Help with printing Nylon 6
Hello,
I am new to 3D printing and I am trying to print a mechanical part on my Mk3 i3 using Nylon 6 - not Taulman.
As there did not seem to be a preset on Slic3r for Nylon 6 I tried the Taulman Bridge setting.
When it started printing it was on 250 degrees temp on the extruder so I tuned it down to 240 as it was crackling a bit and after that print seemed ok but I started to get some warping so I aborted the print. I think the print fans were running though.
The print seemed to stick ok (using glue stick) but some later layers started to 'curl'.
Firstly are there any settings in Slic3r that I can change to get a good non-warping print with Nylon 6 or will I have to modify the Gcode by hand?
Can I create my own 'Preset' in Slic3r?
What Gcode commands do I use to set the extruder temperature to 240 degrees and how do i turn of the print fans off - as I read you should print Nylon with the fans off because cooling the nylon too quickly will cause warping? Presumably I can edit the Gcode directly in Slic3r?
The Nylon filament was brand new from the packet, so I have not 'baked' it - but understand warping is mainly due to fans being on or the ambient temperature being too low. The printer is in an enclosure and it stays quite warm in there.
Or should I just give up with Nylon 6 and get some Taulman Bridge!
Sorry for so many questions! Any help would be much appreciated.
Re: Help with printing Nylon 6
When it started printing it was on 250 degrees temp on the extruder so I tuned it down to 240 as it was crackling a bit ....
I know you said it was a new spool, but crackling is a symptom of moisture. Nylon is one of the most (if not the most) hygroscopic of filaments, particularly the 6s. And once dried, depending on RH and other factors, it can (re)-absorb moisture very quickly (10% of its density within 24 hrs.).
That's "MISTER Old Fart" to you!
Re: Help with printing Nylon 6
Hi, thanks for your reply. The crackling was fairly minor and eased off a bit at 240, it was more the warping that wrecked the print - I understood that warping is mainly related to temperature and (excessive) moisture tends to cause a bad surface texture and weak layer bonding?
Feel free to correct me!
Re: Help with printing Nylon 6
That's why I provided the links. The answers are there.
You mentioned printing temp., but not bed temp. Nylon likes a bed temp around 100°C or higher to avoid warping. Layer cooling should be off, and an enclosure is recommended for printing with Nylon--again, to avoid warping.
That's "MISTER Old Fart" to you!
Re: Help with printing Nylon 6
Than you very much, I will give Nylon 6 another shot when I have got my £40 fruit/vegetable dryer and adapted it for drying out my filament! Trying PETG right now its going really well. Your are very kind - I hope to offer advice myself when I get a little more experience. 😀