This manual will show you how to level the 3D printer bed of your E2 Raise3D device. Follow the easy steps below to set up the level with simple tools and the friendly-user interface of your device.

List of Tools Needed

• 5 mm Hex Wrench.

1. The first step is to press the “Power” button on your device. Then click the “Setting” icon on the right upper corner of your screen.

2. Next, under the menu “Machine”, select the option “Maintenance” and then choice the option “Make X-Axis Level Up” move up the X-axis and it will touch the top beam until reaching a horizontal position. Make sure to check the images below to have located exactly the images that you will see on your screen. (Note: The grinding sound produced during this process is normal. Do not be worried about this).

3. The next images will help you to follow the process on your screen to start leveling the bed. The first step is to return to the “Home” page. At this point, you need to make sure that the printing plate is completely clean. Then click the “Utility” icon on the screen, and next click the option “Leveling”→”Simple Mode”. The device will start a 9-point automatic leveling. Following, after the 9-grid interface automatically closes, this is an indication that the leveling is finished. (Note: If the “flatness” is 0.25 value or below, this indicates that the auto bed leveling has finished. In case the number that appears is not the previously indicated, follow the instructions on step 4).

4. This is the step that you should follow in case the “flatness” value is more than 0.25. Following click “Done” to return to the “Move Axis” option, then click the “Disable Motor” icon to disable this selection.

5. Then under the “Utilities” menu, select the option “Leveling” and on the right side of “Simple Mode” you can return to the report provided for the auto-leveling process. Then select the option “2D” mode to view information generated for the report. Make sure to see the images below to have a clear view of how your screen will appear when selecting this option.

6. Next, carefully remove and take out the printing plate form your 3D printer.

7. Continuing under the “Simple Mode” menu, then you will see that the yellow area is raised, and the blue area will appear concave. The next step is to click on the desired area and the error value will be displayed in the top left corner of your screen. As a reference, see the following pictures as an example, on this the left area appears in blue, this indicates that you will need to operate the left two screws.

8. Grab the 2.5 mm hex wrench to operate the screws. The screws that show the positive part will need to be rotated into a clockwise direction in the corresponding area, and the screws that show the negative part will need to be rotated into a counterclockwise direction making sure this is within the corresponding area. Next, place the print plate onto the print bed when finished. (Note: One full rotation of the wrench is a change in height of 0.5 mm.）

9. To ensure that the auto-leveling is completely set, repeat the steps 6-8 until the auto-leveling report shows that the printer is ready to use. (Note: The recommendation to print complex models is using the “flatness” set to 0.25 value or below).

10. When the device is ready to print, a “Ready to Print” message at the bottom on the left side corner of your screen will appear.

Connect with Raise3D:

Have you had a great experience with Raise3D that you would like to share? Please contact us at inquiry@raise3d.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

For more information about Raise3D printers and services, browse our website, or schedule a demo with one of our 3D printing experts.

3D printing is becoming an important matter for education. The idea to implement this novel technique is allowing classroom students to develop new engineering talents while leveraging their overall knowledge, creativity, and design.

According to the magazine “EdTech”, 3D printing technology is returning to the spotlight as K–12 educators are using this technology to teach various skills.

Why is it Important to Teach 3D Printing?

Several universities and institutions are currently conducting studies about the importance of practicing 3D printing in academic programs. In most cases, these studies have shown that 3D lessons are uniquely engaging students to learn advanced concepts and skills.

3D printing is considered to introduce a new opportunity to practice different techniques in diverse educational settings. 3D printing applications provide essential training for careers on which technology is related, taking into consideration that many academic school programs around the world are placing an important contribution on everything related to the digital field. As 3D printing is taking more and more important, the future of additive manufacturing is enlightening, therefore having students involved will prepare them for the future in a world where advanced technologies will have a profound social and financial effect.

In an article published by RobotLab, Elvira Rach, head of education at iGo3D GmbH, commented: “Digitalization and technology are changing everything, especially in schools, the growing digitization is a big issue and the field of 3D printing is especially paying attention. Education must be involved to prepare students for the future, but these changes are so profound that it is not enough to just place an iPad in the classroom. 3D printing can completely change the way students learn and the physical tangibility of the content, learning in a special way.”

Bring Ideas to Life with 3D Printing

3D printing is a way for students to bring ideas to life. 3D printing is a technique that begins with a digital model called CAD (Computer Aiding Design) for the creation of a tri-dimensional object and combines it with a creative process to bring an object into the real world. Also, students can have a real look and feel of their creations being able to examine, analyze, and understand their creations. By trying different colors, materials, and textures their physical abilities are being developed. There are diverse educational areas that include 3D printing into their academic programs, to name a few: Engineering, History, Visual Design, Arts, Geography, Chemistry, Robotics, Environmental Science, and even Mathematics.

3D Printing is Interesting

3D printing creates enthusiasm and passion among students. The student does not have to wonder anymore how the object that was imagined on his mind will look like. Having the opportunity to experience first-hand the model and invention process opens the opportunity for these individuals to test and develop further their attention to detail and problem-solving skills as they will be attentive to learn what areas of improvement may occur. Furthermore, the fact that 3D printing adds value by generating endless designs brings a whole lot of enthusiasm as well.

3D printing gives students the opportunity of being more interactive and participants of the subject as opposed to career modules that are more conventional and need to be taught with a different classroom approach. The interaction between the student and the educator and, the amongst classmates is as well encouraged. They get excited to see the creations of others and learn much more about this process; as they may share how they did it, someone might have a different approach in the implementation of this technique.

3D Printing is a Whole Experimental Phase

3D printers expose students to different experiments and show them that if the object is not perfect on its first try, they can always do it again which creates a whole phase of encouragement and learning. Students may be more aware that try an error is part of a natural process until the desired result is reached. These create students more motivated, self-confident, and happy. The curve of the learning process is infinite, the more students are involved with a project, and the more they experiment the more they learn. For kids, this is very stimulating, for the younger it sparks their creativity because 3D printing is like a brush to a painter, it becomes a tool on which everyone will discover their exponential creativity.

