As more and more people fall in love with 3D printing, there is a wide variety of materials on the market, and even some high-quality filament materials are not cheap. So, among the fast consuming filament materials, how to improve the printing utilization of 3D filament, especially the common PLA and ABS filament materials, has become a problem for many 3D printing enthusiasts.UJOYBIO3D will talk about the utilization rate of 3D filament in detail for you.

Common waste of filament material

1. Improper software slicing and printing settings

In complex models, if the slicing software generates a lot of support structures, it will lead to material waste. After the model is printed, the support structure is usually removed and can not be reused, which prints the support filament is equivalent to waste.

Secondly many 3D hobbyists set higher infill densities on their software in order to print a stronger model, which makes the model stronger but consumes more material when many applications don't require such a high level of strength.

2. Model Printing Failures

Many 3D printing novices may have to adjust the printing parameters several times when using new materials, which results in repeated material wastage. And common print failures such as model warping, filament breakage, and clogged nozzles can lead to a lot of wasted material.

3. Insufficient print model optimization

When the model design is too complex, for the unoptimized model may increase the amount of material used. For example, thick-walled designs or superfluous decorative details can lead to inefficient material usage. Cavities inside the model are also not treated, which can also lead to wasted material during printing.

4. Difficulty in utilizing filament remnants and waste materials

When a roll of filament is almost finished printing, there is often a small piece of tail material left, which is difficult to reuse. As well as discarded supports and failed models, these waste materials need to be further recycled, but the average user lacks recycling equipment or technology.

5. Limitations of the filament material itself

Part of the special 3D printing materials can not be effectively recycled, as well as PLA and other recyclable materials recycling technology is not yet popular. In addition, the performance of some nylon filament materials decreases after absorbing moisture, which makes it impossible to continue to use, thus leading to waste.

6. Problems of filament production and storage

Among the many filament materials, cheap or poor quality filaments may have problems such as uneven diameter and high brittleness, leading to easy failure when printing. As well as filaments that are not stored properly, such as long term exposure to high humidity or high temperatures, can cause the filament material to deteriorate and not be reused.

Solutions for filament material waste

1. Optimize slicing parameters

Before starting to print the model, preview the model on the printing software, and set the support structure and fill rate of the model reasonably to reduce unnecessary material consumption.

2. Improve model design

When previewing the model, optimize the modeling and cavitation to eliminate unnecessary printing parts to reduce material usage.

3. Enhance waste recycling

3D printing enthusiasts who are in a position to do so can purchase a home-grade waste recycling machine, such as a waste filament extruder, which allows filament waste to be properly recycled.

4. Enhance 3D printing technology

Usually learn to enhance the technology of printing, knowledge of printing parameter settings, material selection, and optimization settings for software printing, so as to reduce material waste.

5. Use of high-quality filament materials

Try to use certified high-quality filament, learn more about the production process of the manufacturer's materials, you can choose better quality filament materials to reduce the waste caused by material problems.

Referring to the methods introduced above, you can effectively improve the utilization rate of 3D printing filament, and at the same time reduce the waste of filament materials and the impact on the environment.

Precautions and tips to avoid filament material waste

1. Print preparation stage

Regularly calibrate the 3D printer you are using, especially checking the nozzle height, platform flatness and extrusion effect. A precisely tuned printer will reduce the print failure rate.

According to the compatible model of your printer, pick the filament diameter compatible with the printer, the current mainstream filament diameter is 1.75mm, the filament material is compatible with the printer, you can avoid the mismatch caused by jamming or poor printing.

Preview the printing process in the slicing software, check the support, filler path, and erase tower, etc., can be very good to avoid the wrong design leading to waste.

2. Optimize Printing Parameters

For models with low functional requirements, the internal infill rate can be reduced to 10%-20%; for load-bearing parts, honeycomb or triangular infill can be used inside the model to save material and improve strength.

For support structures that need to be used, material waste can be minimized by changing the angle of the model, printing in sections, or designing removable support parts. For example, the most commonly used tree-like support can save more material than traditional supports.

3. Filament waste recycling and utilization

The models and support materials that will fail to print can be stored in categories to avoid mixing with dust or other impurities, which is more suitable for subsequent recycling.

3D hobbyists who are in a position to do so can purchase or make their own filament regeneration machine to re-melt the waste material into filament rolls. While it may affect material properties slightly, it's practical enough for non-critical models.

On the same principle, the leftover filament material from the print will be used to join the remaining short filaments together for further use using filament welding tools, such as a hot air gun or a specialized splicer.

4. Filament material storage and management

When storing the filament material, it is recommended to put the filament material into a vacuum bag with desiccant to prevent the filament from deteriorating after absorbing moisture. It is recommended to store filament materials that are not used for a long time in a desiccant box, especially nylon or PETG, which are highly hygroscopic.

Label the inauguration date and usage status on the packaging of filament materials to avoid forgetting to use previously unused filament materials.

5. Printing Model Design Tips

For larger models, it is possible to print them broken down and then assemble them according to the actual situation, which can effectively avoid wasting large pieces of support structure.

You can also use modeling software, such as Fusion 360 or SolidWorks, to optimize the wall thickness and internal structure of the model, so as to achieve a lightweight design, such as the use of grid structure or cavity design.

6. Prevention of common problems

Filament materials that are too old or improperly stored can break very easily when printed again. The brittleness of the filament can be well improved by heating or softening treatment before printing, such as slight heating to about 60℃, to avoid the problem of filament breakage when printing.

For filament materials that are prone to hygroscopicity, such as nylon or TPU, preheating with a dryer or oven before printing can enhance the printing effect.

7. Continuous learning and experimentation

Regularly test the optimal printing parameters for different filament materials and record them to accumulate printing experience. For example, adjust the print temperature, speed and retraction parameters to find the most suitable settings for the material at hand.

Interested 3D enthusiasts can join the 3D web printing community to find or share experiences to get efficient tips and experiences recommended by other users.

To summarize

In the field of 3D printing, how to efficiently utilize printing filament is always the focus of users. Many people waste materials and increase costs due to improper slicing settings, too many support structures, insufficient optimization of model design, etc. UJOYBIO3D, as a brand focusing on the development of 3D printing technology and materials, is committed to providing high-quality filaments and innovative solutions to help you fundamentally improve your printing efficiency.

By learning and documenting your own experience during the 3D printing process, as well as making reasonable print settings on the printer, optimizing model design, and recycling waste materials, you can both improve the efficiency of filament use and reduce long-term usage costs.

By choosing UJOYBIO3D's high-quality, environmentally friendly filaments, you can not only enjoy highly stable printing results, but also take advantage of its exclusive technical services that support high-precision slicing optimization, effectively reducing support and waste generation. Whether you are pursuing perfect details or exploring new ways of material recycling, UJOYBIO3D is with you all the way, helping to build a more efficient and sustainable 3D printing future!