3D Printing Stack Exchange
3D Printing Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [print-preparation]

Questions about setting up a machine to print.

For questions regarding how to setup a build plate, prepare a model, or any other pre-run tasks in 3D printing.

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How to achieve dimensional accuracy of printed parts

When designing parts that should either fit with external objects or other printed parts, what measures can one take to ensure that the dimensions of the final print are accurate and fit the other object? To my knowledge, you at least have two…
Tormod Haugene
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Bed leveling method?

Is there a good method or tool to level the bed of 3D printers? I find myself making small adjustments a lot and it's mostly just trial-and-error. A normal bubble level is of limited help and trying to figure out if the head is the thickness of a…
Michael McGlothlin
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Good (preferably free) Beginner Software for Part Creation?

What software is best for the basest of n00bs when it comes to 3D parts creation? I have a heavy math background and know how to create explicit functions of volume, surface area, center of mass, etc. Ideally, I'd like a program that uses those…
Cerberus
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Why do some models appear broken in slicing software?

In my slicing software (Slic3r) some of the vertices/walls of my model seem to have disappeared, so that the inside of the model - which should be solid - is visible, while the surface appears as a thin shell. Why does this happen? Is it still safe…
Tormod Haugene
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Comparative design methods for joints that will be joined together

I want to 3D-print some parts that will be later joined together along a seam. When modeling these separate parts, what are some methods that work well with 3D-printed pieces? For example, if I were doing wood working, I might choose dowel and pin…
Tony Hansen
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How can I calculate volumetric speed for Slic3r auto speed?

I have noticed that Slic3r offers a speed setting called "auto speed" meant to give a constant filament pressure at the extruder, which I believe could eliminate filament grinding issues at higher printing speeds. According to the tooltip in…
Tormod Haugene
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What are the ideal print conditions for polypropylene?

I'm having a lot of trouble printing polypropylene right now, and I think it may have to do with the conditions. I'm using a very thin coat of ABS on the base plate (just as you would do when printing with ABS) in order to promote sticking. In this…
CuriouSir
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How do people load filament, prime the printhead, flush out the old filament when changing colors when using a standalone 3D printer?

I am wondering how people that use standalone 3D printers (printers that have the ability to print autonomously from SD Card) feed in filament, prime the printhead and/or change filaments without a laptop ? Do the printers have a menu to arrange all…
Dimitri Modderman
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What should I think about if I want to design something modular?

For a while now, I have been thinking about designing things such as small bedside tables, game/dvd/bluray racks for 3d printing. I've always thought that making them modular would be a good way to go about doing this as well. Modular design would…
Jake Millington
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Online APIs for 3D printing services

I'm interested in finding online APIs where you could perform a call to some third party service with some print preparation request with my model (i.e. "heal a model" or "set up support") and get in return GCODE file I can send to a 3D printer. My…
Gregra
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What is a good strategy for removing 3d prints from an UNheated Glass bed?

I have a LARGE piece of glass (36"x26") that I will soon be printing on using my newly build MPCNC machine. It is capable of printing about 34"x34"x10". Anyway, I have had GREAT success printing on heated glass that is sprayed lightly with…
Curtis
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What does a "3 h5" mean in reference to the axle of a motor?

Sorry if this isn't the right place to ask, but it seemed like the most relevant stackexchange. I want to print a connection from a motor to an omniwheel, the axle of the wheel is listed as 8mm, but the one of the motor only say "3h5" which isn't…
Mefaso
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How to add tolerances/gaps in 123d Design?

When I design parts that must fit in each other, I usually keep in mind that prints are 0.2-0.5 mm wider than expected (depending on material) and I size the parts accordingly. However, sometimes I design the whole part and then I slice it with…
FarO
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Set the overhang parameter in Blender 3D printing tool box

I'm working on a cube in Blender. I just deleted one of the faces (the top face) of the cube and added solidify to avoid non manifold edges. In this case, when I check the design it shows that the bottom face is an overhang face (shown with…
Sara
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Maker Select Plus 3D Printer Head Size Settings for Cura

I want to print multiple objects in a single G-code file on my Maker Select Plus 3D Printer. On the Cura "Machine>Machine Settings..." menu, what are the correct settings for "Printer head size" in the upper right quadrant? My best guess is…
Gdalya
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