Hello everyone, I've been into 3D printing for a long time and I always face the same dilemma: should I improve print quality or gain speed? For example, investing in quality makes sense for models that require fine details, but fast printing is more appealing when developing prototypes. What do you prefer? In which situations do you balance things by using which settings? I'd love to hear about your experiences 😊
Which is more important in 3D printing: quality or speed?
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It depends on what you're using it for, but I usually break it down like this: for functional pieces or ones that will be visible (like miniature models or equipment parts), I prioritize quality. Pay close attention to layer height (0.1mm or less if detail is key), speed (30-50mm/s for thin walls), and temperature (adjusted to the material, e.g., 200°C for PLA). But keep in mind, if I'm printing something quickly to test a design, I'll use 0.2mm layer height and increase the speed to 60-80mm/s. That said, I always do a small test print first to make sure the part doesn’t warp or vibrate too much.
Another thing that works for me is using the printer's "silent" mode (if you have it) when I'm aiming for quality, because reducing accelerations and noise also reduces layer errors. But for prototyping, where surface finish isn’t as important, I crank the speed up to the max. Just be careful with materials like ABS or PETG, though—if you increase the speed too much, cracks can appear. In the end, it’s all about testing and seeing what works best with your printer model and your needs.