After a full year of teaching, you’re probably excited for a bit of rest & relaxation over the summer. Your 3D printer feels the same way. Shutting down your 3D printer over the summer is a quick and easy way to protect the equipment and materials.
Why Do You Need to Shut Down Your 3D Printer Over the Summer?
The materials your printers use are hygroscopic. This means they absorb the moisture out of the surrounding air. If your printer is unused for an extended period–say three months during summer vacation–the continual exposure to open air will lead to excessive moisture in the printer materials.
Your printer will still work, but the damaged material will lead to part quality issues. It can cause problems for the heads on your printer. The heads heat up the 3D printing plastics, which will heat too fast and jam.
Shutting Down Your 3D Printer
Before you shut down your printer, you can also unload the materials. If you shut down your printer correctly, you shouldn’t worry about damaging your materials. But you can take extra precautions by unspooling them and putting them in the sealable bags we provide with the printers. These will protect your materials from exposure to moisture. If you have lost or misplaced these bags, reach out to us here!
You can also purchase desiccant, which absorbs moisture out of the air. It’s easy to find, and you can add it to your material bags for extra protection!
Your printer will have either a power button or a switch to shut it down. This is all you need to do, and it will only take a few minutes.
Starting Up Your 3D Printer in the Fall
Starting up your 3D printer will use the same button or switch you used to turn it off. Most printers can be reloaded, turned on, and fully functional in less than 10 minutes, so there’s no need to come in days before the semester starts to prep your printer.
When you use your printer for the first time, watch out for stringiness in the material. This can signal that moisture got into your material and will lead to part quality issues.
If you notice these or other printer problems, call our support line at 888-891-1716 or email us at support@ttaweb.com. We can walk through troubleshooting steps over the phone and help you resolve any issues. If the problem isn’t solvable via phone call or email, we will arrange a visit to ensure we do everything to get your printer back up and running!
If you have questions about our 3D printers or other training tools, we’d love to help you find the products that meet the needs of your school and students. Contact us here to learn more!
