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Even with PLA printing, warping may occur if the temperature in your workshop drops below 59 degrees Fahrenheit. Using a heated or enclosed chamber for printing is the best method to prevent this issue. You may need to utilize an active heating source, such as a space heater or infrared light when it gets too chilly. 

It’s time to get out the bulky jackets from the closet and turn on the heaters inside our house as winter approaches. While humans are often able to adapt well to frigid conditions, our 3D printers are not. What problems could arise during the cold months when 3D printer heating? How can you stay clear of these issues?

To what extent is it Cold? 

Winter 3D printing may be challenging, particularly if your printer is located in a space that isn’t frequently used. This probably indicates that the insulation and heating in the room are subpar. This is true for the majority of garages, basements, and even extra rooms. 

Your room is most likely too chilly for 3D printing without any improvements if the temperature is low enough to make you uncomfortable.

What Problems to Expect 

What does it matter whether you 3D print in the winter? You will be tackling problems that you have most likely previously faced for the most part. However, because of the extremely low temperatures, they will be somewhat more difficult to manage. 3D printing and cold temperatures just don’t mix well. When 3D printing in the cold, you may run across the following problems:

Warping 

Warping is, predictably, the first issue. This is already a problem that filaments like nylon or ABS may usually cause. As the filament rapidly cools from extremely high temperatures, thermal tension builds up inside it, causing warping. This cooling occurs significantly more quickly in the winter, which encourages warping. 

The warping issue mostly affects filaments that print at extremely high temperatures for the majority of the year. However, even when using the generally dependable PLA for 3D printing, warping might occur due to cold temperatures.

Filament Breaking 

Polymers, such as those used in 3D printing, have a tendency to become more brittle and less flexible at low temperatures. This implies that if they are not handled carefully, they are more prone to break. If your filament was not kept in a way that would have prevented moisture absorption, this issue gets worse.

A Rise in Power Consumption 

Extremely low temperatures also imply that your printer will have to put in more effort to keep the heated bed and hot end at the proper temperatures. Even though we’ve already shown that 3D printers don’t use a lot of electricity, you should also try cartridge heater with thermocouple for power consumption during the winter. If your 3D printer is linked to a breaker with a low amperage rating, you may need to take this into account. 

Below-Minimum Temperatures 

The G-Code of the majority of 3D printers includes a minimum operating temperature. This temperature is usually set at 50 degrees Fahrenheit for FDM printers. You may need to pre-heat your 3D printer if you leave it in a chilly room.