How to Create your Own T-shirt Motif with a 3D printer?

[@gustavrsh]

Bringing a whole new meaning to ironing for 3D prints

[@PiefacePete46]

For us lazy so-and-so's it brings a whole new meaning to ironing shirts too! :o)

[@angelorf]

I've printed on several shirts with TPU a couple of years ago and they still hold up. Here's some tips: - If you notice that the first layer is overextruding then that can mean one of two things: either your flow is too high, or the first layer height / Z lift is too *HIGH*. If the nozzle is too far from the textile the material can bulge out on top of the textile instead of permeating into it. - Different materials require different settings of flow and nozzle height. I used a small patch on the back of the shirt to test settings. Those patches are still there, tho. - Use clamps to keep your fabric flat, but don't stretch your fabric too much, because the print doesn't unstretch after removing it from the bed. - In Cura there's options for the Cross infill pattern to make the pattern follow the grayscale tones of an image.

[@AngeEinstein]

Maybe some double sided tape underneath the print area could keep the shirt from moving without stretching it

[@AlexSwavely]

pro screen printers use a similar tactic - spray tack

[@ethanbroussard]

What shore hardness did you use?

[@DouglasCooper]

I was sure you were just gonna make a stencil. This is cool too.

[@twitte0king]

People have been doing this a long time ago

[@benargee]

@@twitte0king no doubt. Probably started as a half baked Idea that turned out better than expected.

[@friddevonfrankenstein]

LOL I had tried this exactly two days before the video came out because I was curious and it sounded like a good idea. I can confirm that TPU works beautifully. I have the fabric flush on the heated bed and I preheat it to 90°C and 260°C nozzle temperature to make the TPU really soak into the fabric. You can twist it, stretch it, wash it, pour boiling water over it at stab the shit out of it with a spatula. Won't come off :D

[@ehamster]

In Fusion you can right click the body in the list on the left, then select “save to mesh”, this will create the svg and can be set to automatically open that mesh in Prusa Slicer, saves a step or two.

[@philipbyrnes7501]

I love how you are continuing to expand the usefulness and value of 3D printers. It’s brilliant that you aren’t sitting on your laurels and just trying to rake money in but seem to be completely immersed and invested in all aspects of the business and are doing your best every day to make it better and better. Thank you from one small Aussie that is growing and learning from your hard work and for all that I will achieve in the future from it I am truly grateful, thanks mate, 11 out of 10 👍 . 😎

[@Violianom]

Had this idea for a while, but never made it yet: colour changing filament on the shirt. Would be cool to see it in action when you step out of your house on a hot day

[@Praecantetia]

That's such a cool idea

[@Violianom]

@@Praecantetia Thanks!

[@PiefacePete46]

Expand that concept for training high-performance athletes... coaches can see at a glance how their training program is working different muscle groups by the colour of the clothing.

[@alexanderunguez9633]

Since it's spring steel, there's no reason not to use magnets to clip the shirt to the bed. You can place magnets around the section that needs to be flat and then tuck in the shirt, that way you don't run into issues with pre-stretching the fabric during the application (and you don't have to take the metal tabs off of your clips)

[@chaios]

This gave me an idea. 3D print the negative image directly on a traditional silkscreen, and voila!

[@teoeigi]

I think it will work but gonna take lot of time

[@nellibaba]

When I'll have a free afternoon I am gonna try.

[@teoeigi]

@@nellibaba please update the results

[@jakubruzicka1686]

Finally a reason to iron T-shirts at all :D That is very cool idea. Thanks for sharing.

[@LimpiezasMyG]

perfect for single use tshirts like parties, or for staff in events

[@Hangs4Fun]

My thoughts exactly

[@kaba_me]

Vinyl cut with a craft knife is easier and will actually last.

[@Hangs4Fun]

@@kaba_me the point is, many don't have a vinyl cutter, but if they have a 3D printer... I don't understand how that point is lost here

[@kaba_me]

@@Hangs4Fun You can easily cut vinyl by hand using a $5 craft knife kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXyUoWCerZWWm6c

[@Hangs4Fun]

@@kaba_me same point. They aren't selling you on the idea of buying a 3d printer to do that, just if you already have and filament, this is an option if you don't have vinyl or craft knife, neither of which I have nor care to.

[@vasiliynkudryavtsev]

Brilliant! I was thinking the same idea, but was not sure which filament to use and how to transfer image printed on the bed to fabric. So far, I envisioned to print on glass bed, put fabric on top and iron until plastic melts (or heat the bed to 100C). This way I could remove the skirt beforehand.

