layer fan
The layer fan is a part that some 3D printers bring and that consists of a fan that cools each of the layers and that is configurable at the revolution level from the control panel of the printer itself. These are highly recommended if we want to print small parts where the time difference between layers can lead to the previously printed ones still being hot. The results? The figurine comes out deformed, as if a gas lighter or a cigarette lighter had been brought closer to the cheap plastic. However, not all filaments support layer fan and there are cases such as ABS and ASA where it is not recommended to be used due to the chemical properties of the materials they are formed from. .
warm bed
The heated bed is the surface on which the design you have made will be 3D printed and its task is very simple: make sure that the printing area maintains a temperature so that the print sticks and does not come off in maintaining a stable temperature. In addition, we must take into account that some materials have problems with cooling too quickly, a problem known as Warping.
As a general rule, materials that require a heated bed do not need a layer fan and vice versa, since it makes no sense to heat the material on one side and cool it on the other by same time.
covers
Some materials, when heated by the extruder of an FDM printer or the laser of an SLS, generate gases that can be harmful to our health, which is why it is recommended to fence off the printing area. if our printer does not have one, either by buying a cover already built or, failing that, by creating it ourselves with DIY.
Keep filament spools tidy
Some materials are sensitive to humidity, therefore it is not recommended to print with a dehumidifier in the environment and to store the spools well so that humidity does not affect them.
Types of filaments for 3D printing
The objects that we have to 3D print are not always the same, for example we may need a material that has a low friction level or a high heat resistance, that is waterproof or simply that we can put in our mouth because we want to store food inside. Unfortunately, the perfect filament does not exist and this leads to a large collection of them in the market.
Filament of polylactic acid or PLA
This filament stands out for being extremely ecological, after all it is obtained from organic materials such as corn, which makes it biodegradable, since it does not resist very well to high levels of humidity and decomposes at higher temperatures. at 60°C. The advantage is that it is one of the easiest materials to print, which makes it ideal for users new to this field, in addition to not requiring a heated bed, but the use of fan is recommended.
His utility ? To create decorative elements such as models and prototypes with rapid development, because it is not only easy to use, but also has a high printing speed. It is the best material to start with, but unfortunately it is not recommended for the manufacture of mechanical elements or containers of liquids.
Polyethylene terephthalate or PET filament
This type of filament is used to create containers for storing liquids, since it is completely waterproof, has a high resistance to wear and corrosion and, thanks to the fact that it is semi-transparent, it helps us to see the amount of liquid that it houses inside. Not in vain, it is the same type of material that is used for the creation of fully recyclable plastic bottles, as well as for the creation of other elements used in the world of food such as cutlery, glasses and others. In addition, it does not require a heated bed to be used.
PETG
PETG, on the other hand, is a variant of the previous filament that adds glycol to the mixture and gives it greater resistance to temperature, since it requires that the objects with which it comes into contact are at more than 80º to dissolve in it. instead of 60 degrees. Of course, this requires a hot bed and that it is configured at a temperature of 65°C.
ABS Filament
We are facing the most used filament for 3D printing apart from PLA, but unlike this it is not biodegradable, although it is recyclable and is used to create very light and plastic parts. at the same time resistant. The clearest example of items printed with ABS filament are LEGO pieces, so if your interest is printing that missing piece for your build with the famous block set or hobby, then you are looking for the right material . Along with nylon, it is one of the materials that can also be found in powder form for SLS type printers or in liquid form for SLA printers.
And what about its properties? It needs to be heated up to 230°C to 260°C, remember that all ABS filaments that are sold do not have the same chemical composition, although they are all made of polybutadiene elastomers as a base. This makes them flexible, impact resistant and able to withstand temperatures ranging from -20°C to 80°C. However, it is very vulnerable to warping and therefore requires a heated bed between 80°C and 130°C when printing with this compound.
It is not a filament that we recommend for users without previous experience, not only because of the need to use a heated bed, but also because of the chemical gases it gives off. Therefore, we recommend a 3D printer with a closed print area when working with ABS filament.
Polycarbonate Filament
This filament is one of those that demonstrate the enormous versatility of a 3D printer in various fields and, unlike previous cases, its use is in the industrial world due to its great applications. It is a material of great resistance, able to withstand temperatures without deforming from -140°C to 150°C and its best feature is that it is completely transparent and of low density.
However, its counterpart is that it absorbs ambient humidity very easily, in addition to being very vulnerable to sunlight. This limits its use to closed environments. As for printing with Polycarbonate Filament, you must heat the extruder between 260°C and 310°C depending on the manufacturer, have a hot bed between 80°C and 120°C temperature and print in a camera closed as it happens with ABS.
Nylon
The last of the materials we will discuss in this article are polyamides, traditionally called nylon. This is sold in the form of a fine, granular powder intended for use with an SLS-type 3D printer, but it can also be found in the form of filament for FDM printers. It is one of the best materials for professional printing, especially for creating plastic mechanical parts in commercial products.
To print with nylon in an FDM printer, we need to heat the extruder between 230°C and 250°C and use a heated bed at 80º during the printing period. Like polycarbonate, it is extremely vulnerable to moisture and this is one of the reasons why, despite having properties similar to ABS and being found in large quantities, it is used much more industrially.
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