How to improve print quality without expensive hardware upgrades – Guide
If you’re having trouble getting perfect quality prints, it can take some time and patience to figure out your printer and filament. If you have any quality issues, we recommend that you check your configuration and change only one thing at a time before trying a new print. Then make notes about the change and how the new print differs from the previous one. When you change too many things at once, you don’t know what made the difference! And advice before we start: be patient and don’t expect perfection right away.
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Tips to improve print quality without expensive hardware upgrades
Level the bed and set the Z offset
To improve the quality of a 3D print, you need to ensure that the table is level and that the nozzle is set at the optimal distance above the bed. This is known as a Z offset. To do this, you can use a sheet of paper or feeler gauge to determine the distance between the nozzle and bed at various points on the table. When the (clean) nozzle is an appropriate distance from the bed, it is like Goldilocks: The paper or gauge will have minimal resistance when pulled, but will also slide under the nozzle without force.
- Place the bed level sensor on the floor or a surface near the bed.
- Connect the sensor to your printer’s power supply and your computer.
- Update your printer’s firmware if necessary.
- Place the bed level sensor back on the bed and print a test page to ensure that it is working correctly.
Test the temperatures
If the nozzle is too hot, it may leave strands of filament between the separate parts. When printing high parts, high temperatures or inadequate cooling can melt the previous layers, resulting in malformations. When you plan to print a tall object, include a one-centimeter cube on the opposite side of the build plate in your slicer. This removes the hot nozzle from the print between layers and allows time for cooling. If there are strands of filaments between the structures, use a wall structure or slime shield, a common structure feature in slicer programs. ..
When printing, the layers of a model contract as they cool, which can cause the bottom edges of the print to pull away from the build plate. Problems such as warping can be an indication that the bed temperature is too low or that you should watch the bed adhere. However, when the bed temperature is too high, the model may develop elephant foot.
Update the build surface
The build plate is a part of your printer that affects the materials you can print with and the surface of your printed objects. Different build boards produce different textures on the underside of the print: bedding materials like glass, PEI or Kapton tape leave a smooth surface, while glued polycarbonate sheets or paint tape leave a matte finish. If you are using spray or glue on the surface as an adhesive, use just enough to stick to the print.
When using spray or glue to attach prints to a surface, it’s important to use just the right amount. Too much glue or spray can make it difficult to remove the print, and even force removal can damage the print or, if sufficient pressure is used, break or warp the plate. Experiment with different surfaces and stickers to see which method not only works best with your setup, but also leaves a finish that complements the print. ..
Guard Up with maintenance
Every 3D printer has its own outstanding features and probably a few things that need attention to improve print quality. For example, Creality’s Ender 3s are some very popular printers that could still benefit from some upgrades. But optimizing your printer isn’t just about mods. It involves a lot of small steps like keeping the bed clean and lubricating the rails according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. As we mentioned earlier, you must level the bed regularly, and calibrating the extruder is also a maintenance task that should not be neglected.
If the printer has two stepper motors for the Z axis, it is important to check regularly that the gantry is at the same height on each side. If you are experiencing some unexplained quality issues, you may want to check if there is any kind of flickering anywhere in the frame. Make sure screws and straps are tight and all 90 degree angles are straight. If everything is fine on the hardware side, don’t forget to check the manufacturer’s website for updated firmware.
Treat the filament carefully
Many filaments are hygroscopic, meaning they love water, absorbing it from the surrounding air. Exposed filaments, especially ABS, nylon and flexible materials, absorb moisture, resulting in problems. The wet filament expands during extrusion as the water turns to steam and bubbles out of the plastic. The filament crackles or crackles as it moves through the nozzle, and when observed closely, something that looks like smoke may be present. ..
The biggest problem with printing using filament is that the prints will be rough and the filaments will be dry. It is possible to dry the filament in the oven for a few hours at very low temperatures, but building your own heated wastebasket that powers your 3D printer is a fun and easy project!
learn your slicer
3D printing is a process of creating a three-dimensional object from a digital model. A slicer is what converts the 3D model into the instructions (known as G code) that drive the printer. The slicer controls the temperatures and movement of the printer, whether additions such as supports or rafts are printed, and numerous other factors about the printing process. Learning the possibilities of all the different settings will help improve quality no matter which slicer you choose. ..
There are many slicers out there, but if you want a certain feature, you may need to consider the paid options. Just don’t jump to a different slicer when some prints come out uneven: it’s likely the settings, not the slicer, are to blame. Research the issue and change one setting at a time. Print again and see if it helps. ..
There are a lot of settings to understand when printing, but here are some tips to get you started. If the print isn’t as perfect as it could be, a possible quick fix is to see if your slicer has a “fine” or “hyper” quality setting. This will slow down printing a bit, but the results may be worth the wait.
add supports
FDM 3D printers are great for printing small items like parts or prototypes. However, if you want to print a large object, you’ll need to use a 3D printer that uses FDM printing. This type of printing is done by pushing the molten filament down into a layer below it. If there’s no layer below it, the printer will bond with the air and your object will sag or even fail completely.
If you activate supports on your slicer, bridges and ledges can be devised, but it takes a bit of research and experience to know how and when to use them. There are different types of brackets that suit different models and a number of additional settings that you can adjust to perfection. Just note that when using brackets, a little post-processing (such as trimming and sanding) may be required to hide the fastening locations. But more on that later! ..
To close Up gaps
There are several factors that can cause gaps in a 3D print. One is overextrusion, which is when the print head goes too far into the material. Another is underextrusion, which is when the print head doesn’t go far enough into the material. Finally, there are gaps caused by insufficient perimeters.
When printing with a 3D printer, small holes may appear on the top and sides of the printed object. Quality issues along the sides can be helped by slowly increasing the amount of perimeter that overlaps with the infill. Alternatively, if the speed is too high during infill production, the extruded filament may not stick to the perimeter as the nozzle is moving too quickly for it to form a bond. In this case, reduce the print speed. Just don’t go too far, as other issues can arise. ..
Adjust speed and movement
When printing, it is important to keep the print head moving at a consistent speed and avoiding sudden changes in movement. For example, if you paste the first layer of prints quickly, you may see a line where the nozzle trails across the surface or perimeter of the prints. This could be caused by a lack of filament retraction or accidental collisions between the print head and surrounding materials. If your slicer includes advanced settings that allow for increased nozzle height while traversing empty spaces, then this can help prevent these accidents.
While it may be tempting to increase movement speed to be as efficient as possible, too much speed can quickly lead to a reduction in quality. To correct the problem, reduce the print speed. However, make sure the extruder is still moving fast enough; if it is too slow, the printed area can overheat and cause other quality problems.
Final note
This guide will show you how to improve print quality without expensive hardware upgrades. If you have any query about this article, please ask us. Additionally, please share your love by sharing this article with your friends.
