Struggling to improve your 3D Printing skills?

Know your machine's strengths and limits. Consider investing time in printing test models at different size scale and by using different materials. You will learn about how different temperatures and printing speed will affect your materials and prints, as well as how forgiving the machine will be with overhangs without supports. This will pay off on the long run, leading to a higher percentage of successful prints and less material waste.

Focus on fine-tuning printer settings, optimizing CAD designs, and mastering slicing software. Experiment with different materials, and stay updated on the latest advancements in 3D printing technology.

Ready to embark on your 3D printing journey? The first step is to purchase a printer. Dont give it a second thought, just buy it. I learned this hobby while I was working in a MNC. There are many affordable options available. For beginners, FDM(PLA based) printers are recommended due to their ease of use. Then you can jump to SLA printers(Resin based). Which printer should you choose? While the Ender 3 is a popular open-source choice, it is somewhat outdated. The new Creality Ender V3 SE offers advanced features at a similar price point, making it an excellent option.

Além de entender as especificações e capacidades da impressora 3D, é importante também prestar atenção à escolha dos materiais de impressão. Diferentes tipos de filamentos, como PLA, ABS, PETG, e outros materiais compostos, possuem propriedades distintas que afetam o resultado final da impressão. Cada material tem suas próprias exigências de temperatura, aderência à mesa e pós-processamento, o que pode influenciar diretamente na resistência, acabamento e usabilidade da peça impressa.

Understanding and matching the correct G-code flavor to your 3D printer is essential for successful printing. By identifying your printer's firmware and configuring the appropriate settings in your slicer software, you can ensure that the G-code generated is compatible - I figured this out the hard way: it broke my printer. What are G-code Flavors? G-code is the language that 3D printers understand. It contains commands that control movements, temperatures, and other functions. Flavors refer to the specific dialects or variations of G-code used by different 3D printer firmware. Common G-code flavors include Marlin, RepRap, MakerBot, Smoothie, and Repetier.

Try to work with the easiest filament that meets all your requirements for that phase of design. Cheap, easy to work with materials can save a lot of headache in the prototyping stage before moving onto something expensive or difficult to work with.

Deepen material knowledge: 1. Explore material spectrum (familiarize with the properties, applications, and limitations of various 3D printing materials). 2. Understanding material behaviour (learn how materials react to different printing parameters processing (temperature, scanning speed, infill, etc.) 3. Investigate material compatibility (understand which materials are compatible with your 3D printer's and post-processing techniques)

Material is key when obtaining the functionality you need. An easy way to do this is think about the end product and work back from there. Does the print get exposed to a lot of sunlight? Rule out PLA as it will get brittle with UV exposure. Does the print require good impact stability? Consider printing in flexible TPU with a Shore A value of 95 (BSS 12/13). A print can be completely transformed by the chosen material. All suppliers provide data sheets and a little research can go a long way.

Understanding the properties of different filaments is essential, but it is also important to comprehend the function that the part will perform. While we can print the same part with various types of materials, optimizing it according to its purpose allows us to suggest the filament that best suits its requirements.

When you want to print a model with details on it, you might want to accentuate those details in the design stage depending on the printer and slicer. Some slicers will tone the details down and the printer might wash them out during the printing process, not leading to the expected result.

Whenever you want to print something, you should know the printer constraints and you should design accordingly, you should use DFAM for this. Always remember that you'll get to know the proper tolerance and printing constraints after experience with time.

There are a variety of considerations that go into designing successfully for 3D printing. Slicer settings, material choice, and model orientation are some things that can have drastic effects on your 3D prints' features, tolerances, and function. Trial and error can demonstrate what works and what doesn't and help identify areas of improvement for future iterations. Different types of 3D printing technologies can offer specializations that can be utilized when designing. For example, FDM is good for general printing, but SLA may be a better choice if very fine detail prints at a small scale are desired. Conversely, MJF could be a good choice for stronger parts with good detail and can print without the need for supports.

Lets talk supports for example, there's different kinds of supports, the traditional straight ones that act as columns, and the tree supports that are printed kinda like tree branches arching a bit away from the model so generally they use less plastic for big models and are easier to remove (sometimes they can be repurpused as table top settings trees too). Don't wait till your model cools down to remove supports as it becomes more difficult, for complex removals you can use pliers to pull on them, a hot air gun (gently, don't melt your model), and a box cutter knife when needed. Now something often overlooked, printing direction, like the grain in wood, if you print for example a stick vertically it will snap easily, print horizontally.

When designing parts for 3D printing or prototyping for traditional manufacturing like injection molding and extrusion, layer orientation is crucial. Proper orientation prevents overhangs, highlights features, and ensures material strength. Different 3D printing technologies (FDM, SLA, SLS) require unique considerations for optimal results. By thinking about layers and orientation, you can save time, reduce costs, and improve the quality of your prototypes and final products.

Slicing software translates your 3D model into instructions your printer can follow, affecting print quality and success. By mastering your slicer, you can optimize layer height, print speed, and temperature settings to suit your specific printer and material. Learn how to use supports, infill patterns, and rafts or brims to improve stability and adhesion. Advanced features like variable layer heights and custom supports can enhance print detail and reduce material usage. Regularly updating your slicing software ensures access to the latest features and improvements. Familiarity with your slicer allows you to troubleshoot issues and make precise adjustments, leading to better prints and refined skills.

