURNOUTRELIABLERESULTS.
H
UMIDITYCANEFFECTTHEPOLYMERYOUAREUSINGTO THEPOINTOFCAUSINGAFAILEDPRINT.
H
UMIDITY EFFECTSTHESHRINKAGERATESOFFILAMENTSWHICHCAN EFFECTTHESURFACEQUALITY.
A
A
MBIENTHUMDITYDOESNOTONLYEFFECTTHEFILAMENT DURINGTHEPRINT,
BUTWHEREYOUSTOREIT.
M
OST MATERIALSWANTTOBESTOREDINAVERYLOWHUMIDITY AREAOF40%
ORBELOW.
W
EHAVEADEHUMIDIFIER RUNNING24
HOURSADAYWHEREOURFILAMENTIS STORED.
M
OSTFILAMENTSCOMEINAVACCUUMSEALEDT
HETEMPERATUREOFTHEAIRSURROUNDINGYOURPRINTERCANDRASTICALLYCHANGETHEQUALITYOFYOURMANUFACTUREDPART
.
A
SMENTIONEDINF
ILAMENTO
PTIONS,
CERTAINMATERIALSSUCHASABS
REQUREAHIGHER AMBIENTTEMPERATURETOPREVENTWARPINGANDLAYERDELAMINATION.
O
FTENTHEAMBIENTAIRINOURFACILITYCANBECOMESOLOWTHATWEARE REQUIREDTOENCLOSERACKSOFPRINTERS-
EVENFORPLA
PRINTS.
Y
Y
OU WILLNEEDTO NOTICEWHEN THEREAREEXTREMETEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONSINYOURENVIRONMENT,
ESPECIALLYWHENNOTUSINGANAIR CONDITIONERORHEATERFORSTABILITY.
nowledge
of
Surroundi
ngs
W
HEN WESAY TO KNOW YOURSURROUNDINGSWEDON’
TMEAN TO UNDERSTAND DEMOGRAPHICSORUPDATESINTHE3D
PRINTINGINDUSTRY,
WEMEANTOKNOWTHEDETAILS ANDVARIABLESOFTHEAREAWHEREYOURPRINTERISLOCATED.
A
MBIENTTEMPERATURE,
HUMIDITY,
ANDAVAILABLEPOWERAREALLJUSTSOMEOFTHETHINGSYOUSHOULDBEAWAREOF BEFOREPRINTING.
H
AVING BED CLIPS THAT ARE EASY TO MANIPULATEISESSENTIALINHAVINGALEVEL BUILDPLATE,
ESPECIALLYAFTERUPGRADINGTOA THICKERGLASS.
I
TISBESTTOHAVECLIPSTHAT HAVETWOACCESSPOINTSTHATALLOWEASY TIGHTENINGANDLOOSENINGWITHASTRONG SPRING.
T
HISALLOWSYOUTOLEVELTHEBEDDURINGTHEINITIALBEDLEVELINGTESTANDALLOWSYOUTOACTUALLYLEVELDURINGTHE FIRSTLAYEROFTHEPRINT
.
W
EHAVEFOUNDTHATWORKINGWITHATHICKGLASSBUILDPLATEISTHEEASIESTANDMOST USERFRIENDLY.
A
SIDEFROMTHINGLASSBEINGMORELIKELYTOCRACKORDENT,
ATHICKER BUILDPLATEISEASIERTOENSUREALEVELBUILDAREA.
T
HISISBECAUSEATHIGH TEMPERATURESITISMORELIKELYFORTHINGLASSORACRYLICTOBENDORWARP,
LEAVING PARTSOFTHEBUILDPLATEFURTHERFROMTHEPRINTNOZZLETHANOTHERS.
W
EPREFERTO USE1
/4”
THICKGLASSINSTEADOFTHE1
/8”
THATMANYPRINTERSCOMEWITH.
B
EDSTHATAREUNLEVELWILLMAKELARGE PRINTSIMPOSSIBLE.
