8 Best 3D Printer Attachments You Need to Have
3D Printer Accessories: Image Source: ubuy.co.id
Over the years, the 3D printing sector has experienced rapid progress. Before, getting a 3D printer was tough as they were expensive, but now there are many great 3D printers that are as low as $200. In addition to that, it’s of importance to know that the success of 3D printing is not just dependent on the printer. When it comes to the quality of the end output, there are a variety of 3D printer attachments to consider.
With the correct 3D printer attachments, you can convert an ordinary 3D printer into a fantastic machine that will produce prints exactly you want. Here is a list of the top 8 3D printer attachments that can help you get the most out of your 3D printer, from removing support material to boosting bedplate adhesion.
8 Best 3D Printer Attachments
1. Print-removal Blade
Print removal blade: Image source: instructables.com
A print removal blade is a 3D printer attachment that makes it simple to remove prints from your print bed. This tool comes in handy when using glue on the bed or a filament that clings effectively, such as PETG. The blade must always be pointed away from you when using these, as they may be rather sharp! Print remover blades with a handle that is perpendicular to the blade or parallel to the blade are available. If you don't want to spend money on a specific product, a paint scraper is a great DIY alternative. BuildTak's blade with a perpendicular handle or generic brands like Reptor on Amazon are examples of this instrument.
Cost: $10-$20
Task: Safely remove prints.
Example: BuildTak, Reptor
2. Glue & Other Adhesives
Glue and other adhesive: Image source: indiamart.com
Adhesives are another vital component of a 3D printer, and they may be used in a variety of ways. Adhesives are mostly used to improve 3D print bed adhesion, but they can also attach multiple components. Glue, hairspray, and other household adhesives work well for bed adhesion, and you can find them at home or buy them cheaply at most hardware stores or online. Elmer's clear glue sticks and L'Oreal hairspray are two examples of bed adhesives that can improve prints by preventing warping and first-layer failures. Different 3D printed parts can be bonded together with superglue, hot glue, and other more permanent adhesives. This glue is ideal for large projects that require numerous prints to join together, such as a helmet or sword. Gorilla Glue and Adtech hot glue sticks are two examples of more permanent adhesives that are a touch more pricey than basic adhesives.
Cost: $3-$15
Task: Provide bed adhesion and parts bonding.
Examples: Elmer’s glue, Adtech hot glue, Gorilla Glue, L’Oreal hairspray
3. Utility Knife
Utility knife: Image source: nytimes.com
A utility knife, similar to an X-Acto knife, is a sharp blade that may be used for multiple activities, including opening new filament boxes and cutting a sharp edge on the filament to make loading it easier. Utility knives can also be used to slice a PTFE tube uniformly (no high points), cut elephant's feet on prints, remove supports, and more. Individual or multi-pack sets of utility blades are available, and the blade's and handle's durability is determined by the blade's and handle construction and material. Craftsman's utility knife and Workpro's folding knife set are two examples of utility knife sets.
Cost: $5-$15
Task: Open the boxes, remove the supports, cut the tubing, cut the filament, and take out the elephant's foot.
Examples: Craftsman utility knife, Workpro folding knife set
4. Rotary Tool
Rotary tool: Image source: u-buy.jp
A rotary tool is pricier than most of the other tools on our list, but it comes in handy in various situations. It may be used for several activities, including cutting, polishing, sanding, drilling, carving, engraving, grinding, sharpening, and more. The tool rotates at a typically changeable RPM, allowing you to tweak or finish (sand and polish) your 3D printed items, as well as repair your printer if necessary. The quality of rotary tools is determined by their dependability, power source, suitable bits, and speeds. Basically, you want a device with a wide range of customizable rates and a large number of suitable bits to be utilized in multiple situations.
Cost: $50-$150
Task: Modify 3D prints, finish parts, and repair printers.
Examples: Black & Decker RTX-B, Dremel 4300
5. Digital Caliper
Digital Caliper: Image source: amazon.in
Another useful 3D printer attachment to have on hand is a digital caliper. It enables you to create detailed designs and do dimensional testing on your printer. This gadget is a digitally displayed measuring scale for more precise, less eyeballed measures. You may use them on your 3D printer to fine-tune your E-steps and flow parameters to avoid over-extrusion or under-extrusion, and you can use them in design to precisely copy another item. The quality of digital calipers varies depending on their tolerance, which is specified in millimeters (+/-). The tolerance of a caliper represents its precision. Digital calipers are also available in a variety of materials. The stiffer and more rigid the material, the better (metal over plastic).
