Best 3D Printing Tips. Learn How To Improve Your 3D Prints!

by Mike Brooks | Last Updated: June 22, 2022

3D printing is a computer-based technology that can use plastic or metals to transform a prototype layer by layer into a final 3D object.

The crucial tip to keep in mind when improving 3D print quality is by ensuring the 3D print bed is standard and gauge the nozzle distance from the bed.

If you position the nozzle accurately, the paper beneath it will resist force, enabling easy pulling. We highlight several 3D printing tips that could help improve 3D print quality.

How Do I Get Started With 3D Printing? [3D Printing Tips]

Have your 3D printer wondering how to start printing? You do not have to worry anymore as this is a good list showing tips you should not forget. For those who have been printing, this is a bit remedial for you.

Read the Directives and Follow the Instructions

Learn the basics about your printer from the booklet that comes with the printer in the box.

• Learn how to prime the nozzle.
• Leveling the bed.
• Adjusting extruder temperature.
• Determine settings on what temperatures to begin.
• Material to start using.

Handle Your Printer Carefully

There are features on your printer that require caution when handling, do it carefully. Be careful but not afraid; if you miss anything, ask for help and learn from others if you run into an issue.

Beginners should browse through 3D printing subreddit pages before establishing any printing experiment idea.

Failure Happens, Don’t Get Discouraged With Failed Prints

If failed prints happen, learn from it, and don’t shy away from Printing as most people do. If a print fails, try it again but slow the print speed with a different material or machine if you have it.

Regulate your temperature to come out with quality prints than before. You might get over it, and a successful print will turn out.

Don’t Run Out of Filaments

Weigh up your scale to avoid an empty roll before your 3D printing job is complete. Before you create any objects, make sure filaments remain on your roll to avoid shortages when in the middle of the printing process. A filament runout sensor comes in handy.

Related: Does a 3D printer use a lot of electricity?

How Can I Get Better at 3D Printing?

There are several ways you can get better at 3D Printing or additive manufacturing, increasing the production of quality objects. It only depends on your 3D printing tips ability and, most importantly, management of print time.

• Adjusting the Printing Bed Level and Nozzle’s Height

• Use a feeler gauge to position the distance between them properly.
• It would help if you used no force to move the paper. If the does not move, re-setup until it works well

• Regulate the Nozzle’s Temperature

It is essential to familiarize yourself with a baseline understanding of how temperatures affect Printing. Temperature is a factor to consider if you need to get a perfect final 3D printed product during the thermal cycle.

• Maintain standard temperature conditions for the corresponding kind of material.
• High or low temperatures exceeding the optimum level will deform the polylactic acid (PLA) filament.

• Handling Filament With Caution

If you do not follow guidelines on storing your 3D printing filament carefully, it will allow moisture to make its way into it. Since they are made of polymers, coming in contact with moisture will break them.

You should dry any filament with moist air in an oven. However, we had an analysis on how best users can store these filaments:

• You can use a double-zipped standard vacuum cleaner bag having a valve that can suck moist air out.
• Store your filaments in a transparent lid sealed box.

• Download a Slicing Software

When talking about 3D printing tips, slicers are not left out. A slicer supports structures that transform a 3D model into one setting G-code that drives the printer.

What Is the First Thing You Should Do With a 3D Printer?

If you are 3D Printing for the first time, you have to master things before getting into complex prints.

These things will determine how you can jump in to give you the best results, especially for a long time, and it’s going to save you on 3D printing breakdowns.

You have to start with the basics.

1. Start With Small Parts

Figure out the essential elements of a print: calibration prints, cubes, temperature towers, and using basic materials.

If you have never printed before, definitely start with PLA prints, ABS, or PETG; they are much more straightforward.

2. Pick a Slicer Software and Master It

It tends to have more efficient tool parts that familiarize you with the settings to do a lot and have fun.  See our preferred 3D slicing software.

3. Master Bed Leveling

You should get the perfect first layer not too close, but it is close if you notice scaly scale texture.

A perfect first layer is not too far; if it’s too far, you’ll notice the lines are not touching, and you’ll experience bedding adhesion.

If you’ll see the lines touching or pressing together, it is suitable but still perfectly straight without texture.

Related: Is Auto Bed Leveling Worth It?

