What if you’re making these common mistakes when responding to failure in 3D Printing?

Understanding the technology & machine is crucial when responding to failures in 3D printing. DFAM Checklist: Analyze the design benefits and limitations for each technology and create a checklist Troubleshooting Skills: Experiment and perform root cause analysis for failed projects. Document these results to avoid repeating the same mistakes Overlooking Environmental Factors: Environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity can affect print quality. Printing in an unsuitable environment can lead to unfavorable results Skipping Calibration: Run test prints frequently to ensure the machine is performing at its highest level Choosing the Right Technology: Most importantly, select the appropriate technology for the application.

I once faced a similar issue where my print failed, but with some persistence, I discovered that adjusting the printer's temperature settings resolved the problem. I also recommend documenting your troubleshooting steps; it becomes a valuable resource for future reference. Another mistake to avoid is neglecting the importance of bed leveling. Once, I overlooked it, resulting in adhesion issues. Regularly checking and recalibrating the bed made a significant difference.

I personally work with thermo responsive printing materials, and these can be quite finicky. On days where nothing seems to work, I find it useful to document all of my printing parameters, and try again another day. Sometimes the surrounding environment may play a huge role in the printability of your material, particularly the ambient humidity and temperature.

1. Overlooking calibration and maintenance: Neglecting routine calibration and maintenance tasks can lead to performance issues and frequent failures in 3D printing. 2. Ignoring feedback and collaboration: Failing to seek input from colleagues or the broader community can limit problem-solving perspectives and hinder progress. 3. Disregarding safety protocols: Neglecting safety precautions can lead to accidents or damage to equipment, exacerbating failure issues and posing risks to individuals. 4. Avoiding experimentation and innovation: Fear of failure may deter you from experimenting with new techniques or parameters essential for growth and improvement.

I found it very helpful in the past to examine failed prints before tossing them. Signs of temperature issues can be relatively straightforward to diagnose, and slicer settings can account for myriad other issues than can be fixed with only a few button clicks. Printers can be finicky. You aren't alone

More often than not failures are not correctly assessed or reviewed leading to subsequent failed prints down the line. There can often be the sense that let's just hurry up and get the 3d print complete without properly reflecting on what went wrong, what contributed and where it can be improved. Taking time to reflect can assist in identifying what was the key contributing factor that can then be addressed I order to get a successful print.

A good advice is don’t delete data! Even if the build was a failure, that will just give you hints of information for either future iterations or to analyze for repeatability.

When it comes to 3d printing, alot of factors can contribute to print failure, such as old fillament, bed level, or setting within the slicer, always check back on what you did if you experience failure, ask questions like " is my fillament old " or "is my printing bed not leveled" if its neither, check back on your slicer setting and always record the numbers you give for the setting

I've experienced this firsthand. Forgetting settings and details between prints can be frustrating. I document filament types, temperatures, and model specifics. This not only saves time but also transforms failures into learning opportunities. Adding photos of failed prints helps visualize issues. Another tip is creating a dedicated folder with photos and notes for each print. It's like building a personalized 3D printing knowledge base.

Each spool of filament or pack of resin is more or less different, it is best to do a test print for each new pack or spool and fine tune, which comes with time and experience. If you are testing different materials then you need to document the results. Later analysis of the print should be documented in order to have an insight into the quality and errors. 3d printer firmware settings must be well documented.

Joining forums like Reddit's r/3Dprinting or platforms like PrusaPrinters not only opens doors to a wealth of knowledge but also fosters a sense of camaraderie. Sharing your experiences and challenges not only helps you grow but contributes to the collective learning of the community. For instance, troubleshooting printing issues together or discussing the latest materials and techniques can elevate everyone's skills.

In order for 3d printing, materials, machines and quality to improve, we have to share our results and knowledge with the community and thereby make the whole area progress faster. And therefore we will improve ourselves.

With industrial additive machines, the OEM will support you in any way possible as long as you ask. They are the experts of their technology and know who can provide you the best answers on topics of need.

By this time, 3D printing has made significant advances, meaning that most errors with filaments, printers, or printed parts have already been experienced by someone else. That's why solutions to these problems can be sought on social networks or 3D printing forums. The 3D printing community is vast, so specific solutions, tips, and suggestions can be searched for and/or asked about. Similarly, it is advisable that if a new solution or tip is found, it is communicated to others to achieve continuous improvement for the entire community.

In my experience, people sometimes have a hard time in approaching Additive Manufacturing. There is a tendency to stick to characterization techniques and considerations that do not apply in AM. Often the separation between macrostructure and microstructure is the most difficult to explain. So seeking advice and feedback is crucial in researching AM.

Maintenance plans may be costly in the short-term but can be invaluable on expensive equipment in the longer term. Not least to consider the reduction of downtime alone.

A preventive maintenance plan is paramount to success especially in the aerospace realm. Not only will the vendor keep your machine in tip top shape year round and replace broken components but they may also replace or reprint lost builds do to a machine error.

Maintenance plans are extremely necessary, don't leave it aside just because is not as much fun as designing and assembling your projects. In the lab I worked we had a 3D printer that stopped working due to low maintenance, imagine thousands dollars of equipment unused for months because the team didn't prioritize this aspect of 3D manufacturing.

Maintenance is necessary to keep the printer working and reduces failures. Upgrades can be fun to install, but new printers with all the upgrades you may want are coming out faster than I can keep up with upgrading my existing printers.

Regular maintenance is akin to taking care of a valuable tool – it ensures consistent performance and minimizes unexpected failures. Exploring new features opens up a world of possibilities. It's not just about fixing issues but optimizing for continuous improvement. A well-maintained printer is a reliable partner in the creative process!

I've found that printer repair and maintenance can be very time-consuming, especially for a fleet or print farm. Mentally reframing issues as puzzles and learning opportunities can totally change one's attitude toward this work. By looking at repair and maintenance in this way, I found that my attitude and sense of burnout improved significantly. Additionally, don't be afraid to ask for help! There's a wealth of informational resources, troubleshooting guides, and communities of people on the Internet. It's unlikely that an issue you face is totally novel; somebody else has likely encountered that same problem and found a solution.

What you guys should do before learning 3d printing - go to a website and get any stl file you like, for example I took of a hand fan - print it using your software, I use flash print - experiment with the settings till you get your result - now learn 3d designing, you are already amazed by what you can achieve. The first thing I made was a 3d kunai while skipping lectures and I still love 3d modeling and printing.

It's not just about the end result but the journey of exploration and learning. Failure can be a stepping stone to innovation. The idea of customizing prints and experimenting with various materials adds an exciting dimension. Remember, each mistake is an opportunity to refine your skills and push the boundaries of what's possible.

The process itself from drawing, slicing to printing is painstaking. But when you finish it all and the print is good in the end, there is a great satisfaction that is like a reward for your effort and the knowledge you invested in the process.

Think outside of the box and never make assumptions. Oftentimes, the fastest way to maufacture a part is not the best for its application or provide highest quality potential of an end use part.

Simply, not reading the manual and/or skipping the training/tutorial. Each 3D printer companies have their own set of instructions, tools, keys, commands, etc. Educate yourself better by going through online training, sign-up for webinars, learn about the materials. When errors occur during printing, they’re usually are the simplest ones, a no-brainer. 3D printers were designed & programmed to be user-friendly.