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THEREARE3MAI SOF3
NTYPE DPRI NG-F
NTI DM,SLSANDSL A.WITHINTHI
SHANDBOOKWE
WILLBEDI NGF
SCUSSI DM, SO KNOWN ASF
AL D DE
USE POSI
TION MODE
LING.

FDM WORKS BY LAYI


NG DOWN CONSECUTI
VE LAYE
RS OF
MATE
RIALATHI
GH TEMPE S,
RATURE AL
LOWING THEADJACE
NT
LAYERS TO COOL AND BOND T OGE THE
R BEFORE THE NE XT LAYERIS
DEPOSITED.THERESOLUTION OFFDM RAPI D PROT OTYPING I
SL IMI
TED
BY THEACCURACY OFTHEMOT ORSAND USE R CALI
BRATION ASWE LLAS
THE PRINT TI
ME AVAI
LABLE.PRINT TIME I
NCRE ASE
SL INEARLY AS PART
TOLERANCESBE COMETI R.
GHTE
FDMPRI NTT OLERANCESRANGEFROM 0.05MM TO 0. 5MM WI THTHEI NDUSTRYAVERAGECOMI NG
INATAROUND0 .
2MM. SOMEI NTERE
STI
NGBENEFITSOFF USEDF I
LAMENTF ABRI
CATIONINCLUDETHE
ABI
LITYTOE ASIL
YCUSTOMI ZEI
NFIL
LSOFTHEOBJ ECTSBEINGPRI NTED.THISME ANSTHATITISVERY
SI
MPL ET
O PRI NT PROT
OTYPEMODE LSFOR F
IT AND FINISH CHECKS WITH LOW INFI
LL,OR EVEN
HOLLOW, I
N ORDE RTO SAVEON MATE ALCOSTS.
RI

STEREOLITHOGRAPHY (SL A)IS ANOTHE


RE XAMPLE OF
BUILDI
NG A MODE LL AYER BY L R,BUT I
AYE NSTEAD OF
EXTRUDING MOL TE
N PL ASTI
C THROUGH A NOZZL,THE PROCESS
E
REQUIRESAL IQUIDPLASTICRE SINCALLEDAPHOT OPOLYMERWHI CHIS
THEN CURED BY AN ULTRAVIOL T(
E UV)LASER.THI SPROCE SSISE VEN
MORECOMPARABL ET O AC NCOPERATI ON AS THES LAMACHI NE
REQUIRESAN E XCESSAMOUNTOFPHOT OPOLYME RT O COMPLETETHE
NT. A
PRI N S LA MACHI NE TYPICALLY ST ORES THE E XCESS
PHOT OPOLYME RI NAT ANK BE LOW THE PRI
NT BE D. AS THE PRINT
PROCE SSCONTI NUES,THEBE DI SLOWE REDF URTHERINTO THET ANK
CURI
NGE ACHL AYERCONSE CUTIVELYALONGTHEWAY.
ONCETHEFI
NALL
AYE
RISCOMPLETETHEBE DI SRAISED OUTOFTHET ANK, EXPOSINGTHESOL ID3 D
MODE
L.SLAHASAHIGHE
RRESOLUTION BUTL ONGE RPRINTTI METHAN F DM

SELECTIVE L
ASERS I
NTERI
NG IS A VE RY E
XCI
TING TECHNOLOGY WHICH DIRE
CTLYF USES
PARTICLESTOGETHE
RL AYE
RBYL AYERTHROUGHAHI GHE NE
RGYPULSELASER.SIMIL
ART O
SL A,THISPROCE SSSTARTSWITHAT ANKFUL LOFBUL KMATE RI
AL,BUTTHI
STIMEINPOWDE RFORM.
S THE PRINT CONTINUES,THE BEDLOWE RS ITSELFFOR EACH NEW LAYE
R AS DONE IN THE SLS
PROCESS. OVERHANGSARENATURALLYSUPPORTEDBYTHEEXCESSBULKPOWDERMATERI ALMAKING
THOSEF EATURESMUCHMORESI MPLETO PRINTTHAN USING F FF.THEBULKMATERI
ALI STYPICALL
Y
HEATEDTOJUSTUNDERITSTRANSITI
ONTE MPERATURETO ALLOW F ORF ASTE
RPARTI CL
EF USI
ONAND
PRINT MOVES. SL
SI S THE PRE
FERRE
D RAPID- PROTOTYPING ME THOD OF ME TALS AND EXOTIC
MATERI S,
AL HOWEVER,
THE REAREADDITIONALCOSTSI NE NE
RGYUSE DF ORF ABRI
CATING WITH THI
S
METHOD WHICHMAYREVERSEANYSAVINGSRE ALI
ZE DI
N THEMATE RIALCOST.
e
dAdhe
sion
GETTING A PRINTT O STICK TO YOUR BE D CAN BEA DI FF
ICULTTASK ATTI
MES.NOTONL Y DO
MANY MATE RIALS REQUI RE A HE ATE D BUI
L D PLATE,BUT SOME EVEN REQUIRE ADDITIONAL
ADHESIONS.

GLASS BEDS HAVE A VERY SMOOTH SURFACE


WHI CH IS PREFERREDT O ACRYL C.DUE T
I O THE
SMOOTH THE SURF ACE IS, ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS ARE RE QUIREDFOR
ADHESION. WEWI LLOF TE N USEHAIRSPRAY T O HE
L P.G LUESTICKSAND
OTHER SIMIL
AR MI XTURESHAVEBE EN TRI
ED, BUTTHE SEOFTEN MAKETHE
PRINTT OO STUCKT O THEBE D, CUASING THERE MOVALOFTHEPARTT O BEVERY DI
FFI
CULT.I F
YOU DO NOT HAVE A HE
ATE
D BE
D I
T WI
LL BE VE
RY DI
FFI
CUL
T T
O
ONLY USEHAIRSPRAY AND NOTE XPERIENCEANY WARPI
NG ORL ACK
OFBE D ADHESION.OF TE
NINDIVIDUAL SWILLUSEBLUEPAINTERS
TAPEASAME ANSTO GE TTHEPARTT O STI
CKTO THEBED.WEHAVE
DONETHI SINTHEPASTBUTTHEBOTT OM SURFACEQUAL I
TYI
SNE VER
AS GOOD. T HIS ALSO REQUIRES THE TAPE TO BE REPLACED
FREQUENTLY.

POLYETHERI
MI PE
DE( I)REQUI
RESNO ADDI
TIONALADHESI
VESSUCH ASGLUE
ORTAPE,BUTDOESRE
QUIREAGLASSBEDTO BEATT
ACHE
DT O.P EII
SAL OW
SURFACE E
NE RGY POL YME R WITH A HI GH GLASS TRANSITI
ON TE MPE RATURE WHICH RE SI
STS
DEFORMATION THROUGHOUTSUCCE SSI
VEHE ATI
NG AND COOL ING CYCLS.
E ITISUSED ASTHET OP
SURFACETO THEBUI L
DPL ATFORM I
NORDE RT OENHANCEADHE RENCET O THEBE DALONGWI THTHE
ABIL
ITYTO COL D RELEASEMANY3 DPRI NTABLEMATERI
ALSWI THOUTRE SORTI NGTO DESTRUCTIVE
METHODS.G LASS FILLEDP EIFURTHER ENHANCES THESE FEATURES BY ADDI NG ADDI TIONAL
RESI
STANCET O STRUCTURALDE F
ORMATI ON DURINGTHEHE ATINGAND COOL INGPHASES.

