We get requested lots of questions on 3D printing, and rightfully so; it’s a sophisticated world! After spending numerous hours answering cellphone calls and emails, we realized we must always most likely have a useful resource for some primary data, to assist these new to the superb 3D printing universe. So with out additional ado, welcome to the…
You might have some questions, we’ve got some solutions.
1. How a lot stuff can I print with one roll of filament?
A: With a view to reply this, we have to think about a number of issues. I’m gonna throw out some jargon, however don’t fear, I’ll clarify all of it in a minute.
• We have to know the scale of the thing
• We have to know the share of infill
• We have to know whether or not or not the half requires help materials
For starters, we all know that every roll of filament is 1 kg, or round 2.2 lbs of fabric. So in an effort to decide how a lot we will get out of this, we’d like a pattern half. We’ll start with one thing easy, like a chess piece. We’ll use a pawn for this instance.
So the very first thing that I do after I wish to decide the load of an element, is open up the software program MatterControl. (It’s a printer management software program obtainable without spending a dime on our web site.) Then I drag the file for the half I want to take a look at, and drop it in the principle window. From there:
1. I click on “Superior Controls”
2. I click on Slice Settings
3. I’m going to the “infill” menu possibility
4. I set the worth to “.5”
Word that you would be able to set the worth wherever between 0 and 1. Infill is the plastic contained in the half that gives inside help. You might have the choice of creating it utterly hole, or making it utterly strong. For testing functions, we’re going to place it at a hefty 50 %.
Observe the arrows!
Now:
1. Save your modifications
2. Click on on the preview window for the half you have got chosen.
3. Change from 3D view to layer view
4. Press generate.
The window will now slice the half. As soon as it finishes, it gives you details about how a lot it weighs, how a lot plastic can be extruded, and a tough estimate of how lengthy it should take. As soon as you understand the load of your half, you may decide how a lot materials can be used. Merely divide the full weight of the filament roll, by the load of the half you want to create, and you’ve got an in depth estimate of what number of you may make. Within the case of this small chess piece, at a 50 % infill, the quantity is 121.3.
Wow, that’s lots of chess items!
Aww, no one informed me I needed to do math!
If you wish to make one thing larger in fact, the method is strictly the identical. That’s except you print one thing requiring…
SUPPORT MATERIAL
Assist materials is much like infill besides it used on the skin of an object. Usually it’s used when an object has an overhang or bridge. Sizzling plastic doesn’t droop itself within the air very properly, so on giant or sophisticated elements, it could be sensible to allow help materials. Assist materials is a little bit of recreation changer although, as a result of it does require further filament. Simply make sure to take discover of whether or not or not help materials is enabled earlier than you establish the full weight.
2. How lengthy will my print take to complete?
A: I briefly talked about above how when slicing an object to search out out it’s properties, additionally, you will see a time estimate. Whereas that is pretty self explanatory, there are a number of layers to this that we must always think about. With out slicing the thing, you may get a primary sense of how lengthy a print will take by understanding some key slicing choices. These are:
1. Layer Top
2. Infill
3. Print Velocity
4. Assist Materials
1. Layer Top is a reasonably easy idea. It’s precisely the peak of every extruded layer. That is the largest issue when figuring out the print velocity, as a result of quantity of layers modifications drastically, relying on the enter worth on your layer top. Yow will discover this within the slice settings as soon as once more. It needs to be famous that you just can’t enter a layer top that’s bigger than the dimensions of your nozzle, and nonetheless have the layers join. Usually talking, a layer top of .2 mm will take half the print time of a print with a layer top of .1 mm. In case your nozzle head is .5 mm, you have got many choices for the standard, and the velocity of your print.
2. We already coated the fundamentals of infill, but it surely’s good to recollect: if you happen to enhance the infill, the quantity of plastic used goes up, and so does the print time.
3. Print Velocity is a extra in-depth perform of our software program, and most printers include default settings which are suited to their use. Nonetheless, if you happen to actually wish to get your elements achieved quick, that is the place to go.
4. Once more, we briefly touched on the fundamentals of help materials, however relying on the mannequin, it could add a major quantity of plastic to the print.
3. Why received’t the plastic extrude correctly?
A: 3D printing is difficult beast, and there are numerous potential the reason why your extruder is having issues. The very first thing to do, is to just remember to know what materials you’re utilizing, and that you’ve the correct temperature settings.
Every materials has an excellent vary of temperatures*, so we’ll go over every in flip.
PLA: 190-210°C**
ABS: 220 -240°C
NYLON: 240C-250°C
LAYWOOD: 175-250°C
LAYBRICK: 165-210°C
SOFT PLA/BENDLAY: 220-235°C
GLOW IN THE DARK PLA: 185-205°C
PVA: 170-190°C
*These temperatures are suitable with most printers, however it’s best to at all times verify with both your producer or different 3Ders to verify your printer follows the identical tips.
**Word for MakerBot Replicator 2 customers: The Replicator appears to run a bit cooler than different printers, so though it could appear that it’s operating on the incorrect temperature, know that the default settings are as a rule right.
For those who’re having hassle with any specific filament. I like to recommend beginning on the highest advisable temperature, and with every try, scaling your temperature again 5 levels till you attain the optimum temperature on your surroundings. It is also vital to ensure that your filament is being fed into the extruder correctly. If there’s an excessive amount of stress, the filament can get floor out, or worse, break.
