We get requested numerous questions on 3D printing, and rightfully so; it’s a sophisticated world! After spending numerous hours answering telephone calls and emails, we realized we must always in all probability have a useful resource for some fundamental data, to assist these new to the superb 3D printing universe. So with out additional ado, welcome to the…
You have got some questions, we’ve some solutions.
1. How a lot stuff can I print with one roll of filament?
A: In an effort 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 article
• We have to know the proportion 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 to be able to decide how a lot we will get out of this, we want 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 once I need to decide the load of a component, is open up the software program MatterControl. (It’s a printer management software program out there without cost on our web site.) Then I drag the file for the half I want to check, 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 choice
4. I set the worth to “.5”
Word that you may set the worth anyplace between 0 and 1. Infill is the plastic contained in the half that gives inside help. You have got the choice of creating it fully hole, or making it fully stable. For testing functions, we’re going to place it at a hefty 50 p.c.
Comply with the arrows!
Now:
1. Save your modifications
2. Click on on the preview window for the half you might have chosen.
3. Swap from 3D view to layer view
4. Press generate.
The window will now slice the half. As soon as it finishes, it offers you details about how a lot it weighs, how a lot plastic shall be extruded, and a tough estimate of how lengthy it can take. As soon as you recognize the load of your half, you’ll be able to decide how a lot materials shall be used. Merely divide the overall weight of the filament roll, by the load of the half you want to create, and you’ve got a detailed estimate of what number of you can also make. Within the case of this small chess piece, at a 50 p.c infill, the quantity is 121.3.
Wow, that’s numerous chess items!
Aww, no person instructed me I needed to do math!
If you wish to make one thing greater after all, 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. Scorching plastic doesn’t droop itself within the air very nicely, so on giant or difficult elements, it might be clever to allow help materials. Assist materials is a little bit of recreation changer although, as a result of it does require additional filament. Simply make sure to take discover of whether or not or not help materials is enabled earlier than you identify the overall 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 article, you will get a fundamental 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 in your layer peak. You’ll find this within the slice settings as soon as once more. It needs to be famous that you just can’t enter a layer peak that’s bigger than the dimensions of your nozzle, and nonetheless have the layers join. Typically talking, a layer peak of .2 mm will take half the print time of a print with a layer peak of .1 mm. In case your nozzle head is .5 mm, you might have many choices for the standard, and the velocity of your print.
2. We already lined the fundamentals of infill, but it surely’s good to recollect: for those who improve the infill, the quantity of plastic used goes up, and so does the print time.
3. Print Velocity is a extra in-depth operate of our software program, and most printers include default settings which might be suited to their use. Nonetheless, for those who actually need to get your elements executed 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 might add a big quantity of plastic to the print.
3. Why received’t the plastic extrude correctly?
A: 3D printing is difficult beast, and there are a lot of potential explanation 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 got the correct temperature settings.
Every materials has a super 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 you need to at all times examine with both your producer or different 3Ders to verify your printer follows the identical pointers.
**Word for MakerBot Replicator 2 customers: The Replicator appears to run a bit cooler than different printers, so though it might appear that it’s operating on the incorrect temperature, know that the default settings are most of the time appropriate.
Should you’re having hassle with any explicit filament. I like to recommend beginning on the highest really helpful temperature, and with every try, scaling your temperature again 5 levels till you attain the optimum temperature in your atmosphere. It is also essential to guarantee that your filament is being fed into the extruder correctly. If there’s an excessive amount of pressure, the filament can get floor out, or worse, break.
Should you attempt a spread of temperatures to no avail, and also you’re positive that your filament is being fed with minimal pressure, you could have a jammed extruder.
4. I believe I could have a jam, what do I do subsequent?
A: Alright, so you think your printer has jammed. Don’t panic! There are numerous issues that may be executed. We’ve got a way more in-depth article, that could possibly enable you additional, out there right here. It needs to be famous that jams might be very tough, so it by no means hurts to get as a lot data as potential. Nonetheless, for those who simply need a fundamental rundown, I’ll attempt that will help you out right here.
The 2 commonest kind 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 will generally 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 fundamental methods to unclogging your hotend.
1. Warmth your printer as much as a barely greater than regular temperature, and try to push the filament by means of. As an illustration, in case you have a PLA jam, we advocate heating to 220°C(245°C for ABS). That is a lot greater than is critical 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 way in which 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 perfect case state of affairs, you’ll pull up something that the filament bonded with whereas scorching, thereby cleansing the hotend and drive block. I’d advocate that you just do that occasionally 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 could 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 probably produce bubbles within the print. Let’s cowl the fundamentals for every kind of filament.
PLA/ABS: Once we ship these supplies, we’ve them sealed in a bag with a packet of dessicant. Once you recieve the package deal, it is high-quality to go away them within the baggage earlier than you employ them. When you open the package deal, 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 need not fear about something out of the extraordinary. Maintaining it someplace dry ought to suffice.
SOFT PLA/BENDLAY: Just like the earlier filament, these supplies don’t should be saved any means specifically. Simply maintaining them from getting immediately moist needs to be greater than sufficient.
NYLON: Nylon however, is EXTREMELY succeptable to absorbing moisture. Even in a reasonably dry envirionment, it might probably take up the greater than sufficient to disrupt a print in as little as 24 hours. Thankfully, this filament may also be dried out. For that reason, it’s not solely essential to retailer your filament in a sealed bag with dessicant, however earlier than printing, some clients 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 should be stored in a sealed bag. This among the many barely extra absorbant filaments, so deal with with care.
PVA: Once you buy this filament, it can are available a sealed bag with a dessicant packet, generally two. It is a water soluble filament, so maintaining it dry is completely mandatory. If it will get moist, it can in a short time change into unusable. I like to recommend maintaining it within the unique packaging so long as potential. If it’s essential to put it in a zipper bag, think about doubling down on dessicant.
Usually for those who observe these pointers, you should not have an issue. There are occasional exceptions, as not all environments are the identical. It also needs to 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 circumstances.
What we’ll do right here is break down every materials, and the optimum print circumstances for each. (These are all assuming the mattress is correctly stage, which is VERY essential.)
PLA: Blue Painters tape OR a heated mattress with Kapton/PET tape at 60Cº (Adhesive non-obligatory)
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 non-obligatory)
PLA PLA: Blue painters tape OR a heated mattress with Kapton/PET tape at 70Cº (Adhesive non-obligatory)
LAYWOOD/LAYBRICK: Blue painters tape
As a fast apart, listed below are essentially the most generally used adhesives for 3D printing:
• Aqua Internet 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 could have one thing barely extra superior occurring. I like to recommend having a look at our help part. We’ve got many in-depth articles, concerning software program, {hardware}, and all the pieces in between. Should you nonetheless can’t discover a resolution, be happy to ship us an electronic 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 all the pieces in our energy to help you the place we will.
Thanks for studying this FAQ!
– The MatterHackers Crew
