How to get the best 3D printer speed?

How to get the best 3D printer speed?

Published May 10th, 2022 04:00

3D printing sometimes takes a lot of time. If you do not learn how to set up the indicators, it may increase printing time significantly. This also causes many other problems related to the printed product. Therefore, users need to set the right 3D printer speed to have the best models and save time. This article will show you how to get the best 3D printer speed.

I. Factors affecting 3D printer speed

3D printing is a rapid modeling technology. It first appeared in the world in 1980. However, it was not until 2009 that the technique developed sharply. In recent years, 3D printing has become a trend in developed countries. This technique allows the creation of highly accurate models in a relatively short time. However, some models can take several days or more than a week to complete.

3d printer speed

Therefore, people want to minimize 3D printing time to create more models. Typical printer speed is less than 100mm/s. Now the elements have been changed and it is possible to increase the speed to 150mm/s. Before knowing how to speed up a 3d printer, we must know these factors. The most basic factors that directly affect 3D printer speed are:

●      The temperature of the nozzle.

●      The properties of filament.

●      The thickness of filament.

●      The layer thickness.

●      The number of supporters.

The pose of the model in the STL file does not affect the speed of the 3D printer. Changing the print speed from 10 mm/s to 120 mm/s can cause significant differences between models. In the picture below, set the 3D printer speed to 60 mm/s, the print product will have an optimized quality.

3d-printer-speed

II. How to Speed Up Your 3D Printer?

Factors that affect 3D printer rate have been excluded through more simple prints to test model speed and quality. We have discovered several ways to increase the speed without adversely affecting the product. Here are some basic methods:

1. Increase the 3D printer speed value

Increasing the print speed value in slicer software will help speed up the 3D printer. When making changes in this software, the system will show you different speed settings. It will also notify you of the fastest speed at which it can work.

2. Choosing the Infill

For large models, the interior is empty. To enhance the durability of the model, an internal structure is created. This structure is called Infill. If you want to speed things up, you can use a line pattern. It will increase the speed by 25% over the other.

3d-printer-speed

3. Change Layers Settings

You can change the height of each layer to reduce the 3D printing time. With custom details, you need to change this stat. The printer will use thin layers to print curved surfaces. And use a thick layer with other surfaces. You should specify the surface of the print area for proper setting.

4. The Correct Wall Thickness

You need to figure out the ratio between ink density and wall thickness to increase print speed and durability of the model. Note: Using low ink density and low thickness will cause the product to encounter some product errors.

5. Use as Less Support as Possible

Reducing support also helps increase 3D printer speed. However, you need to look to make sure not to cut critical support. Otherwise, the model will not work.

6. Print Multiple 3D Parts

Breaking the model up into parts will speed up the printing process. This makes it possible to print multiple parts at once. You will see a significant change in 3D printer speed. However, you then need time to reassemble them together.

3d-printer-speed

III. How to get the perfect print speed settings?

To perform the best printing, you need to find the right reading for your printer and filament. This metric is likely to change over time. If you have specified the correct metric but after a while the model quality is not high then you need to redefine your 3D printer speed index.

To determine the right speed, you should try printing a few simple models at the usual default speed. Typical print speed is 60 mm/s. You then vary this speed in 5 mm/s increments. If you try continuously like this, you will definitely find the right 3D printer speed index.

This index also depends on the type of print and the detail of the print. Usually, with highly detailed prints, users set 30 mm/s to 40 mm/s. This helps to ensure the quality of the model. Especially, when printing inside, users can speed up more because these parts do not need high precision. 3D printer speed also depends on how much you want the highest quality. If it is the external parts of the model, a 30 mm/s speed adjustment is recommended.

Note: Your tests are only true for the conditions you make (printer, filament, support, etc). If these factors changed, you may have to find the right 3D printer speed again.

IV. Some good 3D print speeds for popular filaments

Following are the speed indicators suitable for each different type of filament. However, these metrics will vary according to the printer you use. These figures are for reference only, you can experiment to adjust to your printer.

3d-printer-speed

1. PLA

The best 3D printer speed for PLA is from 40 mm/s to 60 mm/s. However, depending on the printer type, you can increase the speed. The property of PLA filament is to withstand high temperatures. Delta machines can increase the speed up to 100 millimeters per second without much impact on product quality.

2. ABS

The 3D printing speed of ABS is similar to PLA: 40 mm/s to 60 mm/s. Normally, the person doing the print will set 50 millimeters per second. You should check the amount of plastic being extruded from the nozzle to ensure adhesion of the filament.

3. PETG

This filament is a blend of ABS and PLA. It has many good properties of these filaments. PETG is resistant to high temperatures so you can try printing it at high speed. However, according to some research, the best print speed is in the range of 50 to 60 millimeters per second.

3d-printer-speed

4. TPU

TPU is soft and cannot withstand high temperatures. Therefore, limit the use of this filament when the printer is hot. Best 3D printing speed between 15 mm/s and 30 mm/s. If you increase the speed, the printer will get hot and affect the TPU. If you have a Direct Drive system, it allows you to increase the speed to 40 millimeters per second. In addition, you can equip the cooling system to speed up 3d prints a bit.

5. Nylon

Based on the characteristics of Nylon, printing users get high quality products when setting the speed to 40 mm/s. You can change the print speed between 30 mm/s and 60 mm/s to see what suits your printer. Note, when printing, you should increase the nozzle temperature. This will prevent under-extrusion, especially when you are printing at high speeds.

6. ASA

ASA has a soft nature so you have to set the speed below normal to get a quality product. The 3D printer speed using this filament is about 20 millimeters per second. You can equip additional boosts to increase the speed, but it must not exceed 60 millimeters per second.

3d-printer-speed

7. PC

PC is a high strength plastic filament. When printing, you can increase the speed to 90 millimeters per second. If the printer with the right supports, users can speed up to nearly 150 mm/s.

As can be seen, the speed of printing also depends on each type of filament different. Therefore, SpecialStl will help you understand more about the popular types of 3D printed filaments.

V. Is increasing 3D printing speed always effective?

Increasing 3D printing speed has its pros and cons. Depending on the purpose of use, people will choose whether printing speed or quality. Besides, the capacity of the printer will affect the print speed.

If the purpose is to mass produce 3D models and you have a good printer then you can absolutely increase the speed to 150 mm/s. Currently, printers with state-of-the-art equipment can achieve more than this speed. However, it will most likely adversely affect the quality of the printed product. When printing at this speed, there are many models that are deformed, and the adhesion is not good.

3d-printer-speed

If the goal is to create high-quality models, you should adjust the print speed moderately to control the quality of the model. You can speed it up a bit if you have a cooling aid, filament nozzle, etc. You can refer to the above ways to increase the speed accordingly.

3D printing will take a long time. You should only print quickly within the allowed range for the best effect. When printing, printers should focus on conformity rather than saving time to get the best product quality. Otherwise it will be detrimental to your product.

Through the article, we have shown you some ways to improve the 3D printer speed. Besides, you can do printing with the indicators we provide. Determining the right print speed is of the utmost importance to save you time and ensure the quality of your model. Hope the information of the article will help you improve your 3D printing process.