When it comes to using a specific type of material for 3D printing, there is more to it than just simply buying that material and connecting it to your printer. Most people are under the impression that such a printer works in a similar fashion to putting ink in your traditional printer. However, there are several steps to take beforehand, ensuring that you get the desired results. If you are looking for a supplier of TPU filament in South Africa, 3D Unique is your first choice.
As is the case with any filament or resin, you must prepare your printer and specific material accordingly to avoid clogging, malfunctioning, and damaging your hardware. Today, we look at the necessary steps to consider when printing with TPU filament.
How Should I Approach Printing with TPU Filament?
- Prepare Your Printer: This goes without saying, but if you want to use TPU filament for your next 3D print, you should ensure that your printer is compatible with this type of material. The extruder type must be a direct drive extruder. This minimises the travel distance of the filament to reduce the chances of it creating kinks or bunching up during prints. Moreover, using an external spool holder is the preferred method of printing with this type of filament. This allows the filament to be fed directly into the extruder.
- Prepare Your Filament: When using TPU filament, it is crucial to remember that this type of material absorbs moisture from its surroundings. As a result, you must dry your filament before using it. This will improve printing quality and stability for optimal results. We also recommend cutting the end of the filament to create a clean and flush surface that can feed into the extruder for optimal performance and results.
- Adjust Your Printer Settings: When using TPU filament, you want your printing speed to be as slow as possible. This will ensure that you avoid any issues regarding TPU filament being fed into the extruder nozzle, such as clogging or bunching up. You should also adjust your printer’s flow rate/volumetric speed accordingly. In most cases, the rate should be increased to match the slower print speed – reducing the chances of over-extrusion during prints. You can also tweak the retraction settings to find the ideal balance for printing with a flexible material such as TPU filament.
3D Unique is your first choice in a supplier of TPU filament in South Africa. Our online store contains a wide variety of filaments and resins to choose from – fuelling your 3D printing needs.