Material
PLA is our filament of choice and a great option for people just getting into 3D Printing. Other materials such as ABS, Nylon, PETG might produce different tolerances, so be aware of that if the parts don't fit exactly.
Slice The Files
You'll need to slice the parts using a profile made for your 3D printer. You can use free software such as CURA to slice your parts. We recommend using a slicing profile that works for your specific type of 3D printer. Below are some suggested slice settings.
Suggested Slice Settings
- 0.4mm Nozzle
- 100% (1.0) Extrusion Multiplier
- 0.48mm Extrusion Width (for Simplify3D)
- 0.5mm Line Width (for CURA)
- 0.2mm Layer Height
- 6 Top/Bottom Layers
- 20% Infill
- 60mm/s printing speed
- 210C Extruder temperature
- Non-heated bed – PrintInZ Skin (Printing Surface)
- Heated bed – 60C temperature
Optimize Tool Paths
It's important to thoroughly check your slicers tool path. Most slices have a visual "layers" mode to see the individual layers and movement of the tool head. Step through the layers and inspect how the walls/perimeters will be printed. You should have a solid 3-wall count. If there's a noticable gap between the inner/outer walls, you may need to adjust your slice settings until it produces a 3 perimeters. In Simplify3D, the desired setting is under Advanced > Thin Wall Behavior > Allowed perimeter overlap: 50%.
Line Widths
It's important to set the slice settings so that the walls are printed with 3 perimeters. This gives the part rigidity and provides a clean tool path. This does not relate to the "Outline/Perimeter Shells" that should be set to 2 (referred to Wall Line Count in CURA). The thickness of the walls ought to provide 3 solid perimeters. You'll have to adjust the Extrusion Width (referred to as Line Width in CURA) in order to produce 3 perimeters.
First Layer
Getting a good first layer is crucial for succesfully printing the parts. It's also important to have good bed adhesion to avoid warped corners. Depending on your 3D printer, you'll may or may not have a heated bed. You might use blue painters tape but I suggest using a printing surface such as a PrintInZ skin. This subtrate is great for non-heated bed and offers really great bed adhesion to minimize warping.
Page last edited August 06, 2024
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