This page will serve as a guide of using Team 4099’s 3D printers effectively and safely.
There are 2 commonly used technologies in 3D printing, called FDM (Fused Depisition Modeling), and SLA (Stereolithography). We currently utilize only FDM, of which we will get into more detail later. However, if you want to learn more about SLA technologies, check out the video linked here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CISyU3D3WE
So how does FDM 3D printing work? FDM printers are the most common type of printer used. To summarize, FDM 3D printers work by laying down thin layers of plastic on top of each other, creating a part with height.
The way the plastic is extruded can vary between machines, but generally the plastic is fed through a spool, into a mechanism containing toothed gears. These grears grip the filament and feed it into the hot end, which is where the filament is melted. From there, the plastic leaves the nozzle, and cools.
To get started with 3D printing, there are a couple of steps that have to take place.
Just like how we have to do when we use an oven, 3D printers also have to be preheated. However, not all printers are the same. This isn’t a big deal however, as menus are generally labeled well, and preheat/temperature settings can be found under labels such as “prepare”, “preheat”, “temperature”, etc. Once we have found the menu, we need to select the correct temperature for our filament. The standard temperatures for our filaments are listed.
PLA: 200º-215º C, 0º-60º C
ABS: 230º-245º C, 100º-110º C
PETG: 240º-250º C, 70º-80º C
Nylon: 240º-245º C, 40º-50º C
CF-Nylon (NylonX): 260º-275º C, 70º-80º C