T
HISISWHYWE RECOMMENDDOINGABEDLEVELINGTEST BEFOREANYIMPORTANTORLARGEPRINT.
W
HENWESAY“
LEVELBUILDPLATE”
WEMEANTHATEACHCORNER(
ANDCENTER)
OFTHEPRINTERBEDISEQUALDISTANCEFROMTHE NOZZLE.
S
OMEPRINTERSCLAIMTOAUTOMATICALLYLEVEL,
BUT MOSTOFTHESEARENOTNEARLYASCALIBRATEDASONEWOULD EXPECT.
I
TISQUITESURPRISINGJUSTHOWOFTENABEDCAN BECOMEUNLEVELED.
evel
Bui
ld
Plate
A
COMMONPRINTERFAILUREWILLBEWHENTHEBUILDPLATEISNOTLEVEL.
T
HISACTUALLY HAPPENSSOOFTENTHATWERECOMMENDLEVELINGTHEBUILDPLATEBEFOREANYLONG PRINT.
T
HEREARESOMEFDM
PRINTERSTHATSAYTHEYAREABLETOAUTOMATICALYLEVEL THEPRINTERBED,
BUTEVENTHESEWILLREQUIREFREQUENTCALIBRATION.
A
SEXPLOREDINU
NDERSTANDINGL
IMITATIONS,
THEREARESOMETHINGSTHATAREJUSTNOT PRINTABLEONANFDM 3D
PRINTER.
A
MOSTLYENCLOSEDSTRUCTURETHATREQUIRES SUPPORTMAYNOTHAVEANEXITFORTHATSUPPORTMATERIALTOBEREMOVED.
E
XTREME ANGLESANDLACKOFFLATSURFACETOUCHINGTHEBUILDPLATECANCAUSEUGLYSURFACE QUALITYONMOSTMATERIALS.
I
NDIVIDUALSWILLOFTENTRYTOSAVETIME BYCONVERTINGA2D
OBJECTINTOA3D
FIELDANDEXPECTTHISTOPRINTPROPERLY.
W
HILETHESE3D
OBJECTSLOOKGOODTO THEEYE,
THEPRINTERWILLNOTRECOGNIZE THEWALLSASANYTHINGBUTNON-
PRINTABLE2D
FACES.
O
NEEASYWAYTOTELLIFTHISPROBLEMEXISTSONYOURPRINTISTODRAGINTO APROGRAMLIKEN
ETFABBANDCHECKFORANYTHINGHIGHLIGHTEDREDTHATCANBE REPAIRED.
T
HERECANALSOBEACTUALHOLESINTHEMODELJUSTASTHEREAREFLATFACES.
O
FTEN THESECANBEVERYHARDTONOTICEONASLICINGPROGRAMANDYOUWON’
TEVENKNOW UNTILTHEPRINTERHEADGETSTOTHATSECTION.
O
NEEXTREMELYCOMMONMODELERRORISHAVING AWALLTOOTHINORNONEXISTANT.
A
PRINTER WILLONLYPRINTTHEWALLOFAPRINTIFITIS THICKERTHANTHENOZZLEDIAMETER.
A
NDWITH THATSAID,
WEALWAYSSUGGESTWALLSBEATLEAST3
TIMESTHICKERTHANTHEDIAMETEROFTHENOZZLE.
I
TISBESTTOFIGUREOUTIFTHISIS GOINGTOBEAPROBLEMWHILEINYOURSLICINGPROGRAM.
T
AKETHEPRINTLAYERBYLAYER TOMAKESURETHEREARENOGAPS.
T
HESAMEISTRUEFORTHETHICKNESSOFTHEBOTTOM ANDTOPWALLS.
odel
Errors
O
NEVERYCOMMONMISTAKETHATHAPPENSDURINGTHEPRINTMAYNOTACTUALLYBEAN ISSUEWITHTHEPRINTERORSOFTWARE-
ITMAYBEWITHTHEMODELITSELF.
