<![CDATA[SoliForum - 3D Printing Community — How to tell the difference between pla and abs?]]> https://www.soliforum.com/topic/285/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-pla-and-abs/ Thu, 15 Nov 2012 22:11:39 +0000 PunBB <![CDATA[Re: How to tell the difference between pla and abs?]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/4712/#p4712 IanJohnson wrote:

I've heard it just turns whitish and gets brittle.  Everything that I've seen mentioned that dissolves PLA is way more dangerous than acetone.  You can use a lye/water solution to dissolve PLA completely when using it as support material.  It might be possible to use that for smoothing, but I have a feeling it wouldn't be as fast or effective as acetone is with ABS.

This is one potential advantage to sticking to ABS.

]]> Thu, 15 Nov 2012 22:11:39 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/4712/#p4712 <![CDATA[Re: How to tell the difference between pla and abs?]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/3904/#p3904 I've heard it just turns whitish and gets brittle.  Everything that I've seen mentioned that dissolves PLA is way more dangerous than acetone.  You can use a lye/water solution to dissolve PLA completely when using it as support material.  It might be possible to use that for smoothing, but I have a feeling it wouldn't be as fast or effective as acetone is with ABS.

]]> Fri, 02 Nov 2012 05:02:57 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/3904/#p3904 <![CDATA[Re: How to tell the difference between pla and abs?]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/3903/#p3903 How does pla react to acetone?

]]> Fri, 02 Nov 2012 04:50:07 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/3903/#p3903 <![CDATA[Re: How to tell the difference between pla and abs?]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/2225/#p2225 Ian, the color is yellow and it came from the the same supplier I got the clear from.  This was one of the spools I didn't order but received due to a mix up.  What I think happened was that it may have oozed back into the black plastic piece because the dia is only 1.62mm.

]]> Sat, 13 Oct 2012 04:59:18 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/2225/#p2225 <![CDATA[Re: How to tell the difference between pla and abs?]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/2163/#p2163 Take my opinion for what its worth as I don't have a printer or any filament to truly know but could the filament be damp or have absorbed some moisture? Might need to dry it out a bit and try again

]]> Thu, 11 Oct 2012 22:48:14 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/2163/#p2163 <![CDATA[Re: How to tell the difference between pla and abs?]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/2133/#p2133 Where did you get it, and what color?

]]> Thu, 11 Oct 2012 12:42:54 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/2133/#p2133 <![CDATA[Re: How to tell the difference between pla and abs?]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/2130/#p2130 Thank you for all the suggestions.  The filament in question burns a bit more vigorously than some other abs I have and it bends easier.  It smells pretty much the same when burnt so I think it is abs.  It clogged up my hot end almost immediately and I've been having a heck of a time getting it sorted out.  Everything else I've gotten from this particular supplier has been spot on so it's possible that something else may be the problem.  If I figure it out I'll let you know.

]]> Thu, 11 Oct 2012 08:14:22 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/2130/#p2130 <![CDATA[Re: How to tell the difference between pla and abs?]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/2095/#p2095 Easiest would be burning a little.  Also PLA is stiffer than ABS.  If you bend it, it will snap.  ABS turns white when you bend it, and breaks after some fatigue.

]]> Wed, 10 Oct 2012 13:53:24 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/2095/#p2095 <![CDATA[Re: How to tell the difference between pla and abs?]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/2092/#p2092 Isn't PLA a lot more brittle as well?

]]> Wed, 10 Oct 2012 13:14:03 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/2092/#p2092 <![CDATA[Re: How to tell the difference between pla and abs?]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/2089/#p2089 PLA has a much lower melting point. Apply heat to known ABS at the same time and see if it melts significantly quicker.

]]> Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:05:57 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/2089/#p2089 <![CDATA[Re: How to tell the difference between pla and abs?]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/2088/#p2088 put it in water and wait?   the pla is biodegradable .. or try to burn it with a lighter.. the odor of pla is like popcorn...

]]> Wed, 10 Oct 2012 10:19:28 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/2088/#p2088 <![CDATA[How to tell the difference between pla and abs?]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/2086/#p2086 I have a new roll of filament that doesn't seem quite right.  Is there a simple test to tell if it's pla or abs?

]]> Wed, 10 Oct 2012 07:44:55 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/2086/#p2086