The print quality delivered by 3D printers is highly dependent on materials. To get excellent printed parts and details, it is necessary to select the right material and handle it properly. This article covers essential guidelines for maintaining materials in the right way in order to always 3D print successfully.
Select Materials Properly
ETEC offers materials for various industries, which makes it possible to print dental parts, jewelry models, tools, molds, and other details. Each material has technical characteristics that determine its compatibility with ETEC printers and the type of printed parts it would be suitable for.
With a variety of printing materials, it is important to select the one that would meet your requirements. Thus, do not hesitate to contact ETEC’s expert sales for advice regarding materials for your prints.
Ensure Proper Environmental Conditions for Printer
- Keep the printer away from air conditioners, heaters, and other climate control systems.
- Make sure that the printer is distant enough from the sources of water.
- Do not expose the printer to any direct sunlight or UV radiation.
- Place the printer in areas without smoke, steam, or dust.
- Keep the temperature and humidity levels as indicated for the particular printer model.
The Site Prep Guide for your printer contains an extended set of rules regarding environmental conditions. Refer to those guidelines to ensure proper and stable work of your printer.
Add Material to Material Tray
Before starting to print, make sure to properly prepare the specific material based on the guidelines stated in the Material Safety Data Sheet. This document is always supplied together with the material bottle and is also accessible online.
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Take the following steps to add material to the material tray:
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Hande Materials
After adding printing material to the material tray, it is essential to keep it well-maintained all the time.
Protect Materials
Even when the printer is idle, keep the hood door closed in order to protect the material from the ambient light.
Prepare Materials for Print
Before starting each job, it is necessary to prepare material properly to obtain the best quality of the printed parts.
Mix the material using the rubber spatula carefully until it gets a uniform color.
Filter the material if any debris is found in it.
Maintain Material Trays
To ensure the quality of printed details, the material tray should be in excellent condition. The approximate lifespan of the material tray is up to 1000 hours of print time or around 200 print jobs. The job counter feature on Envision One and D4K printers helps to determine when the material tray should be substituted.