High volume printing, multiple copies, with PETG
Hi,
I 3d print cases for my electronic products. For the past 5 years I have been printing multiple cases at once using HIPS filament on a makerbot replicator clone and everything works quite smoothly and reliably.
I am trying use my MK3 and PETG to print multiple cases at once, and it has been a very excruciating endeavor. Printing just one case at a time works without issues, but printing multiple copies is very challenging; stringing and blobbing.
Does anyone know the print settings Prusa uses to print their PETG parts?
Does prusa have a guide for high volume printing?
I have the powder coated spring steel bed, the first layer that faces the bed has a very nice texture and I want to use that face as the front facing side of my enclosure. However, the first layer pulls up small bits of PEI from the bed, it looks like there is a small amount of whiteish dust on my print. Increasing my live Z reduces the dust, but at the expense of having a warped print. Is there some solvent available that can remove the PEI particles from my print without negatively effecting the PETG?
RE: High volume printing, multiple copies, with PETG
With PETG, you absolutely need to dial in your settings. Retraction is key. It differs some from printer to printer by my understanding, but you can get a set of setting and start from there.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: High volume printing, multiple copies, with PETG
In addition, I have found that stringing and blobbing can also be attributable to the PETG absorbing moisture...HIPS is not very hygroscopic, but PETG is very much so. If you have not, try drying the PETG at 65 C for about 4 hours in a food dehydrator or oven if in Europe (not USA because our ovens do not go that low) and see if that helps. Stringing is one of the first signs that my PETG is absorbing moisture and I need to dry it.
You could also try increasing the nozzle temps a bit as PETG is pretty sticky by default. What PETG are you using and what are the temps?
Strange women, laying in ponds, distributing swords, is hardly a basis for a system of governance!
RE: High volume printing, multiple copies, with PETG
Is there some reason you want to move away from HIPS? I'm considering it on my Mk3.
RE: High volume printing, multiple copies, with PETG
Is there some reason you want to move away from HIPS? I'm considering it on my Mk3.
IIRC it's like ABS, it's pretty stinky to print.
RE: High volume printing, multiple copies, with PETG
HIPS has approximately the same durability and temperature resistance as ABS. IMHO it warps about 50% less than ABS.
HIPS still warps enough that an open printer with a moving bed like the i3 is not suitable for printing it.
My PETG is dry. My print settings are; 2 mm retract, no nozzle lift, 230C first layer, 190C other layers.
When I print just one of my case using the default prusaslicer PETG settings, there is almost no stringing. But printing multiples in the same print is string city using the default settings.
Using the print setting I posted, I get significantly less stringing when printing multiples at once. I print about 10 cases at a time, about 3 of the cases I have to throw away, the other 7 that are ok but still require me to manually trim away strings and blobs.
RE: High volume printing, multiple copies, with PETG
I print with ABS in an enclosure. Minimal to no smell.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: High volume printing, multiple copies, with PETG
What brand of PETG are you using? Your temps are low in comparison to mine.
RE: High volume printing, multiple copies, with PETG
and how do you know the filament is dry?
RE: High volume printing, multiple copies, with PETG
and how do you know the filament is dry?
I'm thinking "dry it regardless" is the safe answer. I haven't found any warnings about over-drying, so long as you keep temps low enough to avoid damaging the filament.
RE: High volume printing, multiple copies, with PETG
Moist PETG has poor adhesion and can be more stingy.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: High volume printing, multiple copies, with PETG
Moist PETG has poor adhesion and can be more stingy.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: High volume printing, multiple copies, with PETG
@alan-t5
Don't squish too much your first layer or you will get build up as you noticed.
New settings from prusa is a small liftz for petg, i would go back to defaults 0.8 if i remember to avoid build up.
I avoid petg as it is too stringy for my needs. I prefer amphora am1800 which is pet like. There were a lot of unacceptable build up at the beginning. My main adjustment was to increase the fan speed, rectilinear infill or other that don't have a crossing path and e3d sock. Perhaps i forget some tunings but those are what i remember now.
Petg is less prone to warp than amphora am1800 but you can place some pads (mickey mouse ears) at the first layer where it is needed. I found the prusa textured pei sheet amazing. Don't have a many hundreds of printing on it but it is good for petg i think:
The texture makes the first layer easier to do as the plastic fill the gaps, it is not like for the smooth one where the plastic has to go where it can. It is more tolerant to live adjust z i found.
It is far more easier to remove petg parts once the plate it cold.
RE: High volume printing, multiple copies, with PETG
We print electronics enclosures in larger quantities at work both on a Prusa MK3 and a Leapfrog Bolt (glass bed). My experience is that a layer of hairspray (we use 3DLac) greatly simplifies the whole bed adhesion iddue both on glass and PEI (both smooth and powder coated). We clean off the Hairspray every few prints and have had good results.
It doesn't cost the world, maybe give it a try.
I like the hairspray method because it is easily repeatable. The recommendations to use water with a little soap/windex in it or just forehead grease may work well for many but I don't want to have to deal with mixing soap solutions or the like.
My Process is pretty simple: Wash the surface with warm water, dry it, apply the hairspray, start your print.
Edit: I totally agree with the recommendations regarding filament moisture. Stringiness and partly adhesion can improve a lot with dry filament.