3D Printing in Education Follows a Path of Creation

With 3D printing, students also realize that to obtain a resulting piece, there is a process involved. This is a great way for them to learn how to follow steps, so they learn to become patient and be part of the process involved. They follow a path to see how their creation is being formed, this adds value and appreciation on their efforts; and if they step into some difficulty in the process, they will learn how to solve it, this is acquiring problem-solving skills with an artistic approach, so is less likely for them to feel frustrated or uncomfortable. In sum, they are learning how to overcome difficulties which translates later into their real life.

3D Printing is Ready for the Class

Another great factor is that 3D printers for classrooms and education are more likely to be ready to use, there are many great options of desktop 3D printers and manufacturers that in addition to having a great product, including a great software and learning applications, and they are also ready to start printing.

Having 3D printing in education brings the opportunity for creativity, design, visualization, and the materialization of ideas to a touch physical point. It is expected that with the inclusion of these technologies, graphic designers, engineers, and artists will have at some point in their career education the impact of 3D printing and prepare them for the future economy that is shaping now.

How can Schools Teach 3D Printing?

The implementation of 3D printing is a process that involves not only the students but also the teachers. Educators must be well trained on 3D printing for them to translate knowledge to their apprentices.
3D printing manufacturers have developed specific programs to help in 3D printing for education and provide useful resources for teachers. A professor who is looking to obtain 3D printers or to teach this process may need to get a first-hand experience on this. Several institutions specifically create academic resources for 3D printing education and are available online.

As an outline of general recommendations to teach 3D printing, it is advised that as a first step, set up a plan of action, set goals and objectives of what is aimed to achieve with the class.

Then thinking about the environment, what will be needed to teach the class. What type of 3D printer, how many of these would you need? what is the best CAD software option? what type of materials to acquire, how many students? As a quick tip, there is CAD software specifically designed for kids, and others for young students as well.

The next step may be looking for a 3D printer. There are a lot of different options for 3D printers that are suitable for educational purposes. Choosing an affordable, and user-friendly 3D printer is important. Another aspect is that if the company that manufactures these 3D printers offers a demo of their 3D printers, make sure to sign up for one as it will provide a real experience on how to use this machine and benefit from technology experts to explain its capabilities.

How Does 3D Printing Help School Projects?

3D printing has a lot of potential applications. Students worldwide are beginning to unveil a new era of technology, or as some called the “New Industrial Revolution”. In an article published by CNBC; the concept named “The Fourth Industrial Revolution” is introduced by Davos. This term refers to how a combination of technologies is changing the way we live, work, and interact. Students will be involved soon in technologies like artificial intelligence, internet of things, robotics, facial recognition, and more disciplines involving a new digital era including 3D printing.

Students around the world are participating in several science projects using 3D printing for new creations and designs. In an article published by Tech4goodawards.com Amy Mather, a student in Manchester UK won the European Digital Girl of the Year 2013 and has been recognized by the European Commission with a project using coding and 3D printing. The BBC also released the news on this article and mentions that 3D printing has big plans to be part of the UK and the United States education programs.

In this same article, Amy mentions that the key inspiration for her work is a “digital maker” movement, to encourage young people to be creative with technology. This note also mentions for these movements have the support from “Fab Lab” in Manchester, this is a fabrication laboratory where digital ideas are turned into products and prototypes. This was the first of nine in the UK, and they are also part of a project in the United States growing from a university course, “How To Make (Almost) Anything” created by Professor Neil Gershenfeld in Massachusetts.

Further on this reading, Pieter Scholtz and Gerard de Clercq, they are 15-year-old students at Menlopark High School in South Africa, built their 3D printer with a mobile app, and refer to recycle Coca Cola soft drink bottles to make 3D printing filaments.

In addition to these cases, 3D printing is effectively participating in the development of school program applications. A scholar lesson guide for Lafayette High School  created by Monica Schauffler and Amy Wallisch shows different uses of how 3D printing can help school projects having an impact in diverse areas.

To name a few references here is a list that provides great examples of how 3D printing is helping to create school projects.

• Biology students can study cross-sections of hearts, 3D models of DNA, biological systems, and organs.
• Chemistry students can print out complex molecules to study.
• Engineering students can print a modified part or robot parts.
• Geography students can print out topography, maps, population, or specific demographics of an area.
• Graphic Design students can create prototypes or product designs.
• Food Technology students can design molds for ices and gelatins and cookie-cutter templates.
• History students can print artifacts for closer examination.
• Architectural students can print new or existing designs.
• Design and engineering students can make prototypes of their creations.
• Auto class students can print replacement or modified car parts.
• In English classes, students can print characters, tools, and other items.
• Art students can create sculptures, stands, frames, etc.
• Robotics students can design parts of custom devices.

3D printing not only allows a close collaboration among students and the development of speaking skills, this technology also enhances the way on which projects are presented permitting the presentation of visually designed models to accelerate the learning process.

Common Curriculum of 3D Printing in Academic Programs

In an article published by EdTech Magazine, Technology Professional Development Specialist Rebecca Buckhoff at Moreno Valley Unified School District in Southern California has led a movement in her district to increase access and equity in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) by developing a successful program for 3D printing in elementary schools.

In this section, she speaks about her experience when she was first introduced to 3D printing and four steps to creating a strong 3D printing program. She mentions how 3D printing has limitless applications and how this technology can be compared to other academic fields such as medicine, fashion, construction, manufacturing, aeronautics, culinary arts, and more.

The following excerpt intends to present a simplified view of her entire approach on how to create a successful 3D printing educational program.

She mentions as the first step to create a unique vision using education standards, such as ISTE Standards for Students, specifically the standard for Innovative Designer and Computational Thinker. Then implementing a vision and have the action flow from that ideology. Then, after a vision is established, a goal to achieve that vision must be written with outlined and clear steps providing direction to the teachers who are implementing the program.

The next step is to congregate a team of teachers who are enthusiastic about technology to offer them training and support. “In my district, I started with a cohort of teachers who were willing to learn and serve as lead teachers at their schools” – “We began with initial training on the basics of 3D printing, followed by some lesson ideas”. She said. Then after the initial training is conducted, the teachers meet again to create the curriculum and share best practices.

