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How-to: 3D printing

General 3D printing questions and fixes. For IdeaFormer belt-printer-specific questions (belt tracking, canbus errors, part ejection), see IdeaFormer.

How do I send a part to a 3D printer?​

  1. Open a Production Printing document. The panel adapts to the printer brand.
  2. Choose the action for your printer:
    • FDM network printer: click Send to printer.
    • Cura GCode: click Export GCode. If Cura is missing, an install-now prompt appears.
    • Resin printer: click Send to PreForm. A download-and-install prompt appears if PreForm is missing.
    • Podoprinter: use the Podoprinter panel.
tip

Printer brands and connections are set up under printer profiles. See 3D Printing.

What are the ideal print conditions?​

5-30 degrees Celsius/41-86 degrees Fahrenheit.

tip

For your own safety and the optimal workings of the printer it is recommended that you have good ventilation.

Keep the area clean

The printer works best in a dust-free room.

What should I do if my filament is wet?​

If you experience problems with your filament, please check if the material isn't wet.

Results of the wet filament can look like:

  • Stringing (loose print material)
  • The quality of the print declines
  • Bulbs or deforming material

How to notice that the material is wet?

  • Foaming filament (a special filament that expands to create a foam-like structure as it prints) no longer foams
  • A sparking/ticking sound from the nozzle

How to solve this issue?

Dry the filament before printing with it again: 3 hours in the oven at 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), or use a dry box.

Why is no filament coming out of the extruder?​

If the nozzle starts too close to the printing surface it will start making a ticking noise, please move the extruder.

If the ticking sound continues or doesn't solve the problem:

  • Please check the distance of the extruder. If filament is stuck, clear it by feeding a stiff, rigid filament through the extruder to push the blockage out.

  • Replace the printhead because the motor has most likely been broken or is damaged. If it still ticks after the last step, the extruder is broken or damaged.

Not enough filament

If your extruder doesn't extrude enough filament, please check if your filament isn't wet or damaged.

Why is the upload to the printer not working?​

If the upload to the printer is not working, please check if the IP address is correct.

What should I do if my printer suddenly stops printing?​

These can be possible reasons that the printer stopped printing, please check if there's any notification on the printer itself.

  • The filament is finished or stuck
  • The extruder is clogged

When do I replace the nozzle?​

Replace the nozzle periodically, depending on your print frequency and filament type. Abrasive filaments, such as those containing metal or wood fillers, wear it out faster and need replacing more often.

The nozzle is clogged, what do I do?​

  • Check that you have the right nozzle.
  • Clean the nozzle with a brush, a soft cloth, and compressed air.
  • Check the diameter: a clog often makes extrusion inconsistent.