Learn how the place where you install your printer influences the print quality
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3D printers like other machines are subject to operating wear and tear and in turn to the environmental conditions where they are.
Installing your printer in an optimal environment improves its performance, maintains its useful life and that of the filaments, it also reduces the need to continuously perform certain maintenance operations.
Table of contents:
Environmental conditions for successful printing
The suitable area to install the printer
Environmental conditions for successful printing
The temperature, humidity, and ventilation affect both the mechanical and electronic elements of your printer as well as the print quality, so it is recommended to control these variables in order to avoid problems in the short and long term.
Room temperature
The place where you install the printer is recommended that it be between 15ºC and 30ºC to avoid problems that affect print quality. In very hot environments, material flow or shrinkage can be affected, leaving threads or bubbles on the piece surface.
A very cold environment can cause various problems such as:
- Warping: It is the total or partial lifting of the corners of the model in contact with the printing surface due to the contraction of the material, usually caused by a very sudden cooling during the printing process.
- Delamination or cracking: it is the separation of the intermediate layers of the model due to the stresses induced by the suddenness of the material.
Humidity
The humidity can damage the electronic components of the printer but affects the printing materials to a greater extent, for which it is recommended not to exceed 50% relative humidity and store them after use in a zip-lock bag or in the BCN3D Smart Cabinet
To properly store your filaments visit the following article:
How to handle and storage BCN3D filament
Ventilation
A well-ventilated environment allows easy temperature and humidity control. Make sure that the air can circulate in the room where your printer is and leave enough space with the walls.
Avoid covering your printer especially the vents to ensure air circulation between the electronics element.
Proper ventilation of the environment around the printer also prevents the gases emitted by the filaments from accumulating during the printing process. These gases can have harmful effects on your health if they are constantly inhaled.
The right place to install the printer
In order to have easy access to the printer and to be able to perform routine and maintenance tasks comfortably, it is essential that the printer has sufficient space on all sides. In addition, it must be located on a solid and robust surface to absorb the vibrations generated during the normal operation of the printer.
Below you will find the articles with the specifications of the recommended place to install your device:
Forum community
Need more tips? Check out our forum community for more info.
It's important to keep your printer in good shape to make the most out of it. In this chart you can find a list of the extruder maintenance procedures and how frequently these should be done.
Maintenance plan (Epsilon Series)
Maintenance plan (Sigma Series)
Maintenance plan (Smart Cabinet)
Maintenance plan (BCN3D Sigmax)
Maintenance plan (BCN3D Sigma)
Take your e-waste to a certified recycler. Check how we do it in BCN3D.
