When we hear or see “resolution,” our minds may go toward the TV’s picture quality or the promise we’re failing to live up to at the start of the year. But the resolution we’re discussing here is the one for 3D printers. Let’s explain how resolution quality affects your 3D printing projects so that all your pieces look like a mirror image of the original.
What Is the Resolution?
Accuracy is vital in the 3D printing process. If you use an unsatisfactory printer, the finished product will be a shell of the original design. The resolution quality is the most integral aspect to monitor to ensure the best results.
3D printing resolution measures how precise a 3D printer is. Its three dimensions, X, Y, and Z, paint the picture of how everything is going to look. The horizontal resolution—the planar dimension— includes the X and the Y axes. This resolution is the smallest movement a 3D printer can make in a single layer. The more complex and detailed your model is, the more accurate the planar dimension must be. The vertical resolution (Z) is the layer of thickness and height. Typically, smaller layers lead to higher resolutions.
You can find the resolution quality by measuring the micrometers of thickness in the planar dimension. Finding the correct resolution on a 3D printer is imperative because even the smallest error can yield poor results.
Potential Factors
A handful of contributing factors could cause your 3D print to be defective. Understanding them before they happen can help eliminate any hang-ups you could encounter. The varying technology can produce different results. What occurs in one piece of technology may not be the same problem in another.
Another crucial factor is layer height. The standard measurement must be between 0.1 and 0.3 mm. Depending on the filaments involved and how they wind on the spool, you can adjust the settings from 0.05 to 0.35 mm.
Support structures influence the way your final print will look. The absence of support structures makes finding the correct thickness and distance virtually impossible. Lastly, the speed of the 3D printer influences the finishing touches. Sometimes, a piece will take longer, but that could mean better edges and corners. The quickest printer to complete tasks isn’t necessarily the best.
What You Should Consider
The borders of a 3D model will likely be coarse if it includes more curves. To prevent this, you’ll want to focus on thinner layers. Since the edges will be smoother when thin, consider the thickness of the liquid material released from the printer’s extruder. Ideally, an independent dual extruder 3D printer should produce thinner layers to ensure the best resolution, particularly when working with sharp angles.
When attention to detail is paramount, learning how resolution quality affects your 3D printing projects is essential. 3D Printers Depot realizes the needs of any project, so we have a great collection of 3D printers to mirror the sharp angles and curves of your pieces. Let us know if you find what you want elsewhere for a lower price, and we’ll be happy to match it!