We bet you have heard about the term “salmon skin” while doing 3D print. So, what is salmon skin 3D print exactly?
However, we have to say that it is not related to food things, it is just an issue you may face while dealing with your project.
In this article, we will help you understand more about this effect.
Moreover, we also have the causes and how to fix them, based on our experiences and the experts.
We hope it helps!
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What Is Salmon Skin 3D Print?
In fact, this is a well-known print issue. Some people find it horrible, while others like it. Despite this, no one wants it to show on their prints. This effect occurs when the outer layers of the salmon are not consistent and have a scaly look.
It appears when small curves grow on the perimeters in an odd organized pattern, similar to fish meat. Take a close look at the photos and see if you can spot a similarity.
Salmon skin effect on the printed surface (Source: 3d Print Guides)
What Causes This Effect?
While there is a lot of factors that can create bad texture on 3D printing, vibration is a common thing that goes through them all.
When a 3D printer vibrates wrong, the printhead is unable to complete the process smoothly. This results in issues such as salmon skin or ringing, in which the model’s surface is not smooth.
These uneven vibrations can be caused by a variety of mechanical and electrical issues, which we have listed below:
- On an uneven surface, a 3D printer sits.
- The print pace is far too fast.
- The printer belt has come undone.
- The stepper drivers are causing problems.
How To Fix Salmon Skin 3D Print
After going through and testing, here we have some solutions for you to fix it. Moreover, you may avoid it from happening again.
1 – Place your printer on a flat and stable surface
Firstly, you have to check to see if your 3D printer is placed on a solid surface that can easily move or vibrate. And if it is, move it.
If you want to check if this is the case, look at the surface closely while your 3D printer is running and see if it vibrates.
If the surface your printer is sitting on shakes while it is running, there is a good chance that is the cause of the bad texture on your prints.
2 – Slow down the printing process
Next, you should lower your 3D printer’s print speed, especially if it is too high.
While the best speed depends on factors like the printer itself and the filament you use, we recommend starting with a fair setting like 40mm/s to check if salmon skin is still an issue.
Uneven vibrations from a high print speed can easily cause bad texture by stopping the printhead from making smooth motions during the whole task.
3 – Ensure that the printer belt is firmly attached
The next step is to check the printer belt to see if it has loosened over time If so, tighten it.
Shaking movements are the most obvious sign of a loose belt, with parts of the printer shaking and vibrating uncontrollably.
Because the 3D printer’s movements are totally dependent on the stepper motors and the parts that are immediately attached to them, such as the printer belt, a loose printer belt can quickly result in fish skin as a result of the uncontrolled vibrations.
4 – Make use of a TL Smoother
If nothing else has worked to fix your problem, you can try to look at the stepper drivers.
The fish surface often appears if you have a problem with those drivers (particularly with cheaper ones). Since replacing all of these drivers can be cost a lot of time and effort, adding a TL smoother is a more suitable way.
A TL smoother is an electrical tool that goes between the stepper drivers and their motors. So that it smooths out the signal generated by faulty drivers.
The motors still work as they should when the incorrect signal is smoothed, and no unwanted shakings occur.
Keep in mind that any noise that the smoothers do remove is most likely due to other design problems in your printer’s electronics.
They are maybe more difficult to fix.
Before and after installing a TL Smoother (Source: All3DP)
5 – If necessary, replace the stepper drivers
Changing the stepper drivers is the last option you can do to minimize the salmon skin 3D print. However, because it needs technical skills, this task can be very hard for newbies. A TL smoother should fix most issues related to the stepper driver. If that does not work, replacing all of them is usually your only way.
Most stepper motor drivers are an upgrade over your old one. They will almost help assist in the making of more perfect results. However, you must decide how much precision you need.
This can, and often does, have an effect on the price. Small steps or a complicated gear train are frequently used to test accuracy.
To avoid future problems, we advise using higher quality products such as the TMC2208 and TMC2209.
Salmon Skin Effect 3D Printing: Why Do You Need To Upgrade Your Motor Driver?
A stepper driver is a high-precision controller that makes a stepper motor’s complicated inner workings more controllable.
A printer controls every axis of a print using its stepper drivers, which are arranged in pairs with the option of up to 6 per machine.
Other advantages could include stall detection, low noise operation, and increased precision.
There are lots of reasons why you need to upgrade this basic component. Let’s take a look at some valuable advantages for you:
1 – They can reduce the amount of noise produced by the machine
3D printers, whether they are cheap price or more expensive multi-color ones, make a lot of noise. Although some will be quieter than others, changing the stepper motor driver will help you lower the decibels it produces.
Nowadays, people design some new drivers to be silent and use technologies to reduce their sound. With the right model, the working tool could be much quieter than it was before.
2 – You can get more stable results
An upgrade version, which controls the inside engines, can help you get better prints than before.
Investing in the best driver product can help the motors in moving more perfectly.
As a result, all parts of the 3D printing task will benefit. Just by changing a fairly simple component, you will be able to make higher quality and better things.
3 – It can help you to save energy
Another plus of upgrading your stepper motor driver is that it can cut your energy consumption.
When not in use, certain stepper motor drivers are smart enough to cut the current.
Your 3D printer’s overall power consumption is reduced as a result of this. Some stepper motor drivers have various safety measures that can help prevent harm if there is a power surge or if it overheats.
What Is Salmon Skin 3D Print? Frequently Asked Questions
1 – What Is The Best Way To Make A Stepper Motor Work Stable?
Because of the mechanical structure, you can use open-loop control to make highly accurate positioning.
They have a simple build that allows them to have complete control over rotation and speed without the use of electrical parts such as an encoder within the motor.
2 – How Can I Set Up TL Smoother On Ender 3 Pro?
We found this tutorial for you: (103) Adding TL Smoothers to the Ender-3 and Ender-5 3d printer.
3 – Why Are My 3D Prints Not Smooth?
The most common cause is that the print does not stick to the print platform’s surface.
In some parts of the print, if the platform is uneven, the nozzle will not be close enough to effectively extrude and bond the first layer.
4 – What Is A Good 3D Printing Speed?
It is ideal to use speeds of 30mm to 90mm per second when making objects with plastic filaments.
Sometimes the speeds on the lower end are used by manufacturers that want better outcomes.
It is also important to remember that your print speed is influenced by a variety of factors.
5 – Can I Buy A Random Stepper Motor For Any Type Of Machine?
Even though most stepper motor drivers are compatible with most machines, there are some that are made for certain models.
Before you buy a stepper motor driver, make sure you check the many types and brands of the one that it will work with.
Conclusion
We hope that after reading this article, you know how to fix the problem as quickly and efficiently as possible.
In fact, salmon skin 3D print is a very popular issue you may face, especially if you are a beginner. We can easily solve it by improving the stepper motors or minimizing vibrations in your printer settings. Troubleshooting these issues is an important part of learning how to 3D print, so do not worry too much.
Further Reading: