Ordinary printers have become a common sight at homes and offices. Similar is the case with movies. Ordinary 2D movies are seen almost every day. However, the 3D movies are the ones that seem to attract more viewers. Similarly, 3D printers have become something of great interest to people all across the globe. If you wish to buy a 3D printer for yourself, it is very important for you to understand how to use it the right way. It is needless to say that these printers do not work the same way as ordinary printers. Thus, some level of knowledge will be useful when it comes to using such a printer the right way.
Ways to Get Started With A 3D Printer
If you have purchased a 3D printer and do not have the slightest idea as to how to go about using it, there is nothing for you to worry about. Here are some useful tips that can help you get started with such a printer.
- Level the Bed and Z Offset: Most of the 3D printers come with automatic bed leveling. These machines come with several types of methods or sensors that help to level the bed. However, there are still some types of 3D printers that come with the manual leveling process. If you do it the right way, it is very easy to deal with. If your machine has automatic bed leveling features, all you need to do is simply follow the instructions. However, if it is manual, you need to tighten down all the screws at the different corners in order to have enough room to loosen them at a later time. Next up, you need to home the Z axis by moving the Z-minimum endstop slightly lower. Power down the printer that will let you move the print head without locking the motors.
- Change the Filament: If you think that simply removing the filament from a cold nozzle in order to upload the ink cartridge from a printer will be sufficient, then you need to think again. You will have to heat up the nozzle in order to melt the filament, which has formed a kind of plug, locking it into the very tip of the nozzle.
- Nozzle Change: At times it may so happen that the nozzle gets clogged and you do not have enough time to sort it out. Sometimes, you may not even care much about surface quality. All you need is to complete printing the big parts as quickly as possible. The best way to deal with this problem is to swap out the used nozzle for another one of a different size. This will get things moving fast.
- Use Support Wisely: When it comes to using support, there are some 3D printers that fail to print without support and, at the same time, there are some that lose crucial features if you include support. Thus, it is better to identify your model and determine which category it fits in before you decide to use support or not.