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3D Printing – Level 2: Advanced Optimization and Autonomy

Digital Fabrication Lab

Deepen your understanding of 3D printing to become fully autonomous in advanced settings, maintenance, and troubleshooting.

Authorizations obtained after training validation :

  • 3D Printing – Level 2

This training requires one of the following authorizations :

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Objectives

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

  • Adjust print settings based on material and application.
  • Diagnose and correct printing defects.
  • Perform essential 3D printer maintenance.
  • Produce high-quality, reliable prints.
  • Manage complex 3D printing projects independently.

Program

1️⃣ Review of Fundamentals

  • Quick recap of FDM printing principles: extrusion, adhesion, temperature, speed.
  • Understanding critical parameters: layer height, flow rate, cooling, infill density.
  • Identifying key factors that influence the final print quality.

2️⃣ Materials and Print Profiles

  • Study of material properties: PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU.
  • Adjusting profiles based on the chosen material and use case (rigid, flexible, heat-resistant).
  • Best practices for filament storage and handling.
  • Practical exercise: comparative test using two different materials.

3️⃣ Advanced Slicer Settings

  • Exploring advanced features in PrusaSlicer or Cura:
  • Custom support placement
  • Adaptive infill and internal structures
  • Progressive temperature settings (heat ramp, cooling optimization)
  • Speed and acceleration controls
  • Creating an optimized user profile tailored to specific project needs.

4️⃣ Troubleshooting and Print Quality Improvement

  • Identifying and fixing the most frequent issues:
  • Layer shifting, surface artifacts, or poor bonding
  • Stringing, oozing, or nozzle clogs
  • Under/over-extrusion
  • Warping (bed adhesion problems)
  • Using diagnostic tools and methods for both software and hardware solutions.
  • Case study: analyzing a failed print and correcting it live.

5️⃣ Maintenance and Calibration

  • Routine maintenance: checking belts, sensors, and extruders.
  • Cleaning and replacing nozzles (brass / steel / ruby types).
  • Calibrating bed level, flow rate, and Z-offset.
  • Best practices for long-term printer reliability and accuracy.

6️⃣ Practical Project

  • Each participant completes a personal print project following a defined specification.
  • Validation of print settings and quality control (tolerances, strength, surface finish).
  • Presentation of the full workflow: design → slicing → printing → evaluation.

Instructors

Alexander Reed