ABRI
MISA WHE
N THEPRI
NTE
RLAYSL
AYS
LINE
SAROUNDTHEBASEOFTHEPRI NTWHI CH
ESSENTI
ALL
Y ACT AS ANCHORS F OR THE
ENTI NT.
REPRI THEAMOUNTOFLI NESADDE D
CAN BE CHOSENIN THE SL
ICI
NG SE NGS.
TTI
BRIM CANOFTENBEDIFF
ICULTTO REMOVE,BUTITISNEEDEDFORANYA BSPRINTT O STI
CKTO THE
BED PROPE
RLY AND NOTWARP.S INCEBRI
M OFTEN ADDSLINESTOEVERY PARTOFTHEBOTT OM
L R,
AYE I
NCLUDI
NG HOLESIN THEMIDDLEOFTHEPRI NTTHATARENOTNE EDEDF ORBE D ADHE
SION,
YOUCAN ACTUALLYADD ACL OSE.01MM DI
STANCESKIRTTO ACHI
EVETHESAMEF UNCTION.

OTHER FACTORSTHATCAN HELP BED ADHESI


ON I
SHAVI RZ
NG THEPROPE -
HEI
GHTASWE
LLAS
MAKI
NGSURETHEE NTI
REBEDISL E
VE LBEFOREPRI
NTING.
ool
ing
COOLING I
SAN ESSENTI
ALPARTF ORPRINTSTO BESUCCE
SSF
UL.NOTONLY DO MOTORSAND
OTHERPARTSNEEDTO BECOOL E
DT O PREVE
NTOVE RHE NG,
ATI BUTTHEBARRE
LAND PRI
NTI
TSE
LF
OFTE
N REQUIREACTI
VECOOLING.

WHI
LETHE
SEMOTORSAREDE
SI D TO RUN HOT,
GNE THE
REI
SA
LI
MITTO HOW HOTYOUWANTTHE M TO GETFORPROL ONGED
PE ODS.ONE OF THE SI
RI MPL EST WAYS TO COOL YOUR
COMPONE NTS WI
THOUT DISRUPTING THE OPERATI
ON OFTHE
OVERAL
LSYSTE MISTO ADD PASSI VEHE NKS.
ATSI THESEHEAT
SI
NKSWILLINCREASETHEHEATDI SSIPATI
ON OFTHEINDIVI
DUAL
COMPONENTSBYE XPANDINGTHEARE AAVAI
LABLEF
ORCONVE CTI
VEHE
ATTRANSF
ER.

THEMAJORI
TYOFF
DM PRI
NTE
RSWI
LLHAVEAF
AN ON THE
BARRELTO PREVENTHE ATCREEP AND FRUSTRATING NOZZL E
CLOGS.WHEN PLASTICMATE RI
ALI SBEI
NG ME LTED TO EXTRUDETHROUGH THENOZZLE,THATHEAT
WILLOFTEN TRAVELUP THEPL ASTICFI
LAME NT STRIP.T HI
SHE AT WI
LLCAUSETHEF I
LAME NT TO
EXPAND.I FTHISEXPANSION OCCURSI N THEMI DDL EOFTHEBARRE ,THEFI
L LAMENTWILLGE TA
LARGEBULGE,ONETOO L ARGETO PASSINTO THEHOTE NDORTO BEPUL LE
DOUTOFTHEE XTRUDE R.
THISOFTENL EADSTO A CLOG THATRE QUIRESTHEDI SASEMBL
Y OFTHEE XTRUDER.T O PREVENT
THIS,ABARRELCOOL I
NGF AN I
SNE E D.
DE

ACTI
VECOOL
INGRE
FERSTO AF
AN ACTI
VEL
Y
BLOWING ON THE PRINT AS EACH LAYERIS
LAIDDOWN.T HI
SPROCE SSISNE E
DEDF ORA
HIGHSURF
ACEQUAL ITYONP LAPRI NTSAND
SIMI
LARMATERI ST
AL HI
SCAN ACTUAL LYBEA
NEGATI
VETO USEON L ARGERA BSPRI NTSDUETO ITSSHRI
NKAGERATES.YOU HAVETO KNOW
WHATMATE RI
ALYOUAREPRI NTINGIN AND WHATSE
TTINGSTHATPARTI
CULARF
ILAMENTPRE
FERS.

ACTIVECOOLNG,
I ANDOF TE
NTHEBARRE AN,
LF WIL
LRE QUI
RETHEFIRMWAREONYOURPRI
NTERTO
BEFLASHE
DWITHCORRECTP IDSETTI
NGS.WITHOUTTHIS,ANACTI
VECOOL I
NGF
ANCANACTUALL
Y
ETO COOL-OF
CAUSETHENOZZL TENENOUGHTO CAUSEAPRINTTO F
AIL.
ualE
xtrus
ion
MANYPRI NTERSCOMEWITHTHEABILI
TYTO USEMORETHAN ONEEXTRUDERDURI NT.
NGTHEPRI
THISCAN ALLOW PRI
NTSIN MUL
TI-COLOR OR E
VEN DI
SSOL
VABLESUPPORTMATERI
AL.WHILE
THI
SSOUNDSL I
KEA GREATADDITI
ON TOF DM PRINTING,THE
REAREMANY HEADACHE
SAND
PROBLEMSINVOLVED.

LEVELI
NGTHENOZZL ECANBEONEOFTHEMOSTDI F
FICULT
THINGSINVOLVE D WI
TH DUALE NG.E
XTRUDI ACH PRINTER
HASIT’
SOWNME THODOFL EVE
L NG,
I ANDSOMECANSE EM
IMPOSSIBLETO PERFCT.
E LARGERNOZZL E
DPRINTERSWI TH
LARGERL AYE
R HE I
GHTS AREA BI TEASI
ER,BUT A SLIGHT
DI
FERE
NCE IN THE
IR HE
IGHTS WI
LLLEAD T
O THE L
OWE R
NOZZELKNOCKINGINT NT.
O THEPRI SOMEPRINTERSEVE
N
REQUIRETHEE NTI
REHOTE
ND T
O BEDI
SASE
MBL
ED,
THENOZZL
ESL
EVE
LED,
AND THE
N HAVI
NG THE
HOTEND REASSEMBLD.
E

WHENDUALEXTRUDI NGITISOF TENSUGGE STE


DT O USEH IGHIMPACTP OLYSTYRENE( HIPS)FOR
SUPPORTMATE RI
AL.THISISBE CAUSEH I
PSI SDI SSOL
VABL EINL I
MONE ,
NE ACOL ORLESSLI
QUID
HYDROCARBON.WHI LEWEHAVEE XPERIE
NCE D SOMEDI F
FICULTY WI
TH DI
SSOLVABLEH IPS,THE
IDEAISTHATYOU CAN I
NCRE ASEYOURSUPPORTSTRUCTUREF ILLAMOUNTUPT O1 00%.THI S
SHOULD REMOVEAL LUGLY UNDE RSIDESOFPRI NTSASWE LLASMAKEPOST- PROCE SSI
NG MUCH
EASI
ER.
YOU CAN ALSO PRI
NTSUPPORTI NP VA( WHI CH ISDISSOLVABLEIN WATER)ORI NP LAWHI CH
CAN BEDISSOL
VEDINS ODIUM H YDROXIDE.

HAVING DUAL OR MUL


TIPL
E EXTRUSI
ONS ALSO AL
LOWS FOR
MULTI-
COLORE NTS.A
DPRI NOBJE
CTCANBEDE SI
GNEDWI
THMUL
TIPL
E
COL
ORSORTHE
REAREDE
SIGNSAL
READY AVAI
LABL
EFORDOWNL
OAD
ONLI
NE.

GENERALLYWHEN PRI
NTINGWITHDUALEXTRUSI
ONS,PRI
MINGTOWERS
AND OOZESHIEL
DSARERE QUI
REDIN ORDERTO HAVEAPRINTWI
TH A
GOOD SURFACEQUALITY.
xtrus
ionS
etti
ngs
MAKINGSUREYOURE XTRUSI
ONSE NGS(
TTI ORE -
STEPS)ARECORRECTI
SMANDAT
ORYTO HAVE
SUCCESSF
UL,CLEAN PRI
NTS.U NDE REXTRUSI
ON CAN L
EAD T
O A PRI
NTTHATDOESN’
TFI
NISH
AND OVEREXTRUSION CAN L
EAD T
O VE RYPOORSURFACEQUALTY.
I

UNDER E XTRUDING WIL


L HAVE PRINTS WITH GAPS IN THE T OP LAYE RS,THEY WONT BE
WATERTIGHT,AND THEY WILL NOT BE AS ME CHANICALLY STRONG AS THE Y COULD BE.
OVERHANGSAREALSO VERY DI F
FICULTTO PRINTWHE N UNDERE XTRUDING.H OWEVER,YOU
WIL
L NOT NOTI CE MUCH OF A SURFACE QUALITY PROBL M (
E OTHE R THAN PERHAPS LAYE
R
DEL
AMI NATI .
ON)

OVEREXTRUSI
ON WIL
LCAUSEPRI
NTSTO
BET
OO LARGE,HOLE
ST O BET GHT,
OO TI
SURFACES WIL LLOOK OVE RSTUF
F ED AND
CAUSEL AYERST O BEBUL NGOUT.
GI SINCE
THE PRI NTER I S OVE R F E
EDING THE
FI
LAME NT,E ACH L AYER WILLLIKELY BE
PUSHINGI NTO THEL AYE
RBE L
OW I T.T HI
S
LEADST O VE RY POOR SURFACEQUAL I
TY
NTS.WHI
PRI LETHI
SI ,
STRUE OVE
RHANGSAREMUCHE
ASI
ERT
O PRI
NTWHE
N OVE
RE NG.
XTRUDI

E-STEPSREFERSTO THEAMOUNTOFSTEPSTHEMOTORSHOULDMOVE
FORWARDWHE NFEEDI
NGFIL NT,
AME INASTE PS/
MM MEASURE
MENT.IN
ORDERT O CALI S,
BRATETHI YOUWIL
LNE EDTO COMPARETHEAMOUNT
OFF IL
AME NTTHATSHOUL D BEF ED THROUGH YOURE XTRUDE RVSTHE
AMOUNTTHATI SACTUALLYBE INGF D.
E THISINVOLVESME ASURINGOUT
ACE RTAINAMOUNTOFF ILAME NTANDTHE NTELLI
NGYOURPRI NTERTO
EXTRUDETHAT AMOUNT.Y OU CAN THE N MEASURETHEDI F
FERENCE
BETWE EN WHATSHOUL D HAVEE XTRUDE D VSWHATWASACTUAL LYFED.
USING A SIMPLECALCULATION CAN HE LPYOU F L
ASH YOURF I
RMWARE
WITHTHECORRE CTE-STEPS.

THEREISA VERY HE
LPFULVIDE
O TUTORI
ALON THI
SYOU CAN ACCE
SSBY WAT NG T
CHI HOMAS
SANLADERER’
SY OUT UBECHANNEL
i
lame
ntOpti
ons
FDM FILAMENTAND MATERIALOPTIONSAREGROWINGEVERYDAY.THEREAREAVASTAMOUNT
OFCOMPANIESTHATNOW SUPPL YSTANDARD PLAAND ABS, BUTTHE
REARENOW AL
SO THOSE
THATPRODUCEMATERIALOPTIONSWI THVARYI
NGPROPERTI
ES.

FDM EXTRUDERS ARE BUILT FOR EITHER 1


.75MM OR 3 MM
DI
AME
TERFIL
AME NTS.THEREISDE BATEONWHI CHISPRE
FERRED.
THEEXTRUDERFOR3
MM F
ILAMENTWI
L LHAVETO TURNITSSTEPPE
RMOTORL ESSTO E XTRUDETHE
SAMEAMOUNTOFMATERI
AL,DUETO THETHICKERDIAMETER.THISCAN LEAD TO LESSGRINDING
OFTHEF I
LAMENTWHI CHWI
LLLEADTO LE
SSLIKELYHOODTHATTHEF I
LAMENTWIL
LBEGRINDEDTO
THEPOINTOFBRE AKING.1
.75MM,ONTHEOTHE RHAND, ISMOREFL
EXIBL
EWHILEONTHESPOOL
AND I
SE ASI
ER TO FEED.3MM ALSO HAS A SMALLER TOLE
RANCEPERCENT
AGERANGI
NG FROM
2.8MM -2.9MM (1.8%)VS1.75MM OF1 .
7MM -1 .8MM( 2.
9%)
THE 2 MAIN TYPES OF MATERIALS USED TODAY ARE PL A
(POLYLACTI
C ACID)AND A BS (ACRYLONITRILE BUTADIENE
STYRE
NE )
. WITH VERY MINIMAL SHRINKAGE RATES AND A
CHEAPPRI CETAG, PL AISTHEGO TO FORPARTSTHATDO
NOT REQUI RE STRESS.SINCE THE SHRINKAGE RATE IS SO
LOW, PARTSDO NOTWARP WHI LEPRI NTING PLA.THIS
MAKESP LAEASIER TO PRINTTHAN OTHER FILAMENTSSINCEIT’ SNOTRE QUI RED TO BEIN AN
ENCLOSEDENVIRONME NTFORL ARGEPARTS.WHILEPL ABOASTSAHIGHTENSILESTRENGTH, ITIS
ALSO MOREBRITTLETHANMOSTOTHE RMATE RIALSWEUSEWI THAVE RYL OW I MPACTRE SI
STANCE.
IT CAN CRACK OR BREAK WHE N DROPPE D AND DOE S NOT HAVE MANY ME CHANICAL USES.
ABSHASAVERYHIGHGLASSTRANSITION TEMPERATURE( 105°C)WHICH
MEANSTHATI TRE QUI RESAHE ATED BUI
LD PL
ATEF ORBE D ADHE
SION AND
TO PREVENT WARPI NG AND L AYER DEL
AMINATION. DUETO THEHI GH
SHRINKAGE RATES,L ARGER PRINTS ALSO REQUIRE AN E NCL
OSE D OR
CONTROL EDE NVIRONME NT WITH AMBIENT TE
MPE RATURES OF AROUND
55°C. ABSISGREATFORMECHANICALPARTSANDHASTHEABILITYTO BE
ACETONEVAPORF INISHED.

