3D Printer Maintenance
A well treated 3D printer should give you years of trouble-free printing. Here are some suggestions on how to keep your 3D printer well maintained.
Oil your X, Y and Z rods. I do this about once a month.
Periodically tighten nuts and bolts. Again, do this monthly.
Periodically test and tighten belt tension. I check and adjust belt tension rarely – usually only after I see a printing problem develop.
Periodically test your filament tension. If it’s too tight you’re putting extra strain on the extruder motor. If it’s too loose then you won’t be really getting the best extrusion possible. Plastic filament actually has a slight variation in its diameter, which is something I monitor whenever I am printing. If I notice that the extrusion is suddenly too thin, a quick adjustment to the filament tension screw will fix this. I’ve heard that adding a second nut to the filament tension screw prevents the screw from loosening slightly over time.
Repair or replace. Having a 3D printer means that if a part breaks or wears out you can actually replace it. However, you’ll have to accept the fact you’re going to bend, snap, crackle, or pop apart. When that happens, you’ll need to rig or hack a temporary solution while you print up a replacement part. One benefit of connecting a solid plastic replacement part to a component that’s assembled out of layered plastic and/or plywood is that there are no parts to loosen over time.
Floss extruder gear. Use something soft-ish like a toothpick to pop the plastic bits out of the gear’s teeth.
Keep firmware updated. Firmware has come a long way and I’m sure it will go even further.
Keep software updated. The software is constantly under development.
Replace warped build platforms or build surfaces. A flat even build surface will ensure nice flat builds without having to worry about the extruder head crashing into the platform.
Keep your plastic in a cool, dry place. As mentioned above, the filament’s diameter can vary slightly.
Check wire connections on any moving axes. The cable clips attaching motors, endstops and various other bits to the XY stages can work themselves loose after time. I check these whenever I see that a cable might be working itself loose.
3D printers and filament
3Design specialise in high-quality servicing and repair of 3D printers via our Tauranga 3D printer service centre. We have many years experience in 3D printer service and repair and have used this expertise to set up the Tauranga-based 3D printer service centre capable of servicing up to 25 machines a week.
We specialise in and stock parts for Creatbot, Mankati, Wanhao and Cubicon.
Getting your machine to us
DROPPING OFF YOUR MACHINE
You can drop your machine off at our shop (note: machines must be booked in)
Road front showroom:
74c Maleme Street
Greerton
Tauranga 3112
COURIER COLLECTION
We can also arrange collection (via NZ couriers) and return delivery. Costs are usually around $50 for Nationwide pickup. Contact us for a full quote and packaging instructions. Proper packing is important to ensure your machine does not suffer extensive damage during transit.
SERVICE COSTS
We charge a $115 initial inspection and service fee (per machine). Cost may vary depending on machine type and complexity. This includes initial diagnostics, a clean, alignment, lubrication and general service.
