How To Print PETG Perfectly?

What is PETG Filament?

PETG filament is also known as Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol, famous for its durability and ease of use among other 3D materials. 

This filament has an immensely high strength to create sturdy and solid 3D prints. It has a low shrinkage rate that makes it quite useful for printers with larger surfaces, providing a smooth finish in the end. 

Moreover, it has thermal characteristics which allow the plastic to cool off quickly without any damage to the product. The final product made from PETG filaments provides glass-like visual properties as it is glycol-modified, making the end product clear. 

PETG is widely used in manufacturing industries because of its excellent physical properties.

Importance of PETG

As mentioned above, PETG has gained immense popularity among 3D manufacturers due to its excellent quality and layer adhesion. Its low shrinkage rates have provided an opportunity for manufacturers to create larger prints, as compared with other filaments, such as ABS or PLA.

Moreover, it is recyclable and is quite different from other plastic materials as its polymer chains can be reused in the future. For example, gas barriers can be made from recycled PETG materials.

Despite that, it has versatile applications as its tough, durable, and flexible that provides improved surface finishes. PETG 3D printing is also being adopted by the robotics industry due to its wide applications.

Interesting Facts about PETG

There are numerous benefits to using PETG filaments that make it popular to print 3D materials.

• Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol has thermoforming properties that make it tolerable to high heat to create sturdy and other 3D objects.

• There are fewer chances for PETG plastic to shrink up or to curl.

• Its glass-like visual properties provide a finished look to the object, making it more defined in terms of its quality. Print is preferred to have a shiny finish.

• It has rigidity and mechanical properties that make it more effective than other PLA filaments. PETG is common in mechanical industries and robotics and has a softer surface.

• Its also used in bracelets and accessories as it gives a shiny transparent look.

• It has qualities that make it odorless while printing that is ideal for flat surfaces.

• Prone to fatigue and Water resistance

How to Print with PETG?

Hardware Requirements

To start printing your materials with PETG, you have to check the hardware requirements first to make sure that you print effectively. Have a look at the chart below to know the initial settings before you start to print.

BED	SURFACE	EXTRUDER	COOLNESS
- Temperature must be 75-90 °C - Heated Bed	- Painters tape - Glue stick - Hairspray	- Hot end is not necessary - Temperature must be             230-250 °C	A cooling fan is required at a speed of 40-60mm

let's get into more detail to understand the 3D printing process using PETG filaments. Here are some guidelines that will help you to print easily.

1. Temperature

The ideal temperature for the bed should be set according to the chart above. If the temperature is cooler or less hot, then this will lead to blocked nozzles, stringing, or other troubleshooting issues, such as over extrusion.

If you are creating small PETG prints, then a heated bed is not required, but it is necessary if you want to print large materials.

Different filaments have different temperatures that provide their best results. But temperatures can vary in the range provided above. 

You can also adjust the settings according to the guide provided by filament manufacturers to get the best printing results.

2. Speed

Another thing that defines the quality of your print is the speed of the printer. The ideal speed for the printer is 30-60mm per second. If the speed is a lot higher than the required range, it will affect the print quality of the material.

On the other hand, if you are printing at a slow pace, it will be much better for first-layer adhesion. But slow printing can also cause problems such as stringing or oozing depending on the type of printer that you may be using.

The speed of the printer is dependent upon the geometric shape as well. Complex shapes require more fine details. A lower printing speed will be much better for curved and complex shapes.

3. Cooling

If the rate of cooling is high enough, it will help to reduce the print defects. PETG filaments don't need cooling, but the cooling helps immensely with the product quality. 

The ideal cooling rate is 50% to 60% to provide strength and better layer adhesion to the product. The rate of cooling helps to determine the final outlook of the object by adding necessary touches. 

When the cooling is high between 70% to 100%, the model's details are further enhanced. So it's an equilibrium between the functional and aesthetic value.

4. Retraction Settings

The adjustment of the retraction settings should be relatively low at the speed of 35-40mm per second, for both the Bowden and the Extruder. 

The optimal retraction distance between the Bowden and the extruder should be between 5-7mm. Adjustment of the settings will prevent nozzle jams, oozing, and stringing of the product that may lead to troubleshooting issues in the future.

You may also use a retraction tower to experiment with how your printer reacts to it. After printing using PETG filaments, you can apply a coat of Wolfbite, a solution for bonding plastic parts to the heated printer surface before lifting it. It's pretty beneficial for leaving a smooth and bottom surface.

PETG FILAMENTS

Here are some PETG filaments that you can use while 3D printing. The most popular ones have been listed below along with their brief descriptions.

I. Overture PETG

This is an amazing filament at reasonable prices with over 8000 reviews. It comes in several colors with a 200mm build surface for printing 3D objects.

II. Hatchbox PETG

This is one of the sustainable filaments that is safe to the environment, absorbs moisture, and provides good adhesion. It comes in 30 different colors and has great quality and durability.

III. TechBears PETG

This provides excellent bonding and low shrinkage to get more accurate dimensional results while printing 3D objects. You can get yourself a spool of Techbears PETG from Amazon.

Conclusion

To get the best printing results using PETG filaments, make sure you use the right quality heating bed which comes with a glass surface as it enhances the adhesion of the object.

Another thing is to select the right retraction settings to avoid issues such as stringing. To prevent the strings in the 3D printing, select the right calibrated retraction settings for the best results.

Moreover, you can optimize the extruder settings to prevent Blobs and Zits. These print defects occur at the start or the end of the production process. 

You can avoid these defects by enabling extra restart distance or coasting options located in the extruder tab. This can prevent blobs that occur during the stationary process. 

So make sure that you avoid these mistakes. Although, it's not difficult to print with PETG at all if you understand the process effectively. But you must not forget, to experiment with your best printers settings. 

All the Best for your printing!