OVER THE PAST COUPL E OF YE ARS,THE F IL


AME NT
OPTIONS F OR F DM PRINTING HAVE EXPANDED TO
I
NCL UDEAN IMME NSEAMOUNTOFCHOI .F
CE ROM F L
E XI
BLE,TO CARBON FIBER
I
NF USED, TO HI
GH HE AT RESISTANT, TO F DAAPPROVED -THERE ARE NOW
OPTIONS THAT CAN SUI TE ANY NE ED.T HE I SSUE
S BE GIN TO ARISE WHE N
ATTEMPTINGTO PRI NTCOMPL E XMODE LSORNOTE NTIREL
YUNDE RSTANDINGTHE
PREPERATIONS RE QUIRED. H IGH HEAT RE SISTANT MATE RI
ALS REQUIRE AN
ENCLOSED PRINTER.MANYF L EXIBLEMATE RIAL SAND NYL ONSRE QUIREAP VA
WATER SOLUTION BEADDED TO THEBED.SOMEMATERIALS JUST CANNOT
PRINTPARE NTSUPPORTMATE RI
AL .BY USING THESEUNIQUEMATERIALSAND
UNDE RST
ANDI NGTHEL IMIT ONS,
ATI SOMEAMAZI NGTHI NGSCAN BEPRI NTED.
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FDMPRINTINGCANBETHOUGHTOFAS2 DPRI NTI


NGOVE RAND
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AYE RBYL AYER.THISPROCESSISDONEBYF EEDI
NG
THEPRINTERA. GCODEFILE.THEPRINTERTHENRE ADSTHI SG -CODEBYTELLI
NGTHEPRI NTERHOW
TO MOVE I N THE X-Y DIRECTI
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AFTE
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ATE D.

INORDE RTO GETAG -


CODE , ONEMUSTCRE ATEA“ SLI
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ISDONEBYUSI NG ASLICING PROGRAM.T HE REAREFREEPROGRAMSSUCHAS
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SUCH ASTE MPERATURE,SPEED,AND LAYERHEI GHTSAND THE REARE
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AND MORE.TUTORIALS,BLOGS, AND OURCOMPL ETEP LAANDABSPROFI LESETTI
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XPORTI GCODE
T
O WHATE
VERDEVICEISUSEDFORPRI NG(
NTI SDCARD, OCTOPRINT,
ETC)

THEREARESOMESI
MPL
ECOMMANDST
O KNOW F
ORE
ASY
USEOFYOURPRI
NTE
RFROM THETE
RMI
NAL
E
ATE
DBUI
LDPL
ATE
MANYBASI
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RSDO NOTCOMEWITHAHE ATEDBUI
LDPL
ATE,BUTITI
SNECESSARYTO
HAVEONEI
FYOUWOULDLIKET
O PRI
NTIN MATE
RIALSWI
THHIGHMECHANI
CALPROPE RTI
ES.

THEGLASSTRANSI
TIONTE
MPE TG)
RATURE(
IS THE TEMPERATURE RE GION WHE RE THE
POL YME R TRANSITIONS F ROM A HARD,
GLASS MATE RIAL T O A SOF T,RUBBE RY
MATE RIAL. PRINTSWI LLOF TEN DEF
ORM
AROUND THI S TEMPE RATURE,BUT I TI S
NEE DEDF OR THE BE DT O HE AT T
O J UST
AROUND A MATE RIALSGL ASSTRANSITION
TEMPE RATURE I
N ORDE RT O HAVE GOOD
BEDADHE ON.Y
SI OUCANGE TAWAYWI TH
PRINTING P LAON A NON- HEATED BED,
BUTANY MATE RIALWI TH A HIGH TG WILL
REQUI REAHE ATED BED.

THERMOPLASTI
CSAREVERYSENSI
TIVET
O TE
MPERATURE
FL ONS,SPE
UCTUATI CIF
ICAL
LY WHEN THEY ARE BE
ING
RAPIDLY EXTRUDE D AT TE MPE RATURES WE L
L ABOVE
THEIRGLASSTRANSI TION TEMPE RATURE.WHEN THERE
ISA SIGNIFI
CANTDI FERENCEI N TEMPERATUREON ONE
SIDEOFTHEH BPCOMPARED TO THEOTHER, WECAL L
THATA TE MPE RATUREGRADI NT.T
E HE
SETE MPERATURE
GRADIENTS AND E NVIRONME NTAL F LUCTUATIONS
ARETHEL EADI NG FACTORS THAT L EAD TO PART F AILURES DUET O WARPI NG.T EMPERATURE
GRADIENTS ABOVE THE H BPCAN ALSO LEAD TO AN EFFECT KNOWN AS “ DELAMINATION”,
WHE RETHEPRI NTRE MAINSADHE RE DTO THEBE D, BUTI NDIVIDUALL AYE RSABOVETHEH BP
SURFACEBEGINT O WE AKEN AND SE PARATEF ROM E ACH OTHE R. SO I FYOU WANT T O HAVE
STRONGPARTSTHATPRI NTRE LIABLY,AGOOD ST ARTINGPOI NTWOUL D BE
TOE NSUREYOURH BPI SASUNI F
ORM AND GRADI ENT- FREEASPOSSI BLE.
SINCE WE HAVE BE EN RE SEARCHING THE E FFECTS OF H BP THERMAL
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ISCHOSE NWI THINTHESL ICINGPROGRAM. THEAMOUNTOFMATERI AL( FI
LL) GENE RATEDINTHE
SUPPORTCAN AL SO BECHOSE N.WHE N USING DISSOL VABL ESUPPORTAND DUALE XTRUDERS
,YOU AREABL ET OT AKETHEANGL EDOWN T O0 °AND FI LLUP T O1 00%,CAUSI NG THE
PRINTERT O CREATEASOL IDBL OCKOFSUPPORTMATE RIAL.THEHI GHE RTHEPE RCENTAGEAND
LOWE RTHEANGL E,THELONGERTHEPRI NTAND MOREMATE RIALTHATI SRE QUI RED.T HISIS
WHYI TISBE NE F
ICIALT O DE SIGN PARTSTHATRE QUIRETHEL EASTAMOUNTOFSUPPORT.
THEDI STANCEF ROM THEPRI NTI N THEX YAND ZDI RE CTIONSRE F
E RT O THEAMOUNTOF
SPACEBE TWE EN THEPRI NT AND THESUPPORT MATE RIAL .THECLOSER THEMATERI AL,THE
CLEANER THEUNDE RSIDEOFTHEOVE RHANG, BUT THEMOREDI FF
ICULT THESUPPORT I ST O
REMOVE .
WHEN PRI NTING WI TH A SI NGL EE XTRUDE R THESE SE TTINGS WI LL HAVE T O BE TWE AKED
DEPENDINGON THEMATE RIALUSE D.P LACANHANDLEANGLESASHI GHAS5 5°OR6 0°AND
ONL Y REQUIRE SA 1 5% SUPPORT FI L
L,PRI NTING AT A DI STANCE OF . 8 MM I N THE X Y
DIRE ONSAND.
CTI 16MM I NTHEZDI RECTION.A BS, ONTHEOTHE RHAND, REQUI RESAHI GHER
SUPPORTF I
LLOF2 3%ANDI SREQUI REDAT4 5°ANDABOVE.THEDI STANCEF ROM THEPRI NT
SHOUL D BE.7 MM I N THEXYDI RECTION AND . 13MM
IN THE Z. T HE SE SE TTINGS WI LL BE TWE AKED
DEPENDING ON YOUR PRI NTE R AND E XTRUDER.
SOME MATERI AL SJ UST CANNOT PRI NT SUPPORT
AND HAVEA SUCE SSF ULCL E AN PRINT, MAKI NG THE
DESI
GN OF THE MODE
L THAT MUCH MORE
I
MPORTANT.

