How 3D Printers Save Consumables

Common 3D printer materials on the market include: PA, TPU, PETG, PLA and ABS materials, among which PLA and ABS are the most commonly used.

Resin is one of the commonly used 3D printing materials. While there will be some post-processing, the finished product will be smoother, higher quality and have sharper details. It has always been favored by the majority of 3D printing enthusiasts. The general price of resin consumables is about 100 yuan per kilogram. Prices will be higher for some industries that can provide a finer surface quality, such as dental or high-end technical industries and precision industries. Therefore, the method of saving consumables for 3D printers must also be mastered.

How 3D printers save consumables

1. Reduce model size: 3D printing material consumption is also closely related to model size: the smaller the size, the less consumption. Dimensions can be scaled in the XYZ directions, or individually without scaling.

2. Hollow Mode: Material consumption is closely related to volume: the smaller the volume, the less consumption. Therefore, it is sometimes necessary to hollow out the model. For hollow models, there are two things to be aware of: wall thickness and drainage holes. Reducing the wall thickness seems like the way to save money. However, if the wall thickness is thinned, the model will become brittle and can easily lead to cracks in certain areas of the model. Also, when printing hollow models, the resin can become blocked by the model and cannot be drained due to the layer curing. At this time, it is necessary to add drain holes to drain the clogged resin from the hollow mold.

3. Optimizing the model structure: It is of great significance to optimize the 3D model structure and improve the printing success rate. For example, the thinner the outer wall, the lighter the model. Less resin used for printing saves money, but is also more fragile. This is especially important when using a pull-up 3D printer, as the model is upside-down and gravity (large models) and tension will be greater.

4. Avoid the use of supports and bottom rafts: Material consumption can also be increased by avoiding or reducing the use of supports and bottom rafts. Don't waste resin material and effectively add supports and bottom rafts.

5. Integral printing: Through integral printing, 3D printing can skip some assembly processes to reduce material consumption.