SoliForum - 3D Printing Community — Clear tinted ABS?

Re: Clear tinted ABS?

null@example.com (Barret Zhang) — Mon, 14 May 2018 13:45:19 +0000

ABS material is not clear in natural. The appearance is about ivory white. There has special type of abs material, the natural is clear, the short name is MBS. Meanwhile, you could have a trial with petg or pc, both are transparent in natural.

Re: Clear tinted ABS?

null@example.com (knowack) — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 22:56:22 +0000

I have a spool of clear ABS, and have printed a few things with it. It seems to have thermal properties consistent with other colors of ABS, and looks pretty good when printed.

Do not confuse 'clear' with 'transparent'. The transmittance of light through it varies with print temps, and the thickness and contours of the object printed. For objects of substantial size, 'translucent' would be a better adjective...smaller objects are clearer.

-Kevin

Re: Clear tinted ABS?

null@example.com (carl_m1968) — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 22:00:23 +0000

Dave455 wrote:

I'm trying to figure out what type of plastic to use to make lenses for lights, like turn signals, marker lights.
Are the UV stabilizers something that is added / part of the filament, or applied after the part is made?
I'm getting the idea that I am ahead of where things are in the entry level printed parts world...

UV stabilizers and inhibitors are adding when the filament is being made. As for your purpose PETG would be fine. However the layers will be very pronounced regardless of size if used as a lens. In short it would be ugly. Even SLA would require polishing for lens or filter application.

Re: Clear tinted ABS?

null@example.com (Dave455) — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 20:53:59 +0000

I'm trying to figure out what type of plastic to use to make lenses for lights, like turn signals, marker lights.

Are the UV stabilizers something that is added / part of the filament, or applied after the part is made?

I'm getting the idea that I am ahead of where things are in the entry level printed parts world...

Re: Clear tinted ABS?

null@example.com (carl_m1968) — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 16:43:29 +0000

You might be thinking of PLA. It is biodegradable. PETG can handle being outside. Unless you use additional UV stabilizers no plastic part is good for long term exposure.

Re: Clear tinted ABS?

null@example.com (Dave455) — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 16:18:22 +0000

Or maybe not. The parts need to be outdoors, full sunlight. It's been hard to find anyone specifying how well it survives outdoors.

Re: Clear tinted ABS?

null@example.com (Dave455) — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 18:43:43 +0000

Ah, ok. PETG looks good.
Thank you!

Re: Clear tinted ABS?

null@example.com (Kronikabuse) — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 18:29:31 +0000

try searching for "transparent". Ive seen it on amazon before

Re: Clear tinted ABS?

null@example.com (carl_m1968) — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 18:29:25 +0000

Dave455 wrote:

I've done some web searching. Does anyone sell such a thing? I found clear non colored ABS.
I'm looking for red and amber tinted clear ABS 1.75mm filament.

ABS is not clear by nature. If you want clear you would need to go with a material like PETG or PC.

Clear tinted ABS?

null@example.com (Dave455) — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 18:23:51 +0000

I've done some web searching. Does anyone sell such a thing? I found clear non colored ABS.
I'm looking for red and amber tinted clear ABS 1.75mm filament.