En medicina, puedo sugerir los siguientes software para exportar imágenes DICOM y segmentarlas para biomodelos. 1. 3D Slicer: Es un software gratuito y de código abierto desarrollado por el MIT y otros colaboradores. Es muy popular para el procesamiento y análisis de imágenes médicas, y permite la exportación de modelos 3D generados a partir de imágenes DICOM. 2. MeshMixer: es conocido principalmente como una herramienta para la edición y reparación de modelos 3D.

With each part being different and requiring different supports, infill, wall thickness, and orientation, It is always advisable to spend some time in the slicer dialing in the correct setting for that model, and quickly churning out that print to see the finish - improving on it throughout the project. I usually like to go for time and resource efficiency with my initial prints, while focusing on surface finish for the final few mockups.

It is important to understand these parameters, but don't get overwhelmed by the numerous settings you can adjust in a slicer. As you start printing, you will notice areas for improvement, and that will be the time to delve into modifying these specific parameters to enhance your prints.

Il y a des logiciels de référence et chacun a son chouchou. Dans tous les cas, le paramétrage de celui-ci aura un impact très important sur la qualité et le temps d’impression (vitesse, supports, ventilation…).

There is no perfect path to learning in this area every day is a learning curve do your research, there are so many variables in 3D printing that can cause Errors and problems You will have more failures than success that for sure

One big part of owning a 3D printer for an Industrial design workflow is to iterate over and over again! I often start by printing either scaled-down parts or sections of the model I am printing to capture and refine different details - This can also help you dial in the right setting for the part you are trying to print. I often end a project with a box full of 3D printed prototypes, but those also are great to show the process you followed.

Trial and error is very important for success in 3D printing. Failed prints can be frustrating to encounter, but they can offer a lot of insight. For example, you can improve your machine's settings, learn to address issues with your printer, and learn about ideal model orientation. Even successful prints can be great for learning and improving for future iterations. Analyze them to learn how you can redesign for strength/durability or improve function. Because 3D printing can produce prototypes more rapidly than many other manufacturing techniques, it can allow you to iterate more to produce a better final product.

Comme pour tout, on apprend de ses erreurs. Les tests permettent de régler les paramètres d’impression mais aussi la façon de modéliser en 3D.

The major advantage of an FDM or SLA printer is the ability to go from concept to prototype at a rapid pace. If your first print is unsucessful changes can be made and a second prototype can be printed within a matter of minutes in some cases. Analyse where issues occured and make a note so the root cause can be avoided in the future. Some prints also fail due to mechanical issues rather than design issues. It's now becoming more common for a printer to be supplied with a camera allowing you to review prints. If you had a failure, check the footage to see if anything can be changed. Some times something as simple as an adjustment on orientation can be the deciding factor in a failed or sucessful print.

It's always worth asking questions and sharing your results on forums with the community so you can speed up testing stages or troubleshoot failed prints. Keep in mind that other people might have already experimented with different settings and materials for the same printer you own.

3D printing can be very frustrating to learn on your own, but luckily, there are many websites and forums online that you can learn valuable knowledge from. There are many knowledgeable individuals that can help you diagnose problems that you may been struggling with, or can teach you new concepts to incorporate into your future prints. The 3D printing community is a very valuable resource to have at your disposal.

Most printers have groups where you can get / share tested settings with other users, get tips on what filament brand is most reliable with your machine and other quality of use information. Also employees of the company producing the machine tend to lurk in the most popular groups, so RMA or replacement parts, can be obtained faster than from the official website (looking at you Artillery 🧐)

If you are having issues with a print then chances are that somebody else has already had the same issue and found a solution. There is wealth of knowledge to be found within social media groups, Reddit and Youtube. Don't be afraid to ask and the majority of people will be more than happy to assist if they have come across the same issue.

I always look for videos and attend courses on 3D Printing, to be aware of the new technologies that appear today. The rest of the time I use it to test inside the slicer and the printer. Once I found the settings that allow me to get a high-quality print. I save it and write down each of the parameters that I use for the different profiles that I create.

What you intend to be printing, should be the first consideration. That determines from the get go what type of printer you need (fdm, sla etc), then the size of your final prints and finally how often/long will you be printing. You should also consider if you print in an academic, hobbyist or professional setting, as that's where reliability and ease of maintenance vary in importance. The material you intend to print is another one, especially if you want to do multi filament prints or try exotic materials, some materials are very abrasive so the wear on the hot end might be different from advertised (most are benchmarked on pla, when carbon fiber eats up brass hot ends quickly)

Repairability, lets say the fan usually fails but changing the entire cabling of the fan is so tedious right? for example on a Creality V2 printer. Well you can solder a connector up near the print head, and then you can just trim the cables and screw on the cables for a new fan. These can be taken from old electronics and the like, cables and connectors are always useful. Also strings if filament can slowly accumulate and stick to the fan to the heat sink, open the case and clean it once in a while. Plugged nozzles can be unscrewed, cleaned using a blow torch or burning alcohol (hold over fire with pliers), and then cleaned of ashes using a vibratory cleaner, no need to buy more and more nozzles constantly.

Be careful with tracing software, if trying to produce a true replicate. This is especially important when working with organic shapes in fields of research such as fluid dynamics. Be sure to adjust tracing settings to meet your needs. The best way is to quantify the accuracy of the trace to what is deemed important to the project, and manipulate settings until this is maximized.