The physical limit of how fast a 3D printer can print is dictated by two primary systems: the thermodynamic limit of the hotend and the kinematic limit of the motion system.
The physical limit of how fast a 3D printer can print is dictated by two primary systems: the thermodynamic limit of the hotend and the kinematic limit of the motion system.
Before plastic can be extruded, it must be heated from room temperature to its melting point inside the hotend. The heat transfer is governed by the thermal conductivity of the polymer and the residence time (how long the filament remains in the melt zone).
The rate of material extrusion is represented by the Volumetric Flow Rate (), measured in cubic millimeters per second ():
| Category | OrcaSlicer |
|---|---|
| Library | CAM library |
Engineer, author of The Big Book of 3D Printing and additive manufacturing expert