[@iskandartaib]

Interesting. I wonder what happens if you make an iron-on decal using TPU rather than PLA. Also I wonder if there's a Z-lift equivalent in Cura.

[@watchm4ker]

The issue is getting the plastic hot enough with the iron to melt - or at least squish - into the fabric. Irons, after all, aren't meant to get *much* hotter then 100 C.

[@iskandartaib]

@@watchm4ker And you don't want the fabric to scorch, either... I must admit, years ago I was playing with the paper they sell that transfers ink jet prints onto fabric. Those actually work very well. Getting prints onto dark shirts does take some doing, though.

[@radianttakanuva8388]

That would be the Z-offset setting and there's a plugin you can install in Cura for that

[@iskandartaib]

@@radianttakanuva8388 Any details? Where do I get the plug-in? Actually, come to think of it.. since I use a Sidewinder X2 it's not necessary - the ABL sensor will detect the paper or T-shirt and raise the nozzle accordingly.

[@mikefer14]

This is so cool! I spent months in the past looking for a method to do this and you showed it in a few minutes. Love you! Keep it up with the good content!

[@sebassanchezc-1379]

Textil vinyl and a a plotter

[@UnderwaterAnxiety]

I have been printing and ironing TPU prints onto my t-shirts for about 2 years now. Exactly like you guys show in the video with the iron. TPU prints that are ironed on typically last around 30 washings in the washing machine on super heavy wash mode. They also go into the dryer with all my other clothes and have never come loose that way.

[@lordcarloshere]

Do you print a single layer, or more?

[@Daepilin]

That is great news! I thought (from the video, that tpu might only work if printed on directly. But this should be much much easier

[@UnderwaterAnxiety]

@@lordcarloshere I print .2 mm single layer. I've also experimented with double layer if I wanted it to be less see through.

[@RC-fp1tl]

Awesome! Thanks for the info! After 30 washings, do they begin to peel off, or break apart? Is there a way to make them last longer?

[@millerco2000]

If the print starts to peal off at some point, maybe 15 washes down the road, can you just touch it up by remelting it with an iron?

[@benjaminholcomb9478]

I could see this being exceptionally useful for printing logos / identifying marks on pieces where the fabric stays stiff. Things like shoulder pads on armor. Where you want a fabric outer layer over some sort of structure, like foam. Might work well on things like hats as well, although they might not Cooperate well with the printing process.

[@iskandartaib]

Ah... IMPORTANT piece of information on this video. Cleaning nozzles externally with a WIRE BRUSH!!! Need to get a wire brush.. 😁 I've been plagued by dirty nozzles, wasn't sure how to clean them before this.

[@mick0matic]

Also get a decent one, mine started shedding its copper furr after the second use. Shes bald now.

[@iskandartaib]

@@mick0matic I got some wire brushes, and yes, VERY NICE to know especially when you need to print tiny things out of PETG. Even a slightly dirty nozzle can destroy your print.

[@slingitsideways]

I've been doing this with TPU for a while, on a CR-20 and now the Ender 6. Core XY makes it a whole lot easier to set up, as does a BL Touch. Just make sure your retractions are spot on when using flexibles, because the stringing will stick and ruin it. As for how long do they last? I have work T shirts I printed 5 years ago that have gone through hundreds of washes, and the print is still as the day I printed.

[@eliwazmoonsfire6303]

Special fabric filaments anyone? XD Very nice! I so love my Prusa! Thank you again so very much for a reliable machine an a a very versatile one.

[@redfox05nl]

Great vid!!! Love that you have several options for printing and step by step guide. Thanks!

[@pirobot668beta]

I print onto Thule fabric, then sew the print in place. Thule is an open weave, very flexible.

[@afkafkafk]

Like making a patch right?

[@DionV]

Did you mean "tulle" ?

[@3DJapan]

Very interesting. This past summer I was making t-shirts by laser cutting stencils out of freezer paper, sticking them to the shirt with an iron, then spraying with bleach.

[@mousekrup]

Is the step with printing on the baking paper necessary? Why not print directly on the steel sheet, peel it off and then just iron-on throught the baking paper?

[@WoLpH]

You want some baking paper in any case because it would otherwise stick to the iron

[@paulsmith6505]

Good question, I have just tried this and the print was welded to the baking paper. Please let me know if you try this method (I have ruined 2 of my wife tops, she has made it clear there will not be a 3rd 😂)

[@RC-fp1tl]

@@WoLpH yeah but why can’t you put the paper in between later?

