this post was submitted on 05 Jul 2023
46 points (100.0% liked)

3DPrinting

15387 readers
223 users here now

3DPrinting is a place where makers of all skill levels and walks of life can learn about and discuss 3D printing and development of 3D printed parts and devices.

The r/functionalprint community is now located at: [email protected] or [email protected]

There are CAD communities available at: [email protected] or [email protected]

Rules

If you need an easy way to host pictures, https://catbox.moe may be an option. Be ethical about what you post and donate if you are able or use this a lot. It is just an individual hosting content, not a company. The image embedding syntax for Lemmy is ![](URL)

Moderation policy: Light, mostly invisible

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

I see a lot of people claim they tune/calibrate their printer any time they use a new spool of filament. But does anyone actually do this? It feels like a waste of time when filament is so consistent, even between brands. I can understand doing it for specialty rolls, but for basic pla? Seems unnecessary

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Define “tune” and “calibrate”

I do somethings, yes. Specifically I print off a temperature test- either the full tower (new color/brand,) or a cut down version that’s one tier high (for something I’ve printed with before)

It’s possible that the brand changed formulations or whatever. I’ll also run a micrometer over some of the filament to check it’s thickness.

Finally, I it’s a good time to take the opportunity to give the printer a once-over looking for wear and tear, and it’s a reasonable time to refresh the lube on the z screws, etc.

But no, I certainly don’t do a full recalibration every roll. there's some things I do most every print (checking my first layer, wiping down the bed with IPA or ethanol, for example,) but then there's some things I do occasionally (re-leveling the bed, probing a fresh mesh, , and then there's only things I do when I change something (esteps, checking the belt tension.)