Bridge Test

myminifactory

This marks the beginning of a comprehensive suite of test prints I'm developing, designed to help calibrate 3D printers efficiently. To learn more about this project and other related tests, visit my blog. The two critical factors that significantly impact bridge printing quality are Temperature and Print Speed. By lowering both of these values, you can expect better bridge performance. This project aims to create a fast test print that completes in under 45 minutes. This model is fully parameterized for users with Inventor access. This project includes two .stl files ready for slicing and printing: bridgeTest.stl, which features four varying lengths, and oneBridge.stl, containing only the longest bridge at 25mm. Additionally, you'll find bridgeTest.ipt, a parameterized inventor file that allows you to adjust test parameters. The default settings should work well. The primary objective of this print is to enable quick troubleshooting for issues related to increasing bridge lengths. By default, the bridges span 10mm, 15mm, 20mm, and 25 mm. Note that by default, the bridge sits 3mm above the print bed, which should prevent heat from affecting the bridge quality; however, results may vary. From my observations, horizontal bridges can't match normal print operation quality but can be close. You'll notice defined lines, and if done correctly, these shouldn't be an issue outside of being a slight eyesore on some prints. If your speed is off, it will be immediately apparent. Over extrusion might cause the bridge to sag lower than expected, leading to structural and visual issues above the bridge for several layers before the printer recovers. Under extrusion poses another significant risk, potentially causing the bridge to break during printing, resulting in a messy situation under the bridge that may lead to more problems than over extrusion.