[@WoLpH]

@@RC-fp1tl Yeah, probably. Although the texture could be relevant as well here.

[@FrankFoeth]

What would be the requirements to make a single use stencil this way? You could add fine details this way, normally reserved for silkscreen prints. But preparing a silkscreen comes with its cost and its own set of problems.

[@MMuraseofSandvich]

I'm thinking a cutting machine like a Cricut would be a better tool for stenciling.

[@MG_Sid]

Amazing idea. I will have to try this later. Going to look up which filament would be best for this. Looks like it is PLA shown in Slicer.

[@pietervb694]

I saw this on KZbin 3 years ago, nothing new. Glad you liked it

[@Steyn12]

Hi, have you tried washing the t-shirts inside out? With normal graphic tshirt, it is better to wash them inside out so the graphic does not come off.

[@nairocamilo]

I was thinking of that the moment he put them on the washing machine!

[@scottgirdwood5144]

Yes, I was going to mention that, thats one big detail that is important especially needed when trying to print with material which is not designed for garment printing, also if you put vinegar on garment then wash it, it helps to lock it all in

[@redfox05nl]

@@scottgirdwood5144 vinegar hey? Any ideas why. I know vinegar is great for cleaning, but this sounds interesting

[@jakubkoci4626]

Hello, I have not tried it. But of course, it should be more sensitive to the graphic.

[@Lolikuki-g3]

Thank you for posting this ❤🎉 much love.

[@featherwind6605]

Does the print feel raised? Or, is it smooth on the material?

[@radar9790]

I can definitely see some COSPLAY use cases for this. You could a pattern directly on costume pieces. Though I imagine synthetics are a no go with this process.

[@DS321o]

I like the Angkor Wat wallpaper! 👌

[@RuniRiot]

HOLY SMOKES THIS SAVES ME SO MUCH TIME AND MONEY!

[@apinakapinastorba]

Can you print flex filament to the paper too? Needs glue stick?

[@randomguyfrominternet]

You can 100% print flex on paper. No glue or anything else is needed. I would actually recommend you to print every model from flex materials on paper tape. Pure TPU/TPE filaments tend to stick so well to the PEI beds that you can have really hard times trying to remove them.

[@apinakapinastorba]

@@randomguyfrominternet Thanks man! I’ve only printed Flexfill TPU on the satin sheet so far.

[@jakubkoci4626]

If you're using a baking paper, glue stick is needed! Baking paper has a non-adhesive surface and the filament won't stick to it, even if it's flexible filament.

[@randomguyfrominternet]

Of course. I understood the question so that you print on paper without any surface finishes. In terms of replicating the process shown in the video - transferring the print onto fabric with heat - you will need a heat-resistant non-adhesive medium with some sort of non-permanent, heat-responsive binder on it. That's how this whole heat transfer thing works.

[@apinakapinastorba]

@@jakubkoci4626 Thanks :)

[@baconman9882]

so glad this popped into my recommended

[@arthurmorgan8966]

I used dial gauge to level my bed, idea of printing TPU directly on a t-shirt still feels like an entirely different level for me.

[@VayaconChupacabra]

Great, but what about the dryer?

[@jontaba80]

This just blew my mind 🤯

[@neoprint3d]

such a cool concept

[@3rutu5]

great video, for the iron on did you use PLA or TPU?

[@Prusa3D]

TPU ;)

[@Beehive66]

Great tutorial! Thanks!

[@callsignprofessor]

Great video! To the point but with good information. Perfect!

[@MMuraseofSandvich]

I'm sure it's possible to import SVG in OpenSCAD, in case one can't afford Fusion.

[@albo5194]

you mean the freeware fusion that costs absoultly nothing? :D

[@SergioEduP]

also possible in FreeCAD

[@EdwardDowner]

How about using glue stick to hold the tshirt down on the bed?

[@nocknock4832]

this is pretty cool. the concept ya but mainly how real josef is with us

[@RubSomefastOnIt]

Nice! I have the perfect printer for this, my tronxy x5sa has a bed that a shirt should fit on super easy with no modifications needed.

[@DinnerSonic]

I was always told to wash/dry shirts with designs on them folded inside out, I wonder if the iron on shirts made this way would last longer in the wash if you did that, or if you did and I didn't notice. Actually, the plastic printed on a shirt style reminds me of the kind of (iron on?) shirts I've seen at a local shop, I'm curious if those are done in a similar manner.

[@valenciaengineering]

I am not sure if the shop shirts are the same but we working with screenprints which seem very similar, requiring a heat press to bond with shirts.

[@ColinWatters]

Instead of carving a pumpkin... print a 2D haunted castle or similar in PLA and use hot water to soften it so it molds to the curvature of the pumpkin. Remove the skin over a large circular area first. Once illuminated from the inside it looks like haunted castle in front of the moon.

[@JB.Rochwol]

Which one is cheaper for business or hobby: Epson T-shirt printer (yes, it exists) vs 3d printing (this process shown here with Prusa)

[@Hangs4Fun]

Wellllllll, I don't have an Epson t shirt printer, but I do have a Prusa i3 MK3S+ :-)

[@scottgirdwood5144]

Lol, how long does it take to 3d print an image? Let alone the filament is not designed for garment printing, it is good for a one off personal use but for business!!! Cant beleave you are asking that question, 3d printer are known for being slow!! So business wise it's a no, 3d printers has no place of any kind in garment printing for long lasting quality, it's only a 'it can do this' thing but it's a waste of time

[@randomguyfrominternet]

You don't even need a special model. Many cheap inkjet printers can be modified to work as cloth DTG printers. And no, I would not even consider 3D printers for this. FDM simply lacks detail, X/Y resolution, speed and practicality.

[@rachaelb9164]

A heat press would work better than an iron if you have one. Cricut makes some smaller versions if you don’t want a giant professional style press. There’s also generic versions of the Cricut press.

[@75keg75]

Can’t you print a mirrored image on the build plate then flip the sheet and iron directly onto the back depositing the plastic on the shirt? Technically you could do multiple models with different colours if only 1 or 2 layers.. if using the textured sheet you would get a nice texture too.

[@jakubkoci4626]

That's an interesting idea, I haven't thought of it at all. I'll try it. :-)

[@75keg75]

@@jakubkoci4626 probably better if you had a heat press, So you can do it quickly and with pressure. There’s also a higher chance of scorching the shirt.

[@ImagiNationLabswithRevChumley]

Washing was fine, but what about pla in a dryer?

[@jakubkoci4626]

If it's well-ironed, it should hold. I tried to wash and dry the prints two times and the well-ironed PLA ant TPU prints held just fine.

[@astro143_]

Can you make an iron on with TPU, or is it best to melt it right into the fabric?

[@dinglebop9998]

What magnets are used? I'm keen to try this out but I need to buy magnets and wait 2 weeks for them to arrive, so I'd like to have the right ones on my first purchase

[@jakubkoci4626]

They're the same size as the ones used in heatbed.

[@striker_9]

What happens in washing machine though

[@PhyNxFyre]

I feel like ironing from the other side would give better results

[@spideyprince7077]

Does it make sense to Print it with ASA? Because its more durable in sunlight. Does this even work with the first method?

[@ranoch8716]

nice desktop background

[@the_smart_home_maker]

Awesome 😊👍🏻

[@PiefacePete46]

I have been pondering on this idea for a while; I was going to print in reverse onto my glass print-bed, then try to transfer it to fabric by heating it with a hot-air gun. Having watched this, I might actually give it a try! :o) I have also been considering printing a PCB mask this way to see if it will etch cleanly. I think the porous nature of the print could be a problem though. I don't actually need a shirt or a PCB, so I was probably not ever going to get around to it. Perhaps someday? :o)

[@ailaG]

The preparation process can be a LOT simpler. Use a black and white image. Not grayscale - a 2 color image. I use Cura but I'm sure all other slicers do that too: if you import an IMAGE it will let you treat it as an extruded 3d model. You don't need Inkscape or Fusion. As for permanency, you can also buy fabric paints and print a stencil.

[@fordkids5904]

would you be able to pre print the flexi filament and then iron it on

[@davissimo123]

What material is the first, non flexible version, made of?

[@Praecantetia]

Finally, I can Design T-Shirts at home for a super low cost

[@tiagoraposo7505]

I really want to buy a Prusa printer however I was not able to find here in Brazil 🥲

[@poonamchoudhary5413]

can we print any design 3-D on T-shirt?

[@TikTik.]

you can also print a custom canvas.

[@unitruth]

Couldn't you use the stamp function in meshmixer?

[@brucewilliams6292]

That's pretty cool. Can you do a TPU print as an iron on?