The third step of her approach is to start with small 3D printing programs and then allow the program to grow and then after, work any problems that may arise having a minimal impact allowing flexibility and adjustments along the way. As the program progresses, more experiences are gained with it. Documentations with photos, videos, and testimonials can be shared to create excitement for this to grow at a major scale. Regarding this, as an example, she mentions how placing a 3D printer in a public place encourages curiosity by allowing students and teachers to ask questions.

The final step is developing a project management system for 3D printing, once projects are being designed and materials are set, designing a system helps to manage students designs. She recommends Google Classrooms for this development and encourages students to get a shareable link of their design from Thinkercad or any other CAD program. Then choose a cloud-based solution and get ready to set up times to print student projects and build a professional social network.

Examples of 3D Printing in Education

As 3D printing becomes more inclusive in education, studies indicate more case applications emerging from different institutions around the world. Here are a few examples of how 3D printing is contributing to schooling.

The Scuola di Alta Formazione (SAF) of the Instituto Superiore per la Conservazione ed il Restauro (ISCR) is utilizing 3D printing for the restoration of masterpieces of the Italian heritage. Teachers at the institute decided to use 3D scanning and 3D printing with excellent results for their restoration projects. Read here 3D printing in the restoration of Italian classical art.

In Russia, the government is progressing a remarkable focus on the acceleration and development of digital technologies. A state program called “Digital Economy of the Russian Federation” launched in 2017 which includes multiple robotics and 3D printing initiatives to help refine and automate Russian Industrial. Their goal is to match the trend as benchmarked by the US, Asia, and the rest of Europe. In St. Petersburg, Lift 3.0 is an engineering center founded on the idea that students and recent graduates of technical universities assist to meet the demands for complex technical developments to create products.

Another interesting story is from FilRight, a company that specializes in the research and development of 3D printing filaments and testing of printers. They were asked to outfit four schools of the Pieter Zandt School Community in the Netherlands with 3D printers. FilRight share their experience of how students learned how to make design and 3D printings using large-format 3D printers.

John Gardner is a student at Foothill High School in Tustin, CA, he has a great passion for engineering and technology and shares a great story. After learning about 3D printing, he began to develop prototypes for an electric skateboard, custom-fit prosthetic limbs, and more. “3D printing is definitely going to be in my future, just because it’s most likely the future of where we’re going, and there’s so much that can be done with it,” he said.

In this same institution, Professor Jeff Farr is also at the forefront of 3D printing, CAD, and manufacturing, integrating additive manufacturing systems into the education curriculum at Foothill High School in Tustin, CA. Jeff is a teacher with 26 years’ experience in engineering and technology education. In this story, he inspired the next generation of engineers to build without limitations and create anything they can dream up. In this interview, he said, “I wanted kids to physically be able to touch what it is that they dream on their mind, so they can dream it up, they can put it in a 3D model in a computer-aided drafting system, and then I wanted them to take it out of the computer and make it physical so they can actually touch it ”. He followed by sharing his reasons why he has included 3D printing in their academic program. 

EdTech Magazine also mentions how various institutions are using some applications of 3D printing in education with a special focus in science, technology, engineering, and math classes. At Harlan Rowe Middle School in Athens, PA., eighth-grader Braelynn Wood took her STEM class challenge to “make the world a better place” by designing and 3D printing a new holder for the school’s badminton net.

How to Choose a 3D Printer for Schools?

Choosing 3D printing equipment for an educational institution is no easy task, but fortunately, manufacturers are providing more options and resources diversifying their products for different specific uses. When it comes to choosing the best 3D printer for school projects, here are a few quick ideas that might help to select the right equipment for any organization. Also, read further for more specific points that can assist as well.

Before choosing a 3D printer, try to answer these questions.

• What plans, projects, or programs will be performed with the 3D printer?
• How many 3D printing models will be needed for the purpose?
• What is the available space that is assigned for the equipment?
• How many 3D printers are needed?

Starting point – Look for an Entire Ecosystem Solution

When starting the journey of finding the best 3D printer for any educational needs, one smart recommendation is to look for a manufacturer that can offer a complete ecosystem solution, and here is why.

A 3D printing ecosystem is a complete solution, every part of it plays an important role when adopting 3D printing for various purposes. The components of an ecosystem provide all the solutions needed to have a successful 3D printing environment. From the right 3D printer, CAD software, a variation of filaments, and materials to work with, a cloud-base program to even including useful academic resources to support and magnify educational knowledge.

Choose a User-Friendly, Affordable and Reliable 3D Printer

Even though the list of 3D printers may become infinite with all the manufacturers out there, the most recommendable equipment for essential schooling purposes is a desktop 3D printer. These machines are affordable, reliable, and easy-to-use. Desktop 3D printers are more suitable for those who are looking for advanced capabilities for engineering, the school uses, and small batch production. So, these printers are a perfect fit for school and education.

These types of printers are also durable and easy to maintain but come with high-quality standards. These 3D printers are also fast-operating machines and are easy to move around for uncomplicated portable capabilities. They also provide high-resolution 3D printing models with accuracy and reliability, can operate remotely, and use a diverse type of materials to experiment with. Some of these 3D printers also use a video-assisted calibration system to make sure that everything is being printed properly, which eliminates bad models and material waste.

Some of these smart machines come packed with important features that can help to minimize the worries related to technical problems. For instance, look for 3D printers that come with safety features to immediately pause the printer and keep users safe. Flexible build plates are also important as they allow to easily remove prints and is compatible with a variety of filaments. The most modern printers are compatible with a wide variety of materials and filaments and come with an easy-to-use interface with touch screen, integrated setting controls, and screen assistance programs. In addition to this, some 3D printers come with an integrated power source to avoid running into any trouble if the power goes off while printing. Last, try choosing a 3D printing that comes with HEPA filtration as they are environmentally friendly.

3D Printing Software – Slicing Software

3D printing is required to work with CAD (Computer-Aided Program) software also called slicing software. This is where the design is built and acts as the main channel to translate the idea into the physical world, the software prepares the files for printing.

