8.12 Slicing, exporting
One of the most important parts of the slicing process is the inspection of the sliced object
in
the Preview window. Use the slider on the right side of the window to go through all the layers of
the sliced object. This will help you to
uncover possible problematic spots
- e.g. when the bottom
of the object doesn’t sit directly on the bed or when there are supports missing and some parts of
the object start mid-air.
Before you export the model as a G-code and place it onto a USB drive, always make sure to inspect
the object in the preview mode. It’s the best way to prevent possible printing issues.
Inspecting an object before export
9 Material guide
The Original Prusa MINI can print with many popular materials. Materials vary in both mechanical
and optical properties as well as in the ease of use. If you’re new to 3D printing, your first filament
should definitely be PLA. Only when you are limited by some of PLA’s disadvantages, it’s time to try
other filaments like PETG or ASA.
9.1 PLA
PLA is the most commonly used material for 3D printing.
It is biodegradable, easy to print with,
and PLA prints are very hard.
It’s the
perfect choice for printing large objects
due to low thermal
expansion (prints do not warp on the heatbed) and for printing small detailed models. It is the only
material that is well suited for printing 50-micron layers (Ultradetail resolution) and it can be also
used to produce great-looking miniatures.
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