A 3D printer is one of the innovative tools you can use to mould a wide range of items. However, there are many potential safety issues that you may face during the 3D printing process. If you have an extensive print and have concerns over how long it may take, let’s find out if you can pause a print.
Yes, you can pause a print overnight. Most 3D printing machines come with the pause feature. You can stop a 3D print right from the control box of your 3D printer, through your slicer file instructions, or by accessing the menu. However, note that pausing the print throughout the night can create some problems in it. For example, it can make a weak point from which the mould can later break.
There is no doubt that the pause option is one of the most valuable tools of your 3D printer. However, it would help if you learned the way you can use it properly. Otherwise, you can end up damaging your model significantly.
Why You Pause A 3D Printer
Being able to pause the printing process is a great advantage. You can reap the benefit of this feature in a wide range of situations. For example, you may want to pause the printing process to add prefabricated elements to the print. You can also hit the pause button to make sure that your 3D printer is not overheating. If you do not manage such a situation, your 3D printer can catch fire.
That is why some people feel comfortable using the 3D printer in their presence. You may also want to hit the pause button to change the filament of your 3D printer. When you are working on a large print, you may need to do this quite a few times. When you are ready to start the printing process, click on the UI and hit the resume button. It will remove the cease command and prod the 3D printer to begin the printing process. If you do not know how to pause your 3D printer, check the manual first.
How long can you pause a 3d printer?
There is no time limit to this. You can keep your 3D printer on pause as long as you like. First, however, you need to keep the print in place to ensure that the printing process starts in the same place it stopped.
However, there may be some anomalies on the print layer once the machine resumes the printing process. The level of aberration depends on how smoothly the machine continues the cycle.
Most of the users pause the 3D printer for a couple of minutes to a couple of hours. However, it would be best to avoid putting your 3D printer on pause for a long time. The reason is, if you let your printer cool down completely, the print will lose the adhesion with the printing bed. As a result, once you resume the printing process, it will fail. In most cases, print failures caused by pausing the printing process are caused by warping. Warping occurs when the temperature of the extruded plastic changes significantly.
However, we have achieved excellent and bad results when leaving a 3D printer in a paused condition overnight. However, to make sure that the 3d print doesn’t fail, you must ensure that all parts of your printer are in perfect condition. Once you check the parts, you can put the machine on pause for a more extended period without facing any significant negative impact. You can also use a good adhesive to make sure that your 3D print stays in its place.
To stay safe, some 3D printer hobbyists suggest that you should pause the printing process without switching off the machine completely. This simple step will maintain the temperature of the build surface to ensure that the print maintains its shape. You can also use an enclosure to slow down the temperature fluctuations.
You can also use a printing material that does not warp that easily. Keep in mind that the quicker the temperature of your 3D printer drops down, the higher the chances are that your print will warp. Breaking down your 3D print into smaller portions is yet another way to take hard pauses without facing any consequences.
Does your 3d printer require a break?
A good quality 3D printer does not require any break. Many 3D printer hobbyists have worked on the printer continuously for more than 200 hours without facing any issues. You need to maintain your printer correctly and make sure that it has high-quality parts.
Although compared to others, some printers perform better when they work for longer hours. Unfortunately, if you possess a cheap 3D printer from a not-so-well-known company, your machine may not be able to run for a long time without facing any issues.
A reliable and popular 3D printer that has been vigorously tested should not need a break if it needs to work for a long time. In addition, these machines come with higher-level designs and temperature control systems that help them perform seamlessly for longer hours.
As long as there are no prior problems with your 3D printing machine, it should be able to run seamlessly, even for a more extended period.
If your printer is not that well maintained or your 3D printer is a bit old and overused, you should try to take shorter breaks while printing. Even though the 3D printers are built to last for a long time, not all parts can stand the test of time. Also, check whether your 3D printer has a thermal runaway protection device installed. It is a safety feature that helps to protect your printer and the surrounding environment. This feature keeps on taking into account the readings of the thermistor. If the thermistor firmware detects a dangerous temperature level, it pauses the printer automatically until it cools down. If the printer keeps running even after experiencing a high level of temperature, it could start a fire. Having this protection is extremely important, especially if you plan to run your 3D printer for long periods.
Recommended reading
Finally, if you are concerned that your 3D printer may get overheated, you should not want to leave it working throughout the night. Instead, it is better to pause the printer for at least a couple of hours using the inbuilt menu system. But, before doing that, conduct in-depth research to find out the potential issues that you may face if you keep your 3D printer on pause overnight.