Many software applications can be downloadable for free and that also has an intuitive user interface. There are also singular software applications that are specifically designed for kids and young students.

A Cloud-Based Program

This is a useful feature to have to maximize project efficiencies, since working with a great number of school students may generate digital files for all their ideas, having a cloud-based centralized project management platform optimizes the usage, control, and performance of entire team production. Some of these cloud-based programs can be even controlled remotely using a mobile app and allow wireless printing capabilities.

3D Printing Filaments and Materials

Another important part when choosing a 3D printer for a school is that this equipment can work with diverse materials. Students like to experiment with different colors and textures and teachers may identify what works best for their projects. Some filaments are made with materials that are biodegradable plastic and environmentally friendly.

3D Printing Academic Resources

There are manufacturers of 3D printers that come with access to free academic resources. These resources show where 3D models, lesson plans, training tools, and specialization literature are free of access at any time from anywhere.

The benefits of 3D printing in school are vast, and even the challenges of implementing this technology at an academic level may seem difficult, 3D printing presents an opportunity of collaboration, learning, and strengthening academic and workforce skills. Now teachers, schools, and institutions are becoming more prepared to help students prepare for the big challenges of tomorrow.

Connect with Raise3D:

Have you had a great experience with Raise3D that you would like to share? Please contact us at inquiry@raise3d.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

For more information about Raise3D printers and services, browse our website, or schedule a demo with one of our 3D printing experts.

As a general recommendation before continuing with this step, Raise3D recommends following the procedures on how to calibrate the 3D printing nozzle, and how to calibrate the 3D printing nozzle height to verify that the calibration and the height of these nozzles are properly aligned. These can be found in the manual procedures of the Pro2 3D printer.

1. Installation of the Filament

– Install your two filament spools onto the spool holders located on the right side of the printer.
– Load your material by using the utility menu on the touchscreen.
-Note: For more information about loading/unloading and storage procedures for filament, refer to How to Load & Unload Filaments in the Pro2 Manual.

2. Input your Filament

– Access to your ideaMaker software and go to the menu Printer > Printer Settings > and select Extruder Count.
– Make sure to verify that your printer has its extruder count set to 2.
– Next, input your filament type for both, the left and right extruders.
– See the images below to have a graphic reference for this process.

3. Enable the Nozzle Printing Range

– It is important to note that each nozzle has a different printing range. To view this range when aligning models, make sure to enable this feature. To enable the printing range, access the menu “View” > and then select the “Show Extruder’s Printing Range” option.

– Note: There are multiple colors available for different nozzles’ printing range

4. Align Multiple Models

– To align multiple models to their original position with each other (as defined during the modeling process) access the “Align Together” feature on your screen.  Note: This can be in the “Position” pop up menu.

– Next, press the ‘Start’ button, select your printing template, then open the ‘Per-Model Extruder’ tab to set the nozzle settings per extruder. Note: There is the option to set the extruders through the “Model Info” menu located in the main window. You can either choose the left or right nozzle in there too.

– To access the advanced settings, double click on a printing template in the “Select Template” window and click the “Advanced” button.

– Under the “Advanced Settings” menu, you can also which nozzle do you want to work with and other options such as support structure, support speed, all these under the “Support Tab”.

– One thing to note is that the ideaMaker software can identify when the nozzle models will require support, such as when a model is floating off the bed without having a support structure. The software will also notice when this is not needed due to having support from other models.

– Further, on the menu tabs, with the “Platform Additions” option, you can also select your extruder and platform structure choice. These structures include Raft, Brim, Skirt. Although Raft is not recommended to use for PVA and flexible filament types.

5. Edit the Extruder Retraction

– The extruder retraction’s amount can be edited under the “Ooze” tab. Raise3D recommends maintaining the “Extruder Amount of Extruder-Switch” between 2-4mm for any standard filament types, and from 6-10mm for Raise3D Premium PLA type of filament.

6. Wipe All and Its Options

You can enable “Wipe Wall” to add extra shell(s) around the model during dual-extruder printing. This wall(s) can help clean the oozing filament from the unused nozzle to reduce the effects of excess material on the final model.

Wipe Wall Offset refers to the distance between Wipe Wall and the outer shell of the model. If the wall is positioned too closely, the Wipe Wall may stick onto the model. If the wall is set too far, the wiping results may be affected.

Wipe Wall Angle refers to the maximum angle for generating the Wipe Wall. If the maximum angle is set too low, the wall may have a difficult time obeying the shape of the model, especially around curved surfaces

Wipe Wall Loop Lines adjust the thickness of Wipe Wall.

Wipe Wall Type changes the shape of Wipe Wall. The difference among the following 3 types is the distance between Wipe Wall and the model.

Contoured Type will generate a Wipe Wall structure with almost the same shape as the outlines of the model. In some cases, it will be too close to the model which may be difficult to remove especially with inner structures.

Water Fall will attempt to follow along the horizontal model contour. 

Vertical will create a vertical wall at the height of the model. It is ideal for simple structures like tubes or cubes.

7. Dual Extrusion with Multiple Filament Types

Printing with multiple material types may limit printing compatibility. The table below lists all the officially supported dual-extrusion material combinations that are currently possible on the Raise3D Pro2.

8. PVA Print – Selecting a Nozzle

When a nozzle has been selected to print with PVA, ideaMaker will automatically edit some additional settings for better performance with PVA. This will disable some settings under the ‘Advanced’ menu and will not be directly editable. If you need to edit these settings, please open Printer > Filament Settings > PVA 1.75mm.

Contact Raise3D

Need support or have any questions about your Raise3D Printer, visit Technical Support at support.raise3d.com and help.raise3d.com.

The 3D printing market value increased on average 25% per year over the last five years. Its increased market value generated a boom of interest in setting up a 3D printing business. The 3D printing industry offers different niches in which to develop a business.

While each type of 3D printing business will have specific requirements to start, there is general information that can make setting up any form of 3D printing business easier.

Decide Which Kind of 3D Printer You Want to Be

3D printing technology can be used in a variety of different ways. As such, there are many different niches for profitable 3D printing businesses. Some examples include 3D printing prototypes and manufacturing components, setting up a local 3D printing service, and 3D printing toys.