Cost: $15-$40
Task: Measurements must be taken for design purposes, and extrusion tests must be calculated.
Examples: Kynup durable digital caliper, Neiko digital caliper
6. Pliers and Tweezers
Pliers and tweezers tool: Image source: istockphoto.com
Pliers and tweezers can be used to pick up small pieces, such as a screw from a V-slot extrusion, and remove hot things, such as a nozzle. Pliers are used to handle larger items, whereas tweezers grip smaller items in tight or difficult-to-reach places. Pliers can cut filament, remove support material from a part, strip wires, hold hot parts, and remove support material from a position. Pliers and tweezers are available in different sizes, shapes, and materials. They will last longer and be more robust if they are built of tougher materials. Choose between large gripping pliers, needle-nose pliers, cutters, and more types, or get a set of pliers. Craftsman's plier set and Kingsdun's tweezer set are two examples of these toolsets.
Cost: $10-$30
Task: Objects to be picked up, support material to be removed, filament to be cut, wires to be cut.
Examples: Craftsman plier set, Kingsdun’s tweezer set.
7. Screwdrivers and Hex keys
Screwdrivers and Hex keys: Image source: ebay.co.uk
Many printer packages include screwdrivers and hex keys (also known as Allen keys), which you can use to remove or add parts to your printer. With a set of these tools, you can gain access to elements of your printer that are often secured with screws, such as the mainboard or hot end. These tools are necessary for repairing practically any portion of a machine, including 3D printers, CNC machines, and other similar devices. Hex keys and screwdrivers come in multiple forms, sizes, and heads, so make sure to obtain a set that matches your printer's head and dimensions (e.g., hex head; metric). Depending on their precision and the material they were constructed with, different brands have different quality toolsets.
Cost: $15-$50
Task: Access, add, and delete pieces of your printer as needed.
Examples: Cremax, Tekton
8. Filament
Filament tool: Image source: 3dnatives.com
As you may know, the filament is the lifeblood of 3D printers, and if you do a lot of 3D printing, you'll run out of it quickly. The filament is used to 3D print objects and is available in various materials, colors, diameters, finishes, tolerances, brands, and other characteristics. Because most filaments are single-colored (though there are some rainbow alternatives), having a few spools of the same materials in different colors or different materials is a good idea.
Even if you only have one 3D printer, amassing a filament collection is a terrific way to expand your ability to execute projects that require many parts (flexible, stiff, even conductive). Most people use PLA filament since it is simple to use, but you should expand your collection if you want alternative colors or materials, you should expand your collection.
Cost: $17-$25
Task: 3D printing is the task at hand.
Examples: Hatchbox PLA, Sunlu PLA
3D Design Software for 3D Printing
In addition to having a 3D printer attachment, you also need a 3D design software for 3D printing. If you are 3D printing models done by others, it’s time to consider designing them on your own and you can only achieve this using a 3D design software for 3D printing. There are alot of 3D modeling software available but the challenge is that most of them are complex and some are too basic and can’t be used to design complex models.
For beginners and professionals in 3D printing, we recommend using SelfCAD. With SelfCAD, users are able to model, sculpt, render, and even prepare their designs for 3D printing all under one program. Unlike other software in which one usually has to switch between the 3D modeling software and the slicing software, having SelfCAD means that you have everything you need for 3D modeling and 3D slicing. SelfCAD slicer supports most of the common 3D printers. You can use it to slice your designs and generate the G-Code that you can send to your 3D printer for printing. The software is easy to use and you can get started and you don’t need any experience to be able to use it. There are also interactive tutorials that can help you get started with much ease.
Conclusion
These eight accessories all contribute to making the 3D printing process more fun. You can invest in them and you will be able to increase your productivity in 3D printing.
Enjoy powerful modeling, rendering, and 3D printing tools without the steep learning curve.
Need to learn 3D modeling? Get started with interactive tutorials.