---
aliases: []
areas: []
created: 2025-08-01
language: English
summary: ""
tags:
  - domain_3d_printing
---


## Theory

### Settings
- Translucent PETG
	- Higher Temps - Printed roughly at 270
	- Slow Speeds - 25mm/s
	- Larger Nozzle - 0.6mm less layer lines
	- Vase mode (eine layer line)

### FDM Printers
Fused Deposition Modeling 3D printers have the following main components:
- **Mainboard**: Interprets G-Code (instructions for printing) and controls hardware: motors, temperature, fans, sensors...
- **Hotend**: Melts and and extrudes the filament
	- **Nozzle**: Where melted filament is extruded
		- Brass nozzles for general use; hardened steel or ruby for abrasives
	- **Heater Block**: Contains a heater cartridge that heats the hotend
	- **Heat Break & Heat Sink**: Prevents heat from traveling too far up the filament path (avoids jams).
	- **Thermistor**: Monitors temperature
- **Extruder**: Feeds filament into the hotend
	- Types
		- **Direct Drive**: Mounted directly on the hotend - good for flexible filaments
		- **Bowden**: Mounted away from the hotend - lighter toolhead, faster prints, but can struggle with flexible materials
	- **Key parts**: Drive gear(s), tensioning arm, stepper motor
- **Motion System**: Moves the printhead (X and Y axes) and bed (Z axis)
	- **Stepper Motors**: Precisely control movement
	- **Belts & Pulleys**: Common for X/Y movement
	- **Leadscrews or Z-rods**: Usually drive the Z-axis
	- **Linear Rails, Rods or Bearings**: Guide movement smoothly
- **Build Platform (Heated Bed)**: The surface on which the print is built
	- **Heated Surface**: Prevents warping by improving first layer adhesion
	- **Surface Material**: PEI sheets, glass, textured sheets - different materials for different filaments
	- **Leveling Mechanism**: Manual knows or automatic bed leveling ( via sensors like BLTouch or strain gauges).
- **Power Supply Unit (PSU)**: Converts AC to DC to power all components
	- **Typical outputs**: 12V or 24V
- **Cooling Fans**:
	- **Types**
		- **Part Cooling Fan**: Cools the filament right after extrusion for better overhangs/bridges
		- **Hotend Heat Sink Fan**: Prevents heat creep
		- **Electronics Cooling Fan (optional)**: Keeps the board and stepper drivers cool
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