TOP 3D Printing Maintenance Tips! | 2024 Edition

Welcome to my latest 3D Printing Maintenance video! I'll be focusing on the simple things I've learned to do with my machines to keep them running as smoothly as possible! Routine checks, leveling, cleaning and more!
Enjoy!
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[@Valllentine]

The only thing I can really think of that I wish I had known before getting my first printer is realizing how quick the industry is changing, just waiting 2 months could mean a different printer coming out that you'd want over the one you had decided on months prior.

[@seankurek1705]

What I wish I would have done and I tell people all the time "I have a N3 Max" is to just pull the trigger on a piece of tempered glass for under the build plate. Zero leveling issues or adhesion issues anymore. Just go you any local glass company tell them the size and to bevel the edges so its not sharp. Didn't cost much at all. And I told the girl what it was for and she knew exactly what I wanted and needed because her boyfriend has a 3D printer.

[@PoorMansMiniAutoCare]

i wish i had knew about sizing my armor as well as saving files of diffrent print sizes , also i would have told myself to slow down and not rush to the final project and take my time as that would have saved me a ton of filament and money. and i now have 5 printers and i am starting to have isues with some of them so this video is helping me alot . thanks

[@musetekk3574]

If I could talk to my past self…. Definitely how bad my printing addiction is, and this Frank guy on KZbin definitely helped me fix some issues

[@thecyberhobbit]

One tip I think you could mention is that if you print something and you get a weird glitch or it fails, if upon repeating that print you get the same exact weird glitch or it fails at the SAME spot, re-slice your model and rotate it by a couple of degrees.

[@VideomasterPDB]

I think what I'd tell myself is spend as much as you need to on getting a good first printer. Now you don't need to just cheap out as you'll spend more time fixing the printer. Get a Bambu or an M5 or K1 and just get to printing. Also I was very cautious in the beginning and not wanting to waste filament. A big thing I learnt is to just print. Set something up and just print it. If you keep delaying or trying to tweak something you'll end up not printing at all. And most of all, enjoy the hobby

[@Kylos_Kreations]

i would absolutely tell myself to love MY projects. understand that i will get better with practice and not to compare what i made VS someone else. that i took a spool of plastic and made something from it and to just enjoy the artform.

[@kennedysamarakody4925]

I'm new to the 3D printing hobby. I bought my neptune 3+ back in November.....honestly? I did my research, thats how I found your channel and others. But its really tough, there is a learning curve. Like the printing is pretty simple, you can find bunch of free STL files online. Ill prob never create my own model since I am bad at 3D modeling and using blender and stuff though. My biggest issue right now is maintenance, like it just feels like my nozzle gets clog after each print. But I do try my best to clean it.

[@grey_sloth2862]

I don't really have anything to tell my younger self, it's more for new players, it gets really frustrating when people new to the hobby, expect others to teach them when all it takes is a simple google search to find out information & that it takes time to learn. Even today 2 years in, I'm still learning new things. When I first started I watched so many video, read so much to learn & still go back to some videos, especially yours Frank, so much information.

[@SweatmansFlicks]

Without fail, I always apply glue to my print beds to insure a secure print. Too many failed prints because no strong adhesion.

[@Adurna.]

Id say to myself that it is important to understand how the screws to tighten up everything work. I only figured out by disassembling the whole thing. Soooo many failed stuff due to wobble

[@VegasTraceur1224]

PROPER USE OF SUPPORT BLOCKERS and leveraging the ability to "bridge" across gaps, making support removal easier!! Had to learn this the hard way myself 😉

[@michaelauman2501]

Great advice. Thanks Frank!

[@micraftyworld]

Thank you for this video. This information is very valuable.

[@carterbongen4236]

Appreciate the help! Great videos as always man

[@angrygaragemechanic]

Check belt tension as well for maintenance!

[@jesseturner8693]

I think new people still sometimes don't realize that 3D printing is something that you need to learn to do well. It takes practice and, even with all these advances in machines, it isn't just a full push-button experience like using a coffee maker. Don't be discouraged if your prints from your new expensive printer don't turn out on the first few trys, you'll get the hang of it and it will be printing great in no time.

[@drkknight001]

100% this! I’m very new to all this, and my kids are wanting full cosplay suits.

[@kinley3998]

You are a inspiration

[@jaredlayton741]

Great video! The one thing I wish I could fix in the past was to take my time with upgrades. I had the Ender 3 pro and "upgraded" the fan to a Noctua. While it was silent, it cost me the CFMs the Ender needed to avoid clogging.

[@pophunter1645]

This helps me out so much

[@Vesalius360]

Printable filament guides are a life saver.

[@cookinghigh420]

if I could go back and worn myself it would be about all the little odds and ends you'll need to finish any given project...example., paint , primer, fillers and sandpaper to hardware, magnets, and glues as well as some of the "power tools" like sawdering irons and heat guns.... none of which individually are expensive but if you don't already have a start on some of it then it can add up and feel a little over whelming....and also that failed prints are part of the hobby ...

[@Tomro82]

Yesss this is the video I needed

[@StumblingBumblingIdiot]

I would tell myself to SLOW DOWN. I want to print as fast as possible all the time but in the beginning it helps tremendously to slow that print down to get good adhesion and see how well your printer is doing before ramping the speed up. Curious, where do you buy your bulk filament? Also where did you get that large nozzle cleaner???? Mine are all those stupid tiny things.

[@MikeRaff-yw1bl]

One way I like to store my filament is in a storage size zip lock bag and if you use a straw, you can suck out all the air so it does not suck up water moisture!

[@1048matt]

great video again! very informative even to a long term 3d printer'er haha

[@MilesCorpening]

This video helps so much

[@nickfoster1430]

Or just let them rot and make it look like you REALLLYYY need to buy the newest printer 😂

[@RealUncleG]

That's how I convinced my wife I needed a new one 🤫

[@Artbyartcreates]

I like this idea lol

[@blackfire344]

So just wanted to say thank you for all the info and the work you've put into this I've just ordered the neptune 4 plus with 2 rolls of filament to begin with more shall be ordered after next paycheck 😂 love the amazing builds and everything you've done also the workshop looks incredible 🔥 can't thank you enough 🎉 and if i remember correctly 15 reels of PLA+ will be enough for a suit? 😅 😂

[@No_Worries83]

The one thing I would have said to my past self is “go with the Bambu Labs X1 kickstarter in lieu of the AnkerMake M5 kickstarter.” Great video - thank you!

[@sethnieciecki6370]

I’ve learned from my past experience and replacing printers that normally direct drive printers (i.e. Neptune 3 Pro) are easier to maintain and troubleshoot than Bowden tube printers (i.e. Ender 3). If I could go back and talk to past me, I’d tell him to get a direct drive printer. Thank you for your content, Frank! Everything that you’ve posted I’ve enjoyed and lets me look at different printers vicariously through you!

[@Mark-mu4pj]

Thanks great video

[@maxsgeekdom8514]

those are great ideas for content keep up the great work.

[@BaioWithMayo]

Mine for sure was - some beds have warping from the factory, and a relatively easy solution is increasing the first layer height to at least 0.2 (its own setting in slicers). Have an ender 3 max with an extremely uneven bed that is glass and doesnt stick super well, and I was printing at 0.1 for super detail. Going from corner to corner you could start perfect, nearly scrape the bed by the middle, be way too far a little after, and then be perfect on the last corner. I had to go to 0.3 for reliable prints on the first layer, but giving yourself space when going especially that detailed is needed.

[@Blackbird9070]

I wouldn't change anything about my 3D printing history. I started with a base Ender 3 and upgraded things over time. Could I have spent more upfront for a better printer with more bells and whistles? Of course - BUT starting with an Ender 3 that requires you to learn all the ins and outs, requires you to troubleshoot - it just helps you to understand how 3D printers work as a whole. No sense in starting off with a $1000 printer if you don't understand how things work.

[@theoutcaster8538]

different slicers, sturdy areas to set your printer, prechecking before setup, proper filament and not the test roll lol

[@DeanosRides]

I love you videos mate! I have the little CR6SE for just over 3 years now and just love this machine! LOTS OF TLC NEEDED!! But I love the auto bed leveling, but still needs tweaking every so often. As you said, that hot end! I strip mine down every couple of months and give it a thorough cleaning. Takes 30 minutes to an hour, but worth it. Extruders also need cleaning as mine isn't direct drive. I'm just curious as to how you know if the rubber wheels need replacing and also the correct tension for the belts. On my CR6, the belts are almost hidden in the metal rails and difficult to do really check. But if you could guide us in the correct "tuning" of this, that would be awesome! Because of you, I'm busy with my first Mado helmet also! Very difficult to find the correct paints and stuff here in South Africa. But thanks again for you videos! Easy to follow and very informative in a short time! No need to babble on and on like some other channels! Thanks again mate! Stay awesome!

[@Mrs.GardnerOfficial]

One thing i wish i told myself also something you might have missed, some buildplates come as glass with a black surface on top its carboninium or something but never use IPA on that, it breaks it down and ruins it

[@JoelPerry1]

Advice you gave that I can't stress enough is to check the machine before checking the code when you have an issue.

[@fezloon]

Need the ultimate mrk 85 video 🙌🙌🙌

[@Cre8_Xtrusion]

For my past self I would say, don't get so caught up in all the setting and just have fun printing.

[@Kumquat69420]

Thank you

[@malcolmgeldmacher4998]

If I could give my past self some advice, it would have been to get a mainstream printer. One of the most difficult things I ran into was finding that the printer I got was not very popular and was discontinued shortly after I got it. Because of that, community support and troubleshooting information was very difficult to find and I largely felt alone in trying to solve issues I ran into.

[@titusdodd3588]

When I first got my elegoo neptune 3 max about a month in a failed print threw my printer head off level and eched the print into the build plate.😅 I would definitely tell my past self to check that and save 50 bucks.

[@jmanguming]

i wish i knew that when putting together the ender 3 s1 to screw in the screw half way thenm eft the nozzle then tightn the screws

[@RichardWhiffen]

My advice for past self would be download the slicer tool and load up the STLs to see if the stuff you want to print fits in the print area of what you’re looking for will fit *AND* slice it and see how long it takes. I think had I known how much slower my first printer was vs my 2nd I wouldn’t have bothered with the first printer and sprung for the more expensive faster printer up front.

[@SweatmansFlicks]

Also, for me and bed leveling, I can mostly eye ball it to get an efficient print. No probes, no devices used to level. Mostly eye balling it by I digress.

[@korenm9377]

Environment is a pain here in Australia.. temperature changes in a 24hr period as low as 15c to over 30c. Unfortunately my printers are in a garage with no insulation so a few failed prints and bad adhesion is expected

[@goldgoat22]

THINGS I WISH I KNEW - 1. The technology is exponentially better every year. Do your research and don't buy someone elses old unit (unless a Prusa, even then...). They are typically not upgrade-able. The new printers are SO SO SO much better than previous. The frustration isn't worth it. 2. SPARE PARTS - Having a spare couple items on hand isn't a bad idea. 3. CAD SOFTWARE - SO SO SO much better than it used to be. Accessible, intuitive++, FREE. It's very rewarding to be able to napkin sketch an idea, and then have it created before your eyes. Then it fails, you try again. It fails again. And again. Then on a future revision, you nail it. Part of the process, but you're beginning. You won't nail it first time.

[@deeznuts23yearsago]

You post this the day after my nozzle cooling fan broken on my ender 3 max neo so I had to disassemble the entire thing only to find out that it’s crimped so I have to cut and twist the wires

[@technix_am]

Thanks for these advice. How frequently do you have to change or replace spare part on all of those printer??

[@normanbarud]

Just waiting for a big Bambú, I’m going to have to bu a Neptune max if they don’t make one soon

[@majohnes1663]

i would tell my past self to see how easy changing the filament is, my creality 5 pro always had a problem with this, so I used one spool for 3 months and now when I have prusa mk4 i change it almost once a day

[@vynaltheworld4092]

Also something that helps me is windex in place of ipa qnd haven't looked back

[@robertcervone-richards3287]

I'd say in regards to printers like the ender 3 pro, how to go about picking manufacturers for parts and upgrades. Basically what to take into account when looking and comparing along with what to avoid

[@mattzehr4133]

Paying for splicers that keep trying to charge again for the upgrade. Orca is great and free

[@Deviled_EG]

I feel it is important to know that some of the cheaper 3d printers will require more work and effort put in but it does not mean that they are not as good as other printers

[@abigailpenswick8038]

Regularly checking the nozzle and bed springs. We were getting loads of failed prints on our Ender 3 v2, it turned out the strings were worn out and the nozzle was significantly worn down

[@therick0996]

One thing to note about washing beds, definitely use basic Dawn like you said, and not fancy good smelling soap. A lot of times there are oils for the scent

[@kennedysamarakody4925]

How would you clean a nozzle that is covered with PLA filament?

[@Obroa]

Do you have a link for the filament pusher by any chance?

[@ChoujiSempai]

Which steel shelf units do you have? I need something sturdy to put my printer on when it arrives.

[@ChrisVictoryYT]

I wish I knew that most of the time it's the simple things that are the problem. I actually bougt a whole new bed due to bad adhesion, but when that didn't work, I found that it was just a partial clog

[@_x4k4rma52]

Idk why I enjoy these videos glad I enjoy something tho

[@richardcintron3181]

When I was researching printers I wanted to get one that was fast. However, I wish I wasn't so worried about getting the print done as fast as possible and focused more on quality. Hope that makes sense lol

[@PipaBear]

can i pause a print mid print and resume it later?

[@larryu3727]

The biggest thing I found was that different color filament sometimes requires different heat settings, both for the bed and the hot end. Darker colors take less heat compared to lighter colors. This means one g-code isn't good for all colors from the same manufacturer.

[@deathnite8834]

Something I wish I knew was not needing a brim on articulated prints and knowing the files before printing. I spent so much time cleaning out joints bc I always left the brim setting on

[@JonathanCase12345]

Support placement and INFILL percentage

[@jacobwatkins4695]

So i bought the neptune 3 plus as first printer and plan to get a .6 or .8 nozzle for big stuff which should i get and should i swap back to the .4 anytime i do small prints

[@TheTimTimGaming]

I would have told my past self of the traming technique. If it wasn’t for you, I probably would have not have corrected my prints!

[@malcolmgeldmacher4998]

Do you have videos talking about how to turn 3D printing into a business? I just got a P1S and I’m interested in trying to make some money with it. I’ve looked a little into what it would take, but feel a little overwhelmed or like it wouldn’t work for me. Any tips?

[@JohnyBee013]

Hey past self, think about the time you'll spend on slicers to learn the computer stuff before the print. Also and more importantly, prepare yourself for failed prints - A LOT!

[@Boodster61]

When painting your prints do you use an app/program to accurately get the correct colors?

[@cadenweatherspoon2846]

Hey, Do you think you could tell me how you made the buckle suspenders for your IronMan Suit Please.

[@garbageday2718]

Hygroscopic is the word. Great video!

[@yathawraj1255]

Hi frank , just want to know you still suggest for cr10S pro v2 ??

[@Brandon-jf9cv]

Where’d you get those shelves for your printers?

[@omargonzalez6773]

Yo i have a question how do u pay the electrical bill because the 3d printer is always on

[@Spazer454]

probs a most asked question. but i see in some of ur prints ur using trees what type of settings are you using as the ones im using they like to leave behind traces and making more cleanup

[@martinfamily8018]

Can we see a new Final Fantasy Cosplay print?

[@DarthHyrum]

I have a few questions to ask: 1. can I have a printer running in my house and not have to worry about it smelling bad? 2. Do I need to worry about ventilation and breathing if I have a printer running in the house? 3. Do I need good ventilation for my 3D printer to run?

[@scott.adrian]

I'm in Michigan. My printer is in my office, that gets a bit cold in the winter time. Last year I had no issues with filament storage since I just had some esun black pla+. Later my wife started buying some pack of different glow in the dark pla filament. That stuff only lasts so long before it gets brittle and snaps all of the time Is that because my environment is dry? Frank mentioned he had a dehumidifier, I would assume to save the life of filament it needs moisture not dryness. Mansplain please.

[@CincyPlasmaTech]

Moisture in the filament immediately goes to vapor impeding the plastic flow through the hot nozzle. The brittle nature comes from chain scission of a long chain polymer usually by exposure to ultraviolet light. 'Shroom your filament! If you suspect moisture content, dehydration bake for a couple of hours at about 200F. The closer you can get to the vapor temperature of water (212F or 100C) the better. Beware that you are also very close to the glass transition (pliable/melt) temperature of PLA (120C?). Results may vary. Have fun!!

[@davewhite16]

It's bad luck to peel the prime line before the print is done!! 😅

[@TurtleEngineer0]

1:29 on the left, how did you make that sign on the door of the p1p (or p1s i cant tell) Can you make a tutorial on how to make one?

[@FranklyBuilt]

It’s a multicolor print with the AMS

[@radiotbo4646]

I wish I new its not a plug and play button and that you can't print "anything" there are some limitations

[@TheEvanight]

I’m just starting to get into 3d printing. I want to start eventually doing cosplays but how do I know how many spoils of PLA am I going to need? I don’t mind getting more than I need but I do t want to be left with an extensive amount. Thank you for anyone willing to help me out

[@user-vl2xp8td4j]

Hey my ender 3 v3 ke said problem with heating nozzle so i took it apart to look at it and its just covered in plastic and i guess a wire separated but evreything covered in filament so i cant do anything about it and creality hasn't emailed me back at all what do you think i should do?

[@mrmcfartguy]

Wow

[@user-hw4rh3nz5s]

im 11 and i got a flash forge adventure 3 pro and it was a bad printer after that my dad made me get the mk4 after your video

[@user-yl5yj2eh3y]

anybody else notice the cardboard spools in the bambulab AMS lol

[@FranklyBuilt]

Yep. Work fine

[@duncanmacleod8828]

Googly eyes. Googly eyes make everything better. Bed cleaning is never wasted time. Clean out detritus from hot end path (I just push through some old filament, but will give the longer needles a go). Replace out a nozzle instead of wasting time. Levelling/tramming (ABL is great) using a post-it note instead of thicker card. Store filament in zip-lock freezer bags w desiccant bags inside and clip to hold filament end and it does stops snagging. Write temps on the box. Everyone is allowed to use their printer for different purposes, it doesn't stop me from learning from them.

[@astrodj2767]

Can you make the Captain Marvel the last Avenger?

[@SuperYanhan]

The only thing I should tell my old self before start 3d printing is don't get only one printer!?

[@joelslone67]

Tell them to have lots of patience. It doesn’t happen overnight.

[@JeffreyDoesYT]

I wish I had known not to get the Ender 3 if I wanted to make cosplay helmets without having them in 10,000 pieces.

[@yobtnirp]

lol I feel you

[@Jake0663]

I wish I knew you can't skimp out on a hotel or else you'll get thermal runaway and that a ender 3 pro needs constant upgrades

[@user-hh8lx1vq1e]

i wish i knew before i started is not to buy a original ender 3

[@sirnoble269]

I could use a video on how to make an ender 3 s1 printer 6ft tall to say time and money on making long swords

[@JAKEdSkywalker]

I wish that I had known I didn’t have to 3-D model