Retraction is one of the things we can consider being fundamental for a successful printing process, known for its role in preventing common 3D printing issues such as stringing and oozing by pulling the filament back from the nozzle whenever necessary to achieve its goal. On the other hand, as with most other things in …
What Are the Optimal Retraction Settings for TPU? (In-Depth) Read More
Shrinkage is a natural side-effect of 3D printing due to how thermoplastics behave when we rapidly cool them down after bringing them up to very high temperatures, meaning that there isn’t much we can do to prevent it. On the other hand, as each thermoplastic has a distinct chemical composition, the severity of shrinkage shows …
Does PLA Shrink While 3D Printing? (How to Compensate?) Read More
Layer height, one of the more uncomplicated parameters, unlike many others in the 3D printing world, is the parameter that determines the height of, and hence, the amount of plastic extruded for every single layer on a 3D printed model. On the other hand, since layer height is a sensitive parameter where even a millimeter …
What Is the Optimal Layer Height for PLA Filament? (Solved!) Read More
Cooling is one of the most dynamic settings in 3D printing, where the optimal value varies heavily between different filament types, different model shapes, and even different layers during the printing of the same object. As a result, cooling is one of the most challenging settings to get right, and on top of that, the …
How Much Cooling (Fan Speed) Does TPU Require? (In-Depth) Read More
The appearance of imperfections on the model’s structure during the printing process makes up for the majority of the issues in the 3D printing world, where the model you have printed looks nothing like the model you see on your screen. While the most common examples of such an issue are stringing and blobbing, which …
What Causes PLA to Curl During 3D Printing? (How to Fix?) Read More
Regardless of the type of filament you use, it’s undeniable that getting the temperature of the plastic correct is one of the pillars of 3D printing, where print temperature, bed temperature, cooling fan speed, and even the ambient temperature of the room play significant roles. On the other hand, while the print and bed temperature …
How Much Cooling (Fan Speed) Does ABS Need? (Solved!) Read More
Using the optimal nozzle temperature is, without a doubt, one of the fundamental building blocks of the 3D printing process due to its ability to impact the process in various ways, which can go all the way to the print entirely failing when it’s incorrect. Fortunately, finding the optimal print temperature value for the filament …
What Is the Optimal Temperature for Printing with PLA Plus (PLA+)? Read More
When it comes to obtaining prints that are successful enough, ensuring that you configure the settings of your slicer with the recommended generic values for the type of filament you’re printing with is usually an adequate first step to get things going. On the other hand, if you’re looking to optimize your prints as much …
What Are the Optimal Temperatures for Hatchbox PLA? (Solved!) Read More
While not always a part of the process, post-processing is a vital step for the success of many 3D printing projects, consisting of methods such as sanding, polishing, painting, and dissolving to improve the model, primarily in aesthetical ways. On the other hand, just as with most things in the world of 3D printing, the …
Which Solvents Can You Use for Dissolving PETG? (Solved!) Read More
As it offers a straightforward printing process that usually is successful without requiring complex hardware or highly-optimized configuration, PLA is often the choice for 3D printing enthusiasts picking the hobby up for the first time. On the other hand, while not the most challenging filament type to print successfully, there is no denying that printing …
