Renkforce RF100 XL - 7 Working Principles of the 3 D Printer

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7. Working principles of the 3D printer
• The 3D printer requires a le containing the three-dimensional data of the object that you wish to print (.stl is a
standard format).
• You can create these les using suitable software or a 3D scanner. You can also download ready-to-use print les
from the Internet to print objects quickly.
• The printer software converts the three-dimensional data into a .gcode le that contains information about the
printed layers and temperatures for the nozzle and other components.
• The .gcode le can be sent to the printer from a computer via the USB port, or you can insert an SD card containing
the le into the printer and use the built-in control panel.
• The 3D printer creates the object layer by layer (by fusing the lament material). The lament material is transported
from the lament spool to the nozzle.
• The lament material is melted in the extruder and applied layer by layer to the print bed via a ne nozzle.
• The print bed moves along the Z axis (up/down), and the extruder moves along the X (left/right) and Y (forwards/
backwards) axes. This allows the printer to create a three-dimensional object by applying the layers horizontally.
A 3D printer is a very complex machine that requires you to congure numerous parameters
according to the 3D printer model, printed object and lament material.
The printing temperature, lament material, print bed calibration settings, size/shape of the printed
object and the surface of the print bed also affect how the printed object adheres to the print bed.
Draughts, grease on the print bed and other factors can also affect the quality and durability of the
printed object.
It is therefore not possible to ensure high-quality prints without testing the parameters in advance.
Change the parameters in small steps to ensure optimal results for your desired application. The
pre-installed print templates on the SD card can be used for reference, but need to be ne-tuned
based on the aforementioned parameters to ensure optimal results.