What Is A Good Print Speed For 3D Printers?
A good print speed is an important factor when buying a 3D printer or when using one for the first time. While most printers offer decent performance, several factors affect the printing speed of a printer.
A “good” print speed for 3D printers is the average speed for printing a particular model. That is, the time it takes for a printer to finish printing one or more models from start to finish.
However, the average print speed that is good and provides reliable results is 60mm/s. This can range between 40mm/s and 100mm/s depending on the exact printer model, print size, and material type.
Print speed and other factors like print resolution, material type, and build plate temperature are crucial in deciding if a printer is a good fit for your needs.
The print speed is typically measured in millimeters per second (mm/s). Lower print speed can result in better print quality, and the print speed changes based on the level of detail for each print.
Recommended Print Speed By Filament Type
The recommended print speed is a factor that is determined by the material used to create the 3D printed object. Below are good print speeds for PLA, PETG, and ABS filaments.
PLA Filament
Ideally, all PLA filament prints will run at 60mm/s, assuming the nozzle temperature sits at 210°C, and the heat bed temperature is set to 60°C.
These speed and temperature settings are directly listed on the filament packaging. As the temperature is adjusted, the speed needs to change too slightly.
PETG Filament
PETG provides some features resembling both PLA and ABS, acting as the middle ground between the two. This is why the recommended print speed is between 60mm/s and 100mm/s.
However, PETG is extremely flexible and can be used to work on highly complex objects. If this is the print style, speeds can be reduced to 30mm/s to 60mm/s.
ABS Filament
ABS filament is similar to PLA when it comes to printing and application. The ideal print speed ranges between 40mm/s and 60mm/s, but the temperature must be monitored closely.
Why Does The Print Speed For 3D Printers Matter?
A slow printer can be incredibly frustrating. After all, buying a 3D printer is to speed up the design and prototyping process.
If the printer takes a long time to finish printing even the simplest of models, it’s probably not worth the money you spent on it. However, the print speed can vary or be adjusted, but it matters because it impacts print quality, printing time, and printer health.
Print Quality
The print speed directly impacts the 3D print quality because the printer needs enough time to go into detail on the object's surface. When a printer slows down, the printer results are high quality.
However, going too slow can cause printer damage too. It’s best to start with the recommended print times and make adjustments as results happen.
Printing Time
The print speed for 3D printers is measured in millimeters per second (mm/s). The lower the mm/s, the slower the printer. A high print speed means more layers are laid down in a shorter time, resulting in a higher quality product.
The print speed changes will impact the amount of time required to finish the job. For some people, speed matters more than quality, so they increase the speed to get faster results.
Printer Health
Lastly, the printer's health must be considered when changing the print speed. Running the print too fast can cause it to overheat, and the printer will break down.
The same is true when the printer is running too slow. It’s best to go by the recommended settings on the printer and make reasonable adjustments after testing.
What Happens If You Print Too Fast On A 3D Printer?
3D printing is a way of making physical objects from digital designs. These printers work by laying down thin layers of material until the thing is complete.
If the printer settings are too high and the machine is printing too fast, a range of issues, like under extrusion, overheating, and improper layer adhesion could happen.
Under Extrusion Problems
If the print speed is too fast on a 3D printer, it can result in an under extrusion problem. This is because the filament is not fed into the hot end at a constant rate.
The filament needs time to melt and be pushed through the nozzle. Failing to allow enough time for this result means under extrusion occurs, and the results will be low quality.
Printer Overheating
Printing too fast can quickly cause the printer to overheat. This is one of the most common problems when users fail to keep speeds under the recommended limits.
Poor Layer Adhesion
Lastly, poor layer adhesion will also happen because the speed is too fast, so the cooling rate cannot adhere to the surface correctly.
Without a proper cooling rate, the lack of adhesion will result in poor surface quality, and the 3D print results will not meet expectations.
Other Factors To Consider For A Good 3D Printer Print Speed
The printer's speed is one of the determining factors, but there are other things to keep in mind that can cause the user to increase or decrease the printing speed. Consider the printing temperature, desired print resolution, and filament type.
Printer Temperature
The build plate temperature is the temperature of the plate where you put the model to 3D print. The plate must be heated to the correct temperature to ensure the model sticks to it while printing.
Desired Print Resolution
The resolution determines the fineness of the details printed within a model. A high model resolution will result in finer details within a print.
The same is true for the size of the print. Smaller printed objects requiring much more surface detail must run at slower speeds.
Filament Type
The type of filament you use will significantly impact your printer’s performance. For example, a printer with a more rigid material will require more time to print a model than a printer with a softer filament.
Another factor affecting the print speed is how much filament is used in each spool. The more filament in the spool, the slower it will be to use up that material and start a new one.
