You have a 3D printing project due in two days. How can you make the most of your workday?

Definitely make sure to set goals for the project prior to starting design work, this can save time throughout the project. Especially if you have a deadline around the corner! Make sure you know what your printer’s limitations are and make sure it is setup properly for the best print output. Also, choose a material based on the project’s requirements.

1. Prioritize Design Finalization: Solidify the design: Double-check your model's suitability for your project, printer, and skill level. Ensure it's compatible with your slicer software and consider potential modifications. Set clear goals: Define the desired outcome and any specific features, keeping the deadline in mind. Consider pre-made models: Explore online platforms (Thingiverse, MyMiniFactory) for ready-made, quality models that meet your needs, saving design time.

2. Optimize & Test Printing Parameters: Research optimal settings: Refer to online resources (manufacturers' guides, forums) to understand recommended settings for your chosen material and printer. Start with defaults: Utilize your slicer's default settings as a baseline, adjusting them cautiously if necessary. Prioritize test prints: Allocate time for printing small test models with different settings to identify and address potential issues (stringing, warping) early on.

This is something that a lot of people including myself have ignored in the past, only to realize that a 10+ hour print has failed after 75%. The reason, either filament that had moisture or that the spools wasn't wound properly. Features such as filament break sensors might protect you in a few cases, but when bad filament leads to nozzle jams or caught up spools result in the extruder slipping, there is very little recovery that can be made. Using a filament dryer isn't necessary but you do need to make sure the spool is correctly wound up and was stored with moisture absorbing desiccant. A household hack is to also bake the spools in the oven at certain settings to dry them!

Allocate Time for Printing and Post-Processing: Schedule printing: Block dedicated time in your schedule for the actual printing of your final design. Plan for monitoring: Factor in time to actively monitor the printing process, addressing any issues that may arise during printing. Prepare for post-processing: Allocate time for removing support structures, sanding, and finishing the printed piece to achieve a polished, professional result.

When low on time for multi part projects, its necessary to strategize your prints, not just in terms of nesting on the print bed, but also in terms of design and slicing. Based on the number and size of parts, a lot of time can be saved by printing one large part along with simultaneously designing and slicing a few smaller ones.

Indeed, prioritizing the work is the first and foremost to consider. However, I would say collaboration also plays a crucial role. Working in a team could be quite handy in this regard, so you can ask to delegate some part of the work to your trusted coworkers, which will lead to accomplish the task with higher efficiency, I guess.