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by bradleysmith 4772 days ago
From Pirate3D in comments:

"@Usman Glad you asked! What is the minimum printable detail? >> We can get the facial features on printed figurines. Do you have any specific test print in mind?

What is minimal wall thickness? >> We use a 0.4mm nozzle. We pjrint our single shell objects at this thickness (0.4mm)."

So, 0.4mm min. XY resolution.
1 comments
hwh 4772 days ago
not exactly. That's merely the output nozzle diameter. "Resolution" is a bit ambiguous here, but I think it would be fair to differentiate: Movement resolution is 0.1mm, while "dot size" is 0.4mm. You can perfectly well "draw" a 0.6mm long "line", but its minimum width is 0.4mm and you are restricted in prolonging this width by just a tiny bit.

"Height" is another matter, since some hobbyist printers sometimes intentionally "smear" a bit with the nozzle to smoothen flat layers.

That's the real art of 3D printing: bringing temperature, movement and filament drive into the perfect balance. Having a fine _drive_ resolution is important. But not only the resolution: You can drive stepper motors in various ways, so they will go "hard" or "soft" or even "bounce back" after movement a little bit. I've seen people doing hours, days and even weeks of tests after tests on hobbyist devices.

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bradleysmith 4772 days ago
That's great stuff.

I've always wondered about variation in 'dot' and 'line' resolutions on extrusion-based set-ups, particularly relating to head movement (speed) & environmental conditions.

I've only had experience running (and servicing) an Objet Connex system that uses printing heads & UV curable resin. It used a stainless steel bar w/ a separate motor & cleaning system to 'flatten' each layer w/ each pass of the print head. I've always wondered if there were any FDA equivalents... I guess there is always the option to intentionally 'smear'.

The DIY 3D printing world is totally a trial-and-error art in my mind, as much of making seems to be. I can't imagine the hours that have been spent on fine tuning extrusion settings to produce good prints. I've always been spoiled by prepped systems, but even that lets me appreciate all the aspects that can go wrong.

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