3D Printing Stack Exchange
3D Printing Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [material]

For questions about materials in general. For filament related questions, please use print-material tag

For questions regarding materials in general such as whether a material is capable of being 3D printed, optimal 3D printing parameters (i.e. extrusion temp), mechanical properties of materials, printer construction, etc.

Please note that is a superset of , and not only confined to being printed (i.e. filament), but also construction of a printer (i.e. acrylic, wood, steel, aluminium, etc.).

For filament related questions, please use .

59 questions
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Advantages of PETG filament?

I was just shopping for filament, and saw some glowing claims about PETG being as easy to work with as PLA, but as strong as ABS, and less brittle. Anyone know if that's actually true, or what the tradeoffs are?
TextGeek
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Which are the food-safe materials and how do I recognize them?

What materials which are commonly used in 3D printing, are food-safe? Are there any certifications/grading process for such materials, which can help me with my cross-checking and selection? I have been using an FDM printer.
Dawny33
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Which is more durable to sunlight/weather - PLA, ABS or PETG

The backstory: I'm installing a pigeon net in my home. Because of the shape of the opening I'm installing the net in and the material on the sides it's difficult to anchor the net using the normal means but I can print clips that will hold the net…
Nir
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20
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4 answers

Would 3d-printed objects outgas in vacuum?

I want to fabricate a sample holder and shadow masks to use in vacuum chambers. The type of printing material is not important to me PLA/ABS/PC-ABS/nylon). I'm worried that 3d printed objects (FDM) would degas under high vacuum. Is that an actual…
Sparkler
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17
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4 answers

Are there any metals that exhibit a large glass state?

Plastic is used in 3D FDM/FFF printing partly because it had a wide temperature range for its glass state - where it can be flowed with some force, but won't flow due only to gravity. Most metals have a very narrow, or non-existant, glass state. …
Adam Davis
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16
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6 answers

3D printing for outdoor use: "What types of filament are most weather resistant?"

I'd like to print modifications for my bird feeder, both to patch over the hail damage from last summer and to try to deter the neighborhood squirrels. I have an FDM printer (and experience with nylon, ABS, and PLA, though don't restrict answers to…
1337joe
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12
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4 answers

Is PLA filament conductive?

I am planing on printing something that will make contact with PCB boards. The print will be most likely to be in PLA. I don't want to fry the PCB board so I want to know if 3D printed PLA objects are conductive. I googled and found out about…
Alic
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12
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2 answers

Reducing amount of material

Just started doing some design. First project was a replacement handle for my angle grinder, so basically a hollow cylinder. I want to reduce the amount of material used in the print. I could sit here and punch holes through the handle with a…
SleepyBoBos
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8
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2 answers

Affordable 3D printing of reflector

Are there any 3D printing services or something similar to 3D print or injection mold light reflectors? I'm trying to find something that is similar to PCB printing that allows you to upload a 3D design of a reflector and they will produce this…
TDao
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7
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2 answers

Filament material for chemical application

I am doing laboratory experiments and need to print some components. I am working with different aqueous (water) solutions containing sulphuric acid (H2SO4), hydrochloric acid (HCl), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), separately and in combination. The…
Johan Zietsman
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7
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3 answers

Simulation tool software for 4D Printing

In 4D printing technology or by means usage of Shape-memory alloy (non-metal, iron based, copper based or NiTi material) for 3D printing. Is there any software simulation tool which I can use to simulate this material change behavior with respect to…
glwilliam
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7
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2 answers

stable FDM materials

What materials, available as filaments for use in FDM printing, are known to be the most physically and chemically inert? In particular, stability (not necessarily simultaneously) in the presence of the following should be assumed: pH…
user001
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7
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3 answers

3D printing enclosure with LED indication symbols -- is this possible?

I am looking to print an enclosure, which will have a PCB inside with some LED indicators. I was wondering if it is possible to 3D print the enclosure such that the following look can be achieved? What material and technique? When LEDs are off, it…
O.K.
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7
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1 answer

Bonding PETG to glass

I'm thinking of trying my hand at fabricating microfluidic devices. I'll be using a filament based on PETG (Zortrax's Z-glass filament, which is translucent and resistant to acids and bases). For my plan to work, I'll need to find a good way to bond…
N. Virgo
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6
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How can I print gears using very high resolution material like nylon

I'm trying to gear down a servo even further. I notice that the majority of the gears are made of nylon, and I want to create new gears that come close to the resolution and strength of the existing gears. I have a Replicator 2, but the resolution…
user379468
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