SoliForum - 3D Printing Community — PLA?

Re: PLA?

null@example.com (AZERATE) — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 17:17:00 +0000

What is your current feed/flow?
Glad I could help.

Re: PLA?

null@example.com (tmikey) — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 05:02:02 +0000

Thanks guys
IM appy to say as of last night I had my first Successful PLA print
I basically turned the feed rate all the way down and the flow rate all the way up So it was going very slowly laying as much plastic as I Could
Then spent the next Several hours turning the feed up and the flow down until I landed on what Seemed optimal

You are correct Azerate the larger points in PLA Are more reliable and different colors behave quite differently. I was experimenting with clear, blue, and white .
White is where I had Success I'm Certain Ill have to Use my "bracketing'' trial and error method of calibration for each new Color.
while it takes Some time to fine tune I at leasthave Some angle to approach the problem now

thanks every one
I too <3 PLA now

Re: PLA?

null@example.com (AZERATE) — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 21:23:58 +0000

Have you completely purged all traces of ABS from your barrel? If not, heat it up to about 210 then extrude about 400-500mm to be sure all ABS is out.
I print PLA between 170-185 on mirror with a light dusting of extreme hold hairspray, 70 for bed temp, and for some reason, I olny get good results when my feed/flow is set around 140/140. The slower I print, the worst adherance I have. No idea why.
Also, with PLA, I almost always have to reprint small prints. The bigger prints better in my case.

But if the problem is that the filament is coming out clear after some time, you may have a VERY bad batch. What brand and color did you get? Different colors tend to behave differently. Red Makerbot requires me to run 182-185 whereas the purple I can print just fine around 178. JustPLA green (garbage and cloggy) prints well around 165-170.
As far as calibration, I can't calibrate my extruder with the new RH (some others have reported the same issue). But certainly calibrate your extruder and level your bed either way. It's also best to have a mounted fan when printing PLA.

Re: PLA?

null@example.com (renee) — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 15:11:27 +0000

While I don't have may tips for material calibration that aren't already online I have been using PLA with my SD4. The only ABS print I've done is with the test filament they provided with the printer.

I'm running PLA from MakerGeeks at 175 and the bed (with a sheet of Lexan from HomeDepot) at 60 on the first layer only. So far everything has stuck perfectly and has been really easy to work with. I <3 PLA!

Re: PLA?

null@example.com (tmikey) — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 04:32:31 +0000

thanks gwfami
Any tips on calibration for PLA?
feed rate? flow Rate?
Any thing else I Should Keep an eye out for?
thanks again

Re: PLA?

null@example.com (gwfami) — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 02:22:49 +0000

I'm just the opposite, PLA works great for me and ABS doesn't.

I run it at about 187 for the extruder and run the bed at 100. Make sure that you calibrate for PLA.

PLA?

null@example.com (tmikey) — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 16:53:12 +0000

I've been tying to get my SD3 to print PLA So far no luck. It's too hot it's too cold the Flow & feed rate don't Seem to be right... lve tried a few small prints just to practice with the new material .. maybe I get one or two layers to print well then the PLA doesn't flow well by the 7th layer its Clear the print has already failed.

Has any one out there had Success with PLA and be willing to Share the settings you've found to work reliably? Id like to get away from ABS, Particularly on long prints those ABS fumes cant be good for you

many thanks
Mike