Heat tower 240 to 170C and 190 to 171C - 5mm/level

thingiverse

My first encounter with 3D printing was extremely challenging, but I learned a great deal from it. I chose a very difficult PLA filament to start with: wood-infused. So, I designed a tiny and speedy Heat Tower in order to test and refine my process quickly, using minimal material and time. This technique can help you find the ideal temperature: 1. Along the Z-axis (Discover how to do this with your slicer of choice. Mine was Ultimaker Cura 4.5, the latest version available at that time); 2. Bridge (Try a triangle shape to see the biggest and smallest bridge, and expose imperfections on only one layer); 3. Edge (Use a triangle shape to maximize warp). How to use these files: 1. Start with heat_tower_5mm_5C_240_170.stl, adjusting Z-axis changes of 5 degrees Celsius every 5 millimeters, from 240 to 170 degrees; 2. Repeat the previous step using heat_tower_5mm_1C_190_171.stl, changing Z-axis temperatures by 1 degree every 5 millimeters, now ranging from 190 to 171 degrees (for me, 172 degrees produced the best results, with less stringing and warp - I'll test this further with fan adjustments). I hope this helps you overcome initial hurdles when working with new filament materials. These steps are part of good practices for starting with a new filament: 1. Level your print bed; 2. Print a heat tower (This device can help you find the optimal 5-degree Celsius interval - I'll post instructions on using a 1-degree interval later, so you can experiment and find the best temperature and appearance for your material); 3. Reduce stringing (Follow various small tests to quickly resolve this issue). By following these steps, you can achieve a decent print without neglecting other important settings.