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This describes the basic method for testing a new material on a syringe 3D printer and acquiring the default print settings.

Safety

• Same as with operation of syringe printer

Equipment or Bill of Materials

• Syringe-style 3D printer
  • Open-source Wax RepRap 3-D Printer for Rapid Prototyping Paper-Based Microfluidics
  • Open-source parametric 3-D printed slot die system for thin film semiconductor processing
  • Open-source 3-D Platform for Low-cost Scientific Instrument Ecosystem

Operation & Procedure

1. Before you start to get an idea of what you need to do for finding the right print settings - read this carefully - Woern, A.L.; Byard, D.J.; Oakley, R.B.; Fiedler, M.J.; Snabes, S.L.; Pearce, J.M. Fused Particle Fabrication 3-D Printing: Recycled Materials’ Optimization and Mechanical Properties. Materials 2018, 11, 1413. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma11081413
2. Do a mini lit /web search to find the default settings for your base plastic as a rough guess on temp -along with your recyclebot experience if you have any making pellets with the pelletizer.
3. Load your syringe with the material. Look for a minimum temperature that it will extrude out manually by adjusting the temperature and pushing manually with your hand through the syringe. At the "right" temp - you will see the plastic come out of the nozzle - the exact width of the nozzle hole (e.g. no thin, weird curling, etc.)
4. For speed start with some of the default settings under the advanced menu in Lulzbot Cura for the same/similar base polymer- if you have a completely new polymer start at the max speed for your printer and work down.
5. Make the following prints using the STLs in this project (https://osf.io/f4rh9/ ) (note you will need to adjust the sizes of these based on the printer you have - these are for the GigabotX, please send the files you use to be uploaded to the OSF to Dr. Pearce for other printers):
   1. line/liness to get right T and speed
   2. vase - test wall thickness with calipers
   3. cube - test x, y, z with calipers
   4. 5X ASTM D638 Type 4 standard tensile bars.

References