If you are looking to try out any form of 3D printing today, besides knowing how to operate a 3D printer, you also need to be able to maintain it, in order to keep it up and running. Maintaining 3D printers may sound intimidating and hard to do but this can be quite a unique experience as you will get familiar with all the parts that keep your printer up and running. This is a huge benefit because when the time comes for some minor fixes to be made, you will be able to do them on your own, thus saving on the expenses. Okay, now that we’ve cleared it up why you need to get your hands dirty, let’s move on and see how to actually do that.

Lubricate Accordingly

Although 3D printing machines use very high-end technology, they still need to be lubricated for things to run smoothly as they have a few metal parts in them. For printers 3D models you don’t need to use any special oil – putting a drop or two of sewing machine oil will work just fine. If you don’t have sewing machine oil you can use other similar lubricants, just make sure they are safe to use with plastic.

Update Firmware

Regularly checking for firmware updates is not something that people often do and some are not even aware that such a thing should be done with 3D printers. This piece of code is made to maintain a strong and stable link between your printer’s hardware and software and if you don’t keep it up-to-date your printer might experience crashes and bugs. You can check for firmware updates on the manufacturer’s website or if your printer has Wi-Fi you will receive notification updates or they will be downloaded and installed automatically.

Clean Filament Nozzle

Using your printers 3D capabilities frequently can lead to some clogs in the filament nozzle, which is why maintaining a clear path for the filament to travel is essential. The tiniest clogs can make your designs come out with dents and imperfections – if the filament is coming out of the nozzle in a curve it means that it’s time for you to clean it. No need to be worried here as this is a very simple process, which is best explained in this video.

Use Standard Resolution

It makes sense that you want your printer to make the best quality printouts it can, but this isn’t always a great idea. Every 3D printer has its standard resolution set by default, despite having the option for higher and lower resolutions. If you keep using it at high resolution all the time you will need to repair it more often, but if you use the standard resolution most of the time, you will have no such problems.

Clean Extruder

This is not something that you will be doing very often but its good to perform a check-up and some cleaning (if needed) from time to time. To make this happen, take off the extruder from the printer, take off its cover and use some hex screws to remove the small fan. After that, depending on your printer model, you will need to remove additional parts until you get to the actual extruder. If there’s some form of piled up debris, just take a sharp tool and scrape it off.

With the rapid advancement of 3D printing technologies, there’s so much to worry about when shopping for printers and printer parts. Each and every part plays a crucial role in the quality of the prints the printer produces. One of the most overlooked 3D printing parts is the nozzle. 3D printer nozzles come in various sizes and are made from a variety of materials. Why does the nozzle matter so much? Because it directly impacts the extrusion width of each and every line in your print.

That being said, the 3D printer nozzle plays a crucial role in everything you print, but even more so when it comes to intricate and detailed prints. Regardless, you should look to get the right 3D printer nozzle so that you don’t waste filament and come up with inferior quality prints. There’s no right type of 3D nozzle that will fit everyone’s needs, meaning, you’ll have to consider what elements matter to you and what you’re trying to achieve with your prints.

The first step to selecting the right nozzle for your task is to consider its size. The most standard sizes are 0.40 and 0.35mm. The main reason for their popularity is the fact that they’re versatile and great all-round. These nozzles can print layer heights of 0.1mm, which translates into detailed prints. More often than not, a 0.4 or 0.35mm nozzle will be great for most print jobs. However, these nozzles also print slower, but a quality, detailed print is certainly worth waiting slightly longer for.

Besides nozzle size, another important factor to consider when buying a 3D nozzle is the material. Nozzles are made from a wide range of materials, and the right one for your printing job will depend on the type of filament you print with. The reason for this is quite simple – some filaments are abrasive and will wear down some types of metal. The most commonly used materials to manufacture nozzles are the following:

• Brass – this material can print ABS, PLA, PETG, TPE, TPU, PC, Nylon and other non-abrasive materials;
• Stainless steel – this material can print with a wide range of filaments, including abrasive types;
• Hardened steel – ideal for printing with abrasive materials exclusively;
• Special materials – such as ruby and tungsten, make for incredibly tough nozzles that can withstand constant abrasion. They’re for printing abrasive materials exclusively and cost more than other options.

Ideally, you should have multiple different-sized nozzles made of a few different materials so that you can interchange them between prints, depending on what you’re trying to print. That will ensure that you get quality and detailed prints consistently. Nozzles are quite affordable and having several of them won’t break your bank. However, if you’re on a tight budget, follow the guidelines above so that you can shop for the right nozzle with confidence.