With the evolving demands of the modern days, 3D printing has quickly expanded. Companies from different parts of the world now use 3D printers to set up their prototypes within hours. This wouldn’t be the case if they are still using regular printers as they could waste so much time and even spend lots of money to conduct research and development. But how long does 3D printing take?
Many companies say that the use of 3D printers has quickened the process of prototyping up to ten times than the regular R&D processes. Furthermore, they say that 3D printers are more affordable.
This article will help you realize more about the function of 3D printing.
Speed Settings of the 3D Printer
Currently, the 3D printing time is classified into three sets. The most frequently used 3D printers have a print speed that ranges from 40mm/s to 50mm/s. Other machines offer a print speed that ranges from 80mm/s to 100m/s. Others have a speed of 150mm/s. But what is even more amazing about these devices is that some could work at a speed beyond 150mm/s.
Nevertheless, you need to bear in mind that if you choose to use a 3D printer that works at a faster speed, there is a possibility that you will lose the printing quality. This is the reason why homemakers and businesses do not choose those with high speed. Moreover, the filament may blunder and cause issues if 3D printing.
If you are planning to alter the speed of the 3D, you must familiarize the slicing software. The said software prepares the 3D model you plan to 3D print.
You can alter the speed by putting the value in the Printer speed section. Now, if you are using an old version, you should change to Advanced mode. You will then see the Speed tab and under this tab is the Printer Speed setting.
Related: How Much Electricity Does a 3D Printer Use
10 Factors that Determine the Speed of 3D Printing
Here are some factors that determine the speed of 3D printing:
Type of 3D Printer
Not all 3D printers work at the same speed. Some printers have faster speed than others. In most cases, the faster the speed is, the more expensive the 3D printer gets.
Type of Printing
The type of printing that is used also determines the speed. Generally, there are two types of 3D printing, namely, paint roller and paint-brush type printing. The paint roller printing crosses back and forth throughout the entire build tray ejecting the material from certain points on the print head. On the other hand, the paint-brush printing ejects the material from one point as it crosses throughout the build tray.
With this illustration, you can say that paint roller printing is faster compared to paint-brush printing.
Type of Materials
The type of materials in 3D printing could affect the speed. Some materials are easy to deal with while others are not. The more complex materials can dwindle the speed of printing. Various materials require various ejection. Furthermore, bed temperatures and shifting times are also required to fasten and set.
Size
Size is also an essential factor that plays a significant role in printing. The concept is that the more layers needed for the part, the slower the speed. This is because the print head will demand more passes.
Other than the volume, the footprint also plays a significant role. Bigger footprints will take a longer time to print because of the distance taken by the print head while traveling from its origin.
Related: Creality ender 3 bed size
Complexity
Another factor that determines the speed of the printing is the complexity of the geometry of the part. The more intricate the geometry is, the slower the speed of the printing. Hence, if the part exhibits various intricate layers, instinctively, the print head will set the borders for the parts before filling them in individually.
Moreover, the kind of 3D printing technology can also affect the time needed to build. This is because some technologies can deliver intricate geometries at a faster speed, while others are not.
Height
Apart from the size, the height will also determine the speed. Knowing that the parts are developed per layer, parts with taller heights need more passes as compared to the shorter parts, thus taking a longer printing time.
Amount
The number of parts produced can also affect the total time needed to finish the 3D printing. If you are planning to print numerous copies of the object, the printing time can be reduced. This is because you do not have to prepare the materials and tooling for every part once the first one is done. Nevertheless, the shortened printing time may not be noticed for more intricate parts having short layers since the actual process of printing is still slow.
Quality
The quality of the part is related to the height of the layer. Every layer is commonly between 0.1 to 0.5mm. Thinner layers offer a smoother result and more impressive quality. Nevertheless, you should also acknowledge that great-quality thin layers cannot be processed in a shorter time.
Infill
The pattern of the infill can also affect the speed of printing. More intricate patterns will normally take a longer time to generate. Nevertheless, the most significant impact of infill on the speed of printing is associated with density. The higher-density infill can delay the completion of printing as it enhances the strength of the completed part.
Post-Processing
Post-processing is the final element that could affect the speed of printing. The process is comprised of cleaning, washing off, and drying the printed parts. Depending on the technology used, requirements in post-processing can differ in time based on the geometry and size of the printed parts.
Intricate parts will normally take a longer time for post-processing. Smaller parts, on the other hand, only take a few minutes for post-processing.
How Long Does it Take to 3D Print Objects?
3D Print Object – Car
How long will it take to 3D print a car? Well, you have to consider a few variables knowing that a car is a complex object with lots of parts that are composed of different materials. Let’s just say that the entire body of the car will be 3D printed and that includes most of its components, but excluding the major functional components such as the chassis, engine, and wheels.
For instance, the low-speed electric vehicle (LSEV) was intended to be the first massively produced vehicle that is 3D printed. The car came from the combination between XEV and Polymaker. The 3D printing of the entire parts of the LSEV can take three days.
Different from the “usual” cars with more than 2,000 components, LSEV has 57 components only. By utilizing the large-format FDM and four various TPU grades and polyamide, XEV and Polymaker managed to reduce their expenses in production.
Get more information from this link: https://all3dp.com/2/incredible-prints-how-long-3d-print-car/
3D Print Object – House
A certain company called Icon was able to finish the 3D printing of a house in less than 24 hours, although the printing time will depend on the size of the house. Winsun, a popular Chinese company, took 45 days to 3D print a whole villa.
You can check this site to get more information: https://www.iconbuild.com/
3D Print Object – Prosthetic hand
It can take 14 hours and 5 minutes to do a 3D printing of a prosthetic hand. The time can differ depending on the settings such as the printing speed, infill, height, and more. The height of the layer has the most significant impact. Bigger layer heights lead to lower quality.
FAQs
- How much time will it take to get any object 3D printed?
As mentioned, the 3d printing time will depend on the size of your object and your chosen settings for your object. If you are subjecting a small object with minimal infills and dimensions, then one hour should be enough to finish the 3D printing. Likely, if your object has higher dimensions, printing time may take longer. - Is the 3D printing time practical enough to change my life?
Yes. 3D printing has been proven to deliver great outputs within a reasonable time. It is a great opportunity for you to massively personalize your surroundings. This technology can also help you save more time and money and help you free your creativity. - How can I compute 3D printing time?
If you want to get an estimated time for the 3D printing, then find a slicing software like Cura. With the said app, you can simply upload the design, input parameters, and fill in the settings. You will then be prompted with the approximate 3D printing time.
Last Words
You can see the world continuously changing with the existence of 3D printing. Before this technology was given birth, manufacturers will have to take several weeks to create a prototype. Because of this, many companies realize the importance of 3D printing.
If you haven’t heard enough about 3D printing and you want to know how long does 3D printing take, then you should at least learn its basics and you will soon see how efficient this technology is.
Contents