For those who attempt a spread of temperatures to no avail, and also you’re positive that your filament is being fed with minimal stress, you’ll have a jammed extruder.
4. I feel I could have a jam, what do I do subsequent?
A: Alright, so you believe you studied your printer has jammed. Don’t panic! There are lots of issues that may be achieved. We’ve a way more in-depth article, that could possibly provide help to additional, obtainable right here. It needs to be famous that jams may be very difficult, so it by no means hurts to get as a lot data as potential. Nonetheless, if you happen to simply need a primary rundown, I’ll attempt that will help you out right here.
The 2 most typical sort of jams are as follows:
• The print nozzle being too near the mattress, due to this fact not permitting the filament to be launched*
• Leaving the warmth on whereas the filament sits unattended for an prolonged time frame.
*This may typically be solved with a easy leveling of the mattress. Both with the {hardware} on the printer or by means of the automated mattress calibration characteristic in MatterControl.
There are two very primary strategies to unclogging your hotend.
1. Warmth your printer as much as a barely larger than regular temperature, and try to push the filament by means of. As an illustration, when you’ve got a PLA jam, we advocate heating to 220°C(245°C for ABS). That is a lot larger than is important for regular prints, however not excessive sufficient to be harmful.
2. Warmth your printer as much as the usual temperature and push the filament a part of the best way by means of. Then, permit the filament to chill to about 80°C (135°C for ABS). After it will get to that temperature, slowly retract the filament till the drive block is obvious. In the very best case state of affairs, you’ll pull up something that the filament bonded with whereas sizzling, thereby cleansing the hotend and drive block. I’d advocate that you just do that every now and then anyway, as a result of buildup within the extruder can often trigger jams.
5. How ought to I retailer my filament?
A: At this level in your 3D printing profession, you’ll have come to know that filament is one thing that must be taken care of, to a sure extent. You see, most varieties of filament take up moisture from the air, which might make it brittle or degrade. Within the case of one thing like nylon, it might produce bubbles within the print. Let’s cowl the fundamentals for every sort of filament.
PLA/ABS: After we ship these supplies, we’ve got them sealed in a bag with a packet of dessicant. While you recieve the bundle, it is positive to depart them within the baggage earlier than you employ them. When you open the bundle, it’s completely acceptable to place the filament with dessicant in a big zipper storage bag, or one thing comparable.
LAYWOOD/LAYBRICK: The packaging for this filament exposes this filament to the open air, so that you needn’t fear about something out of the extraordinary. Preserving it someplace dry ought to suffice.
SOFT PLA/BENDLAY: Just like the earlier filament, these supplies don’t have to be saved any means particularly. Simply protecting them from getting instantly moist needs to be greater than sufficient.
NYLON: Nylon however, is EXTREMELY succeptable to absorbing moisture. Even in a reasonably dry envirionment, it might take up the greater than sufficient to disrupt a print in as little as 24 hours. Fortuitously, this filament will also be dried out. Because of this, it isn’t solely essential to retailer your filament in a sealed bag with dessicant, however earlier than printing, some prospects have discovered it helpful to dry it within the oven at low temperatures (200°F) for an hour or two.
GLOW IN THE DARK PLA: One other filament that have to be saved in a sealed bag. This among the many barely extra absorbant filaments, so deal with with care.
PVA: While you buy this filament, it should are available a sealed bag with a dessicant packet, typically two. This can be a water soluble filament, so protecting it dry is totally essential. If it will get moist, it should in a short time grow to be unusable. I like to recommend protecting it within the unique packaging so long as potential. If it’s essential put it in a zipper bag, think about doubling down on dessicant.
Usually if you happen to comply with these tips, you should not have an issue. There are occasional exceptions, as not all environments are the identical. It must also be famous that frequent temperature fluctuations appear to extend the prospect of creating a filament flip brittle.
6. Why received’t my prints keep on with the mattress?
A: That is depending on two components: Printing materials, and print situations.
What we’ll do right here is break down every materials, and the optimum print situations for every one. (These are all assuming the mattress is correctly degree, which is VERY vital.)
PLA: Blue Painters tape OR a heated mattress with Kapton/PET tape at 60Cº (Adhesive optionally available)
ABS/BENDLAY: A heated mattress at 120Cº PLUS some type of adhesive
NYLON: A heated mattress at 75Cº With some type of adhesive
TPE: Blue painters tape OR a heated mattress with Kapton/PET tape at 70Cº (Adhesive optionally available)
PLA PLA: Blue painters tape OR a heated mattress with Kapton/PET tape at 70Cº (Adhesive optionally available)
LAYWOOD/LAYBRICK: Blue painters tape
As a fast apart, listed below are probably the most generally used adhesives for 3D printing:
• Aqua Web Hairspray (Further Maintain)
• Glue Stick
• ABS Slurry
The ABS slurry solely works with ABS, nonetheless, the opposite adhesives are suitable with all varieties of filament.
My query isn’t answered right here, the place do I’m going subsequent?
A: In case your query isn’t answered right here, you’ll have one thing barely extra superior occurring. I like to recommend having a look at our help part. We’ve many in-depth articles, concerning software program, {hardware}, and the whole lot in between. For those who nonetheless can’t discover a resolution, be happy to ship us an e-mail, or give us a name! We’re open from 9:30am – 7pm Mon-Fri and from 10am – 4pm (PST) on Saturday, and we’ll do the whole lot in our energy to help you the place we will.
Thanks for studying this FAQ!
– The MatterHackers Crew
