Printing test pieces for shape and size - would like to print quickly and save filament
I'm printing out some test pieces to get the shape and size right. These will eventually be used as models for pottery pieces I'm going to make or to make molds to use with pottery work. All I'm doing is working out the shapes and sizes and when I'm done, the pieces will be worthless to me.
What do you do with test prints like this, when you don't need the objects to stand up to heavy use or even much of any use? My thought was that the 2 main factors that would help would be to go with whatever fill pattern prints the quickest and with a lower percentage of fill - but I'm not sure just how far I can push it or what would be the cheapest and quickest settings for printing tests like this.
This is what the 0.3mm DRAFT setting is for.
Cheerio,
RE: Printing test pieces for shape and size - would like to print quickly and save filament
You can also reduce infill. Ive printed many pieces just fine with lightning infill. But obviously it depends on the model geometry,
Having said that, if the test pieces are meant to get the size and dimensions right, I'd stick with my expected production parameters to make sure things are actually comparable, if accuracy matters. Changes in print parameters can lead to subtle changes in dimensions, which may or may not be important to you.
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- https://foxrun3d.com/
RE: Printing test pieces for shape and size - would like to print quickly and save filament
You can also reduce infill. Ive printed many pieces just fine with lightning infill. But obviously it depends on the model geometry,
Having said that, if the test pieces are meant to get the size and dimensions right, I'd stick with my expected production parameters to make sure things are actually comparable, if accuracy matters. Changes in print parameters can lead to subtle changes in dimensions, which may or may not be important to you.
So I can end up with some variations on size depending on different infill, but if I'm not working with something with a fine tolerance, would that still be a problem? Most of the reason for printing prototypes like this is for pottery and it's tough to count on an exact size with that. All clay shrinks in the kiln. While you can figure close to the shrinkage rate, it can change. Buy a clay in January and it shrinks 13%, but buy more in March, and they might have changed something just a little bit or it might have more water in it and now it shrinks 14%. Plus, while most glazes aren't that thick, sometimes one will be a bit thicker than others. So when you work out any kind of standard size, in a lot of cases you have to allow for variations anyway.
RE: Printing test pieces for shape and size - would like to print quickly and save filament
Sure, if you don't need a very high level of precision, a test print with higher layer height and less infill will be just fine.
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- https://foxrun3d.com/