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Last but not least, printing with a 3D printing service saves you the warping problem
One of the most common complaints in the field of home user 3D printers is the so-called warping thermal warping of the printed 3D model on the printing plate.
ABS particularly prone to warping
Warping is particularly common in the field of FDM printing technology, which is used by most home 3D printers: the molten material is applied via the extruder nozzle onto the platform, where it cools as planned, but warps in the process. SECTION proves to be particularly sensitive to warping, since this material is printed at comparatively high temperatures, which significantly increases the contrast to the ambient room temperature.
How warping occurs
The main cause of warping is thought to be uneven cooling rate of the 3D printed material (which is especially true for ABS filament as shown above), which is unevenly distributed residual stresses entail in the filament. It is important to know that the printed plastic shrinks as it cools. However, if the cooling process is unevenly fast, the shrinkage also occurs to varying degrees, causing the 3D model to warp overall. The term “warping” or alternatively “warp effect” was coined for exactly this distortion.
Lots of warping prevention tips
The numerous home 3D printer forums are full of advice on how to prevent warping. Providers of these devices also often offer relevant information on their websites.
In summary, the number one tip for preventing warping is to point to a heated pressure plate to print, as the thermal differences when cooling the printed 3D model are significantly reduced in this way. The application of coatings such as Kapton foil or blue masking tape also improves the adhesion of the 3D printed object to the printing plate. Regular cleaning of the print bed is also recommended for the same reason. Drafts should be avoided to further reduce the effect of uneven cooling.
Some home 3D printing users also swear by the use of hairspray or glass cleaner (to be applied to the printing plate in each case), and fixing the 3D model being created with hair clips is also recommended.
Warping remains a weak point in the consumer 3D printing space
However, none of these valuable tips (and in some cases they certainly work well) change the fact that warping is a major weak point for home 3D printing users remains who are interested in high-quality 3D printed objects.
Thanks to much more sophisticated 3D printing systems, we, as a professional 3D printing service, are also able to print ABS without compromising on quality due to warping. All information on 3D printing with ABS and in numerous other materials and processes can be found on our website or you can contact our customer service.
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