3D printers are an amazing tool for quickly creating complex parts and shapes, but they can also be prone to warping. Warping is the distortion of a 3D printed object caused by the uneven cooling of the material during the printing process.
Warping can lead to a distorted and unusable printed object if left unchecked. There are a few simple things you can do to reduce warping and make sure your 3D prints turn out well.
In this blog post, we will discuss how to fix warping in 3D printing and provide some useful tips that you can use to reduce the risk of warping.
What is Warping?
Warping in a 3D print happens when the material cools and shrinks in different ways. This makes the print curl up or twist in some places, making the finished product look funny.
Warping can be caused by a number of things, such as different temperatures between the top and bottom layers of the print, wrong layer height settings, or poor adhesion to the build plate.
Causes of 3D Print Warping
Insufficient Bed Adhesion
When the printed object doesn’t stick to the bed, the extruded material shrinks differently in different places, which can cause the object to cool unevenly and warp. A poor first layer can cause this, or the filament needs to be properly adhered to the bed.
Incorrect Layer Height Settings
If the layer height settings are too low, it can cause uneven cooling and warping. This is because the layers cool at different rates and can lead to warping if they are not applied evenly.
Temperature Differences between Top and Bottom Layers
When the top and bottom layers of a 3D printed object are at different temperatures, it can cause warping. This is because the top layers cool faster than the bottom layers, leading to uneven shrinkage and distortion of the printed model.
Print Temperature
If the 3D print is too hot or too cold, the layers may not adhere properly, which can cause warping. An ideal temperature range for 3D printing is between 190 and 230 degrees Celsius.
Improper Extrusion Temperature
If the extrusion temperature is too high, the filament can be too soft and will not stick properly to the print bed, causing warping.
Cooling Fans
Cooling fans can help to cool the 3D print quickly, which can prevent warping. If the cooling fans are too weak or not pointing in the right direction, the 3D print can still warp.
Drafts and Vibrations
Drafts and vibrations can move the print while it is being made, which can cause it to warp and distort.
Print Speed
The print speeds can affect the warping of the 3D-printed object. If the printer is moving too fast, it can cause uneven cooling and result in warping.
How to Fix Warping in 3D Printing
Here are a few approaches to correcting warping in 3D printing.
Adjust the Print Speed
Warping can often be the result of plastic cooling too quickly. To avoid this, try decreasing the print speed.
Adjusting the print speed allows the plastic material to cool more slowly, which can reduce the warping. When the print speed is low, the nozzle moves slowly and evenly, which lets the plastic cool slowly and evenly as well. This prevents the warping that occurs when the plastic cools too quickly.
Also, printing at a slower speed can help reduce stringing and other flaws in the final product.
Make Use of a Heated Bed
Most 3D printers come with a heated bed that can help keep the plastic warm during the printing process. This can help reduce warping.
Use a heated bed to make sure that the print is heated evenly all the way through the printing process. This helps make sure that the plastic cools at the same rate and stops it from warping, which can happen when the rate of cooling is not the same.
Also, the heated bed makes it less likely that parts will fall off the bed in the middle of printing because it makes the print stick better to the bed.
Increase the Nozzle Temperature
Increasing the temperature of the nozzle keeps it from warping. This lets the filament flow more smoothly and stick better to the print bed. When the plastic is heated, it gets more flexible and sticks to things better and warps less.
When the filament is heated up, its viscosity goes down. This makes it easier for the filament to flow and stops it from warping.
Increasing the temperature of the nozzle also makes the filament melt faster and spread out more evenly across the build plate. This makes the layers stick together better and gives the shape a more even shape.
It is important to ensure that the nozzle distance is correct and that the nozzle is at the proper height. If the nozzle is too low or too high, it can cause problems with warping.
Adjust the Bed Level
If the bed is uneven, it can cause warping in 3D printing. To fix this issue, make sure that the bed is level and even. This will ensure that the plastic material cools at an even rate and prevent warping.
Using a Brim or Raft
A brim is an extra layer of plastic that goes all the way around the bottom of your 3D print. This helps to increase the surface area between the part and the bed, thus preventing warping.
By adding more insulation to the bottom of your print, a brim can also help reduce stringing and uneven cooling.
Use Adhesion Aids
An adhesion aid such as 3D printing glue or ABS slurry can be applied to the printing surface to help keep the plastic in place while it cools. This helps make a stronger bond between the plastic material and the printing surface. This lets the 3D print cool down more evenly and reduces warping.
Increase the Initial Layer Width
Increasing the width of the first layer can fix warping in 3D printing by reducing the amount of cooling the plastic layers need to set. When the plastic cools unevenly, tension builds up between the layers. This makes the model bend and warp.
By increasing the initial layer width, the plastic is cooled more slowly, allowing it to cool more evenly and reducing the amount of tension between the layers. This can help reduce or eliminate warping in 3D prints.
Cover the Build Plate with Tape or Glue
In 3D printing, warping happens when the material that was printed cools and shrinks unevenly. This pulls layers of the material away from the build plate.
Covering the build plate with tape or glue helps provide a consistent surface for the material to cool on. This keeps the material from cooling unevenly and keeps the layers from pulling away from the build plate.
FAQs on How to Fix Warping 3D Printing
Yes, infill can affect warping. If the infill is too sparse, the plastic may cool faster on the outside and cause the edges to curl. If the infill is too dense, the plastic may cool slower on the inside and cause the center of the print to warp.
Yes, warping is considered a defect. Warping occurs when the shape or size of a material changes due to uneven heating or cooling. Warping can lead to a number of problems, such as structural instability, weaker joints, and a drop in the strength of the material.
If PLA is printed too hot, it can cause the material to warp, bubble, or crack. In extreme cases, it can even catch fire and create a hazardous environment. Additionally, the layers can separate, and the print can fail completely.
Yes, print speed can affect warping. Printing at a high speed can exacerbate this problem. Additionally, if the printer travels too fast over the build plate, it can cause the plastic to move around and warp. Because of this, it is usually best to print at a slower speed to cut down on or get rid of warping.
You can avoid warpage by making sure the part is designed to have as few stress concentration points as possible, by using the right materials with the right properties, by designing for even stress distribution, by using the right clamping and fixturing during molding, by controlling the molding process for the right temperature, pressure, and cooling rate, and by keeping the tools in good shape.
Final Thoughts
The warping problem in 3D printing can be a difficult one to tackle, but there are a number of solutions available. Many warping problems can be avoided by making sure the printer is calibrated correctly, that the right temperature settings are used, and that the build plate is level.
Using a heated build plate, an enclosure that keeps the temperature constant, a brim, and retraction settings can also help prevent or reduce warping.
Finally, using supports or a raft can help ensure that the object being printed adheres correctly to the build plate. By taking these steps, you can ensure that your 3D printing projects turn out just as you intended.
