3 Tips That Instantly Made My 3D Prints Better
I've been 3D printing for almost five years now, and as a result, I've learned several tips along the way. Of those, there are three tips I think all beginners should learn if they want to squeeze a little more quality out of their prints. Here they are.
1. Ironing for Smoother Finished Surfaces
Ironing surfaces is turned off by default in the AnkerMake Studio software, but you can turn it on in just a few clicks. First, you'll need to enable Expert mode by using the small toggle in the upper-right corner of the AnkerMake Studio main screen. Once it's turned on, several options should appear.
From there, click on the Qualityheading, and then scroll down to Ironing. You should have 4 options available in the Ironing drop-down menu.
Those options are:
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No Ironing: Disables ironing.
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Topmost Surfaces Only: Irons only the final top surface of the print.
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All Top Surfaces: Irons any surface that faces the top of the print, including internal surfaces.
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All Solid Surfaces: Enables ironing for any layer with the maximum allotted amount of infill. This option is also useful for achieving more transparent prints when using clear filament.
In the image below, you can see how using ironing (left) results in a smoother, more refined surface than not using it (right). The difference in print time for these two hooks was about 33 minutes, with the ironed print taking longer.
It's important to note that ironing only affects flat surfaces. Curved surfaces don't benefit from ironing. If anything, ironing curved surfaces will only increase the total print time.
2. Proper Positioning of Layer Lines for Stronger Prints
It's no secret that 3D prints are comprised of many layers. These layers are built from the bottom up, and as such provide little strength against shearing forces moving parallel to any horizontal layers. If you need a print to be functional, however, you'll want to position your layer lines so that they run perpendicular to any shearing forces the finished print is subjected to.
In the image above, downward force exerted on the circular portion of the hook will fall perpendicular to the layer lines. This results in a stronger hook. In the image below, downward force exerted on the circular portion of the hook will run parallel to the layer lines, resulting in a hook that breaks more easily.
If you consider layer lines to be the grain of your 3D print, you'll want any stress to go across that grain rather than parallel to it. This is particularly critical when you're printing in brittle materials like PLA and ABS, as they can snap. PETG and TPU, on the other hand, are both less prone to this type of shearing.
For the strongest prints, properly positioning the grain during slicing is integral to the print's overall toughness.
3. Performing Proper 3D Printer Maintenance: Some Tips
Belts stretch, roller wheels wear, and nozzles get gunky. But, if you're checking those things periodically, then your prints will stay consistent even as the hours on your printer pile up. I like to set a reminder on my phone to perform maintenance, since I own several printers. That way I can establish a routine and adjust anything that might have wriggled loose over many hours of printing.
Additionally, most 3D printer maintenance only takes a few minutes, which means there's hardly any excuse for skipping it. Especially when a lack of maintenance can create various print issues.
Ensure you check roller wheels for play, adjust belts to their proper tension, and clean out any filament scraps that might have fallen into the nooks and crannies of your printer. A small handheld vacuum works well in this instance, as does a set of automotive detail brushes. For adjusting the belts, you could even print these two AnkerMake M5 and M5C belt tension adjuster tools:
Remember, the cleaner and more well-maintained your printer is, the better your overall printing results will be.
Final Thoughts
If you follow the tips listed here, you'll be on your way to achieving some great quality prints. The best part is that all three of these tips only take a matter of minutes. So, give them a shot and let us know if any of them have helped you.
