In recent years, 3D printing technology has developed rapidly and gradually penetrated into people’s lives. Many people are curious about how long 3D printing takes before trying it out. In fact, there is no simple answer to this question, as printing time is affected by many factors, including printer type, specific model selected, printing parameter settings, etc. In this blog, we will introduce 3D printing technology and explore the key factors that affect 3D printing time. We will also provide some tips to speed up the printing process and help you use 3D printing technology more efficiently.
Table of Contents:
Main 3D Printing Technologies
The Working Process of 3D Printing
The Printer Being Used
The 3D Model Being Used
3D Printing Settings
Other Factors
Choosing the Right Printer
Optimizing Your 3D Model
Adjusting 3D Print Settings
Using Appropriate Materials
Perform Appropriate Post-Processing
What is 3D Printing
Main 3D Printing Technologies
1. Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM):
Fused deposition modeling is also known as fused filament fabrication (FFF). It works by extruding molten plastic filament through a heated nozzle, layer by layer, to build the final object.
Advantages: low cost, easy to operate, suitable for making large volume items
Disadvantages: low accuracy (visible layer lines on the surface)
2. Stereolithography Apparatus (SLA)
Stereolithography apparatus works by exposing a layer of thin photosensitive fluid resin to an ultraviolet(UV) laser beam. When the resin is exposed to UV lasers, it is cured. Then, apply another thin layer of resin and repeat the laser process until a solid 3D printed object is created.
Advantages: high precision; watertightness; the smooth finish; versatility
Disadvantages: high cost; safety concerns (many liquid resins are toxic and can cause skin irritation or even more serious health problems if not handled properly)
3. Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
Selective laser sintering works by using a laser to sinter powdered material, typically nylon, into solid structures.
Advantages: Support for high-strength materials (especially metals); suitable for models with complex internal structures
Disadvantages: high cost; mainly used in the industrial field
4. Digital Light Processing (DLP)
Digital light processing is similar to SLA technology, but DLP uses a digital light projector to cure resin rather than a laser.
Advantages: Faster printing speed than SLA; suitable for small-batch production of detailed parts
Disadvantages: Resin material constraints (same as SLA); large-size printing may face light uniformity issues.
The Working Process of 3D Printing
1. File Preparation: First, a file with a 3D model is required, usually created through computer-aided design (CAD) software.
2. Slicing Processing: Use slicing software (such as Cura, Simplify3D, Slic3r, etc.) to decompose the 3D model into thin layers and generate relevant data.
3. Print Settings: Before printing, set the printing parameters, such as printing speed and infill density.
4. Printing Process: The 3D printer melts and stacks the material layer by layer to form the three-dimensional object.
5. Post-Processing: After the printing is completed, it is necessary to remove the support material and perform some finishing on the final product.
The following video will introduce you to the specific working process:
How Long Does 3D Printing Take
Some 3D printing tasks can be completed in just a few hours, while others may take several days to finish. The time required for 3D printing is uncertain, and many factors can affect the time needed.
The Printer Being Used
1. Printer Technology
The technology used in your printer plays an important role in the time required for 3D printing. For example, if the model has fine details, a stereolithography apparatus (SLA) printer is more suitable due to its technical principles and faster speed compared to a printer using fused deposition modeling (FDM). In contrast, if the model does not have complex details, FDM printers can complete the same printing task faster than SLA printers.
2. Print Head (Nozzle) Size
The size of the print head or nozzle can also affect printing speed. Larger nozzles can extrude material faster, thereby reducing printing time. However, this may sacrifice details. Smaller nozzles are used for finer and more complex prints, but they might require more time to complete the same print job.
- Large Nozzles (0.8 mm or higher): Using a larger nozzle can speed up the printing process, but at the expense of fine details.
- Standard Nozzles: 0.4 mm is the standard nozzle size for most 3D printers. It strikes a balance between speed and detail.
- Small Nozzles (0.2 mm): Smaller nozzles produce higher-resolution prints but take more time to extrude material.
The 3D Model Being Used
1. The Size of the 3D Model
The size of the model itself is a significant factor in determining how long a 3D print will take. The larger the object, the more material the printer needs to deposit, and the longer the process takes. For example, printing a small statue may take only a few hours, while printing a large mechanical component for a prototype may take 48 hours or more.