3D Printing of Prototypes and Models

Roughly 65% of the 3D printing demand comes from engineers developing industrial, electrical, or consumer goods. Also, industries such as architecture, engineering, technology, and medicine require models of devices, manufacturing parts, and chemical compounds.

These industries also typically have a section of their research and development process dedicated to testing out prototype designs or finding more efficient ways of creating a needed manufacturing part. 3D printed parts and components not only speeds up production time but also lowers cost. Therefore, dedicating a 3D printing business to helping other businesses with these needs can be quite profitable.

Raise 3D recently interviewed 2050.AT, a 3D printer farm to learn how 3D printing assists manufacturing. 2050.AT created 3D printed components and parts. 2050.AT explained that 3D printing is valuable for producing parts that are hard to find or expensive to produce. 3D printers make prototyping more efficient. To learn more about 2050.AT’s range of work with 3D printing, click here.

3D Printing Service

A more general idea is to establish a local 3D printing service. As we covered in the previous example, many businesses incorporate 3D printing into their production process. However, not all businesses can afford their 3D printers.

In this situation, a local 3D printing service is still more efficient for these businesses than traditional research and manufacturing methods. A 3D printing service also can produce work for individuals that require their own 3d printed products. For example, students may need a 3D printed model for a school project. Or an artist may need 3D printed models or devices for art projects.

3D Printed Toys and Models for Children or Collectors

A third option is to 3D print toys and models of characters or clothing of a character for children, collectors, and cosplayers. For example, a helmet of a well-known character from a tv show or movie will be appealing to all three demographics.

What Kind of 3D Printing Business Can You Set Up?

As with any new business, a 3D printing business will take time to get off the ground. Therefore, part of deciding to start a 3D printing business is knowing how much you can handle. This includes knowing your budget, knowing how much physical space you can dedicate to your business, knowing how many people will be working with you, and knowing how much time you can put into each of your projects.

Since not every kind of 3D printing business is the same, each niche will have its requirements. For example, 3D printing prototypes and manufacturing parts will require larger printers with more specialized capabilities.

How Much Does Starting a 3D Printing Business Cost?

The actual cost of starting a 3D printing business depends on the type of focus you choose. However, the cost of setting up a 3D printing business ranges from $1,000 to $10,000. This cost will be affected by the type of 3D printer that you choose, utilities, rent (if you choose to not work from home), software, and marketing. The cost of a 3D printer changes based on the size, capabilities, and quality that you wish to produce.

3D Printing Materials

A crucial aspect of establishing a 3D printing business is in understanding the capabilities, characteristics, and differences of each printing material. The two main types of 3d printing materials are filaments and resins. The most common filaments for 3D printing are plastics. Each plastic has its strengths which make it suitable for different projects and tasks.

Sometimes a 3D printed device has many parts to it, and each part may perform better with a different kind of plastic. For example, TPU/TPE filaments are flexible sometimes to the point of being like rubber. And PLA filament is durable and easy to print.

3D Printing Competitors

Each type of 3D printing business will have its market and competitors. For example, a 3D printing service will have a local market with local competitors. Meanwhile, 3d printed toys and models will rely heavily on online sales and social media. A general suggestion for all 3D printing businesses is to find an focus on making yourself visible on the platforms where other businesses like yours appear.

Making Your 3D Printing Business Stand Out

All forms of 3d printing businesses are competitive, and it can be hard to know how to stand out from competitors. One way of adding value is to know how to do model design. Model design is a necessary procedure to create a 3D printed product. Many businesses contract out the model design process to another business. However, you can learn how the process of turning an image into a digital model which will be used for 3D printing.

This will give you more control over your project and keep your work in-house. Another way to stand out from your competition is through post finish. Post finish means smoothing out the final 3D printed device and adding color. Deciding how far you want to go with post finish can also help you stand out from other 3D printing businesses.

3D printing offers a variety of niches to establish a profitable business. Knowing the exact details for setting up the foundations for each niche will require more specific research.

However, there are some common factors for establishing any kind of 3D printing business such as learning about filaments and knowing your competitors. Once these factors are known, a strong foundation can be built for a profitable 3D printing business.

Connect with Raise3D:

Have you had a great experience with Raise3D that you would like to share? Please contact us at inquiry@raise3d.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

For more information about Raise3D industrial and professional printers and services, browse our website, or schedule a demo with one of our 3D printing experts.

Professionals in the medical field are working directly with people. Their work affects families. As such, the medical field updates their methods and tactics to make procedures safer, diagnosis more accurate, and the patient’s recovery time faster. And to all this, any solution must be cost-effective so that hospitals, laboratories, and doctor’s offices with small budgets can adopt these technologies as well. 3D printing is a technology which the medical field is adopting to fulfill all these requirements.

What Are the Benefits of 3D Printing?

3D printing is cost-effective and fast which makes research and development, prototyping, and manufacturing more efficient. It is also an excellent solution for any business struggling to find a specific part and component. Specific parts and components have high cost and can be difficult to find if the supplier is no longer in business.

How Does 3D Printing Affect the Medical Field?

The medical field benefits from 3D printing specifically from a 3D printer’s ability to do both customization and mass production of medical devices. The medical field offers plenty of opportunities for customization because patients require 3d printed medical devices that are specific to them and their needs. The medical field also requires a high volume of similar items, which requires the ability of mass production. 3D printing can accommodate both customization and mass production. Medical professionals can use designs or models for 3D printed medical devices, and add differences to make each 3D printed part specific to each patient.

One example of an instrument which requires both mass production and customization are 3D printed hearing aides. Hearing aids are built of the same kinds of parts but require slight modifications to fit each patient well. A traditionally produced hearing aid has a long wait time and a higher cost. However, 3D printed hearing aids can be based on a general design, while still being slightly modified to suit each patient.

3D Printed PPE

Personal protective equipment, also known as PPE, is worn by medical and laboratory professionals to protect themselves from infection when they are treating patients. Examples of PPE include face masks, face shields, connectors, gowns, and goggles. The most popular forms of 3D printed PPE are face masks, face shields, and connectors.

