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Topic: Watertight Prints

I have been struggling to get prints to be water tight prints for things such as shot glasses. Has anyone else had good luck with getting water tight prints. So far I have tried using 2-5 perimiters, 10-50% infill, and both PLA and ABS at .3 mm. In the end all of my prints end up with small leaks.

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Re: Watertight Prints

If you use ABS, use acetone to help make a solid surface.  Either by brushing it on, dipping the item quickly in an acetone bath or use the acetone vapor chamber setup.

Keep in mind that none of these plastics are really food safe.

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Re: Watertight Prints

The plastics not really being food safe shouldn't really be too much of an issue when they are used as shot glasses as the liquid shouldn't spend very long in it. That being said has anyone found a food safe lacquer that works well with the plastics?

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Re: Watertight Prints

tetrishead wrote:

I have been struggling to get prints to be water tight prints for things such as shot glasses. Has anyone else had good luck with getting water tight prints. So far I have tried using 2-5 perimiters, 10-50% infill, and both PLA and ABS at .3 mm. In the end all of my prints end up with small leaks.

Like Nickythegreek said use acetone.. acetone vapor bath works wonders!!! however if you don't want to go that route I would suggest turning up you extrude rate just a small bit and maybe upping the temp as well just a little smile

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Re: Watertight Prints

Thanks for the suggestion. I want to avoid the acetone route as it can slowly leach out but I will try the temp and speed adjustments with the PLA that is currently in my printer and post results later.

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Re: Watertight Prints

I'd say something is off in your calibration.  I've printed single wall cups at .3mm when I was testing speed and cool settings.  They all hold water except for when I cranked the speed way up I got some loop gaps. 

ABS should hold fine if you have everything set right.

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Re: Watertight Prints

I should add only up your temp as a last resort if it is printing fine(layers bonding) otherwise.

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Re: Watertight Prints

Sucsess! I upped the number of solid horizontal layers and kept it at 4 perimiters. I printed it at about 75% speed and upped the temp to 190 for PLA.