S
INCEWEARE OFTENSENTFILESTHATWEDIDNOTDESIGN,
ITISMANDATORYTHATEVERYMODELBE CHECKEDFORTHEABILITYTOBEPRINTED.
PI
D
REFERSTOAPROPORTIONALINTEGRALDERIVATIVECONTROLLER THATISUSEDIN3D
PRINTINGTOCONTROLTHETEMPERATUREOFTHENOZZLE
.
W
HENTHEPI
D
SETTINGSAREOFF,
AFANCANDRASTICALLYCHANGETHETEMPERATURE OFTHEHOTEND.
T
HEBARRELFANORTHEACTIVECOOLINGFANCANDROPAHOTENDFROM210°
C
TO160°
C
IFTHEPI
D
SETTINGSAREOFF.
T
HISRAPIDCOOLINGWILLMAKETHENOZZLE TOOCOLDFORTHEFILAMENTTOFEED.
T
HISMEANSTHATTHEEXTRUDERGEARWILLSLOWLY GRINDINTOTHEFILAMENTUNTILITSNAPS.
Y
OUCANUPDATEYOURPI
D
SETTINGSBYREFLASHING YOURFIRMWARE.
CLOG
.
W
HILEFEEDINGMATERIALOUTOFAHOTNOZZLE,
THEHEATWILLOFTENCREEPUPTHE FILAMENT.
T
HISCAUSESTHEFILAMENTTOEXPANDINSIDETHEBARREL,
OFTENCREATINGALUMP.
T
HIS LUMPWILLCAUSEACLOGANDWILLMAKETHEREMOVALOFTHEFILAMENTFROMTHEBARRELNEAR IMPOSSIBLEWITHOUTDISASSEMBLY.
A
S MENTIONED IN OURC
OOLING CHAPTER,
ABARRELFANISNEEDEDFOR ALMOSTALLFDM
PRINTERSTOSUCCEED WITHOUTHEATCREEPCAUSINGANOZZLEozzle
Clogs
S
INCEFDM
PRINTINGINVOLVESMELTINGPOLYMERSANDFEEDINGTHEMTHROUGHAVERYSMALL HOLE,
N
OZZLECLOGSAREONEOFTHEMOSTCOMMONANDONEOFTHEMOSTANNOYING PROBLEMSTOOCCURWITHA3D
PRINTER.
R
EPAIRCANBEASSIMPLEASPUSHINGAHARDALANWRENCHTHROUGHTHEBARREL
,
SOMECAN BEASTIMECONSUMINGASDISSAMBLINGTHECARRIAGEANDTORCHING THEMATERIALOUT.
A
SMENTIONEDABOVE,
ITISBESTTOKEEPEXTREMEANGLESORIENTEDINAWAYTHATWILLNEED THELEASTAMOUNTOFSUPPORTMATERIAL.
T
HISSHOULDBETAKENINTOACCOUNTWHENEVER DESIGNINGAPARTFOR3D
PRINTING.
T
HEREARENUMEROUS3D
DESIGNSTHATLOOKGREATON THECOMPUTERBUTPRINTVERYROUGHDUETOEXTREMEANGLESANDOVERHANGS.
T
HEAMOUNTOFSUPPORTMATERIALNEEDED CANDRASTICALLYCHANGEDEPENDINGONTHEORIENTATIONOF THEPRINT
.
S
UPPORTMATERIALESSENTIALLYWORKSAS SCAFFOLDINGFORANYANGLEMOREEXTREMETHAN45°
FROMTHEBED.
I
TISNORMALLYBESTTOPRINTINTHE ORIENTATIONTHATREQUIRESTHELEASTAMOUNTOF SUPPORTMATERIALINORDERTOSAVETIMEANDMONEY.
T
HEHEPRINTQUALITYITSELFISALSOMUCHBETTERWHEN ORIENTEDINTHEFASHIONWITHTHELEASTAMOUNTOF OVERHANGS.