2. The Complexity of the 3D Model
In addition to size, the complexity of the 3D model can also affect the printing time. Intricate designs with fine details require more time to print because you need a smaller nozzle to achieve perfect prints.
3D Printing Settings
1. Layer Height
Layer height (or resolution) refers to the thickness of each layer of material as it is deposited. Lower layer heights result in more layers being printed, producing finer details but increasing print time. Higher layer heights lead to faster prints but may produce less smooth surfaces. Typically 0.2 mm is used for a good balance of speed and quality.
2. Infill Density
Infill refers to the internal structure of a 3D print. A higher infill density means that there is more material inside the object, which increases strength but also prolongs the printing time.
- High Infill Density: 50% to 100% infill for stronger and heavier prints.
- Low Infill Density: 10% to 20% infill for lightweight, faster prints.
3. Print Speed
Print speed refers to the speed at which the print head moves and extrudes the material. Most 3D printers support manual printing speed settings in the slicing software, and some also allow real-time fine-tuning through the control panel during printing. While faster speeds can reduce print time, they may also impact print quality. Typically, printing speeds range from 30 mm/s to 100 mm/s, depending on the printer and the material.
Other Factors
1. Printing Materials
Different materials have different properties that can affect print time, for example:
- Polylactic Acid (PLA): Typically prints faster due to its lower melting point.
- Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS): Requires higher temperatures and takes longer to cool, often resulting in longer print times.
- Polymer Powders: These materials are commonly used for SLS printing and tend to take longer due to their processing requirements.
2. Post-Processing
Post-processing involves removing the support structure, sanding, painting, or curing the printed object. This step can add a lot of time to the whole process. For example, SLA and DLP printers often require cleaning and UV curing, which can add hours to the total time. FDM printing may require less post-processing but still requires the removal of supports and smooth surfaces. And the degree of processing also depends on your expectations for the final product. If you want to get a perfect finished product, post-processing will take longer, extending the overall print time.
How To Speed Up 3D Printing Time
Choosing the Right Printer
Choosing a 3D printer must match the quality of the end product you expect.
- If you require high-precision parts, prioritize professional-grade SLA/DLP printers — they offer a better balance of speed and fine detail.
- For large-volume models that don’t require refinement, FDM printers can avoid spending a lot of time on unnecessary precision.
- In addition, you can also choose the appropriate print head size according to your needs.
Optimizing Your 3D Model
- Remove unnecessary details (such as small textures) that require slow, precise movement.
- Split large models into smaller models for parallel printing on multiple machines or splitting print tasks.
- Use small models for print testing, which allows you to detect errors in parameters as early as possible for timely adjustments.
Here is an example of optimizing a 3D design model:
Adjusting 3D Print Settings
- Reduce infill density (e.g., from 50% to 10-20%) for non-structural parts.
- Use different speeds for different parts: keep high speed for infill and low speed for perimeters (to maintain surface quality).
Using Appropriate Materials
Choose materials based on the expected quality of the finished product to reduce printing time.
- For items requiring basic strength and quick printing (such as simple storage boxes), you can choose PLA material, as its low melting point allows FDM printers to operate quickly without compromising quality.
- For items requiring smoothness but not extreme durability (such as display models), fast-curing SLA resin is a better choice.
Perform Appropriate Post-Processing
Tailor post-processing to your desired product quality — avoid over-processing to save time while meeting needs.
- For functional products (e.g., a workshop bracket) where only usability matters, you can skip time-consuming steps like sanding or priming. And you just need to use pliers to clip off support structures (5-10 minutes) instead of polishing edges (which could take 30+ minutes).
- For most regular resin products, you can choose to soak it in 90% isopropyl alcohol for 10 minutes.
- If the product is for display or collection, you can add detailed steps (such as painting or resin coating).
Conclusion
3D printing is an advanced technology that allows you to create highly customized objects. The process of completing 3D printing is relatively complex and therefore takes longer. However, the specific 3D printing time depends on many factors, including the printer itself, the 3D model, the printer settings, etc. By understanding these variables and making appropriate adjustments, you can speed up production while maintaining the desired quality, resulting in more efficient printing.
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