How long do 3D printers take?
The introduction of 3d printing to the media has seen tremendous improvement in media. Though it has brought a lot of pf improvements in the representation of both animate and inanimate objects, it requires great effort and time to do it. The question most people ask is, ‘How long do 3d printers take?’. Seeing the outcome of the work has left observers worried because they know it is no easy thing to do.
3D printing can take about 30 minutes to hours and even in some aspects days before the final product is seen.
Why do 3D printers take long?
The reason why 3d printers take long rests on several factors.
One of the main reasons that make 3d printers take long is the size of the print-out. We all know that smaller sizes will take lesser time than the ones with bigger sizes.
Another factor is the type of 3d printing technology used. Any time an equipment is manufactured, different models are created and upgraded annually. Using modern 3D printing technology
can accelerate your rate of work and decrease the time you spend on a particular work.
Moreover, other factors affect the printing of 3d printers like 3D orienting settings and post-processing.
The next paragraph will vividly explain how these factors affect printing duration. Read on how to clean a 3d printer bed.
Factors that affect the duration of 3D printing?
3D Printing technology
As I said earlier, machines are made from different brands. Due to competition in the market, every brand will try to improve on the effectiveness of the machine they previously manufactured. As a result of this, better models of 3D technology are always manufactured which affects printing duration.
We have already established that 3D printing can be from 30 minutes to hours or days. When working, you will like to finish early and move to the next job so you will go in for the best 3D technology to use.
Examples of the best 3D printing technology on the market are Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing, Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) 3D printing, Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) printing, Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printing, and many more.
According to most users of the 3D printing technology I have mentioned above, both DLP and LCD 3D printing technology are faster done SLA 3D printing technology.
3D Model
This factor is noticeable. Sometimes the design and structure of the object are what affect the duration of 3D printing. Though the time of printing cannot be predicted, it is apparent that big objects will take more time than smaller and simple objects. Imagine printing a 3D car and a 3d ball. The car will take more time due to its structure
Furthermore, the volume of the object affects the 3D printing duration. Some #d printing technology such as SLA uses a laser to hover around the object. This means that o object with a hollow will take a lesser time to print than printing a solid object.
Layer height and layer thickness
Let’s use SLA 3D printing as an example again. Since it uses a laser, it must penetrate through substances. A high layer height will require more time to allow the laser to pass through and print out a perfect object. Consecutive addition of material to the object being made should be noted when printing a 3D object.
3D Printing Settings
3D printing is a booming business so many will choose the speed of work over quality to gain more money. The settings of a 3D printing technology affect how long 3D printing takes.
To get a more accurate and precise result, it is best you best if you decrease the speed of the printing process to allow the objects to be formed well with accurate dimensions.
Printing 3D objects of high quality will also attract more customers to you.
Material used
Some materials are easy to process. Due to the different melting points of materials, it can take a long time to print out some materials, Different temperatures must be applied to obtain your desired product. Hence, the duration of printing will be affected.
The melting point of carbon fiber is between 3652-3697 degrees Celsius while aluminum 6061 is 587 degrees Celsius. Definitely, carbon fiber will require more time to give you your desired object.
However, people prefer using strong materials like carbon fiber.
Budget
How does your budget affect the duration of your 3D printing? With a high amount of money, you can pay for services with high speed and quality 3D prints.
Also, workers are affected by budget because starting a business such as 3D printing will require a huge amount of money to buy quality machines. Without that kind of money, you can only opt for less effective machines
Post-processing procedure
They refer to tasks done after printing a 3D object to enhance the aesthetics.
When we print documents from traditional printers, the printing procedure has come to an end. This is not the same story for 3D printing. Some series of work must be done on it to get your desired and final product.
Notable post-processing procedures include removing supports, polishing, and curing prints (specific to 3D prints.
Post-processing time for some 3D printing technologies
- SLA 3D Printing- Polishing and cleaning SLA objects is very easy as compared to FDM. Polishing of resin 3D objects can take up to a maximum of 20 minutes. After cleaning and polishing, it is cured in UV by placing it in a UV oven. The time range for post-processing of SLA 3D prints can range from 2-10 hours.
- FDM 3D Printing- Working on FDM print is time-consuming. Polishing simple works can take a whole day. In addition to polishing, supports are also removed which is also another hectic job to do. The time range for the post-processing procedure for FDM prints is between 5-24 hours.
How to increase the speed of your 3D printing
- Print objects simultaneously- With this method, you can finish your work very fast and it can only be achieved by large printers.
- Decrease the size of the object- Large objects will take up more time. To finish early, decrease the size of your product which will also decrease the time in printing.
- Alter the settings of your printer- Due to the quantity of work at hand, change the settings of the printer to increase the speed of the printing process. However, this might affect the quality of work.
- Use materials with low melting points- Using such materials will decrease the time spent on regulating temperature to form them since it has a low melting point.
- Use professional companies for your 3D prints- Most professionals have large and effective machines that can produce your work in a short time.
How long does a 3D printer take to print a house?
A house of about 500 square feet will take a minimum of 24 hours to print. Due to the walls, it may even extend to a few days.
How much will it cost to print a 3D house?
3D printing is a business with huge profits and people are making a lot of money from it. The cost may differ due to location, the technology used, and the company you hired.
Printing a 3D house of 500 square feet can cost between $8000-$10,000.
Conclusion
How long a 3D printer takes depends on a variety of factors. Knowing these factors will enable you to choose the appropriate material and type of technology if you want your print in a short time.