Why does the 3D printer heat up? Wouldn’t the print melt? Shouldn’t it instead cool down so the print would freeze?
In: 0
It needs to be both hot and cold at different points.
The bed needs to be warm, otherwise the print doesn’t stick to it and moves around.
The nozzle needs to be hot to melt the plastic so it can be squeezed out and formed.
The plastic that exited the nozzle and is now part of the printed part needs to cool, otherwise it deforms. That’s why 3D printers have a fan pointed directly at the exit of the nozzle.
The plastic that is going into the nozzle also needs to stay cool and solid so it can be pushed consistently. Printers have a second fan and a heat sink just on top of the nozzle to prevent the heat from the nozzle to creep up.
Different plastics also need different temperatures and cooling rates, otherwise they might not melt enough, or be too soft, or warp from cooling to fast.
Latest Answers