Maintenance of a 3D printer is often something that does not happen until it is too late. We will look at the maintenance required to keep a 3D printer working for a long time (and safely). Filamentz tells more.

1. Checking and lubricating shafts and running parts

Linear movements are essential in a 3D printer. They ensure smooth movements during the 3D printer and are very precise in terms of adjustment options. If properly maintained, they are also essential for the quality you can get from your 3D printer. Since FDM 3D printers mainly work with moving axes and motors, they benefit enormously from good maintenance. The purpose of checking and lubricating the axles is to reduce the resistance generated during movements. This ensures less heat on the stepper motors and therefore a longer lifespan of your 3D printer. The most forgotten part of a 3D printer that is often forgotten in terms of maintenance is the Z-axis, because it is often thought that it does not do much during a print. However, this is not true and will cause the most misery if it is not looked into. If lubrication is forgotten, it can lead to:

• Increased noise from the motors and bearings
• Visible print lines on your 3D print
• Stepper motors that overheat and stop prematurely

Lubricants that can be chosen for maintenance of the 3D printer are:

• Silicone oil
• Telfon spray
• Lithium grease

2. Updating 3D printer firmware

A forgotten part of 3D printer maintenance is often the firmware of your 3D printer. The beating heart of the machine must run on the latest version if you want to be sure that everything is taken out. Rest assured, most 3D printer suppliers often deliver the 3D printer with the latest one installed, but still check this every 6 months to make sure nothing is missed. In addition to the firmware, also check the 3D printer slicer from the relevant supplier to ensure that you are 3D printing with the latest options, so that you do not miss possible improvements in print speeds, print quality and other features.

What can go wrong if you don't update your 3D printer firmware:

• Missing updated security features integrated by supplier
• Renewed printer profiles with new features added
• Improved settings that have been added that improve the ease of use of the 3D printer

3. Inspection of (electrical) components

Although it may seem too simple to mention, it should definitely include a maintenance schedule, namely inspecting all components on your 3D printer. This includes the cables of electrical components and dust and other accumulation on the mechanical components. Don't forget to check the following parts:

• For 3D printers with V-slot wheels, check whether there is any space between the wheels and the frame
• When electrically checking the 3D printer hotend, do not forget the heater cartridge and thermistor , as they are a fire hazard if the cables fail there.
• Finally: when mechanically checking the 3D printer, do not forget to check screws and bolts, tighten them extra and make sure that nothing is missing. Vibrations can cause things to become loose

If you do not check the basic components of the 3D printer, you may notice vibrations and ringing in the results, the build-up can cause mechanical parts to fail, or there may be a fire hazard due to failing electrical wires.

4. Correctly adjusting the timing belts

Most 3D printers use timing belts in at least 2 places in the 3D printer. Timing belts are generally used to transmit power from the stepper motor to the timing belt, which will then move to the desired location with bearings. In general, timing belts will be used on the X and Y axes, but they may also be used on Z axes on 3D printers. Timing belts that are adjusted too loosely cause missed steps and 3D prints where the lines are not neatly aligned. Timing belts that are too tight cause extreme wear on your stepper motor, increased temperature and deformations of the shaft, and the timing belt itself can also stretch and deform.

Failure to adjust timing belts on a 3D printer can lead to the following problems:

• Missing steps due to the stepper motor
• Inaccurate printing results are shown due to the acceleration of the 3D printer
• 3D prints that differ in size because the stepper motor cannot accurately make steps

There are 3D printers where the firmware now includes options to put the correct tension on the timing belts, using a step-by-step plan. An example of this is with the Prusa MK3S+.

5. Replacing or cleaning the 3D printer nozzle

Ultimately, the material from your 3D printer will be processed into your 3D printer nozzle. Whether you clean it or not, brass nozzles will close both externally and internally over time, resulting in reduced print results and endless adjustments for something that really needs to be replaced. Remember that brass 3D printer nozzles always wear out and aggressive materials only speed up this process! It is unlikely that this will be noticed immediately. It will happen a little bit over the months, which is why it is good to check this annually. A rule of thumb is that a 3D printer that only prints PLA can print for 6 months with a brass nozzle, but there are always exceptions. There are also ways to prevent this, namely by using other types of 3D printing nozzles.

Types of 3D printer nozzles

Brass 3D printer nozzles are cheap and of high quality, perfect for printing non-aggressive 3D printer filaments, such as PLA, PETG and ABS. If you are considering 3D printing with corrosive materials, such as Woodfill and other variants, it is good to consider an E3D hardened steel nozzle or even the E3D Nozzle This prevents maintenance on your 3D printer and allows you to print for years without any problems.

Not replacing or keeping your 3D printer nozzle clean can lead to:

• Over/under extrusion due to a different nozzle diameter
• Constantly having to calibrate because the 3D printer nozzle is wearing out
• Blockages of the 3D printer nozzle, which could be solved with a cold pull or with cleaning filament

6. Calibrating your 3D printer

Last but certainly not least, to ensure that your 3D printer works as it should, calibration is essential, in several areas. You can calibrate your 3D printer using a simple XYZ calibration cube . From this you can get the following information:

• Are the walls tight? If not, try to adjust the timing belts better, as mentioned in point 4.
• Will it be the top surface soon? If not, try adjusting your extrusion multiplier, including your number of steps per millimeter.
• Will the edges of the letters be on the sides later? If not, you probably have ringing. To resolve this, try lowering your acceleration and speed slightly.
• Does the 3D print stick to the printing surface? If not, try lowering your 3D printer nozzle slightly towards the surface. If it sticks too firmly to the surface and you suffer from ' elephant feet ', try raising it slightly until it is no longer visible.

These are not all the calibrations you can do on your 3D printer. You also have options to fine-tune your 3D printer with:

• A PID control , so that the temperature in the nozzle is constant
• Printing a 3D Benchy to optimize cooling settings and speeds
• Print a large surface , to ensure that the printing surface is flat and 3D prints stick well