A 3D printer is a machine that makes 3D items by building them up layer by layer automatically. The method is known as additive manufacturing, and it involves stacking layers on top of one other. Cutters, which function after subtractive manufacturing, removing layer after layer, are presumably familiar to you.

For example, in the most typical printers, a plastic substance is sprayed layer by layer to create an item. The new method constructs an object from the top down. A liquid resin is contained in a tank with a clear bottom. A metal plate is dropped into the tank and lit by an ultraviolet light source placed underneath it. It "draws" the design on the metal plate for what will be manufactured. The resin solidifies and sticks to the metal plate when exposed to light, which rises upwards as more of the item is produced. Compared to old technology, the production process becomes more continuous, and each layer can be as thin as 100 micrometers.

The Fundamentals of Obtaining Faster 3D Prints

Depending on the application, 3D printing can provide a variety of advantages over traditional production methods. However, there are four primary areas to consider before getting a faster 3D print in general:

• Geometry
• Speed
•  Cost

Geometry

In many ways, the versatility to work with complicated geometry distinguishes 3D printing from conventional production processes. When shopping for a 3D printer, start by checking over your mapped-out geometry. If it's difficult, don't go for the low-cost printers; they might not save you as much time as they should.

Speed

3D printing's capacity to make fast adjustments on the fly also makes it ideal for rapid prototype appearance. Not only is it simple to make minor modifications while working on a finalized design, but you can also transform those changes into an actual prototype in a matter of hours.

Cost

Of course, cost savings from 3D printing are not guaranteed for all projects. For instance, if you're making a product that is relatively geometrically simple on a large scale, injection molding will likely be much cheaper in the long run, as it plays to the strengths of this technology.

With this being said, now you know what to look out for when getting your 3D printer. Let's dive into how you can get a 3D print in no time.

How Can I Get Faster 3D Prints?

1. Use ABS with caution

Avoid ABS unless essential. It was the most popular 3D printing material a few years ago. PLA filament is now widely used because, in addition to being biodegradable, it is also easier to print with: it does not require a heated bed, suffers minor warping or distortion, and is less susceptible to temperature air currents and other factors.

• The optimal temperature and configuration: Each filament has a separate ideal temperature. Some brands recommend a higher temperature, while others suggest a lower temperature. We recommend that you find out what the recommended temperature for your filament is before doing anything else, as an inaccurate temperature is the source of a significant portion of unsatisfactory prints. Find out what temperature the hotbed should be set at, usually between 90 and 110 degrees Celsius.
• Use an ABS solution: By dissolving a little piece of ABS in 50 ml of acetone, you may make a paste that will offer you a lot of adhesion when applied to the hotbed. Be careful not to use too much ABS for the mix, as it will stick too much and give you problems.

2. Printing without support

The support material is something to avoid since no matter how well we remove it. It will leave marks on the piece. For this reason, it is crucial to learn to print, optimizing the possibilities of the printer as much as possible to avoid the use of supports. The 45-degree rule is an excellent way to avoid supports: if we keep our design's overhangs below a 45° slant, we won't need support material, and our print will be clean and smooth. Supports will be required above this inclination, compromising the final result.

3. Be aware of the Nozzle's limitations

Remember that the molten filament emerges through a nozzle with a particular diameter. No matter how hard you try, the printer will not print below that diameter. As a result, avoid printing things with details smaller than the nozzle's diameter. The nozzle will typically print at most twice its size, with the space between dots also playing a role; for example, a 0.5mm nozzle will not be able to print a line thinner than 1mm.

4. Printing speed

It's a good idea to print at a different pace for each object component: logically, the best speed for the outside zone is not the same as the best speed for the inside. The more within, the faster we can print; the more outside, the slower we can print to not impact the design's final appearance. For the exterior, a speed of 15-20 mm/s is well enough, and for the inside, a speed of 60-100 mm/s would suffice. The first thing to do is open your slicer, head over to the speed settings section and make sure all the settings are visible, to have a complete overview of your options. For print speeds slower by default, you can start by increasing them to match the other values.

5. Temperature

When raising print speed, the first slicer setting that has to be altered is the temperature. The filament has less time to melt at the nozzle or "fusion zone" when the print speed increases, resulting in under-intrusion. If you raise the print speed without raising the temperature, the hot end may not be able to melt the filament quickly enough, resulting in filament extrusion or grinding. For every 5-10mm/s improvement in speed, try raising the nozzle temperature by 5-15°C. Each printer's temperature-speed relationship will be different, so feel free to experiment and test different combinations.

Profile Settings for Faster 3D Printing

In 3D printing, profiles are a set of parameters that specify the machine settings for producing an object using slicing software. As a result of changing any of the slicer parameters, the results received may change. Because each material and machine is unique, 3D printing parameters will need to be tweaked to get a satisfactory print quality. Some variables will also need to be fine-tuned based on the geometry of the 3D file.

The perfect profile settings for 3D printer with PLA filament:

• Printing temperature: 200ºC
• Print bed temperature: 60 ºC
• Speed: 50mm/s
• Layer height: 0.12mm
• Retraction: 6mm at 25mm/s
• Infill: 20%
• Initial Layer Speed: 20mm/s
• Initial fan speed: 0%

Slicer Software Settings

Slicing in 3D printing means digitally converting a geometry file into a machine instruction set through a software. The following are some of the settings that may be configured on a slicer software:

• Materials: Carbon PA, PEEK, etc
• Nozzle diameter 0.25mm
• Speed: 40-60mm/s
• Infill: a very low infill is recommended for dimensional prototypes, while a higher infill is demanded in highly loaded functional parts. Use infill levels as required.

Conclusion

 Getting a faster 3D print requires you have the knowledge of setting up your printer. Now that you've gotten the information you need for a quicker result, you can go ahead and print your 3D models with ease. Create wonderful designs and make the most of your 3D printer for excellent results.