3D Printer Maintenance

 

3D printers are not maintenance free.  If you want your new 3D printer to last there are a few things that must be done to ensure a long life and uninterrupted printing.  In this article I will talk to you about what types of basic maintenance must be completed to insure your next print is flawless.

Maintenance Cycles

Manufactures don’t normally provide a maintenance schedule with thier printer. What I aim to do here is provide you with what could be considered a rough draft.  There are five very important areas that need regular maintenance.

1.       A Tidy Workplace

2.       Are Things Still Tight

3.       Software Updates

4.       Clean Printers

5.       Lubricated Surfaces

A Tidy Workplace

After you print a few times you will start to notice the messes that arise around your printer. I can’t tell you how many times I couldn’t find my filament sniping tool because they were lost in a pile of tools in front of my printer.  Also, you will find scrapes of filament on the floor and on the workbench which you could drag into the house on your shoes.  Sometime those scraps hurt almost as bad as stepping on a Lego block.  So, put away all those tools to where you got them from. Then wipe off the area around, under and in front of you 3D printer.  Sweep the floor in your work space when done.

Are Things Still Tight

Parts of your 3D printer will loosen with time and prints.  For example belts, various screws and bolts.  Loose parts will cause lines and other errors to appear in your prints.  Instead of smooth surfaces you may see layer shifts, more defined layer lines and even prints lifting from the bed.

Software Updates

Most 3D printers now except software updates.  Updating can help to cure problems that other owners have reported to the manufacture.  Please check with your manufacture first before doing an update.  Just like the old days of BIOS updates for computers, you could brick your printer if your update fails.  Don’t forget your slicer software!  Developers are constantly releasing updates to add improvements and fix bugs.

Clean Printers

While you’re cleaning the bench, don’t forget to clean the printer.  If you use glue sticks or other adhesives you will find a buildup on the build plate of materials.  These will affect your prints in negative ways.  If you can remove your build plate, wash it with soap and water in the sink.    Try not to use an abrasive cleaner or chemical as these may destroy your build surface.  Older build plates are non-removable and must be cleaned in place.  When you have cleaned the plate finish it off by wiping it with an alcohol soaked paper towel.  This will remove any residual grease that may have been on your fingers.   If you have a shop-vac or compressed air clean the belts and other surfaces, of the filament dust that will settle on your printer after nearly every print.

Lubricated Surfaces

The threaded rods and slide rods need a light coating of lubricant depending on the amount of usage or if the printer has gone long periods without use.  After a while you will notice bearings having a tough time moving on these surfaces which can adversely affect all your prints.  But please don’t just use any oil, motor oil for example will leave a black film behind and may even act to gum up the works. Your lubricant should be silicon based oil.

Conclusion

While the examples given above mostly pertain to Fused Filament (FFS) printers, resin or Stereolithography (SLA) printers may require other procedures to occur in order to maintain them.  There are other things that I’m sure still need to happen such as the changing out the Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tube.  But this is a blog post in its self, so I’ll save it for another day. If all you do to maintain your 3D printer are the above steps you will extend the life of your printer and improve your prints.