Proper fan speed settings can significantly impact 3D print quality, minimizing issues such as warping, stringing, and poor layer adhesion. In this guide, you will find recommendations for 20 common 3D filament types and discussion on dialing-in factors, allowing you to achieve excellent results across a wide range of materials.
1. PLA (Polylactic Acid): Fan Speed: 50-100% PLA benefits from higher fan speeds to enable rapid cooling, reducing warping and improving overhang performance.
2. ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene): Fan Speed: 0-30% ABS prefers lower fan speeds to minimize rapid cooling, which can cause layer adhesion issues and cracks in the printed object.
3. PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol): Fan Speed: 20-50% Maintaining a lower fan speed helps enhance layer adhesion, reducing stringing and improving print quality.
4. TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane): Fan Speed: 0% (Disable the fan) TPU should be printed without any fan cooling, as rapid cooling can lead to poor layer adhesion and print failure.
5. Nylon: Fan Speed: 0-30% Similar to ABS, nylon benefits from lower fan speeds to avoid rapid cooling and ensure better layer adhesion.
6. Wood-Infused Filament: Fan Speed: 0-30% To prevent excessive cooling and potential clogging, it is recommended to keep the fan speed low while still providing some cooling benefits.
7. Carbon Fiber Filament: Fan Speed: 0-30% Due to the abrasive nature of carbon fiber, a lower fan speed helps reduce wear on the nozzle while still providing some cooling.
8. Metal-Infused Filament: Fan Speed: 30-50% Moderate fan speeds aid in cooling and prevent excessive heat buildup, reducing the risk of clogging.
9. HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene): Fan Speed: 0-30% While fan speed is not critical for HIPS since it dissolves in Limonene, a lower fan speed can improve layer adhesion and print quality.
10.PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol): Fan Speed: 0-30% Although PVA is water-soluble and fan speed isn’t crucial, a low fan speed can minimize warping and enhance layer adhesion.
11.ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate): Fan Speed: 0-30% ASA benefits from lower fan speeds to avoid rapid cooling and ensure good layer adhesion.
12.PC (Polycarbonate): Fan Speed: 0-30% PC requires minimal cooling, so a low fan speed is recommended to prevent rapid cooling and maintain layer adhesion.
13.HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene): Fan Speed: 0-30% Similar to ABS and nylon, HIPS benefits from lower fan speeds to avoid rapid cooling and enhance layer adhesion.
14.PMMA (Polymethyl Methacrylate): Fan Speed: 0% PMMA should be printed without any fan cooling to prevent rapid cooling and maintain good layer adhesion.
15.Flexibles (TPE, TPU): Fan Speed: 0% (Disable the fan) Flexible filaments like TPE and TPU should be printed without any fan cooling to prevent layer adhesion issues.
16.TPC (Thermoplastic Copolyester): Fan Speed: 0-30% A lower fan speed helps maintain better layer adhesion and reduces the risk of warping for TPC filaments.
17.PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate): Fan Speed: 0-30% PET benefits from lower fan speeds to avoid rapid cooling and improve layer adhesion.
18.PLA+ (Modified PLA): Fan Speed: 50-100% Similar to PLA, PLA+ benefits from higher fan speeds to enable rapid cooling and improve print quality.
19.PP (Polypropylene): Fan Speed: 0-30% PP benefits from lower fan speeds to avoid rapid cooling, which can affect layer adhesion and print quality.
20.Metal Filaments (Copper, Bronze, etc.): Fan Speed: 30-50% Moderate fan speeds aid in cooling and prevent excessive heat buildup, reducing the risk of clogging.
Other Factors to consider for Dialing-in Fan Speeds.
1. Printer Model and Cooling System: The design and capabilities of your 3D printer, including the cooling system, can impact the effectiveness of fan speed settings. Some printers have more powerful fans or directed airflow mechanisms that influence the optimal fan speed.
2. Print Speed: The speed at which you print can affect the fan speed settings. Higher print speeds may require higher fan speeds to compensate for the increased heat generated during faster extrusion, while slower print speeds may benefit from lower fan speeds.
3. Layer Height and Thickness: The layer height and thickness of your prints can influence fan speed settings. Thicker layers generally require lower fan speeds to allow for sufficient heat dissipation, while thinner layers may benefit from higher fan speeds to enhance cooling.
4. Print Geometry and Overhangs: The complexity and geometry of your print can impact fan speed settings. Prints with significant overhangs or intricate details may require higher fan speeds to improve cooling and prevent sagging or drooping of the printed material.
5. Ambient Temperature and Humidity: The environmental conditions in which you are printing play a role in fan speed settings. Higher ambient temperatures or humidity levels can affect the cooling process, requiring adjustments to fan speed to compensate for these conditions.
6. Material Properties and Brand: Even within a specific filament type, different brands or variations of the material may have slightly different cooling requirements. It is important to consider the specific properties and recommendations provided by the filament manufacturer when determining fan speed settings.
7. Layer Adhesion and Warping: Poor layer adhesion or warping issues can be influenced by fan speed settings. Adjusting the fan speed can help improve layer adhesion by controlling cooling rates and reducing the chances of warping.
8. Support Material Considerations: If you are using support material in your prints, it is essential to consider the fan speed settings for both the main material and support material, as they may have different cooling requirements.
It is important to note that these factors may interact with each other, and finding the optimal fan speed settings often involves experimentation and fine-tuning based on the specific circumstances of your 3D printing setup and materials. By following the recommendations above, you have a solid benchmark to build from.
May your 3D journey be cool !