FDM 3D printers have to endure a lot of stress throughout their lives. Long prints can leave your 3D printer running for hours or even days, putting stress on components and requiring routine maintenance. But how do you maintain an FDM 3D printer? let’s find out
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What is 3D printer maintenance?
Like any machine with moving parts, your 3D printer will need some maintenance from time to time. This not only ensures that all parts are working properly, but also helps prevent future damage and improves the quality of your 3D prints.
FDM 3D printer maintenance can be broken down into three main categories: daily, monthly, and yearly. This process doesn’t take much time, but it will be worth it to get the best results from your printer.
Daily maintenance of the 3D printer
Daily maintenance of a 3D printer does not necessarily have to be done every day. You should run these steps on days when your printer finishes a new print or you find that they need to be run. It only takes about half an hour to complete all this work.
Cleaning the build plate for 3D printers
Most modern 3D printer build plates are made of metal with a layer of adhesive material or glass. Both materials have excellent adhesion to the filament, which makes them ideal for 3D printing, but also poses a cleanliness challenge.
Remove any plastic pieces stuck to the build plate and wipe away any glue you used. For cleaning you can use warm soapy water to remove glue and oils. However, you must ensure that the build plate is dry before the next print.
Cleaning the 3D printer nozzles
At the end of each print, there will likely be a small blob of plastic stuck to the nozzle of your 3D printer. If you don’t remove it, it can create debris that can eventually damage your prints or even lead to a fire. This plastic is easiest to remove with tweezers when the nozzle is still warm.
Cleaning the 3D printer housing
If your 3D printer has a case, it pays to keep things tidy. After each print, remove all plastic and dust threads from the case to reduce the risk of fire or damage to the components inside your 3D printer.
Monthly maintenance of the 3D printer
If you take a little time each month to give your 3D printer some maintenance, your yearly maintenance will be a lot easier. These jobs don’t need to be done every month, but it’s worth checking your printer monthly to see if they need to be done.
How to check the lubrication of 3D printers
Most FDM 3D printers use rails with bearings to allow the hotend to move. These bearings must be lubricated to function properly. It is important to check each month that they are properly lubricated.
The rails that your 3D printer bearings roll on should feel greasy, but there shouldn’t be any large globs of lubricant visible. You can apply new lubricant by dabbing it on the rail with your finger and then moving the printhead along the lubricated axis.
3D printers in dire need of fresh lubrication make more noise than usual and may feel gritty when you move the print head with your hands. Silicone grease is a good choice for most 3D printers.
How to check timing belts on 3D printers
It’s rare for timing belts to loosen over time, but it can happen. This leads to problems such as z-banding on the 3D printer, which reduces the quality of your 3D prints and makes it difficult to create high-resolution objects.
Your timing belts should be tight and springy with little play. Normally you can tighten your toothed belts with a clip somewhere on your 3D printer, but you can also solve the problem with special tension springs.
3D printer screw check
Because your 3D printer moves so much, it can be beneficial to retighten the screws holding it together from time to time. Check each screw with the appropriate wrench to make sure it is tight. Loose screws create play in your 3D printer’s housing and reduce the quality of your 3D prints.
Run 3D Printer Cleaner Filament
The 3D printer cleaner filament removes dust, filament and other debris from inside your bowden tubes, hotend and nozzle. Running cleaner filament through your printer each month extends the life of the parts and ensures that the quality of your prints is consistently high.
Annual maintenance of the 3D printer
As with a car or motorcycle, annual maintenance is important for your 3D printer. This gives you the ability to repair or replace damaged parts, clean hard-to-reach areas, and optimize your 3D printer to ensure it delivers the best results.
Conversion of the 3D printer hotend
Your 3D printer’s hotend goes through a lot every time you use your printer. Screws can loosen over time, and dirt and dust collect in places that aren’t normally accessible. Disassembling and cleaning your hotend every year is a great way to keep your 3D printer in top condition.
Follow the instructions that came with your 3D printer when approaching such a task.
Replacing the 3D printer nozzle
The print quality of the FDM 3D printer is partly determined by the quality of your nozzle. Over time, the filament running through the nozzle will wear it down, creating imperfections that affect the way the plastic is extruded. Replacing your nozzle annually is easy.
Most 3D printers come with a nozzle wrench. Be sure to purchase an appropriate replacement nozzle, remove the old one, and install the new one for an immediate improvement in print quality.
Replace damaged 3D printer parts
There are many parts that can become damaged while operating your 3D printer. Lead screws and build plates warp and bend, stepper motors burn out, and timing belts wear out. Check every component of your 3D printer every year to make sure nothing goes wrong.
Replacing parts on your 3D printer is usually a simple process, especially when you can refer to a handy Ender-3 assembly guide. Instructions like this are available for most popular 3D printers.
The importance of solving 3D printer problems
Routine maintenance of your 3D printer is a great way to extend its life and the quality of the prints it produces. Alongside this, you should also be prepared to react to problems with your 3D printer. Strange noises, misprints, and other issues should always be addressed to prevent further damage.
