Print up to 3 Times Faster with Speed Mode – a New Feature for Zortrax FDM 3D Printers
As a response to our community’s expectations, Zortrax engineers have developed a new feature thanks to which Zortrax FDM 3D printers can work with an increased printing speed within the new Speed Mode. What we wanted to deliver was a completely free feature which our customers could use right away with no need to buy additional spare parts or dedicated kits. All they have to do to take advantage of the new printing mode is update the firmware in their 3D printer with the latest version, which is ready for download at the Zortrax Support Center from today. Read on to learn how to use the new option and what benefits it can bring to your work.
What the Zortrax Speed Mode is Best for
The Zortrax Speed Mode, which is dedicated to Zortrax M200 Plus, Zortrax M300 Plus, and Zortrax M300 Dual 3D printers, is available in the Print Speed Adjustments tab that will appear in each printer’s menu after you carry out a standard firmware update. With a few parameters that you can change before or during the printing, you can easily control the 3D printing speed and complete your projects up to 3 times faster.
Zortrax Speed Mode is available in a free firmware update for your 3D printer. You can control the 3D printing speed in the printer’s menu.
Since it is now possible to optimize manufacturing processes and produce more units in shorter time, the new feature will best suit companies that offer 3D printing services or run 3D printing farms, and manufacture many 3D parts on a daily basis. Essentially, the Speed Mode is a way of increasing production capacity of Zortrax 3D printers and brings measurable benefits to many branches of industry, where time of execution is crucial for both the business and the client.
We can take a look at large automotive factories where 3D printed tools are extensively used on assembly lines. Such tools, usually with simple geometries, have to be delivered to the assembly workers as quickly as possible so as not to suspend further production. And that’s where using the Speed Mode can make a great impact. You can read how Toyota factory in Poland uses such 3D printed tools in one of our articles: How Toyota Factory Works with Zortrax 3D Printers. Another examples may include departments responsible for rapid prototyping as well as companies with significant production output which incorporate 3D printed elements in their products. Finally, the Speed Mode will work great with models intended for further post-processing through sandblasting or painting.
Take a look at a short tutorial which shows how to use the Speed Mode in your 3D printer. In the second part of the clip, you can see a comparison of 3D printing with the standard speed and with the Speed Mode.
How to Use Print Speed Adjustments Options
Using the Speed Mode doesn’t require any hardware modifications. When installing the new firmware update, follow the instructions displayed on the screen. Once it has been installed, go to Settings -> Working options -> Print Speed Adjustments.
There are three parameters which enable you to increase the 3D printing speed. Let’s shine some light on the available options:
Print speed (%) – it is a value which determines the speed of the extruder moving along the X and Y axes while printing. The default value is 100%, and you can go as high as 300%. It is, however, important to remember that the speed values for printing infill, supports, and contours are not identical. Therefore, when you set the printing speed to 300%, each section of the model will be printed 3 times faster than their default values.
Acceleration (x) – it is a value which determines how fast the extruder will accelerate after changing the direction of printing from 0 to the speed set earlier. It can gain speed slowly or more rapidly. The default value is x1.0; we recommend using x1.5.
Hotend temperature offset (°C) – it is a value which determines the hotend temperature during the printing process. Faster extruder movements with default hotend temperature may result in material deficiency in the prints’ structure. So in order to “keep up” with the proper extrusion for printing with very high speeds, you can increase the extrusion temperature by 5 °C (more is not recommended).
Controlling the 3D printing speed is possible with two parameters: Print Speed and Acceleration.
It is worth noting that with the new tool users also gain more design flexibility, as it is possible to change the printing speed during the printing process, without having to hit the pause button. Let’s take for example designs which contain both simple and more complex structures. With such models, you can use the standard speed to maintain high precision of details and increase the printing speed during the process for less complicated parts.
The model 3D printed with a metallic powder filament before and after post-processing.
Another metal model before and after post-processing.
A 3D printed model with easily removed support structures beside.
A super tiny 3D printed metal model.
There are a few things to remember before trying out the Speed Mode. First, follow the maintenance guidelines and perform all crucial activities beforehand. Next, carry out platform calibration and make sure that there is no residue of adhesives on the perforated plate. Finally, despite increasing the printing speed, the raft is always printed with the standard speed to make sure it properly adheres to the perforated plate and facilitate further fast 3D printing.
Thanks to the Speed Mode option, our workhorse 3D printers – M200 Plus, M300 Plus, and M300 Dual – enter a new dimension of manufacturing possibilities, becoming even more effective and faster than ever!
