Print tips

A few settings that make drill jigs come off the printer flat, strong and accurate. They are starting points, not rules: every printer and every filament behaves a little differently.

Keep large flat parts on the bed

Long, flat jigs tend to lift at the corners (warping). Each new layer shrinks a little as it cools and pulls on the layers below, until a corner lets go of the bed.

• Bed temperature: for PLA, a bed at 60–65 °C helps the first layers stay stuck while the part above them cools.
• Brim: a brim (a few extra lines around the first layer) gives the corners more grip. 5–8 mm is usually enough; it peels off afterwards.
• Clean bed: wipe the bed with isopropyl alcohol. Fingerprints are enough to ruin adhesion.
• First layer: print it a little slower and check that it is slightly squished, not round.
• No drafts: keep the printer away from open windows and fans; cold air makes warping worse.

Orientation and supports

The STEP files are already turned the right way for printing: place them on the bed as they are. Jigs and bushings are designed to print without supports. Bambu Studio, PrusaSlicer and other slicers can open STEP files directly.

Strength

• Walls: 3–4 walls (perimeters) make the material around each hole solid, which matters more than infill.
• Infill: 20–40 % is plenty for a jig.
• Material: PLA works well and is very accurate. PETG is tougher and a little more heat resistant.

Hole fit

• Printed holes usually come out a little smaller than drawn. That is what Hole clearance is for: 0.2 mm is a good start. If the drill bit is too tight, add 0.1 mm.
• For jigs with drill bushings the fit in the jig is set on the bushing (Stem fit), because reprinting a bushing is much quicker than reprinting the jig. Stem fit only changes the hexagonal stem that sits in the jig, not the hole for the drill bit. The drill hole of the bushing is set with Hole clearance, like on the other jigs.
• Before a large jig, print a short one with two holes to check the fit with your printer.

Drilling

• PLA gets soft at around 60 °C. Drill at a moderate speed and pull the bit out now and then to clear chips, so the hole in the jig does not heat up and widen.
• Clamp the jig to the workpiece. A jig that moves gives holes in the wrong place.

Missing a tip, or found a setting that works better? Send feedback.