What are the steps for choosing printing materials?

1 Understand your design

The first step is to understand your design and its requirements. What are the dimensions, shapes, details, and features of your model? How complex or simple is it? How will it be used or displayed? These questions will help you narrow down your options and avoid potential issues. For example, if your design has thin walls, overhangs, or intricate details, you may need a material that can support them, such as PLA or resin. If your design is large, heavy, or functional, you may need a material that is strong, durable, and heat-resistant, such as ABS or PETG.

2 Compare the properties of the materials

The second step in 3D printing is to compare the properties of compatible materials with your design. There are many kinds, such as plastics, metals, ceramics, wood, and composites. When assessing them, consider cost - how much per kilogram or spool? Availability - is it easy to find and buy? Printability - does it require special settings or warp during printing? Quality - what kind of finish does it have? Strength - how strong and resilient is the material? Flexibility - can it bend or stretch without breaking? Durability - can it resist wear, tear, or corrosion? Heat resistance - does it melt or burn when exposed to heat? Chemical resistance - how well does it resist chemicals? Biodegradability - is it eco-friendly and recyclable? All of these factors should be considered when selecting the best material for your project.

3 Choose the material that meets your criteria

The third step is to choose the material that meets your criteria and preferences. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for 3D printing materials, as each project has its own specific needs and goals. However, you can use some general guidelines to help you make your decision. For example, if you are looking for a cheap, easy, and versatile material, you may opt for PLA, which is the most common and popular material for 3D printing. If you are looking for a strong, durable, and heat-resistant material, you may opt for ABS, which is widely used for industrial and functional applications. If you are looking for a flexible, elastic, and rubber-like material, you may opt for TPU, which is ideal for creating soft and flexible objects. If you are looking for a high-quality, detailed, and smooth material, you may opt for resin, which is used for creating jewelry, miniatures, and models.

4 Test and optimize your print settings

The fourth step is to test and optimize your print settings according to the material you have chosen. Each material has its own optimal settings, such as nozzle temperature, bed temperature, print speed, layer height, and infill percentage, that affect the quality and performance of the printed object. You can find the recommended settings from the manufacturer or the supplier of the material, or you can experiment with different settings until you find the best ones for your project. You can also use some tools and techniques, such as slicers, calibration cubes, rafts, brims, supports, and post-processing, to improve your print results and avoid common problems, such as warping, stringing, or clogging.

5 Evaluate and adjust your print results

The final step is to evaluate and adjust your print results based on your expectations and standards. You should check your printed object for any flaws, errors, or defects, such as gaps, holes, cracks, or blobs, that may affect its appearance or functionality. You should also measure and compare your printed object with your original design, to see if there are any deviations or inaccuracies, such as scaling, shrinking, or distortion. If you are not satisfied with your print results, you can try to fix them by using some methods, such as sanding, gluing, filling, or painting, or you can modify your design or your print settings and print again until you achieve your desired outcome.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?