I
TISEXTREMELYBENEFICIALTOHAVETHESURFACETHATISTOUCHINGYOURBUILDPLATEBEFLAT.
A
FLATSURFACEALLOWSFORSTRONGADHESIONTOTHEBUILDPLATE,
EASIERSUPPORTREMOVAL,
AND BETTERSURFACEQUALITY.
W
HENSUPPORTISNEEDEDONANAREATHATISVERYCLOSETOTHEBUILDPLATE,
ITCANBEVERY DIFFICULTTOREMOVE.
ri
entati
on
of
pri
nt
A
LONGWITHERRORSANDCOMPLICATEDMODELS,
THEORIENTATIONOFAPRINTCANDRASTICALLY CHANGETHETIMETOPRINT,
MATERIALUSED,
ANDSURFACEQUALITY.
I
TISRECOMMENDEDTO PRINTONAFLATSURFACEANDMAKESURETONOTHAVEANYEXTREMEOVERHANGS.
O
NEANNOYINGTHINGABOUTPRINTINGCANBETHESIZELIMITATIONSOFTHEBUILDAREA.
T
HELARGESTSTANDARDFDM
PRINTERSFORSALEARERIGHTAROUND1
FOOT3.
T
HAT DOESN’
TMEANYOUCAN’
TSPLITLARGERPRINTSUPANDCOMBINETHEMAFTERPRINTING.
ABS
CANBEWELDEDWITHABS
CEMENTANDPLA
CANBECOMBINEDWITHSTRONGSUPERGLUE.
C
RACKSCANTHENBEFILLEDWITHA3D
PRINTINGPENTOINCREASESTRENGTH.
O
NCE STRONG,
THESEAMSCANBESMOOTHEDOUTWITHBONDOORSPACKLE.
O
O
NCETHEENTIREPARTISSTRONGANDTHECRACKSARESMOOTHEDOUT,
MOSTMATERIALS WORKGREATWITHSPRAYPAINT.
T
HEREAREACOUPLEOFWAYSTOIMPROVETHESURFACEQUALITYOFAPRINTAFTERPRINTED.
S
INCEABS
ISSOLUABLEINACETONE,
IFTHEPARTISMADEOFABS,
ORSOMEFORMOFABS
COMBINATION,
YOUWILLBEABLETOGIVEITANACETONEVAPORBATH.
T
HISWILLALLOWT
OPROPERLYAPPLYANACETONEVAPORBATH,
ITISEASIESTTOHAVEASLOWCOOKERAND AVACUUM.
Y
OUCANDOANOVERNIGHTACETONEVAPORBATHATROOMTEMPERATURE,
BUT RESULTSHAVEBEENMUCHBETTERINASLOWCOOKER.
I
TCANTAKEALITTLEWHILETOHONE INTHEAMOUNTOFTIMEREQUIRED,
BUTWHENDONECORRECTLY,
PARTSSHOULDONLYTAKE AROUND2
MINUTESTOGIVEAGOODACETONEVAPORFINISH.
O
NCETHATISCOMPLETE,
IT ISBESTTOVACUUMPURGETHEPARTSTOREMOVEANYEXCESSINTERNALACETONEAND IMPROVESTRENGTH.
THEPARTTOBECOMEMOREWATERTIGHTAND GIVEITASHINETHATISSIMILARTOINJECTION MOLDEDPIECES
.
PLA
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T
HISISABITMORETIME CONSUMINGAND LESSEFFECTIVETHANAN ACETONEVAPORBATH.
ost-Processi
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P
OST-
PROCESSINGREFERSTOWORKINGONTHEPRINTAFTERITHASALREADYBEENPRINTED.
W
EDONOTMEANSUPPORTANDBRIMREMOVAL,
BUTRATHERACETONEVAPORFINISHING,
COMBININGLARGEPRINTS,
ANDEVENPAINTING.
