| Monthly Tech-Tip | No tracking! No ads! |
A lot of waste can be generated when objects are printed in multiple colors. Often the color is changed for every layer, or even multiple times per layer, purging the printhead hundreds of times. The wasted amount can far exceed what is used in the object; it is just squirted out the back into a bag. People who run rooms full of dozens of printers churning out action figures to fill orders often don't even see this waste as worth mentioning!
The material shown in this picture is not technically printer poop, it is just failed prints and supports. Much of this is a result of my mistakes and poor planning. But I am getting much better. I make models that print quickly and are as light and reusable as possible, ones that you open in a CAD package and edit yourself, ones with a design history and support pages, projects, videos, etc.
An editorial: 3D Model sites are an obstacle to DIY and environmental responsibility. Their FAQs make no mention of earth impacts of printing plastic. They often ignore the issues of printer poop, model weight, infill and support waste, excessive print times and the likelihood of print failure on many models. They foster the STL file format so that wasteful models are not easily edited.
| Glossary |
Infill and Support
Infill and support are structural elements that 3D slicer software uses (e.g. to fill the interior of solid parts or support contours over empty space) |
| Typecodes |
3D printing problems
3D design and printing for mold making in ceramics bring exciting new capabilities. Awareness of the issues and knowing how to mitigate each is a must. 3D is resetting all fabrication industries and engineers are solving every problem, you can too. |
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