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1.Active chamber heating (fan forced convection +heating bed +PTC heater) vs 2.Passive chamber heating(natural convection+ heating bed)

In the book "3D Printing Failures_ 2020 Edition_ How to Diagnose and Repair ALL Desktop 3D Printing Issues" writen by Aranda, Sean, it is said less cooling rate could let polymer have more temperature and time to release stress. This is the reason why chamber heating is used. But

  1. In the design 1 chamber above bed is already >50℃ with 120℃ heating bed.
  2. In another design "120℃ bed with PTC supplyment which is cycled by a fan and the chamber can be up to >60℃". It forms forced convection, so the printed part may be cooled quickly even though the chamber has up to 60℃ temperature(the temperature difference between printed layer and ambient changes slightly).

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So why we use chamber heating with fan forced convection design other than natural convection deign?

  • Printed material: ABS
  • Bed temperature: 120℃
zhouxiangming
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1 Answers1

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Having forced convection allows to flow air on top of the heater so that more heat will be pushed into the chamber. Also, it makes the chamber uniform.

If you are barely heating the chamber (50 °C) the bed can already do it, while forced will cool down the part more quickly. Forced convection has almost only downsides, no advantages.

If you are heating the chamber to higher temperatures like 70-120 °C or more, the printed part has no problem about being cooled too much, and at the same time the bed set at 120 °C will not be able to heat up the chamber that much (or you need 2 cm thermal insulation around the chamber). Forced in this case has no downsides and only advantages.

FarO
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  • My goal is heating the chamber to 60°C to get less ABS warping. I don't know if I need a fan to make chamber temperature more even. I don't know evenly cooling or less cooling rate with which I will get less warping. – zhouxiangming Jul 05 '23 at 07:57
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    For 60 °C you can just insulate the chamber from the outside with styrofoam, cork, or similar insulators. You will need 1 cm thick insulation if it's good. No need to circulate the air inside. – FarO Jul 05 '23 at 08:07