Frequently Asked Questions

3D PRINTERS

BASIC "HOW TO" QUESTIONS

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How do I maintain my printer?

As with most mechanical objects, your 3D Printer needs periodic maintenance to keep it operating

at peak performance. Following are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind.

• Always remove filament completely when you have finished printing for the day. Allowing

the filament to cool in the nozzle can cause clogging and further complications.

• To clear a clog, preheat the nozzle 220°C, then manually push the inserted filament with slightly

more force than the printer's extruder motor is capable of exerting.

• Always double check the level of your print bed. Printers with Auto-Leveling may need the

offset adjusted. This will be a unique value for every printer. The space between the nozzle

and the print bed should be 0.1mm, which is the thickness of a sheet of standard printer paper.

A QR link to a video explaining this can be found on the back of this card.

Food Safety and 3D Printing

Many people want to create objects for use with food or drink with their 3D Printers, such as

decorative plating, molds, or cookie cutters. While this is indeed possible, there are several things

to keep in mind.

• Always ensure that the filament you intend to use is food safe. This should be indicated on

the product page or on the packaging. Some brands have specific types of filament that are

FDA approved.

• FFF printing is the process of melting and extruding thermoplastics into thin layers to build

an form. Printing at the lowest layer height may help prevent these ridges. Truly food safe

objects should have a perfectly smooth surface.

• Most standard thermoplastics will react to the high temperatures used with standard dish

washing. It is best to use lukewarm water and an anti-bacterial soap. This reduces the risk of

damaging the print and removes any surface bacteria.

• Brass nozzles are a standard part for many 3D printers. However, these may contain trace

amounts of lead. Using a stainless steel nozzle to print objects for use with food or drink will

eliminate any risk of lead contamination.

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