After finishing the print, it's important to let both the print and the heated bed cool down to room temperature before carefully removing the print from the build plate. This helps prevent warping, damage to the print, or harm to the build plate. TPU prints, in particular, have strong adhesion to the bed, which can make it difficult to remove prints with a large surface area in contact with the bed. In such cases, avoid using too much force, as this could damage both the print and the build plate. Instead, try lifting a corner of the print, apply some alcohol to loosen it, and gently separate the print from the bed.
When using other materials with a large contact area on the heat bed, removal might also be challenging. In these situations, bending the build plate at different angles may help release the print. You can also use a scraper to gently lift the edges of the print. Alternatively, soaking the build plate and the bottom of the print in water can dissolve the adhesive, making it easier to remove. The method mentioned for TPU prints can also be applied here.
If you've applied liquid glue or a solid adhesive stick to the build plate before printing, there may be a residue left on the bottom of the print. It's a good idea to rinse the print's underside with water and dry it afterward to prevent the adhesive from sticking to your hands.
Build plates that have been used frequently often accumulate layers of print material, adhesive residue, oils from handling, and other debris. Additionally, dust can settle on the surface of plates that have been left unused for a long time. To ensure proper leveling and optimal adhesion for future prints—and to minimize the chances of print failure—it is important to remove any solid debris from the surface of the build plate using a scraper or other appropriate tools.
For certain types of build plates, you can also use alcohol along with a clean cloth or wipe for cleaning. However, the most effective method for cleaning the print surface is with hot water and detergent.
When using supports in your print, it's best to remove them within 2 hours to prevent them from absorbing moisture and becoming harder to remove. This is particularly important for PA-based filaments, such as PA12-CF, PAHT-CF, PPS-CF, and others, which are more prone to moisture absorption. If the supports have been left in place too long and are difficult to remove, it's advisable to let the entire print dry and cool down completely before attempting removal.
Using specialized support filaments designed for easier removal can help, as these can improve the appearance of the support points on the main model. For water-soluble support materials that are tough to remove with tools like pliers or tweezers, try soaking the supports in water to soften or dissolve them. Once softened, you can wash away or remove the support material. Keep in mind that soaking for an extended period may allow water to enter the internal areas of the model.
To reduce or eliminate stringing in most filaments, thoroughly dry them before printing and protect them from moisture during the printing process. You can use desiccant and store the filament in sealed boxes. However, TPU filament tends to exhibit stringing, especially in models with many travel moves.
To remove stringing from the printed model:
For more tips on reducing or minimizing stringing, refer to the TPU Printing Guide.
Defects such as lack of materials or holes can be repaired as follows:
Defects such as overhanging areas or uneven support surfaces can be repaired using sandpaper or grinding machines.
To address issues like rough printing surfaces, low gloss, and noticeable layer patterns:
Note that solvents such as acetone, methylene chloride, and toluene are toxic and flammable. Always follow safety guidelines and read instructions before use.
Annealing can help reduce thermal stress, enhance crystallinity, and improve the strength, heat resistance, and other beneficial properties of certain prints. However, the effectiveness of the annealing process depends on factors such as the type of filament, the annealing temperature, the duration, and the structure of the model. It's important to note that some prints may experience deformation or warping during annealing.
| Filament | Type | Annealing Temp (°C) | Annealing Time (h) | Advantages | Risks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA PLA-CF/GF |
Crystalline | 50 - 60 | 6 - 12 | The crystallinity is increased, and part of the thermal stress is eliminated. Strength, stiffness, heat resistance, etc. are improved. | Some prints may deform and warp, especially large and thin ones. The toughness of some prints may be reduced. |
| PETG | Amorphous | 60 - 70（Not recommended to anneal) | 4 - 8 | Part of the thermal stress is eliminated. Strength, stiffness, heat resistance, etc. are improved. | Some prints may deform and warp, especially large and thin ones. |
| PETG-CF/GF | Amorphous | 65 - 70 | 6 - 12 | Part of the thermal stress is eliminated. Strength, stiffness, heat resistance, etc. are improved. | Some prints may deform and warp, especially large and thin ones. |
| ABS ASA ABS-CF/GF | Amorphous | 80 - 90 | 6 - 12 | Part of the thermal stress is eliminated. Strength, stiffness, heat resistance, etc. are improved. | Some prints may deform and warp, especially large and thin ones. |
| PC PC-CF | Amorphous | 85 - 100 | 6 - 12 | Part of the thermal stress is eliminated. Strength, stiffness, heat resistance, etc. are improved. | Some prints may deform and warp, especially large and thin ones. |
| TPU | Amorphous | Generally not recommended | - | - | - |
| Filament | PA | PA-CF/GF | PA6-CF/GF, PA12-CF/GF | PAHT（PPA）-CF/GF | PET-CF/GF | UltraPA（PPA） | PPS | PPS-CF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Crystalline | |||||||
| Annealing Temp / °C * | 80 - 100 | 90 - 130 | 70 - 90 | 100 - 220 | 120 - 240 | |||
| Annealing Time / h | 6 - 12 | 6 - 12 | 6 - 12 | 6 - 12 | 6 - 12 | 6 - 12 | 6 - 12 | 6 - 12 |
| Advantages of annealing | The crystallinity is increased, and part of the thermal stress is eliminated. Strength, stiffness, heat resistance, water resistance, grease resistance, solvent resistance, etc. are improved. | |||||||
| Risks of annealing | Some prints may deform and warp, especially for large and thin ones. The toughness of some prints may be reduced. | Some prints may deform and warp, especially large and thin ones. | ||||||
In some cases, bonding multiple parts together with glue is necessary. For regular filaments like PLA and PETG, if the bonding strength is not too high, you can use common "502" glue (acrylic glue). However, this type of glue has poor cold resistance and durability.
For high-strength bonding, consider using:
For rough surfaces like PAHT-CF, PET-CF, or PA6-CF, use a hot-melt glue gun with EVA-based hot-melt glue. Apply hot-melt glue to the surface, heat it until it melts, press the parts together, and hold until the glue cools down to form a solid bond.