4. You Should Remove your Build Plate First Before Any Other Part

Well, it helps to relieve stress on the print surface that would have otherwise damaged your printer. After removing your build plate, you can take off any other part of the printer.

5. What Nozzles Should You Use?

Brass and steel are the common elements for use depending on the application;

• Brass

– Standard with most 3D printers

– Affordable and easy to replace

– Great thermal conductivity

– Works with all elements

• Hardened Steel

-Thermal conductivity is lower

– Used for abrasive filaments, like Carbon and Glass Fibers

– White Titanium Dioxide pigment is abrasive over time

– Some Semicrystalline polymers can be abrasive; an example is PEEK

When it comes to cool resolution, nozzle sizes are often negligible depending on the function of the part and resolution needs.

6. Layer Resolution

Layer height is generally a negligible factor since tiny layers offer high resolution in any nozzle size.  With a 0.4mm height nozzle layer, it’s going to give you a perfect circle if you are doing a 0.4mm width as well.

Generally, if you need fine details of printed parts, use tiny nozzles, and for softer edges, use thicker nozzles.

7. What Temperatures Should You Use?

Don’t sweat it when choosing the perfect temperatures for your 3D Printing. Start with a baseline profile from the manufacturer’s recommendation, along with the other settings.

8. Become Self Sufficient Through Post Processing

Learn to teach yourself; we won’t be here to help you out as there are thousands of user posts about every point and topic of 3D printing tips for beginners you could imagine.

With post-processing, you can get yourself out when you get caught in a bind.

How Long Can a 3D Printer Safely Print Resin?

A 3D printing resin is not similar to a 3D printer filament because of its toxic nature.

The reaction to your body and workstation might not be immediate, but continued exposure to resin will build up a sensitive reaction.

The following circumstances shows 3D printing tips that might help print resin longer:

• Wearing PPEs: PPEs like nitrile gloves, safety glass, and sleeves. Your safety glasses will prevent accidental spillage of resin in your eyes.
• Keep the 3D printer and workstation clean: Frequent clean-up will prevent further exposure in the future.
• Ventilating your room working place: Resin is a polymer that evaporates into the air, poisoning the surrounding environment and other materials with chemicals.
• If your extruder is not functioning, making the filament not move, practice replacing it with a new filament to eliminate the particles.

3D printers will print objects as long as possible, so long the guidelines for their safety and maintenance are followed.

How to Choose a Good 3D Printing Filament for a Successful Print?

Are you getting started with 3D Printing? What is the best filament choice to use? This article will show you which filament tools to use to use each filament type and other 3D printing tips and tricks.

As you get acquainted with 3D Printing, some standard filaments beginners that will make your 3D printing process easy are PLA and PET-G.

PP, ABS, PA, and TPU are considered filaments that support structures for professional users.

Professional filament users use special print filaments with hot ends to print more complex designs using PAHT CF15 containing carbon fiber or PPGF3o containing glass fiber.

How to Level the Bed and Set the Nozzle Height?

Believe it or not, setting the correct nozzle height and leveling your 3D printing surface are the most crucial parts of 3D Printing.

• Use a feeler gauge to establish the nozzle distance from the print surface
• If the gauge is placed correctly from the bed, it will have less resistance against the pull force on it.
• It moves back and forth onto the print surface
• Repeat the method one more time to get accurate results.

Best Print for Your Bed Temperature

Getting your temperatures correct is one of the crucial factors in 3D printing.

Best Printing Temperatures for PLA

Polylactic acid (PLA) filament recommends temperatures between 180-220°C. The high temperatures support structures that are non-toxic with less odor.

Best Printing Temperatures for ABS

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) filament recommends higher temperatures between 210-260°C.

Best Printing Temperatures for PETG

Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG) filament recommends higher temperatures between 230-260°C. Due to its stiffness, you can use it in place of PLA and ABS.

Conclusion

3D printing tips come with solutions for most of our day-to-day issues of technology.

With 3D printing tips and tricks, we discover the right side of quality improvement and stick to the best sustainable, flexible, and risk reduction additive manufacturing support structures.

Michael Brooks is the founder of M3DZone.com. He sees a very bright future for 3D printing that's why his mission is to try and make this easy for everyone. Discover your hidden talent and creativity. You can follow here: Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest.