Working Principle Of The 3D Printer - Renkforce RF100 v2 Operating Instructions Manual

7. Working principle of the 3D printer

• For 3D print, you need a file, which contains the three-dimensional data of the object to be printed (a common
format of such a file is, e.g., STL).
• This file can be produced with the corresponding software or with a 3D-scanner. There are also many printing files
already online that can be downloaded to print an object as quickly as possible.
• The actual printer software has the task to render the above three-dimensional file into a file that the printer can
print. This is a file in which the individual print layers, the print temperatures for nozzle etc. are specified. The file
has the extension ".gcode".
• This GCODE printing file is sent to the 3D printer either via the USB interface by the computer, or saved on SD card,
inserted into SD card slot of the 3D printer for standalone operation.
• The 3D printer creates the object layer by layer (Fused filament fabrication procedure), the filament material is
transported from the filament spool to the nozzle.
• In the extruder, the filament material is melted and then applied to the build bed via a fine nozzle layer by layer.
• The build bed moves in the Z (upwards/downwards) direction, the extruder moves in the X (left/right) and Y (forwards/
backwards) directions. Thus, all prerequisites to produce a threedimensional object by horizontal application of the
present layers are created.
A 3D printer is a highly complex device in which many parameters must be set depending on the
printer, printed object and filament material used.
Additionally, the adhesion of the printed object on the build bed is influenced by printing
temperature, filament material, build bed calibration, shape / size of the printed object and surface
properties of the build bed.
Ambience influences such as drafts, grease on the build bed, etc. also play a role in the quality and
adhesion of the printed object.
For the above reasons, it is not possible to reach high-quality print results at once and without
previous experiments.
Change the adjustable parameters in small steps for the best printing results for your application.
The printing examples enclosed on the SD card provide references, but must be refined for perfect
results depending on the above parameters.
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