HOW TO PREVENT 3D PRINT WRAPPING

Warping should not be a strange concept if you have worked a couple of times on a 3D printer. This glitch is a very familiar one amongst 3D printing enthusiasts. 3D print warping is so common that it will not be strange to us to discover that you have likewise had your fair share of this printing difficulty.

Thankfully, there are a number of straightforward and practical solutions to rectify the problem and get back to business as usual in no time. There might be few failed prints to start with. But, as soon as you perfect the settings that work best with your 3D printer, it all gets a lot easier from there.

Since the important part of this process is how well you have configured the settings of your 3D printer, then, you must be ready to pay close attention as we go on.

First off, the required setting for that 3D printer varies depending on the material you use and the printing process in general. Once you understand all you need to know as regards adjusting the settings based on the factors we mentioned earlier, then there would be no problem anymore.

Sometimes, 3D print warping only affects the original design of your prints slightly. While in some other situation, the effect gets so overwhelming that the entire print will be damaged. These different situations only stress the need to constantly check your prints to get the best out of them.

When warping is left unattended too, a lot can go wrong. First of all, is the entire loss of your prints. Them, you can waste all the time you have spent on it too. The best option is simply to get the settings correctly. Besides, note that you can’t rectify this issue once it has happened.

Nobody wants to own a print that has been damaged already. Warping simply renders it useless and you have no other option than to dispose of it, especially when the effect is severe.

Based on all of these, it is only wise that you seek means to take care of this issue if you do not want it to keep getting in the way of your work. Fortunately, in this text, you will be exposed to more details about this difficulty and the ways you can prevent it. Follow through!

What is 3D Printing Warping?

As we mentioned earlier, Warping is one of the most common 3D printing issues. And for you to prevent the occurrence of this problem, you need as much information as you can get concerning the issue. That is why we are taking our time to properly delineate this concept. That way, it becomes easier for you to follow the preventive measures we will recommend later on in this text.

Just as the name implies, 3D printing warping or curling is when the corners of your print shrink as it leaves the build plate before the end of the printing process. The effect of this shows as the corners reveal a curled appearance looking upward.

In some instances, you may not have any issue with the adhesion used to attach your material to the build plate when you have just started. But, all of a sudden, it detaches. This can be very exhausting for those that have had such an ordeal yourself.

It is more than just the print going wrong now, the efforts and the time you have put into getting the work done is wasted too. This type of 3D printing issue is mostly attributed to large parts, particularly when using printing materials of high-temperature. ABS is a very good example.

How Does It Happen?

The main cause is the nature of the plastic used. These plastic are likely to shrink once they have cooled off. It is a similar situation in the case of 3D printing as the layers need to be cooled off for it to solidify. While the solidification process is on with every layer, the shrinkage heightens as the temperature variation grows. Eventually, the corners get curled and disfigured.

Take this illustration. You are printing using an ABS material that needs around 230C temperature level for it to melt. This same material will shrink to approximately 1.5% when the temperature is reduced to a normal room temperature. As the parts get larger, the level of shrinkage rises millimeter-wise, making the shrinkage get more pronounced. As the layers are inserted, the shrinkage gets worse. Eventually, detaching the layer from the build plate.

Looking at the damaged print that was looking totally different moments ago is not pleasurable at all. Yet, this is one challenge that affects even 3D printing experts from time to time.

How To Prevent 3D Print Warping?

1. Control The Temperature

To properly control the temperature while you are at it, certain steps must be taken. Check them out!

Make Use of a Heated Bed.

Using a heated bed will help create an equal temperature level in the model. It is easier to keep the bed adhesion active throughout the print when you use a heated build plate. Normally, there will be bed temperature recommendations from the producers of the filament. Do your best to stay within the manufacturer’s recommendation.

Employ the Services of an Enclosed Print Chamber.

An enclosed print chamber will help you retain a steady temperature all through the model while your entire 3D printing project is on. For those that do not have one, you can get help from here on how to develop yours.

Regulate the Room Temperature.

All you need to do is to shut the windows and doors. Still do not forget to give a little space for air so you can breathe. Make sure that no sort of cold air unexpectedly touches the 3D print.

Carefully Regulate the Cooling.

This is the most tricky of them all as your job has been carefully cut out for you. You must ensure you cool off the filament to ensure good bridging, no stringing, and to create a precise geometry as the melted plastic solidifies. Another thing that might help you is to reduce the speed of the cooling fans or to turn them off completely at least for the first few layers. By doing this, the temperatures are evened out and your model stays flat on the build surface.

2. Make Use Of Adhesives

Make Use of Hair Spray

When you make use of hair sprays, they help to secure a firm hold for most kinds of filaments onto the build plate. A special 3D print such as 3DLac can similarly come in handy. We strongly recommend that you start by trying it out on small portions first. When you do that, be sure that the adhesive doesn’t cause a grip that would be too tight. That would make it difficult to detach whenever you’re ready to remove the model from the build surface.

Use a PVA Glue Stick.

Magigoo 3D printer Bed Adhesion is one bed adhesion product that has been specifically created for cases like this. This type of adhesion brings about PLA and various other kinds of filaments sticking well to the build plate. When using PVA glue, all you need to do is simply spread a tiny, equal layer on your build surface. The process is the same as every other product. Be mindful that some remedies may cause the filament to stick too tight to the build surface. When this happens, it is always difficult to detach your 3D printed item without affecting the build plate.

3. Adjust Your Slicer Settings

Print At A Slower Pace

It will amaze you when you find out how helpful it can be when you print at a slower print speed. This adjustment can help prevent a very frustrating printing difficulty, like curling and warping. Do not forget to then reduce the nozzle temperature as well.

Build A Brim Or Skirt In Your Slicer.

Having one or a few additional layers of frames printed with no offset at all from your part helps greatly. It provides a broader bottom area for your model reinforcing the grip to the build plate.

Put in A Raft

By doing this, you have now made the footing of your 3D printed model larger. This consequently develops a tighter grip on the build plate. After 3D printing, the raft should be simple to take off the model.

Put in Mouse Ears.

To say this in a better way, what it means is for you to insert small discs that are a couple of layers high right beneath your 3D printed model to strengthen the bed adhesion in the different corners. Position the discs on the build surface inside your slicer. That way, they will hardly make contact with each corner of the model.