PETG Print With Enclosure
Hello all!
I just finished assembly of the MK3S+ kit and enclosure. PLA seems to print fine, but when I switched over to PETG (Jet Black Prusa brand) my first layer is resulting in a lot of blobs. I did notice however if I just leave the enclosure doors open and ensure the enclosure is cool room temp before starting the first layer prints fine. This would be fine if the printer wasn't right next to my desk making a ton of noise with the doors open.
My main question is how can I adjust the printer settings such that I can print PETG with the doors closed.
Thanks all!
Matt
RE: PETG Print With Enclosure
Matt,
You need to ventitlate your enclosure to allow heat out but not pull too much cool air in across the build plate. I have an enclousre I designed and built myself back for printing ABS due it gives off fumes and also has to have an ambient temperature maintained at all time to avoid warping of the print. I also have a small 12VDC VFD controlling the exhaust fan to maintain the exhaust.
RE:
I've just started printing with an enclosure and have seemingly had good luck with PETG and PLA (glow filament). I did notice that on my very first print with PETG that there seemed to be a bit more globbiness, but it came out okay. After that I figured out why my exhaust fans weren't working and now everything seems to print as before. These are also controlled by thermostat as Bentnail is doing.
I'm currently keeping the case at 28C +/-2 degrees.
Aaron
RE: PETG Print With Enclosure
I've just started printing with an enclosure and have seemingly had good luck with PETG and PLA (glow filament). I did notice that on my very first print with PETG that there seemed to be a bit more globbiness, but it came out okay. After that I figured out why my exhaust fans weren't working and now everything seems to print as before. These are also controlled by thermostat as Bentnail is doing.
I'm currently keeping the case at 28C +/-2 degrees.
Matt,
You need to ventitlate your enclosure to allow heat out but not pull too much cool air in across the build plate. I have an enclousre I designed and built myself back for printing ABS due it gives off fumes and also has to have an ambient temperature maintained at all time to avoid warping of the print. I also have a small 12VDC VFD controlling the exhaust fan to maintain the exhaust.
Sounds like you both are using some sort of fan. I didn't see any fans mentioned in the build guide for the Original Prusa enclosure. I thought part of the point of the enclosure was maintaining a more consistent temperature? Is there no way to use the enclosure without a fan? Seems like pretty deceptive marketing if you have to go buy a fan for the enclosure just to use it for basic materials/prints.
RE:
I haven't seen the Prusa enclosure, but for PLA, you generally need lots of cooling. That is why Bambu put a large cooling fan inside their X1C enclosure. Generally less cooling for PETG, but maybe with the hotter bed, you are getting the inside too warm. You might want to try a lower bed temp for PETG to see if you still get good 'stick' but it doesn't overheat.. You might need to warm up the chamber a bit before starting the first print. But it really sounds like you need to "characterize" how your enclosure works. So get a decent digital oven thermometer and tape the probe somewhat near the model. Many have magnets and you can stick on the outside of your chassis. Print your PETG and note the nozzle and bed temp you are using. As the print progresses, record the time and temp. This is the only way you can find out what is going on inside your enclosure. Likely it is too hot for PETG and I'd think you might also get an issue with PLA. Really for PLA and PETG (& TPU) you don't need enclosures for printing.. it is only if you want to vent the fumes. ASA, Nylon and the such is really where you need the enclosure. I've even printed PolyCarbonate fine in an empty frame by just ensuring I close the room off so there are no drafts.
RE: PETG Print With Enclosure
Yes, consistent temperature is good and blocking drafts is critical, but as @Crab said the first thing to sort out is what kinds of temperatures you're actually seeing in there. Because likely the stable temperature achieved in the enclosure, sans any sort of exhaust fan, is too warm for the nozzle cooling fan to get the material to set on overhangs and the such. One easy thing you can do is prop the top panel open to allow the heat to vent naturally and that might help.
I do note that as a future improvement they're looking into adding temperature sensors, but I don't know if that means that will include exhaust fans to manage it.
On my case I've employed a 120mm, high-velocity exhaust fan and a small 40mm intake fan (mostly for blowing cooler air over the Einsy).
Aaron
RE: PETG Print With Enclosure
I have my mk3s in an enclosure to print ASA but when printing PLA or PETG I just leave the door open and temps inside the enclosure stay just a few degrees hotter than the room. With the door closed and printing ASA, it gets up into the high 30s C inside the box while the room is in the low 20s.