Thinker X400
LCD 3D Printer L10
Hyper Speed TPU
Standard TPU 90A Filament
Standard TPU 95A Filament
TPU Rainbow-95A
Ultra Silk PLA
Standard PLA
Silk Tri-color PLA
More
Standard PETG
PETG-GF
PETG-CF
Hyper Speed PETG
PA6/12-GF
Standard ASA
Hyper Speed ASA
ASA Glass Fiber
ASA Carbon Fiber
ABS Glass Fiber
ABS Carbon Fiber
Hpyer Speed ABS Filament
Water Washable Resin
Low Odor Resin
ABS Like Resin
Annealing Process Instructions for 3D Printed Parts of Different Materials
2026-02-04
I. General Method and Core Functions of Annealing
Annealing is a key process to optimize the performance of parts after 3D printing. The general method is unified as follows: place the printed part into a temperature-controlled device (such as a professional oven), heat it at a specific temperature and maintain the constant temperature for a certain period of time, and finally cool it naturally to room temperature. Its core functions can be summarized as "stress relief and performance stabilization": on the one hand, it can effectively eliminate internal stresses generated during the printing process (such as material extrusion and cooling solidification), avoiding problems such as cracking, warping and deformation of parts during subsequent use; on the other hand, it can improve key properties of materials such as strength, heat resistance and toughness, making the performance of printed parts more stable and more suitable for practical application scenarios.
II. Annealing Methods for Different Materials
Different materials have great differences in characteristics, and the corresponding annealing temperature, constant temperature time and operation details are different. The specific methods are as follows:
(1) Nylon and Nylon Carbon Fiber
The core purpose of annealing such materials is to maximize the crystallinity of parts, thereby exerting the optimal heat resistance and mechanical properties. Operationally, there is no rush to process; annealing can be carried out at your convenience after printing. The specific steps are:
1. Routine Annealing: Place the part in an oven and keep it at a constant temperature of 80℃-100℃ for 6-16 hours to ensure full crystallization of the material;
2. Annealing for Thin-Walled Parts (Wall Thickness < 2mm): To prevent warping and deformation, adopt the two-step heating method — first keep it at a constant temperature 20-30℃ lower than the final temperature for 1-2 hours, then slowly raise the temperature to 80℃-100℃ and continue the constant temperature for 6-16 hours;
3. Subsequent Notes: After annealing, the part will be completely dried and relatively brittle. It needs to be subjected to moisture conditioning (such as placing in a humid environment) to absorb an appropriate amount of water to restore toughness before use.
(2) Polycarbonate (PC)
Polycarbonate has a high melting point and hard texture. It is easy to generate internal stress during printing, and delamination is likely to occur if cooled too quickly. Annealing must follow the principle of "quickly putting into the oven and slowly cooling". The specific methods are:
1. Annealing in Ideal Environment (3D Printer with Heated Chamber): Maintain the temperature of the heated chamber above 90℃ during printing, continue to keep it at a constant temperature for 2 hours after printing is completed, and then cool it slowly to room temperature with the chamber;
2. Annealing with Routine Printer (Without High-Temperature Heated Chamber): Preheat the oven to 90℃ 10-15 minutes in advance. Immediately after printing, wear high-temperature resistant gloves to take out the part (it can be transferred together with the printing platform to avoid damage caused by forced removal) and quickly put it into the preheated oven;
3. Constant Temperature and Cooling: Keep it at a constant temperature of 90℃ for at least 2 hours, then let the oven cool naturally to room temperature before taking out the part to ensure the interlayer bonding strength.
(3) Other Crystalline Polymers
Most of such materials (such as PPS-CF, PET-CF, etc.) are semicrystalline. They cannot be fully crystallized without annealing, and it is difficult to exert full heat resistance and strength. The specific methods are:
1. Materials with Clear Recommended Parameters (such as PPS-CF, PET-CF): The recommended annealing temperature is 100-120℃, keep it at a constant temperature for 6-12 hours. After annealing, cool it naturally to room temperature with the oven to avoid new stress caused by sudden cooling.
2. Other Semicrystalline Materials: There are no unified recommended parameters. Because the crystallization temperature, shrinkage rate of materials as well as the shape and wall thickness of parts will affect the annealing effect, blindly applying parameters is easy to cause deformation. It is recommended to operate according to the material manufacturer's instructions or conduct small-batch tests before formal processing.
(4) Amorphous Materials (ABS, ASA, PETG, etc.)
Amorphous materials have no obvious crystal structure, and the benefits of annealing are far less than those of semicrystalline materials. It is only used to improve dimensional stability and reduce residual stress. The specific methods are:
1. Temperature Control: It is recommended that the annealing temperature be slightly lower than the glass transition temperature of the material (the critical temperature at which the material changes from hard to tough), for example, about 65℃ for PETG and about 85℃ for ASA, to avoid softening and deformation of parts due to excessive temperature;
2. Operation Details: Keep it at a constant temperature for 1-2 hours and then cool it naturally to avoid softening and deformation of parts due to excessive temperature. It is only recommended for parts with high stress after printing (such as complex shapes and thick walls) to try.
III. Annealing Precautions
No matter which annealing method is adopted, the following precautions must be followed to ensure operational safety and annealing effect:
1. Temperature Control: It is recommended to use a professional oven with precise temperature control function, strictly control the annealing temperature, avoid softening and deformation of parts caused by excessive temperature, or failure to achieve the ideal annealing effect due to too low temperature;
2. Cooling Method: After annealing, all materials need to be cooled naturally (let stand after the oven is powered off or cool down slowly with the oven). Rapid cooling (such as taking out directly and blowing air, or placing in room temperature environment for sudden cooling) is prohibited, otherwise internal stress will be generated again;
3. Part Placement: During annealing, parts should be placed separately to avoid mutual contact and extrusion; at the same time, they should be kept away from the inner wall of the oven to prevent local overheating or uneven heating;
4. Safety Protection: When operating the high-temperature oven and taking out hot parts, be sure to wear high-temperature resistant gloves to avoid scalding; keep the oven ventilated during operation and away from flammable and explosive materials.