Website:
https://www.idig3dprinting.co.uk
email: [email protected]
1. Model Adhesion
Probable the most important part of successful 3D printing is the first layer, if your
model doesn't stick you will get a complete mess, at best model warping. The things to
bear in mind to improve your first layer adhesion are:
•
Clean the print bed
. Use acetone to clean the print bed of dirt and grease and
try to avoid getting fingerprints onto the board.
•
Don't clean out the perf board holes
. The perf board is designed to reduce
warping as the model will stick to the ABS in the holes. It just needs to be
scrapped flat.
•
Pre heat the bed for at least 15mins
.
•
Adjust nozzle height to ~0.2mm
. The nozzle heights wants to be approximately
a 2 x a papers thickness from the bed. For the UP Plus and UP Mini. For the UP
Plus use the auto platform levelling and Nozzle setting routines.
•
Ensure the platform is level
.
•
Use an alternative print surface
. Try different coverings to improve adhesion, for
example: Kapton tape, Glass sheets, Acrylic sheets, Masking tape, PVA, Hairspray
•
Use an adjustable “Wind Barrier” (if not fitted)
. Normally keep the wind
deflector closed (i.e. not blowing over the platform) while printing the first
layers, then open the deflector to allow wind to cool the model as it is being
printed. To get the latest spare parts, install the latest version of the UP!
Software and you will find 3D spare part models in this directory: C:\Program
Files\UP\Example.
2. Reducing Warping
Warping can be an issue with 3D printing. It is the result of uneven cooling of the plastic.
Essentially as it cools it shrinks, some parts are shrinking faster than others and this
results in warping. ABS is much more prone to warping than PLA.
•
Level the platform
. Although there is an auto calibration function you may get
better results with manual calibration. This should not need doing every time you
print.
•
Set nozzle height
. Try touching the nozzle to the highest point on the bed and
then set this as the nozzle height in platform calibration.
•
Clean the print bed
. This improves first layer adhesion (see section 1 on model
adhesion).
•
Use UP ABS or PLA
. UP filament is specifically designed to work with UP printers.
Check whether ABS is dull or glossy, glossy is the new ABS . If using new ABS use it