T
HEREARESETTINGSWITHINYOURSLICERTHATWILLALSOHELPWITHTHEQUALITYOFTHE PRINT.
PLA
ANDOTHERMATERIALSSHOULDHAVEANACTIVECOOLINGFANFORTHESURFACE TOBESMOOTH.
L
OWERINGTHEINFILLOVERLAYPERCENTAGEWILLPREVENTVEINYSURFACES.
I
TISALSOGOODTORUNTHEPRINTERSLOWWITHASLOWACCELERATIONSPEED,
ESPECIALLY ONTHEOUTERSHELL.
B
UTREMEMBER,
ASMENTIONEDINTHEN
OZZLEC
LOGSCHAPTER,
SLOWINGTHEEXTRUDERDOWNCOULDREQUIRESOMETEMPERATURECHANGESINORDERTO PREVENTACLOG.
A
A
NDASMENTIONEDINTHEPREVIOUSCHAPTER,
POST-
PROCESSINGISALSOANOTHERGREAT WAYTOIMPROVETHEQUALITYOFYOURPRINT.
A
SMENTIONEDABOVE,
THENOZZLESIZECANEFFECTTHEQUALITYOFTHEPRINTASWELL.
T
HE SMALLERTHENOZZLE,
THEMOREDETAILEDAPRINTCANBEINTHEXY
DIRECTION.
I
FTHEREIS AWALLONTHEPRINTTHATISONLY.
5
MMTHICK,
ITWILLBEIMPOSSIBLETOPRINTONA.
6
MM NOZZLE,
WHILEA.
25
MMNOZZLEWILLHAVETWOCOMPLETESHELLS.
I
FTHEREAREEVERANY HOLESONYOURPRINTORTEXTISNOTCOMINGOUTGREAT,
ITMAYBEWORTHWHILETOCHECK IFASMALLERNOZZLEWILLGETTHEJOBDONE.
S
INCEFDM
PRINTERSWORKLAYERBYLAYER,
THESMALLERTHESELAYERSARE,
THEMORE DETAILEDTHEPRINTANDSMALLERTHETOLERENCES.
M
OSTSTANDARDPRINTERSCANL
AYERHEIGHTSAREALSOLIMITEDBYTHENOZZLESIZE.
A
PRINTERWITHA.
4
MMNOZZLECANNOT PRINT400
MICRONLAYERHEIGHTS.
A
GOODRATIOISTONOTHAVELAYERHEIGHTSABOVE3/4
THEDIAMETEROFTHENOZZLE.
COMFORTABLY PRINT
200
MICRON LAYERHEIGHTS,
OTHERSCANGETDOWN TO ABOUT50.
T
HESMALLERTHE LAYERS,
THELONGERTHEPRINTIS.
A
1
00
MICRONLAYERHEIGHTPRINTTAKES JUSTABOUTTWICEASLONGASONE WITH200
MICRONS.
uali
ty
opti
ons
Q
UALITYREFERSTOTHESURFACEQUALITYOFTHEPRINTANDNOTNECESSARILYTHESTRENGTH.
T
HEBESTWAYTOINCREASETHEQUALITYISTODECREASETHELAYERHEIGHTSANDUSEASMALL NOZZLE,
BUTTHEREAREACOUPLEOFOTHERSETTINGSTHATCANBETWEAKEDWHENSLICING.
T
OOLITTLERETRACTIONLEAVESHAIRY,
COB WEBLOOKING PRINTSWITH A LOTOF CLEANUPANDANUGLYSURFACEQUALITY.
T
HISCANALSOLEADTOVERYTHINWALLSIF THEPRINTERDOESNOTEXTRUDEENOUGH AFTERRETRACTION.
F
INALLY,
ANEXTRUDER MAYOOZETOOMUCHWHENHAVINGTOO LITTLELITTLERETRACTION
,
LEAVINGUGLYBULGES.
T
OO MUCHRETRACTIONCAN CAUSETHE SURFACEQUALITYOFAPRINTTODECREASE BECAUSE THE EXTRUDER MAY OVER COMPENSATEWHEN STARTING THEPRINT AGAIN,
LEAVINGASMALLBULDGEWHEREIT RETURNS.
T
HEPRINTERWILLTHENHAVE DIFFICULTYMOVINGOVERTHATSECTIONON THENEXTLAYER.
T
OOMUCHRETRACTIONCANALSOLEADTOGRINDEDFILAMENT,
AS MENTIONEDABOVE.
F
OLLOWINGPRINTINGGUIDESFORSPECIFICFILAMENTS,
SUCHASTHOSEWEPROVIDEONOUR WEBSITE,
ALONGWITHTRIALANDERRORWITHYOURSPECIFICPRINTEREXTRUDERSETUP,
WILL HELPYOUTOGETTHESESETTINGSRIGHT.
T
HESETTINGSINVOLVEDWITHRETRACTIONARETHESPEEDATWHICHTHEMATERIALTRAVELS,
MINIMUM DISTANCED TRAVELED BEFORERETRACTING,
MINIMUM AMOUNTOFMATERIAL EXTRUDEDBEFORERETRACTING,
ANDZ
HOPWHENRETRACTING.
Z H
OPREFERSTOTHE AMOUNTTHEEXTRUDERRAISESWHENRETRACTING.
T
HISISSETTOAMINIMALAMOUNTSO THATSMALLPRINTSARENOTKNOCKEDOFF.
E
E
ACHMATERIALWILLREQUIREDIFFERENTTWEAKSTOTHESESETTINGS.
M
ATERIALSTHATARE MOREPRONETOGRINDINGANDSNAPPINGWILLREQUIRESLOWERRETRACTIONWITHMORE CAUTIONAPPLIEDINEACHOFTHEOTHERAREAS.
etracti
on
T
HEEXTRUDERRETRACTSFILAMENTINORDERTOPREVENTEXCESSOOZEWHENMOVING BETWEENSECTIONSOFTHEPRINT.
I
SSUESCANARISEONCERTAINFILAMENTSSINCETHISCAN INCREASEGRINDING.
W
HENRETRACTIONISTURNEDOFF,
PRINTSCANGETAVERYHAIRYLOOK ANDWILLLEAVECOBWEBLIKESTRANDSCONNECTINGSECTIONS.
VS
O
NEFRUSTRATINGPARTABOUT3D
PRINTINGISSUPPORT REMOVAL.
W
ITHSETTINGSDRASTICALLYCLOSERANDINAHIGHER SUPPORTFILLTHANTHOSEDESCRIBEDABOVE,
YOUWILLOFTEN NEEDTORESORTTOSANDINGMACHINESANDTIMECONSUMING LABOR.
R
EMOVALSHOULDBEFAIRLYEASYONPLA
ANDABS
WITHASETOFPLIERS,
BUTEVENWITHTHEBESTSETTINGSTHE PRINTWILLBECLEANERWITHOUTTHEMARKINGSOFREMOVABLE PARENTPARENTSUPPORTMATERIAL
.
A
SMENTIONEDINTHEO
RIENTATIONOFP
RINTSECTION,
SUPPORTMATERIALISNEEDEDFOR EXTREMEOVERHANGS.
T
HEANGLEATWHICHTHEPRINTERWILLGENERATESUPPORTMATERIAL ISCHOSENWITHINTHESLICINGPROGRAM.
T
HEAMOUNTOFMATERIAL(
FILL)
GENERATEDINTHE SUPPORTCANALSOBECHOSEN.
W
HENUSINGDISSOLVABLESUPPORTANDDUALEXTRUDERS,
YOUAREABLETOTAKETHEANGLEDOWNTO0°
ANDFILLUPTO1
00%,
CAUSINGTHEPRINTER TOCREATEASOLIDBLOCKOFSUPPORTMATERIAL.