The Sheriff’s office of Sweetwater County, WY recently purchased a Raise3D printer to produce 3D printed N-95 face masks for its employees and other emergency responders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

3D Printed Organs

Another use for 3D printing in the medical field is to create 3D printed organ replicas. A 3D printed organ replica is modeled after X-rays taken of a patient’s organ. Doctors have multiple uses for 3d printed organs. Primarily 3D printed organs allow surgeons to perform a surgical procedure on the 3D printed organ replica to identify any potential problems in surgery before operating on the patient. This lowers a patient’s risk and trauma during and after the surgery.

Since 3D printed organ replicas are modeled after a patient’s organ, it also gives the doctor an ability to examine the state of the organ. For example, a doctor can examine the 3d printed model of the organ to determine the size of a tumor on an organ. The 3D printed organ can also help a doctor identify any potential issues to better prepare and plan for surgery, especially complicated surgeries. In doing so, the patient will receive a more precise surgery with better recovery afterward.

Persona Surgery Modeling Co, Ltd uses digital models to produce 3D printed bone models for local hospitals. Before 3D printed models surgeons were expected to conduct intricate procedures based on rough plans and without being able to simulate the procedure in depth. During the surgery, doctors could only make decisions based on their intuition and experience.

3D printed models gave doctors an accurate, custom bone structure of their patients to practice complex procedures. The results of incorporating these models are a 95% successful implant fit and reduced surgery times by 25%-50%. To read about the Persona Surgery Modeling Co, Ltd’s success with industrial 3D printing, click here.

3D Printed Surgical Instruments

3D printed surgical instruments are easier to produce and more exact. 3D printing is especially helpful at producing small, specific instruments for delicate procedures. Small, accurate 3D printed surgical instruments prevent unnecessary damage to the patient during a procedure. By controlling the production of 3D printed surgical instruments, a hospital can also ensure that these 3D printed medical supplies are sterile.
Additionally, 3D printed surgical instruments have a lower cost of production.

3D Printed Prosthetics

3D printing prosthetics is fast and more cost-effective than prosthetics produced by traditional manufacturing. Since the traditional method of creating prosthetics requires hand-made parts and labors, it can be weeks before a prosthetic is ready for the patient. 3D printed prosthetics are faster and also custom-made to the individual for a better fit. The lower cost of production results in a final product priced at a lower point. This makes it easier to supply children with prosthetics as they grow. Just as a child outgrows a pair of shoes, a child will outgrow prosthetics. With the traditional manufacturing method, it is time-consuming and expensive to buy prosthetics for children. A 3D printed prosthetic is less expensive, faster to produce, and more accurate to the child’s limb.

HK Make Club produces 3D printed prosthetics. Traditionally manufactured prosthetics have long lead times, high costs, and are difficult to mass-produce with customizations to fit the patient. With Raise3D printers, HK Make Club can mass-produce custom parts, have a faster production time, and reduce production costs by over 90%. To learn more about their work, click here.

The medical field is in the unique position of being able to combine two benefits of 3D printing, customization, and mass production. This blend leads to several positive effects for medical professionals. Medical professionals have access to new resources and tools faster and cheaper than they did before. This leads to better and more accurate insights, which leads to safer procedures and easier recovery for a patient. If you would like to learn more about 3D printing in the medical industry, click here.

Custom jigs and fixtures are considered one of the most promising implementations for enhancing manufacturing productivity, operator satisfaction, and safety. However, the high labor, time, and costs that are traditionally needed to make jigs and fixtures have prevented their adoption in certain areas, despite their obvious benefits.
FFF 3D printing technology can help eliminate the hurdles that are preventing wider adoption and greatly expand the use of jigs and fixtures on the production floor. The fast-growing, professional-grade FFF 3D printing industry provides manufacturers with unprecedented opportunities as a reliable, affordable, and flexible solution.

Benefits of Utilizing Jigs and Fixtures

Tooling and fixtures are work-holding pieces that aid in the holding, positioning, and/or forming of other parts during their respective manufacturing processes. There are so many advantages to jigs and fixtures that it’s no surprise they are so prevalent in the manufacturing world. The following are some of the benefits:

1. Quicker Setup: Having a standard reference surface to locate and hold parts means there is no need to manually measure and mark stock material before starting.
2. Increased Accuracy: Similar to the last point, having consistent work holding surfaces eliminates the need to make manual adjustments to either the part of the tool and reduces user error. The rigidity of the fixture further increases accuracy.
3. Improved Repeatability: In addition to improving the accuracy in a single operation, fixtures improve the consistency and repeatability across several operations.
4. Ramped-Up Production Capacity: Jigs and fixtures can be designed to accommodate several workpieces, as opposed to just one at a time. Working in sets reduces the number of tool changes between processes as well as the number of times an operator will iterate.
5. Empowers Lower-Skilled Operators: Since most of the setup is partly automated, it allows a semi-skilled operator to achieve the same results as a higher skilled one.

All in all, jigs and fixtures could lower costs and reduce lead times which is a reliable, affordable, and flexible solution for manufacturers.

Make Jigs and Fixtures by 3D Printing

Traditionally, only a few jigs and fixtures are needed for a production line and different production lines require different fixtures. As a non-standard product for small scale production, jigs and fixtures require a lot of effort to make traditionally. With FFF 3D printing technology, tool designers can now make tooling and fixtures in a faster and cheaper way.

• Faster delivery

In comparison with the conventional CNC machining process, 3D printing integrates seamlessly with the digital model building process, while reducing the time-consuming CAM step. Professional FFF 3D printing substantially reduces adoption barriers and costs. When using in-house FFF 3D printing, manufacturers can further eliminate the time spent on the outsourcing process. This opportunity could be relevant when operators need to restart production on the same day.

• Reduced cost

In comparison with subtractive manufacturing, like CNC machining, 3D printing reduces material waste and cost. Additionally, professional-grade FFF 3D printers like the Raise3D Pro2 series provide a convenient and hassle-free user experience. Once the printing preparation is finished, the 3D printing operation can run unattended. This reduces the cost of skillful labor required for traditional CNC machining.