[@Prusa3D]

You can! :) -Mikolas

[@henshohaki]

This Is AWESOME!!! 👍🏻

[@Erbmon]

ink is so expensive i'm considering straping a sharpie to my 3d printer and print that way

[@sandingo]

Nice angkor wat background !

[@josephmama9657]

Is this process the same with the MK4?

[@kylebrake1806]

I love your videos!

[@ChristianLaufs]

Why print on baking paper? Why not print TPU the normal way on the bed and THEN use baking paper for ironing?

[@dim1723]

Thanks for sharing this. Ages ago I tried this a few ways but never got it to work.

[@thetrcg]

How many washes do the PLA printed shirts last?

[@jakubkoci4626]

It started to peel off after two washes.

[@mysho]

Ok, and what would happen if you put the tshirt in a washer ? Wont it just wash off ?

[@Prusa3D]

6:10 ;)

[@mysho]

@@Prusa3D Oh ok :D That was like first thing i thought about :DD So i wrote it right away ...

[@Jkauppa]

so why not sowing directly with the 3d printer on the fabric

[@Jkauppa]

with different "filaments", colored lines

[@Jkauppa]

why not sow the whole shirt while doing it

[@Jkauppa]

or make a carpet, fabric, with a proper tool

[@Jkauppa]

just need a starter grid, or boundaries, to extend the lines from

[@sik05civic]

I’ll just do my silhouette cameo4 to cut vinyl for stickers… seems more cost effective

[@bicunisa]

Why not use something like Blender for the 3D modeling program...

[@DRZME400]

So stoked!

[@Nuclear187]

Wonder if it can be done with ender 3

[@Bashlearn]

Ingenious 👏

[@OspreyKnight]

Why stop at a base layer? Lets make some 3d greebles for our wearables!

[@3dbatman126]

What's that software for converting image to vector?

[@Prusa3D]

You'll find all the information in the linked article: blog.prusaprinters.org/how-to-print-on-t-shirts_55588/ ;) -Mikolas

[@geet77777]

what do I use if I cant afford fusion 360? is there a free alternative?

[@NytedeGt8]

Fusion 360 has a free version

[@FockewulfAz]

FreeCad. I learned it in 2 weeks. Now I can do any 3d shape

[@duneshkegunawardena3345]

What Filament is used?

[@gladiusilluminatus3720]

So I just noticed that before you start increasing the flow in the video it is set to 95 instead of 100, why is that ?

[@Prusa3D]

That's the default on our printers, it's so that when you send the printer a command to extrude 10cm, it extrudes exactly 10cm (our printers are shipped calibrated this way), but it would slightly overextrude this way during printing, hence the 95 default flow to compensate for this. -Mikolas

[@scottgirdwood5144]

You see plenty of comments from people in groups saying 'some things should not be 3d printed' well this is one of those items!!!

[@bruceluiz]

As wonderful and amazing as the results are, PLA can be as toxic as other plastics when it comes to microplastics - and washing machines can be an important source of microplastic contamination into watersources. Just be mindful when doing experiments like these.

[@Rhoxeus77]

What filament did you use?

[@Prusa3D]

PLA prints were made with Prusament PLA, for the flexible prints we used FilaFlex40 and Flexfill92A, both worked identically more or less. -Mikolas

[@dreamsprayanimation]

Is Screen printing dead?

[@thanhavictus]

Why not just iron on TPU?

[@RC-fp1tl]

Commenting to wait for answer

[@Prusa3D]

It's mentioned in the article - blog.prusaprinters.org/how-to-print-on-t-shirts_55588/ There are even examples of ironed-on TPU ;) -Mikolas

[@yearls]

This is awesome.

[@leomakessomething]

i am just building my prusa i3 mk3s+ and look prusa videos when i take a breake

[@3dprintingpress]

Can the iron way be used with pla

[@jakubkoci4626]

Yes, of course.

[@TheOneTrueHeavy]

couldnt you just use a flexible filament with the iron on method for the best of both worlds?

[@BlatantlySwedishPGN]

You can!

[@brianwilliams9545]

I think I will stick with my Stellaire embroidery machine. Far longer lasting and superb detailing.

[@Seirin-Blu]

This isn’t meant to be a replacement. Just another method

[@dominicodematte]

is that wax or parchment paper?

[@Mikewgoogle537]

Pretty sure it’s Parchment paper …I use for baking 400+

[@MurphyTJ]

Also don't forget to remove the Skirt option 😅