3D Printing at UI High Energy Physics

This page is designed to help provide assistance for the use of 3D printing, and to provide solutions to common problems encountered. Make sure you have your printer set up on a solid surface which will support it and not vibrate. Before you begin a 3D print, you should also make sure the printer is fully prepared, and that it has finished heating completely. Additionally, ensure that the bed is level and there are no obstructions.

After beginning a print, you should keep an eye on the raft while it is being laid down, because a problem with it early on may cause much bigger issues with the print itself later. Make sure the raft does not come loose, and no parts of it are broken or missing. You can help make sure it sticks to the bed by mixing acetone and bits of ABS plastic to make a slurry, which can be applied onto the bed with a brush before starting the print. Instructions to make the slurry can be found here. If you notice that the raft still has not printed correctly or has come loose early on in the print, it is best to restart the print and make sure that it prints correctly.