We all have that moment when there is a 3D Print failure.
The Nozzle clogs or jams, we run out of filament, or things just stop [firmware issue].
The print appears to be a total waste of time and effort 🙁
BUT … watch us Rescuing a 3D Print…
Fixing or Repairing 3D Prints
This situation is repairable:
In this example, we are already using an STL file that we have halved* by positioning it lower into the 3D Print Bed.
This solution is just an extra process of that repositioning method.
We at IDM Imagineering 3D Design and 3D Print prototypes and models in-house for ourselves and our 3D Print Clients so we do not always need a perfect one-off whole print, therefore we can use glue and fillers to finish a model before undercoating and spray painting; you will never see the join.
So, all is not lost. You can simply carry on where the 3D Print stopped.
In other words; reposition your model again lower into the 3D Printing Bed and only leave the required extra amount of the model visible for 3D Printing.
1/ Measure how far you have 3D Printed so far …
Fixing or Repairing 3D Prints
2/ Subtract that amount from the Z offset in your 3D Slicing Software [we use Simplify3D].
-
- Initial Position
-
- Extra pieces position
3/ 3D Print the missing piece(s) and therefore Rescuing a 3D Print.
-
- STL lowered into Print Bed further.
-
- The resulting and remaining pieces to be 3D Printed
-
- 3D Printing completed
-
- A complete 3D Print … alongside a part Print plus the additional pieces.
-
- All the Pieces compared
-
- Success!, the 3D Printed extra parts matchup perfectly to make a whole 3D Print.
Written by: James [Maker] at IDM Imagineering – Equipment for SuperHEROs
*To save print time, as we have multiple 3D Printers, we often print objects as multiple pieces. Waiting for a 30-hour print is a worry; leaving it unsupervised, power cuts, heat for health & safety, noise at night … We would rather divide and conquer and get a model 3D Printed within normal working hours.
Printers: Flash Forge Creator Pro’s 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Software: Simplify3D v3.x
Filament: 3DPrintWorks PLA
Beds: Aluminium or Glass using Masking Tape or HairSpray