• Customization and improved performance

With 3D printing, it’s obvious that faster delivery allows for more rounds of iterations, thus improving the jigs and fixtures performance. Additionally, FFF 3D printing is often compatible with a large pool of thermoplastics in various colors. This, when combined with dual extrusion FFF 3D printers like the Raise3D Pro2 series, provides tool designers freedom to print multi-material jigs and fixtures. This function could be relevant where color visibility or jigs and fixtures should be partly made with soft materials to avoid scratching the part.

The Application of 3D printing in Jigs and Fixtures

Many areas on a production floor can benefit from a 3D printed jig or fixture, ranging from high-end applications (machining soft jaws) to simple applications (alignment and assembly). For high-end applications, 3D printing becomes especially beneficial for fixtures meant for prototypes or small-run production, where the cost of creating a metal fixture is significant. Similarly, new opportunities for simple applications that were previously ignored due to costs are now accessible.

• Machining

Generally, vices or chucks are the traditional work holding devices used when it comes to machining. There are other options too, but they all generally suffer from the same downside. They do not work well with complex shapes, and as such, require soft jaws to be made. Soft jaws are connectors designed to contour to the workpiece on one side and to be held firmly by traditional tools on the other. They are typically machined out of aluminum and can have complex surfaces. As such, they can require skilled labor and the use of a production machine to manufacture.

3D printing soft jaws allow you to keep production machines on task and lower the level of the skills needed. Durability is of course a concern, but they have been used effectively for short runs.

• Assembly

Assembly applications are a huge area where 3D printing fixtures excel. Most assembly processes aren’t subject to high dynamic loads, and the fixtures mostly just have to support the weight of the parts they are holding.
This significantly lowers the requirements for these types of fixtures and as such, can be made from more inexpensive plastics that may also be easier to print. A notable exemption in this category is welding assembly fixtures. Due to the significant heat introduced during this process, higher temperature materials and special considerations must be taken.

3D Printing is a Great Technology for Manufacturers

Smart factories should embrace new technologies to stay competitive and profitable while creating a safe and human-centric environment for its workers. As a reliable, flexible, materials versatile, and affordable solution, FFF 3D printing with Raise3D’s Printers opens up new opportunities for engineers and manufacturers to embrace a faster, better and cheaper way to do manufacturing.

Connect with Raise3D:

Have you had a great experience with Raise3D that you would like to share? Please contact us at inquiry@raise3d.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

For more information about Raise3D printers and services, browse our website, or schedule a demo with one of our 3D printing experts.

For many people, 3D printing seems to be a manufacturing technology that exists in the future world. 3D printing technology has been popularized and widely used today. 3D printing was born in the late 1980s. The world’s first 3D printer was born in 1986. However, due to its high price and immature technology, it was not popularized in the early days. After more than 30 years of development, 3D printing technology has become more skilled, accurate, and the price has been reduced.

At present, 3D printing technology is widely used in manufacturing, medical, education, design, and other industries. For example, Surgeons at the Albany Medical Center in the United States use 3D printing to produce organ models; archaeologists of the Italian Agency for Cultural Heritage Restoration (ISCR) applied the 3D printing technology to make copies of precious cultural relics. Now, it is no longer an unattainable dream for ordinary people to own a 3D printer. Makers around the world can use 3D printing technology to create all kinds of models. It can be said that whether for a company or an individual, 3D printing technology can easily realize their desire to print independently at anytime and anywhere.

Italian Cultural Heritage Restoration Agency (ISCR) used 3D printing to make cultural relics

What is 3D Printing and How Does it Work?

3D printing is a new type of manufacturing and processing technology. Visually speaking, ordinary printers print graphics and text on 2D paper with ink, while 3D printing technology converts raw materials (such as metals, ceramics, plastics, etc.) into thin layers by heating, light, laser, etc.

Then, like building a house, the layers are added up to form an entity in the space. Mainstream 3D printing technologies are FFF, SLA, SLM, etc. The FFF is the most common technology, which will be focused on in this article.

FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) is a 3D printing technology using PLA, ABS and other thermoplastic filaments, which will be heated and extruded by an extrusion head, and then stacked layer by layer under the control of a computer to finally construct a shaped three-dimensional model. It is the most common and widely used 3D printing technology, with higher precision and lower cost.

The printing process of Raise3D’s 3D printer

Choose a Suitable 3D Printer

At present, there are various brands and printers on the market, you can choose the most suitable 3D printer according to your needs. It is a good choice for you to choose a Raise3D Pro2 Series printer that is easy to operate!

Raise3D Pro2 Series printer components

The easiest way to understand FFF printing technology is to learn the components of a 3D printer that applies the FFF technology. A 3D printer mainly contains components such as printing bed, extruder, moving parts, touch screen, etc.

• Printing bed: The printing bed is the platform for printing models, and usually the print bed is heated to help layers adhere to each other firmly.
• Extruder: The extruder is the core component of a 3D printer, which will melt and stretch the filaments to build the model.
• Moving parts: The parts of the printer will move on three axes, which are X, Y, and Z-axis. The X-axis and Y-axis are responsible for forwarding and backward movements, and the Z-axis is responsible for vertical movements.
• Touch screen: Users can operate the printer and complete various settings by clicking the built-in RaiseTouch on the LED touch screen.

How to 3D Print a Model?

Unlike traditional processes, 3D printing requires very few steps, allowing you to print more easily. Generally speaking, to print a model through 3D printing needs to go through the following four steps: modeling, slicing, printing, and post-processing.

Modeling

If you want to print a 3D object, you naturally need to obtain a digital model of the object. Modeling will turn the object you want to print into a digital model that can be printed on a 3D printer. You can create 3D models with 3D modeling software (such as CAD software for 3d printing).

Of course, you can also download the model files other users create. The STL files are widely used in rapid prototyping, 3D printing, and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). The ideaMaker Library of Raise3D will also provide you with a platform where you can share and obtain 3D modeling models and settings files.