T
HEHIGHERTHEPERCENTAGEANDLOWER THEANGLE,
THELONGERTHEPRINTANDMOREMATERIALTHATISREQUIRED.
T
HISISWHYITIS BENEFICIALBENEFICIALTODESIGNPARTSTHATREQUIRETHELEASTAMOUNTOFSUPPORT
.
T
HEDISTANCEFROMTHEPRINTINTHEXY
ANDZ
DIRECTIONSREFERTOTHEAMOUNTOF SPACEBETWEENTHEPRINTANDTHESUPPORTMATERIAL.
T
HECLOSERTHEMATERIAL,
THE CLEANERTHEUNDERSIDEOFTHEOVERHANG,
BUTTHEMOREDIFFICULTTHESUPPORTISTO REMOVE.
W
HENPRINTINGWITHASINGLEEXTRUDERTHESESETTINGSWILLHAVETOBETWEAKED DEPENDINGONTHEMATERIALUSED.
PLA
CANHANDLEANGLESASHIGHAS55°
OR60°
AND ONLYREQUIRESA1
5%
SUPPORTFILL,
PRINTINGATADISTANCEOF.
8
MMINTHEXY
DIRECTIONSAND.
1
6
MMINTHEZ
DIRECTION.
ABS,
ONTHEOTHERHAND,
REQUIRESAHIGHER SUPPORTFILLOF23%
ANDISREQUIREDAT45°
ANDABOVE.
T
HEDISTANCEFROMTHEPRINT SHOULDBE.
7
MMINTHEXYDIRECTIONAND.
1
3
MMINTHEZ
.
T
HESESETTINGSWILLBETWEAKED DEPENDINGON YOURPRINTERANDEXTRUDER.
S
OMEMATERIALSJUSTCANNOTPRINTSUPPORT ANDHAVEASUCCESSFULCLEANPRINT,
MAKINGTHE DESIGN OF THE MODEL THAT MUCH MORE IMPORTANT.
upport
S
UPPORTREFERSTOTHESCAFFOLDINGMATERIALTHATBREAKSOFFOFAPRINTREQUIREDFOR EXTREMEANGLES.
S
INCEPRINTSBUILDLAYERBYLAYER,
THEFILAMENTNEEDSSOMETHINGTO BELAIDUPONWITHOUTTHEMATERIALDROOPING.
E
ACHMATERIALREQUIRESITSOWN SUPPORTSETTINGSANDHAVETHEIROWNANGLESTHATCANBEPRINTEDWITHOUTSUPPORT.
T
HERMISTORSAREVERYTHINANDBRITTLEOBJECTS.
T
HISISWHYITISKEYTOBEPRECISEANDCAREFULWITH THEASSEMBLYOFTHETHERMISTORTOTHEHOTEND.
M
AKESURETOHAVETHECORDSTIEDTIGHTWITHOUT ANY CHANCES OF BEING TUGGED ON BY ANY OBSTRUCTIONMIDPRINT.
A
SALWAYS,
BESURETHAT NOWIRESORPARTSOFTHETHERMISTORAREEXPOSED.
S
S
OMETHERMISTOR-
HOTENDSETUPSHAVETHEHEADOF THETHERMISTORSMASHEDINTOTHEHOTENDVIAASCREWANDWASHER
.
B
EINGAMECHANICALANDFRAILPART,
THISWILLEVENTUALLYGIVEYOU TROUBLESANDREQUIREMAINTENANCE.
Y
OUWILLSEEA“M
INT
EMP”
ERRORFORTHE EXTRUDERWHENATHERMISTORISNOTREADING.
W
EPREFERTOUSETHIRDPARTY THERMISTORSONOURE3D
HOTENDSTHATSCREWINTOTHEHOTENDANDCOMEWITH STRONGINSULATION.
