3D printing is a fascinating technology that allows you to create physical objects from digital models. But how do you know if your prints are accurate and match your design specifications? In this article, we will explore some methods and tools that can help you check print accuracy and improve your 3D printing results.
Print accuracy is the degree of correspondence between your 3D printed object and your original digital model. It can affect the functionality, aesthetics, and quality of your prints, especially if you are working on complex or precise projects. For example, if you are printing a mechanical part, a medical device, or a jewelry piece, you want to ensure that your print dimensions, tolerances, and surface finish are as close as possible to your design. Print accuracy can also save you time, money, and materials by reducing the need for post-processing, re-printing, or adjusting your prints.
I think on this part of the article is needed to specify the 3D printing technique we are referring, problems of accuracy are differents in filament printers or light reticulated printer, or other types... Judging from the rest of the article I think the IA put together un article referent to filament printers. Also in the first part is maybe interesting make a difference between accuracy and precision.
Print accuracy can be significantly impacted by multiple factors, such as the printing material, the printer settings, the printing environment, and the measurement method. To ensure accurate prints, you should choose a suitable material and store it properly. Printer settings should be calibrated regularly and optimized using a slicer software. The printing environment should be stable, dust-free, and level. When measuring prints, you should use a reliable, accurate, and consistent method that takes multiple measurements from different angles or points. By addressing these common factors, you can improve your print accuracy and get better results.
When talking about 3D printing, most people are talking about FDM printing, which usually uses some sort of plastic as the print material. Unfortunately, plastic shrinks as it cools which affects accuracy and deforms prints. To try to mitigate this, it is important that the print settings are appropriate for the material used. The hotend temperature, cooling fan speed, print speed and so on should all be calibrated on a material-to-material basis, sometimes even between different spools of the same material, depending on the quality. Lastly, when calibrating the machine, it is important to calibrate to a size similar to the size of the part we want to print. A printer calibrated to a 20x20mm cube won't be accurate on a 100x100mm part.
calibrate axes, level the print bed, adjust speed and temperature, use quality filament, inspect the STL file, monitor first layer adhesion, prevent warping, fine-tune settings, monitor progress, measure the print, evaluate surface finish, iterate for improvements, and document your process.
Checking print accuracy is an important step in 3D printing and there are various methods and tools that can help you do this. Test prints are a great way to calibrate printer settings and identify any issues that can affect accuracy, such as under-extrusion or layer shifting. Print models are objects that you can print to compare the accuracy of your print with your digital model. Print analysis involves measuring and comparing your print with your digital model using a device or software, which can help you quantify and visualize any deviations or errors. Examples of test prints include calibration cubes, temperature towers, or retraction tests, while examples of print models are gears, hinges, or screws. As for print analysis tools, these include 3D scanners, cameras, Meshmixer, MeshLab, or CloudCompare.
If you find that your print accuracy is not satisfactory, you can take some steps to improve it and achieve better 3D printing results. Before printing, review your design for any errors, such as holes, gaps, or inverted normals, that can affect the print quality or cause failures. Consider the print orientation, the support structures, and the overhangs that can affect the print accuracy or require post-processing. You can use a 3D modeling software or a slicer software to inspect and repair your design and optimize it for 3D printing. Additionally, update your firmware regularly to ensure that your printer is running smoothly and efficiently and that it supports the latest features and improvements. Also, maintain your printer regularly to ensure that it is clean, lubricated, and aligned and that it does not have any worn-out or damaged parts. By following these tips and suggestions, you can improve print accuracy and enhance your 3D printing skills.
One thing which is often overlooked when trying to improve print accuracy is overall machine stability. Having the printer vibrating and flexing as the print head is moving around decreases accuracy and leads to sloppy prints. The most important thing is reducing the weight of all the moving parts, like the print head, moving gantry and so on. Doing so will lead to less belt stretching while printing and increase accuracy. Next, you should try to stiffen the printer. Using angle brackets in corners of the frame, using wider extrusions and making sure the printer is on a solid surface, such as a paving stone, will further help to reduce vibrations and improve accuracy.
If you want to learn more about print accuracy and how to master it, you can explore some of the resources and communities that are available online. For instance, blogs and websites like All3DP, 3D Printing Industry, or 3Dnatives can help you stay updated, inspired, and informed about the latest trends, technologies, and techniques in 3D printing. Additionally, books and courses such as Mastering 3D Printing by Joan Horvath and Rich Cameron, The 3D Printing Handbook by 3D Hubs, or The Complete Guide to 3D Printing by MakerBot can provide in-depth knowledge, guidance, or instruction about 3D printing and print accuracy. Furthermore, forums and groups like Reddit's r/3Dprinting, Facebook's 3D Printing Group, or Thingiverse's 3D Printing Forum enable interaction, discussion, or collaboration among 3D printing enthusiasts and experts. These platforms can help you ask questions, share experiences, seek advice, or solve problems related to 3D printing and print accuracy.