3D Rabbit Model

Slicing

When you have a designed model, you can use specific slicing software such as ideaMaker to slice the model. The purpose of slicing is to allow the 3D printer to calculate the route and the amount of filament required when printing the model. Just like building a house, you need to calculate the steps to build and the amount of wood needed. ideaMaker will generate a GCode file, which is essentially a long list of instructions, and then the 3D printer will read the GCode instruction to build the model.

ideaMaker is a powerful slicing software, which can create personalized configurations according to different printers, filaments, and models, it can also automatically create precise support structures. Therefore, ideaMaker will provide you with more possibilities for creativity.

Sliced Rabbit Model

Printing

After slicing is complete, you can upload the slice file to the printer, and calibrate the printer to prepare for printing. The extruders and the printing base need to be calibrated, to improve the accuracy of printing. During the printing process, you can observe the printing process through the transparent panel of a Raise3D Pro2 Series printer, or you can also monitor the printing progress remotely through our APP RaiseCloud in real-time. You will have a more intuitive and deeper understanding of the principles of 3D printing in this way. It will be a wonderful thing to observe the process of filaments accumulate layer by layer and monitor the printing progress!

Printing the model

RaiseCloud Mobile App.

Post-processing

Post-processing is the final stage of 3D printing. The post-processing of FFF 3D printing has the following steps (not all steps must be completed):

• Removing support: After printing, you need to remove the support (if the model contains). Filament will remain on the surface of the model.
• Sanding: You can use some sandpapers to make the model smoother.
• Coloring: You can color the model according to your preference and add more details.
• Polishing: You can use apply a specific coating or other processes to make the model surface smoother and brighter.
• Welding / Assembling: When you print a multi-part model or a large model, you can divide it into multiple parts, and then assemble the parts to form a complete model.

Post Processing

Advantages and Development of 3D printing

Although it is a novel manufacturing technology, with its unique additive manufacturing method, 3D printing will surpass the traditional manufacturing process and become a new choice for future production.

• Shortening the production cycle: 3D printing greatly shortens the product production cycle. By using a 3D printer, the company can more quickly produce the prototypes of the product and enable customers to make detailed and rapid feedback. The application of 3D printers in prototyping and small-scale production will continue to expand.
• Manufacturing complex parts: 3D printing has powerful forming capabilities and will not be restricted by complex curved surfaces and precise structures so that 3D printing can produce very complex parts.
• Unlimited design and manufacturing space: 3D printers can print everything as long as you create a 3D model on the computer. Different filaments can be combined to create more possibilities.

In the future, 3D printing will have higher precision and faster speed, and more multi-materials with excellent comprehensive performance will develop. Therefore, 3D printing will be applied in more sophisticated and high-end industries such as aviation, aerospace, military, etc. to create a new industry format.

Connect with Raise3D:

Have you had a great experience with Raise3D that you would like to share? Please contact us at inquiry@raise3d.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

For more information check our Raise3D printers or schedule a demo with one of our 3D printing experts.

Calibrating nozzle height is part of the regular maintenance for a 3D printer. Raise3D broke down the instructions for calibrating nozzle height on the Pro2 and Pro2 Plus to make the process easier.

Required Tools
2.5mm hex wrench

1. Home the build plate and set the “Move Steps” increment located at the bar at the top of the screen to 10mm. Press the down arrow 10 times to drop the build plate’s height to 100mm.

2. Any filament remaining inside the hot end and extruders will solidify once it cools. This will act as a glue and may prevent the nozzle height from making any adjustments. Use the unloading sequence to clear any remaining filament.

Set both extruders to the proper unloading temperature. The recommend target temperature is typically 5-10 C higher than its common printing temperature. Press ‘Unload’ to begin the unloading process. After the unloading process is complete, remove the filament and the filament guide tube from the extruder.

3. Open the ‘Home’ tab and click on the ‘Nozzle Temperature’. In the new window, set the temperature for both nozzles to 0, and press ‘OK’. Allow the components to cool down.

When both extruders reach ambient temperature, power off the printer.

4. Remove the screws from the cooling fan with a 2.5mm hex wrench.

5. Push the hot end until the heat sink touches the collet.

Secure this position by tightening the clamping screw depicted in the photo below.

6. Remove the screws on the right side cooling fan.

7. Loosen the screw marked in red with 2.5mm hex wrench.

8. Push the hot end all the way up until the heat sink, which is the top surface of the hot end, touches the collet.

Secure this position by tightening the clamping screw.

9. Raise the Z limit pin by rotating the bottom screw once in a counter-clockwise motion.

10. Home Z

• Heat both hot ends to 180c or the temperature of the loaded filament from the home screen
• Activate the left nozzle by selecting it in the Utilities screen and pressing the up or down arrows

• In the ‘Utilities’ tab, select the ‘Z-Axis Home’ button to move the bed into the origin position.

11. Disable the motor with the ‘Disable Motor’ button located in the top left of the screen. This will allow you to freely reposition the extruder by hand.

Move the extruder head along the rods into the center position.

12. Use the feeler gauge (included in the printer tool kit) and place it underneath the left nozzle. When properly calibrated the feeler gauge should have friction between the bed and nozzle without requiring excessive force.

To adjust the nozzle height, rotate the large thumbscrew as depicted in the diagram.

DO NOT adjust the smaller side-mounted screw.

**Adjustments should be made incrementally. Changes in height will not be visible until after homing.

Home the Z-Axis, then verify the new height using the feeler gauge.

Homing is required each time the knob is adjusted. Repeat until the desired result is achieved.

13. From the home screen, heat the right nozzle to 180. Enable the right nozzle by pressing the icon, followed by the down arrow. Once the nozzle is enabled, set the temperatures to 0, and allow them to cool completely before continuing.

14. Once the hot end has cooled completely, insert the feeler gauge under the right nozzle, and check the height. If the nozzle needs further adjustments, loosen the set screw, and manually move the hot end until it can come in contact with the feeler gauge.

** DO NOT adjust the bed height. Adjusting the bed will affect the left nozzle, which will require recalibration starting from step 9.

15. Tighten the screw into this position.

Connect with Raise3D:

Have you had a great experience with Raise3D that you would like to share? Please contact us at inquiry@raise3d.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

For more information about Raise3D printers and services, browse our website, or schedule a demo with one of our 3D printing experts.