ONEOF THEMOST ANNOYI NG PARTSABOUT 3 D PRINTI


NG IS
SUPPORTRE MOVAL.WI THSETTINGSDRASTICALLYCLOSE
RANDI N
AHI GHERSUPPORTFILLTHANTHOSEDE SCRI
BE DABOVE,YOUWI LL

VS OF TEN NE
CONSUMI
ED T
NGL
O RE
ABOR.R
SORT T
E
O SANDI
MOVALSHOUL
NG MACHI
D BEF AI
RL
NE
YE
S AND TI
ASYON P
ME
LA
AND A BSWI TH A SET OF PL I
ERS,BUT EVE N WI
TH THE BE
ST
SETINGS,THEPRI
NTWI LLBECL EANERWI THOUTTHEMARKI NGSOF
REMOV
O ABLEPARENTSUPPORTMATE RI
AL.
e
mpe
rature
GETTI
NG THETE MPE
RATURERI GHTON YOUR BUILD PL
ATEAND HOTEND ISCRUCI
ALFOR ANY
PRI
NT TO BE SUCCESSFUL.E ACH MATERI
AL RE
QUIRESITS OWN SE
TTI
NGS FOR BOTH.T HE
DEVI
CESUSEDF ORTE MPERATUREREADI
NGARECAL LE
D THERMIST
ORSAND THERMOCOUPL
ES.

THESETTINGSF ORBOTHTHEE XTRUDE RANDTHEHOTE NDCHANGEF ORE ACHMATE RIAL.PL A


ISPRI
NTE D AT1 80°-2 20°CELCI
US, AND WHI LETHEY DO NOTREQUI REA HE ATED BED, I
TI S
EXTREMELY RECOMME NDEDT O HEAT YOURS T O AROUND 6 0°C( ITS GLASS TRANSITION
TEMPERATURE) T
O PRE VENTWARPINGANDPRI NTSBEINGKNOCKEDOF .ABS,
F ONTHEOTHE R
HAND, HAS TO BEPRI NTE
DF ROM 2 3 0°-2 40° CAND REQUIREA HE ATED BUIL
D PL ATEOF
AROUND1 1
0C.L ARGEA BSPRINTSAL SO REQUIREAMBIENTTEMPERATUREBEAROUND5 5°C
TO NOTWARPORDE L AMI
NATE.
UNIQUEMATE RIAL
SHAVEUNI QUESE TTINGS.S OMENYL ONSANDF L
E XIBLEMATE RI
ALSRE QUI RE
A COATOFA P VA/ WATERSOLUTION BEL AIDT O A4 5°
CBED FORPROPERBED ADHESI ON.
TRIALAND E RROR, ASWE LLASRE ASEARCH, ARERE QUIREDFORASUCCE SSFULPRINTI NE ACH
MATERIAL.

THERMISTORS ARE THE MOST COMMONL Y USED TEMPE


RATURE READING DE
VI N3
CE I D
PRINTI
NG AND COME ST OCK WI TH AL MOST E VERY HOTE ND.
THERMOCOUPLES ARE ABLE TO BE MORE ACURATE AT HI GHER
TEMPERATURES,BUTRE QUIRESPECI
ALTY ELECTRI
ONICSTHATNOTMANY
BOARDSACCE PT.
THERMISTORS ARE VERY THIN AND BRITTLE OBJECTS.
THISISWHYI TISKEYT O BEPRECI
SEANDCARE FULWITH
THE ASSEMBL
Y OF THE THE RMI
STOR TO THE HOTE ND.
MAKESURETO HAVETHECORDSTI ED TIGHTWI THOUT
ANY CHANCE S OF BE ING TUGGE D ON BY ANY
OBSTRUCTI ON MI NT.A
D PRI SAL WAYS,BESURETHAT
NO WI RESORPARTSOFTHETHE RMISTORAREEXPOSED.
SOMETHERMI STOR-HOTEND SETUPSHAVETHEHE AD OF
THE THERMI STOR SMASHE DI NTO THE HOTEND VIAA
SCREW AND WASHE R.B EI
NGAME CHANICALAND F LPART,
RAI THI
SWI L
LE VENTUALLYGI VEYOU
TROUBL ES AND RE QUIRE MAINTENANCE. YOU WI LL SEEA “ MINT EMP”E RROR FOR THE
EXTRUDER WHE N A THERMISTOR IS NOT READING. WE PRE FERT O USE THI RD PARTY
THERMISTORS ON OUR E 3D HOTENDS THAT SCREW I NTO THE HOTEND AND COME WI TH
STRONG I NSUL ON.T
ATI HESE HAVE A MUCH LONGERL IF
E,REQUIRE MUCH L ESS LABOR TO
INSTAL
L ,AND ALLOW YOU TO REMOVE THE HOTEND WI THOUT TWE AKING YOUR WI RE
CONF I
GURATI ON ORRE MOVI NGTHEE NTI
REEXTRUDER.
nde
rst
andi
ngL
imi
tati
ons
3DPRI NTI
NG CAN OFTEN BEPRESE
NTED ASAPL UG AND PLAYSOLUTION T
O CREATEL
IMITLESS
PROTOTYPESAND MODE LS.A L
ONG WI TH MODE LERRORSAND EXTREMEOVERHANGS, THE
RE
ARESTILLOTHERL I
MITATI
ONS THAT SHOUL D BEUNDE OOD.
RST WHILETHETECHNOL OGY IS
REVOL ONARY,
UTI THERE ARE DI
STINCT LI
MITATI
ONS I T,
N THE MARKE SOME OF WHICH MAY
ALWAYSEXIST.

