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[Closed] PLA -- best settings for best results?  

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fischer_brett_
(@fischer_brett_)
Active Member
PLA -- best settings for best results?

 

Hello Prusa Community:

 

I just bought me the new Prusa i3 MK3S printer.

I'm wanting to print this set of (PRICO) interlocking blocks I designed 16 years ago in PLA (colors).  I want these to not only look GREAT... but be the best prints possible (print time is not an issue).

Here's the design... the large red black is 4" cubed with .25" thick walls and 1/16" radiuses edges.

    

What are the settings I need to use to achieve this: layer heights, fill, temperature... all other settings that are important?

I've never printed before... so please treat me like a 10 year old so I can understand all the nuances!

Thanks!

 

Brett

 

This topic was modified 5 years ago 2 times by fischer_brett_
Posted : 25/07/2019 4:37 am
cwbullet
(@cwbullet)
Member
RE: PLA -- best settings for best results?

I do think PLA would give you best results.  I would print it slow and the best resolution.  

--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog

Posted : 25/07/2019 10:29 am
lindharin
(@lindharin)
Eminent Member
RE: PLA -- best settings for best results?

I would switch to a .25mm nozzle.  Orient them so the top surface is the open edge so there is no need to support the "ceiling".  I would try with 0.15mm, 0.1mm and 0.05mm layer heights to see which works better; I've generally had better luck with 0.15 or 0.10 instead of 0.05, but that might be because I haven't dialed in my printer enough yet.

Posted : 25/07/2019 10:49 am
RAH1
 RAH1
(@rah1)
Estimable Member
RE: PLA -- best settings for best results?
Posted by: charles.h13

I do think PLA would give you best results.  I would print it slow and the best resolution.  

Sense of humor ON

Translated for ease of 10 Y/O understanding.

Run Prusa Slicer and set it to the BEST resolution @ .05 ULTRADETAIL MK3, PLA, Original Prusa i3 MK3S

Import EACH block one at a time and slice/export each one at a time.  Then clear Slicer of STL.  Repeat for each block.

Copy all files to the included SDHC card

Insert SDHC into Printer.

Load desired filament, Select Print from SD, unload filament repeat for each block.

That should get you there.

Sense of humor off.

RAH

 

I am the inveterate tinkerer. I can tink up most anything.

Posted : 25/07/2019 11:55 am
fischer_brett_
(@fischer_brett_)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: PLA -- best settings for best results?

 

 

Where do I buy this .25 nozzle... from Prusa or Amazon, etc?

 

Thanks.

Posted : 25/07/2019 2:35 pm
Dave Avery
(@dave-avery)
Honorable Member
RE: PLA -- best settings for best results?

.4 should do fine

Posted : 25/07/2019 3:29 pm
fischer_brett_
(@fischer_brett_)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: PLA -- best settings for best results?

 

 

Do this nozzle print better than the standard nozzle that comes with the Kit?

Hardened steel E3D V6 Nozzle

Posted : 25/07/2019 4:28 pm
bobstro
(@bobstro)
Illustrious Member
RE: PLA -- best settings for best results?
Posted by: fischer_brett_

Where do I buy this .25 nozzle... from Prusa or Amazon, etc?

Prusa sells them. You may have to log in to view items in the estore. You can also buy E3D V6 nozzles from many resellers.

A smaller nozzle is going to be useful when you have details in the horizontal XY plane that are too fine for the default 0.40mm nozzle to pick out. If your prints don't have small details, a smaller nozzle is going to greatly increase print times to no real benefit. Use as small a nozzle as you need, but no smaller!

My notes and disclaimers on 3D printing

and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan

Posted : 25/07/2019 4:32 pm
fischer_brett_
(@fischer_brett_)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: PLA -- best settings for best results?

 

 

In the case of the PRICO boxes... do you see the need for the .25 nozzle?

 

They don't have much detail, other than the edges having radiuses (approx. 1/16"R)

This post was modified 5 years ago by fischer_brett_
Posted : 25/07/2019 4:37 pm
fischer_brett_
(@fischer_brett_)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: PLA -- best settings for best results?

