There are a lot of things that you can adjust on your Ender 3 to get the best prints possible. One of the most important is the layer height. This setting affects the thickness of each layer of plastic that is deposited on top of each other. If it is set too high, then your prints will be rough and have a lot of defects. If it is set too low, then your prints will take longer to print and use more filament. Let’s see how to adjust the layer height for optimal printing!
What is the best layer height for Ender 3?
When printing with Ender 3, the best layer height falls between 0.12mm and 0.28mm based on the quality you want. If you are looking for a high quality with high definition a layer height of 0.12mm works best. Whereas 0.28 mm is for low quality and quicker prints.
The Minimum and Maximum Layer Heights for Ender 3/V2/Pro
To understand the Ender 3 minimum layer height and maximum, let’s take an example of the few test cubes and understand the difference.
The image below shows 3 different test cubes printed at different layer heights of 0.1mm, 0.2mm & 0.3mm on Ender 3.
All the above 3 cubes have the layer heights from smallest to largest. The leftmost cube is of 0.1mm which is the ender 3 smallest layer height, the center is 0.2mm and the rightmost is 0.4millimeters.
Let’s examine each one closely.
- 0.1 mm Layer Height Cube:
This came out very smooth and it is at it’s best when compared to other 2 test cubes. The layer lines are invisible with great definition. This is an acceptable model except for the large amount of time it takes to get printed.
This small cube has taken 1 hour and 10 minutes.
- 0.2 mm Layer Height: This is a mid model printed at 0.2mm layer height. The time needed to print this model on Ender 3 was 38 minutes approximately. You can see the layer lines being visible. These lines can be removed by the Sanding process in post-production to get a good product.
THe printing time was almost half of the 0.1mm diameter model. Other than 0.1mm, 0.2mm & 0.3mm, the layer heights such as 0.16mm, 0.24 mm can also be used. This sets a greater range to choose the best blend of quality and speed for your requirements.
- 0.4 mm Layer Height: The cube below is printed at 0.4mm layer height. Notice how the layer lines are extremely visible. This will suit for a mock-up or rough draft. Since the definition is not high enough, to produce a print that can be used in production.
When it comes to the printing speed, it is printed in a short time of 18 minutes.
Well! That was a quick look at what to expect for Print Quality from Ender 3 at different layer heights.
Ender 3 Layer Height: Magic Number
When it comes to getting the best quality prints from your Ender 3, or any other 3D printer for that matter, it’s important to choose the right layer height.
Stepper motors move in increments of 0.04mm, so if you want to get the best quality print possible, you’ll want to choose a layer height that falls on one of those increments. That might be 0.08mm or 0.12mm, for example.
This is what’s known as the magic number for layer height, and it’s something that all serious 3D printer users should be aware of. By using the magic number for your layer height, you can be sure that you’re getting the highest quality print possible from your machine.
How to adjust the layer height on your Ender 3
The Ender 3 has a default layer height of 0.1 mm, but this can be changed to fit your specific needs. For example, if you are printing with a very thin filament, you may want to increase the layer height to avoid jams or voided layers. Alternatively, if you are looking for a high-quality print with fine details, you may want to decrease the layer height.
To change the layer height on your Ender 3, simply select the “Layer Height” setting in the “Advanced” menu and enter your desired value. Once you have made your change, be sure to hit the “Apply” button to save your changes.
The best way to find the perfect layer height for your Ender 3 is to experiment and find the setting that works best for your specific printer and filament. In general, you want to start with a small layer height and then slowly increase it until you reach the desired quality. Once you have found the perfect setting, make sure to write it down so that you can replicate it in the future.
Gunaseelan Murugesan
Experienced Project Engineer with a demonstrated history of working in the field of Product Design & Development industry in Mechanical Engineering. Skilled in 3D Printing and Re engineering Technologies with CATIA V5 , Materials Science, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Mimics, ANSYS Workbench and Casting Simulation software. Strong engineering professional with a Master’s Degree focused in Industrial Metallurgy from PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore.