EACH PRINTERAND E XTRUDE RSETUPCAN E ACH HANDL EDIFFERE


NTACCE LERATI
ONSAND T OP
SPE
EDS.I FAPRI NTERDOE SNOTHAVEAL ARGEE NOUGHBUI L
DARE AT O MOVE ,THECARRIAGE
MAYNE VERRE ACHTOPSPE EDSDUET O ACCELERATION AND DECELERATI
ON TIMES.
THESPEEDATWHI CHAPRI NTERCANEXTRUDEMATE RIALISNOTONL YLIMI
TEDBYTHEPRI NTE R,
BUTBY THEMATE RI
ALI TSELF.CERTAI
N MATE RIALSRE QUIREA COOL I
NG TIMEBE FORELAYING
THENEXTL AYER.T HISJ USTCANNOTBESPE DUPWI THOUTCHANGI NGTHEPROPE RTI
ESOFTHE
MATERIALUSED.

ONEDI STINCTL I
MTATION ON ANY3 DPRI NTI STHE
BUIL
D ARE A.AS OFNOW,MOST F DM PRI NTERS
YOUCANBUYAREL IMITEDTO UNDER1 CUBICF OOT.
THISME ANSTHATL ARGEPRI NTSARERE QUI REDTO
BEASSEMBL ED AND WE L
DE D POSTPRINT,OR THE Y
ARE JUST NOT PRI NTABLE. AT THI S TIME ANY
CURRENT F DM PRI NTER THAT CAN BUIL
DL ARGER
THANTHI
SWI
LLRE
QUI
REAL
ARGESPACEANDAHI
GH
PRI
CEAG.
T

THEDI AME TE
R OFTHENOZZL EI S DI
RECTL
Y CORRE L ATE
DT O THET OLERANCEIN THEX Y
DI
RE ON.T
CTI HESMAL L
ER THENOZZL E,THEHI GHER THEQUAL ITY AND THEL OWERL AYER
HEI
GHTSTHATAREPOSSI ET
BL HATBE ING SAID,SMAL LNOZZLESAREF AR MORELIKELYT O
CLOGORE XPERIENCEI
SSUES.. 6MM AND. 8MM ARETWO OFTHEE ASIESTNOZZLESTO WORK
WITH, HAVESTICK TO THEBE D, AND COMPL ETEA F ASTSUCCESSFULPRI NT;BUTANYTHI NG
WITH EXTREMELYTHIN WALLSORPRE CI
SEDE TAI N THEX
LI YDIRE CTI
ON WI LLBETOUGH T O
COMPL ETE.REMEMBERTHATEVERYWALLMUSTBEATLEASTTHETHI CKNESSOFTHEDI AMETER
ON THENOZZL EI
N ORDE RTOE VE N BERECOGNI ZED BYTHEPRINTE R.
E
nti
lati
on
WHILETHEREHASNOTBE ENE XTENSI
VESTUDIESDONEASOFYE T,I
TISI
NTUITI
VETHATTHEGAS
AND PARTICLE
S REL
E ASE
D BY THE HE ATING OF PL
ASTI
CS FOR 3D PRI
NTING CANNOT BE
HE THY.T
AL HISI
SWHYI TISBE STTO HAVEPROPERVENTIL
L ON.Y
ATI OU DO NOTWANTT O
BEPRINTI
NGOVE RNIGHT,EVERYNI GHT,WITHTHEMACHINEON YOURNIGHTSTAND.

WEORI
GINAL
LYWANTE
DTOE
NCL
OSEOURPRI
NTE
R
TO KE EP AMBIENT AI R HOT T O PREVENT WARPING
AND DE LAMINATION.T HI
S TRANSFORME DI NTOA
DEVICETHATMODE RATE STHETE MPERATUREANDCAN
BLOW AI ROUTANYWHE RETHATISHOTTE RTHANTHE
AVERAGE .THI S AIRI S THEN BLOWN OUT OFTHE
SPECIFI
CL OCATION OF THE PRI NTER THROUGH A
SMAL LCARBON F I
LTE R.T HISNOTONL Y HEL
PST O
PRODUCE A CL EAN PRI NT,BUT CAN RE DUCE ANY
AMOUNT OFPARTI CUL ATES THAT EXI
ST IN THE AIR
DURINGTHEPRI NT.
SINCETHE REAREE XTE NSIVEPATENTSTHATCURRE NTLYE
XISTF ORE NCLOSE
DPRI NTI
NGDEVI
CES,
WEHADT O GE
TCRE ATIVETO MAKESUREWEARENOTBRE AKINGANYI NTELL
ECTUALPROPE
RTY
LAWS.APATE NTSUCHASTHI SISNOTONL YPREVE NG3
NTI RD PARTI
ESFROM EXPANDI
NGTHE
INDUSTRY, BUTCAN AL SO CAUSEHE ALTH PROBL E
MSBY L IMITI
NG THEAMOUNTOFPROPE R
PRECAUTIONSAUSE RCAN T AKE.
arpi
ng
WHEN APRI
NT’
SCORNE
RSAND SI
DESCURVEUPWARDS,
ITI
SRE
FERE
DT NG.I
O ASWARPI TIS
ONEOFTHEMOSTCOMMONPROBL EMSWHE NPRINTINGINMATE RI
AL SWITHAHIGHSHRI
NKAGE
. AS POLYMERS COOL,THEY SHRI
RATE NK,AND I F THE AMBI
E NT TEMPE
RATURE I
S NOT
CONSISTANT,THEPRINTWILLSHRI
NKUNE VE Y.E
NL VEN WHEN PARTSARESTUCKT O THEBED
ENTI
RELY,THE
REWI LLOFTE
N BEDELAMINATION OFLAYERSASARE SULTOFWARPING.

ASMENTI ONED ABOVE,WARPING ISGENERALL


Y CAUSED BY UNE VEN COOLI NT.
NG OFTHEPRI
THELARGERTHEPARTAND THEHI GHERTHEI NFI
LL,THEHIGHE RTHECHANCETHATTHEPRI NT
WILLCOOLUNE VENLYAND EI
THERDELAMINATEORWARP, SINCETHECE NTE
RWI LLBEHOTTER
THAN THE SURROUNDING AREAS.THE MERE FACT THAT THE BUI L
D PLATE I
S HEATEDTOA
TEMPERATUREHOTE RTHANTHEAMBI E
NTAI RWILLALWAYSMAKEWARPI NGAPOSSI BLTY,
I EVEN
INENCLOSE DENVIRONMENTS.THISISWHYI TISIMPORANTT O KNOW YOURSURROUNDI NGS
-IFPRINTINGIN VERYCOLDE NVI
RONME NTS,WARPINGWI LLBEAMUCHHI GHERPROBABIL
ITY.
THE MATERI AL BEI
NG USEDI S AL
SO A HUGE
FACTOR IN THE AMOUNT OF WARPING THAT
CAN OCCUR. P LA HAS A VERY SMALL
SHRI
NKAGE RATE , SO LONG AS THE
TEMPERATURE IS NOT E XTREMELY COL D
AROUND THEARE AAND AHEATED BUI
LD PL
ATE
I
SUSE D,THEPRI NTSHOUL D NOTWARP.A BSACTUALLY HASA VERY HI
GH SHRI
NKAGERATE ,
AND HIGH GLASSTRANSITION TEMPE ,
RATURE WHI
CH BOTH MEAN ABSI SVERYSUSEPTABLET
O
WARPING.
SOMESPECI ALTY F
ILAMENTSAREE VEN MOREL I
KEL
YT O WARP, MAKI
NG ITVERY CRUCIALT
O
UNDERSTAND THEMATE RIALBEINGUSE D.

WARPI NG MAY NOT BE E NTIRELYIDENTIFI


ED UNTIL HOURS AF TER THE PRI
NT HAS ST ARTE D.
UNLIKEANUNL EVELBED,THI SMAYT AKEYOURPRI NTEROF FLI
NEF ORHAL FOFADAYANDWASTE
AL OTOFMATE RIAL.
TAKINGTIPSFROM THEB EDA DHESI
ON SECTION WIL
LGO AL ONGWAY.I FYOUDO NOTHAVE
AE NCL
OSUREF ORYOURPRI NTER,YOUWI LLNE E
DT O UNDERSTANDYOURAL TE
RNATIVE STO HIGH
PROBABILI
TYWARPI NG MATERIALS.T HEREAREMATE RIALSWI TH SI
MILARSTRE NGTH PROPE RTIES
ASA BSSUCHASPE TGANDPE T+,THATDO NOTHAVESUCHAHI GHL I
KLIHOODOFWARPI NG.
THESE CAN OFTEN BE EASIERT O PRINT,THOUGH THE Y HAVE A LOWE R GL ASS TRANSITION
TEMPERATURE
SAND DI FFE
RE NTE LONGATION PROPERTIES.P REPARING YOURBUI L
D PL ATEAND
PLANNINGAHE
ADWI THTHERI
GHTMATE
RIAL
SCANGO AL
ONGWAYI
NSAVI
NGHOURSOFWASTE
D
PRINTE
RTIMEAND F ON.
RUSTRATI
axi
sShi
fts
XYAXI
SSHITS,
F MORECOMMONLYREF
ERRE
DT O ASLAYERSHI
FTS,
AREWHENANEXTRUDE
ROR
BE
DSHI
FTSDURI
NGAPRINTANDCONTI
NUESINADI F
FERE
NTARE AOFTHEBUI
LDPL
ATE.PARTS
MAY LOOK PE
RFE
CTL
YFI
NE OTHE
R THAN E
VERYTHI
NG BE
ING SHI
FTE
D ON ONE PARTI
CUL
AR
L R.
AYE

THEREAREQUI
TEAF
EW CAUSE
SFORL
AYE
RSHI
F N THEX
TSI
ORYAXI S. ONEEASYTO DI AGNOSECAUSEI SWHEN
THEE XTRUDE RISPRE VE NTEDF ROM MOVI NGBYAN
OBSTRUCTI ON.T HEMOSTCOMMON WAY
THISOCCURSI SWHE N THE REI SA T ANGL E
IN THE FI
L AMENT OR I TI S NOT F E
EDING
CORRE CTLY. WEHAVEEXPERI E NCED
BRAND NE W FILAMENT SPOOL S
THAT ARE T ANGLE D STRAI GHT
FROM THEF ACTORY, WHI CH
CAUSE A L AYER SHIFT HOURS I NTO A PRI NT. ITISI MPORT ANT TO STORE YOUR F I
LAMENT
PROPE RLYANDKE EPTHESPOOLTI GHTWI THE I
THERTAPEORPUTTI NGTHEE NDTHROUGHAHOL E
ON THESI DETO PRE VE NTTHI S.
OTHERPROBLEMSCANARI SEF ROM UNL UBRICATEDRODSANDSTE PPERMOTORMAL FUNCTIONS.
IFTHEBE D OR CARRI AGEHASA STE PPER MOTOR THATI SSTI F
FOR I SHASA PULLI
ETHATI S
HARNE SEDL OOSE LY, SKIPPED STE PSWI LLOCCUR.S KIPPED STEPSI N THEMOTORWI LAL MOST
ALWAYSCAUSEAL AYE RSHIFT.WHE N APRI NTHASMUL TI
PLEL AYERSHI FTSBUTCONTI
NUE STHE
ENTIREPRI NT,ITISLIKE LYNOTDUETO AF I
L AMENTTANGLE,BUTRATHE RSTEPPERMALFUNCTI
ON
ORROUGHNE SSON THERODS.

ASMENTIONEDI N THEJOGGINGAND H OMI


NGSE ON,
CTI L
UBRICATI
NGTHERODSI SEXTRE
MELY
HEL
PFULIN PREVENTING L
AYE
R SHIFTS.THELI
KEL
Y BESTPREVENTI
ON METHOD THATCAN BE
I
MPL I
MENTE
DI SHAVINGPROPE RSTORAGEOFYOURFILAMENT.ONCEYOUAREDONEUSI NGA
SPOOL YOU SHOUL D AL WAYS KEE PE VERYTHING AS TIGHT AS POSSIBLE AND MAKE SURE IT
CANNOTUNRAVE LORBE COMET ANGL ED.
AS MENTIONE DI N THE F I
LAMENT OPTI ONS SECTION, 1.
75MM FI LAMENT IS MORE FLE
XIBLE
WHILEON THESPOOL ,MAKI NG FE
E DING MUCH EASIER.WHI LEWEPRE FR3
E .
00MM FILAME NT
FORIT’SLOWE RTOL ERANCE SINDIAME R,
TE WEHAVEE XPERI
ENCEDL AYERSHIFTSWHENASPOOL
ISNEARTHEE ND AND I TJUSTDOE SN’TFEED PROPERLY.
SINCE STEPPER MOTORS ARE ME CHANICAL PARTS,THE Y WILLE VENTUALLY WEAR DOWN.
PERIODICALLY CHECK YOUR BE LTS TO MAKE SURE THE Y ARE TIGHT AND THAT THE STEPPER
PULLI
ESAREMOVI NGSMOOTHL Y
e
arl
yAdvance
ments
ONEAMAZI ACTABOUT3
NG F DPRI NG,
NTI ASWI
TH AL
LTE
CHNOLOGIS,
E I
STHE REAREGI
ANT
ADVANCE
MENTSNEARL
YEVE AR.WEATS
RYYE D3
DAREDOI NGOURBESTTO SPEEDUPTHESE
ADVANCEME
NTSAND HAVESOMETE
CHNOL
OGI
CALI
NNOVATI
ONSTHATAREGOI
NGT
O CHANGE
THEENTI T.
REMARKE