T
HESEHAVEAMUCHLONGERLIFE,
REQUIREMUCHLESSLABORTO INSTALL,
ANDALLOW YOUTOREMOVETHEHOTENDWITHOUTTWEAKINGYOURWIRE CONFIGURATIONORREMOVINGTHEENTIREEXTRUDER.
T
HERMISTORSARETHEMOSTCOMMONLYUSEDTEMPERATUREREADINGDEVICEIN3D
PRINTING AND COME STOCK WITH ALMOST EVERY HOTEND.
T
HERMOCOUPLESAREABLETO BEMOREACCURATEATHIGHER TEMPERATURES,
BUTREQUIRESPECIALTYELECTRONICSTHATNOTMANY BOARDSACCEPT.
T
HESETTINGSFORBOTHTHEEXTRUDERANDTHEHOTENDCHANGEFOREACHMATERIAL.
PLA
ISPRINTEDAT1
80°
-220°
CELCIUS,
ANDWHILETHEYDONOTREQUIREAHEATEDBED,
ITIS EXTREMELYRECOMMENDEDTOHEATYOURSTOAROUND60°
C (
ITSGLASSTRANSITION TEMPERATURE)
TOPREVENTWARPINGANDPRINTSBEINGKNOCKEDOFF.
ABS,
ONTHEOTHER HAND,
HASTOBEPRINTEDFROM220°
-260°
C
ANDREQUIRESAHEATEDBUILDPLATEOF AROUND1
1
0C.
L
ARGEABS
PRINTSALSOREQUIREAMBIENTTEMPERATUREBEAROUND55°
C
TONOTWARPORDELAMINATE.
U
U
NIQUEMATERIALSHAVEUNIQUESETTINGS.
S
OMENYLONSANDFLEXIBLEMATERIALSREQUIRE ACOATOFAPVA/
WATERSOLUTIONBELAIDTOA45°
C
BEDFORPROPERBEDADHESION.
T
RIALANDERROR,
ASWELLASRESEARCH,
AREREQUIREDFORASUCCESSFULPRINTINEACH MATERIAL.
emperature
G
ETTINGTHETEMPERATURERIGHTONYOURBUILDPLATEANDHOTENDISCRUCIALFORANY PRINTTOBESUCCESSFUL.
E
ACHMATERIALREQUIRESITSOWNSETTINGSFORBOTH.
T
HE DEVICESUSEDFORTEMPERATUREREADINGARECALLEDTHERMISTORSANDTHERMOCOUPLES.
T
HEDIAMETEROFTHENOZZLEISDIRECTLYCORRELATEDTOTHETOLERANCEINTHEXY
DIRECTION.
T
HESMALLERTHENOZZLE,
THEHIGHERTHEQUALITYANDTHELOWERLAYER HEIGHTSTHATAREPOSSIBLET
HATBEINGSAID,
SMALLNOZZLESAREFARMORELIKELYTO CLOGOREXPERIENCEISSUES.
.
6
MMAND.
8
MMARETWOOFTHEEASIESTNOZZLESTOWORK WITH,
HAVESTICKTOTHEBED,
ANDCOMPLETEAFASTSUCCESSFULPRINT,
BUTANYTHING WITHEXTREMELYTHINWALLSORPRECISEDETAILINTHEXY
DIRECTIONWILLBETOUGHTO COMPLETE.
R
EMEMBERTHATEVERYWALLMUSTBEATLEASTTHETHICKNESSOFTHEDIAMETER ONONTHENOZZLEINORDERTOEVENBERECOGNIZEDBYTHEPRINTER
.
O
NEDISTINCTLIMTATIONONANY3D
PRINTISTHE BUILDAREA.
A
SOFNOW,
MOSTFDM
PRINTERS YOUCANBUYARELIMITEDTOUNDER1
CUBICFOOT.
T
HISMEANSTHATLARGEPRINTSAREREQUIREDTO BEASSEMBLEDANDWELDEDPOSTPRINT,
ORTHEY AREJUSTNOTPRINTABLE.
A
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T
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T
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T
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