 

 

What are some good online stores (in the USA) to buy the nozzle if needed?

 

I'm wanting to avoid excessive shipping fees!

 

Thanks.

Posted : 25/07/2019 4:39 pm
lindharin
(@lindharin)
Eminent Member
RE: PLA -- best settings for best results?

Yeah, if you don't have a .25 nozzle, try it with the normal .4 nozzle first.  It will work fine.  It was my mistake reading your initial post.  You said the walls were .25", and I glossed past the inches and interpreted it as mm.  With .25 mm walls, the .25 mm nozzle would produce much better results.  🙂   At .25", that won't be an issue.  Sorry for the confusion!  

But to answer your question:  if you decide to get a .25" nozzle because you want to be able to do finer detail prints, then you can buy them in a number of places.  Prusa sells them, but their shipping fee is outrageous since they charge the same for small, very light parts (nozzles, replacement PTFE tubes) as they do for larger, heavier items.  I bought my .25mm nozzle direct from the E3D website.  While it came from the UK, their international postal delivery for very light items was maybe 1-2 dollars, which I was fine with.  I have since found resellers on Amazon who sell (or claim to sell) genuine E3D parts.  If you find one that looks trustworthy, I'd recommend that.  Or there are a lot of knock-off nozzles by other manufacturers on Amazon, often for very low prices, but I don't trust their quality.  If I'm using a .25 nozzle, its because I want to maximize print quality, so why risk it for a few dollars savings? 

Posted : 25/07/2019 4:41 pm
Nikolai
(@nikolai)
Noble Member
RE: PLA -- best settings for best results?

First you need to explain what "best quality" for you means. Best in structural terms? Best in visual terms? Best in handling terms?

For me 0.4 nozzle with 0.2 layer height can look already pretty damn good with the right filament (depending on the model size). I think 4" is big enough for that. I would recommend you to try that first. You can go always smaller/higher resolution and compare the results.

Often linked posts:
Going small with MMU2
Real Multi Material
My prints on Instagram

Posted : 25/07/2019 5:10 pm
bobstro
(@bobstro)
Illustrious Member
RE: PLA -- best settings for best results?
Posted by: lindharin

[...]  I bought my .25mm nozzle direct from the E3D website.  While it came from the UK, their international postal delivery for very light items was maybe 1-2 dollars, which I was fine with.  I have since found resellers on Amazon who sell (or claim to sell) genuine E3D parts. 

MatterHackers and PrintedSolid are E3D resellers in the US. Both have free shipping options (may depend on order size). P3-D also sells quality E3D-compatible nozzles in the US. I find their Apollo series very good.

If you find one that looks trustworthy, I'd recommend that.  Or there are a lot of knock-off nozzles by other manufacturers on Amazon, often for very low prices, but I don't trust their quality.  If I'm using a .25 nozzle, its because I want to maximize print quality, so why risk it for a few dollars savings? 

Anybody looking for better quality cheap nozzles should look at TriangleLabs on AliExpress. I still prefer genuine E3D or P3-D, but these are pretty good for knock-offs.

My notes and disclaimers on 3D printing

and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan

Posted : 25/07/2019 5:50 pm
lindharin liked
cwbullet
(@cwbullet)
Member
RE: PLA -- best settings for best results?

The Trianglelabs and Mallow nozzles are awesome!

--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog

Posted : 25/07/2019 6:46 pm
Dave Avery
(@dave-avery)
Honorable Member
RE: PLA -- best settings for best results?

the steel nozzles are good if you are printing abrasive filament ( metal , wood or glow in the dark), otherwise a plain brass nozzle is probably better

Posted : 25/07/2019 7:05 pm
bobstro
(@bobstro)
Illustrious Member
RE: PLA -- best settings for best results?
Posted by: charles.h13

The Trianglelabs and Mallow nozzles are awesome!

Have not seen Mallow. Will look for those, thanks.

 

My notes and disclaimers on 3D printing

and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan

Posted : 25/07/2019 9:05 pm
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