THISEXTRUDERI SA DROP-I
N REPLACE
ME NTF OR ANY E
XISTI
NG
EXTRUDER ASSE
MBL Y MOUNTED TO THE STANDARDIZED GREG
WADE’ SADAPTER PL .MOSTI
ATE MPORT ANTLY,THEDUALGE AR
CONF IGURATION PROVI DE S TWI CE THE SURF ACE ARE A
DISTRIBUTION LEADING TO A DRASTIC REDUCTION I
NF IL
AMENT
STRIPPING AND MATE RI
ALSL I .THEI
PPAGE NTEGRATE
DE NCODER
ON THE E XTRUDER DRIVE,ALONG WI TH THE FI
LAMENT MONITOR,PROVIDES CLOSEDL OOP
FEEDBACK F OR THEE XTRUSION AXIS THROUGHOUT THEPRINT. THI
S ALSO AL
L OWS PRINTER
MANUF ACTURERSTO CONF IGURETHE I
R BUILDSWITH SL
AVEASSISTDRIVE
SON THEE XTRUSI
ON
AXIS.
THEFILAME
NTMONI TORPROVI DE SA SOLUTI
ON
FOR F
ILAME AMS,MATE
NT J RIAL SHEARI
NG AND
UNDE R/OVERE XTRUSION. PRECI
SION OPTI
CALDI
AMETER MONI
TORI
NG I
S
PROVIDE
DWI THE NHANCEDSIGNALFI
LTE NGONBOARD.
RI THI
SALLOWS
FORCONTI NUOUSF I
LAMENTDI AMETERME ASUREMENTSWI THARE SOLUTI
ON
OF 1 00 MI CRONS.T HESE ME ASUREME NTS ARE USED TO AUTOMATE
EXTRUSI
ON F LOW RATE CHANGE S THROUGHOUT THE PRI NT TO PROVIDE
EXTREMEL
YTI GHTPRINTTOL E
RANCE SAND E NHANCED SURFACEQUAL TY.
I
THE FIL
AMENT MONI TOR ALSO SENSES THE PHYSICAL POSITION OF THE FILAMENT TO
PROVIDECLOSEDLOOPMOTI ONCONTROLF ORTHEE XTRUSIONAXISWHE NUSE DWITHOUR
ENCODED STE
PPER MOTORS. THI
SMONI TOR ALSO PROVI DESFEE
DBACK FOR AUTOMATE D
I
NVENTORYCONTROLSYSTE MS, I
NCL NGOURR
UDI FIDMATERI ALTRACKINGMODUL E.
SD3
D’S HEATED BUI L
D
PLATFORM ISMODUL ARAND CAN
BE CONF I
GURED TO MOST ST ANDARDI ZED CONFIGURATI ONS.I T
I
NCL UDE S A PROPRIETARY GRADI ENT FREE HEATED BUI L
D PL ATE
WHICH AL SO CONTRI BUTES TO L OWE R SURFACE L
EVE L WARPING
FORCE S.COMBI NINGTHEPRE CISIONBE DL EVELI
NGANDADVANCE D
HBP STACK MAKE I T POSSI BLE TO NON- DE STRUCTIVELY
AUTO- E
JECT PRINTED PARTS REL I
ABLY.P RI
NTERS CAN NOW BE
CONF I
GURE D TO RUN CONTI NUOUSL Y WITHOUT NE EDING TO BE
MONI TORE D ORSE RVI
CED BYTE CHNICIANSBE TWEEN PRINTS.
-he
ight
THEZ-HEI
GHTI
SE XACTLY WHATITSOUNDSLI
KE,THEMOTION OFTHEE XTRUDE
R OR BUI
L D
PL N THEZDI
ATEI RE ON.G
CTI E NG THEZ
TTI -
HEI
GHTCORRECTON A PRI
NTCAN ACTUALLY BE
MORETI MECONSUMI
NG THAN THOUGHT AND WI
LLAL
MOST AL
WAYS CAUSEMOREHI
CCUPS
THAN I
SSUE
SIN THEXYAXIS.

JUST AS WI
TH L
EVELING THE BUILD PL
ATE ,THE Z-HEI
GHT
NEEDSTO BECORRE CT I
N ORDE RF OR A PRI
NT TO START,
NOT WARP, NOT GET CLOGGED, AND TO OVE RALLFINI
SH
PROPE Y.
RL
WHENUSI NGAPRINTERTHATDOE SNOTHAVEPRE CISEAUTO
BEDL EVELI
NG AND A WAY TO AUTOMATI CALL
YF IND THE
PROPE RZ -HEIGHT, WHICH MOSTDO NOT, YOU WILLNEED
TO TWE AK THEDI STANCEBE TWEEN THEEXTRUDER AND THE
Z- NDSTOP.T
E HI
SCAN BEDONEBY HOMI NG YOURDE VI
CE
ANDTHE NTWE AKI
NGWI THTHESCREW THATCANADJ USTTHE
DISTANCEBE TWEEN THEE XTRUDE
RAND THEE NDSTOP.

WHEN MATERI ALS ARE HEATE D THEY WILLE XPAND F ROM


THE I
RNORMALSI ZE .THI SCAN BESE ENIN BOTHHE ATCRE EP
IN THEB ARRELLC OOL ING SECTI
ON ASWE L LASTHEE FFECTS
OFSHRI NKING WHE N COOL I
NG IN THEWARPI NG SE CTION.
THESAMEI STRUEF ORTHEGL ASSANDBUI LDPL ATEYOUARE
PRINTINGON.
WHEN HEATING A BED TO 1 10°CELSIUSYOU AREAREBOUND TO MAKETHEGL ASSE XPAND A
BIT.T HI
SE XPANSI
ON WI L
LCAUSETHEBUI L
D PLATETO BESL IGHTLY CLOSE
R TO THENOZZL E
THAN WHEN COL D.T HISISWHY I TI SBE STTO DE TERMINETHEZ -HE I
GHTWHI LETHEBE DIS
HEATEDTO THETEMPE RATUREYOUE XPECTTO PRI NTAT. ONCETHI SEXPANSIONI SRE COGNI ZED
YOU CAN ADD G- CODETO YOUR SLI CE
R PROF IL
EF OR THATPARTI CULAR MATERIALWI TH A
Z- OF
FSET.T HISOFFSETWI LLCAUSETHEE XTRUDERTO RI SE,ORBE DTO L OWE R,BASEDONTHE
AMOUNTOFE XPANSION.

ASMENTI ONEDI N THEQUAL ITY OPTIONSSE ON,


CTI WHEN WESAY QUAL I
TY WEME AN THE
HEIGHTOFE ACH LAYER ASWELLASTHENOZZL ESIZE.WHEN PRI NTI
NG INF INEQUALITY OF
AROUND 1 00MI CRONSAND WI TH A NOZZL ESMALLERTHAN .
4MM I N DI
AME TER,GE
TING THE
PROPE RZ -HEI
GHTCANBE COMEQUI TEAHEADACHE .THESMALLERTHENOZZLEANDTHELOWER
THEL AYERHE GHTS,
I THEMOREPRE CISETHATHE IGHTHASTO BE.PRI NTING AT4 00MI CRON
LAYERHE GHTSON A.
I 6MM NOZZLEI SFARE ASI
ERTO HONETHEZ -HEI
GHTTHAN F I
NEQUAL ITY
PRINTS. S O NOT ONL Y DO HI
GH QUAL ITY PRINTS RE
QUIRE MORE PRINT TI ,BUT THEY
ME
REQUI REMOREL ABORASWE LL.

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