1 Topic by coreymiles

  • coreymiles
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Topic: 3D printer filament limitations

Hello,
I am hoping to get information from someone who has actual real experience with 3D printers. I am a plastics person and have wondered why only PLA and ABS were chosen by the FDM industry. Both are amorphous materials so I suppose they have good melt strength at a large temperature range. There are better materials out there and are starting to become available for 3D printers. I have some questions which are of concern to me.
1. There does not seem to be rubbery materials available and I am wondering is this because the simple extruders cannot feed soft stretchy materials properly. Other possibilities are some soft materials have liquid softening agents that will give off fumes during extruding and this is considered a negative.
2. I am trying to understand what are the size limitations that will cause a non feed condition either too small or too large for 1.75 mm machines?  Are there some extruders which can handle wider variation than others if so how wide?
3. I have tried making my own filament out of 'other' materials and have I cannot feed my filament if it is +/-.25mm which is not at commercial +/-.05 mm tolerance but I would like to know what tolerance can work in which machine?
4. Does filament surface finish make the difference in whether a filament feeds?
I would appreciate answers from people who have this knowledge as there seems to be a large void out there for informative information.

2 Reply by AZERATE

  • AZERATE
  • AZERATE
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  • Registered: 2013-11-28
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Re: 3D printer filament limitations

coreymiles wrote:

wondered why only PLA and ABS were chosen by the FDM industry


This is not entirely true. While most out-of-the-box desktop printers are set up specifically for ABS or PLA, there are many other materials you can print with. without modifying the printer much, TGlase and Ninjaflex are possible.
Nylon (non-ABS/non-PLA) requires some modifying, but is very possible.
Other exotic filaments we have seen come out in the last year like Laywoo, Laybrick, Steel, Iron, and Bronzefill have a small percentage of PLA acting as a casing to hold the material together until extruded, leaving the print with very little plastic. In this sense, the PLA is used as a tool to make these easily printable.

I recommend lurking around the Filastruder threads and DIY Filament Materials threads. Quite a good bit of information on all those. smile

Printit Mason and Printit Horizon printers
Multiple SD2s- Bulldog XL, E3D v5/v6/Lite6, Volcano, Hobb Goblin, Titan, .9 motor, Lawsy carriages, direct Y drive, fishing line...the list goes on
Filawinder and Filastruder #1870.....worth every penny!

3 Reply by n2ri

  • n2ri
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Re: 3D printer filament limitations

some just have toxic off gases limiting how/where used for safety

Solidoodle 2 with Deluxe kit cover & glass bed with heater. and 2nd board SD2 used not 3rd and alum platform not installed yet still wood. also need cooling fan installed to board. use Repetier Host couple vers. Slic3r also have all free ware STL programs

4 Reply by Tin Falcon

  • Tin Falcon
  • Tin Falcon
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  • Registered: 2014-08-01
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Re: 3D printer filament limitations

1. There does not seem to be rubbery materials available and I am wondering is this because the simple extruders cannot feed soft stretchy materials properly.

Yes are available and require a well designed extruder.
the asterid Plastic scribbler is advertized as being able to print nylon , ninja flex and other exotic materials and of course ABS and
PLA. Google ninjaflex it is the likely most well know and available printable Elastomer.
I am also seeing HIPS show up on the store shelves along with the PLA and ABS. There are many materials available.
ike others have said some are better printed outside the home living space with ventilation. or active carbon filtration.
Tin

Soliddoodle 4 stock w glass bed------Folger Tech Prusa 2020 upgraded to and titan /aero extruder mirror bed
FT5 with titan/ E3D Aero------MP mini select w glass bed
MP Utimate maker pro-W bondtech extruder
Marlin/Repetier Host/ Slic3r and Cura